Backfield Usage Trends After Week 3

Quick summary

• Ollie Gordon II is Miami's lead back after De'Von Achane's season-ending ACL tear and Jaylen Wright's ongoing injury, with 85% of carries and 84% of snaps in Week 3.
• Jeremiyah Love took over Arizona's backfield with 91% of RB carries, up from 39% in Week 1 and 56% in Week 2.
• Braelon Allen leads the Jets while Breece Hall (quad) misses time.
• Keaton Mitchell is cutting into Omarion Hampton's snaps (38% to Hampton's 42%) and passing-down work, but Hampton still gets the goal-line carries.
• Jaylen Warren played 90% of snaps and ran for 127 yards with Rico Dowdle (toe) out, and Dowdle missed Monday's practice before a Thursday game.
• Kyren Williams (71% of carries) and Christian McCaffrey (79%) took a larger share of their backfields after splitting work in Weeks 1–2.
• Alvin Kamara should lead the Saints on Monday night after Travis Etienne re-injured his hamstring.
• Avoid the Seahawks and Packers backfields: Jadarian Price was benched for fumbling, and Green Bay's three backs combined for 8 carries.

Cardinals: Love took over

Jeremiyah Love is now the lead back by a wide margin, after splitting with Tyler Allgeier for two weeks.

• Love had 18 of 20 early-down carries, 4 of 6 third-down touches, 5 catches and a receiving TD. Mike LaFleur said he "handled the workload well."
• Allgeier still played 31 snaps and saw 4 targets, so he keeps some passing-down work.
• Goal line is the one soft spot: Jacoby Brissett had both of Arizona's carries inside the 5 in Week 3.
• Verdict: Love is a weekly RB2 with RB1 volume if this holds.

Texans: Week 2 looks like the outlier

David Montgomery is back in front. Woody Marks's Week 2 bump didn't carry over, and the whole Houston run game is shrinking.

• Montgomery's 63% snap share was his best of the year. Marks's 20 snaps were his lowest, though he scored from the 1.
• Marks still owns the hurry-up: 2 of 2 two-minute snaps in Week 3 and 6 of 7 over three weeks.
• Both backs are under 3.1 yards per carry, and Houston has 30 RB carries over the last two games with Nico Collins out.
• Verdict: Montgomery is a low-end RB2/flex. Marks is a bench stash, not a starter.

Jaguars: Tuten is the lead back, but the role hasn't grown

Bhayshul Tuten has been Jacksonville's lead back all three weeks. His share is steady, so the "emergence" is about efficiency and TDs, not a bigger role.

• Tuten is averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 2 TDs, and Liam Coen said they want to "continue to get him more ops."
• The ceiling is capped: under 50% of snaps even in a 35-6 blowout, and just 5 targets in three games.
• Chris Rodriguez Jr. matches Tuten with 2 goal-line carries on the season and scored in Week 3. LeQuint Allen Jr. is the passing-down back (11 snaps, 2 targets).
• Verdict: Tuten is an RB2/flex whose value rides on efficiency and TDs. Watch for the snap share to cross 55%.

Chargers: Mitchell is gaining, mostly in the passing game

Omarion Hampton is still the early-down and goal-line back, but his snaps and routes are shrinking while Keaton Mitchell's grow.

• Hampton ran 15 times for 56 yards (3.7 per carry) and ran only 6 routes, per DraftSharks. Mitchell ran 14, Kimani Vidal 13 and FB Alec Ingold 9.
• Mitchell has been more efficient: 6.5 yards per carry in Week 3 and 5.0 on the season, plus a 1-yard receiving TD.
• Vidal is now a third body: 17 snaps and 3 targets in Week 3 after zero snaps in Weeks 1–2.
• Hampton still had both goal-line carries and 6 of 8 red-zone carries.
• Verdict: Hampton still has command of the RB room albeit with little receiving floor. Mitchell is a stash and a PPR flex in bad-script games. The next three (SEA, DEN, KC) could mean more trailing script.

Dolphins: Gordon now, Wright later

Achane's torn ACL leaves Ollie Gordon II as the lead back until Jaylen Wright is healthy.

• Achane was hurt on his third carry when his left leg gave out on a cut.
• Gordon ran 17 times for 41 yards (2.4 per carry) with a goal-line TD and 3 catches. He briefly left with cramps.
• Wright (stinger/foot) has 3 carries all season but was named Miami's RB2 on the team's first official depth chart.
• Verdict: Gordon is a volume RB2 for Week 4 at Minnesota. When Wright returns, it gets interesting.

Jets: Braelon Allen's turn

Breece Hall (quad) is out for Week 4 and possibly Week 5. Braelon Allen steps in, with Isaiah Davis behind him.

• Hall was hurt on a sideline tackle in the red zone in the fourth quarter. The MRI was better than feared; Aaron Glenn's next update is Wednesday.
• Allen already has a passing-down role: 6 of the team's 13 third-down touches this season. That's why his snaps run higher than his carries.
• Efficiency is the worry. Allen has 19 carries for 61 yards (3.2 per carry), the same as Hall. Davis was active but had no carries in Week 3.
• Verdict: Allen is a volume RB2 for Week 4 at Chicago. Expect him to get roughly 70% of the work, with Davis mixing in.

Buccaneers: Irving is the rusher, Gainwell is the passing-down back

Bucky Irving is a bell cow on the ground, not an every-down back. Tampa has given him 80% of RB carries on the season, while Kenny Gainwell's snaps come on third downs and when trailing.

• The Week 3 snap gap (36 to 32) is mostly script. Pewter Report says Irving was far ahead until the fourth quarter, when the Bucs went pass-heavy while trailing. Irving also left late but says he feels fine, and Todd Bowles said he isn't on the injury report.
• Gainwell's role is real but narrow: 4 of the team's 4 third-down touches in Week 3 and 10 targets on the season. He has 10 carries for 21 yards.
• The catch for Irving: Tampa has zero carries inside the 5 all season, and he averaged 3.1 yards per carry in Week 3.
• Verdict: Irving is an RB2 with bell-cow carry volume. Gainwell is a handcuff, not a stand-alone play.

Commanders: less of a mess, still not good

Washington is down to a two-man backfield: Jacory Croskey-Merritt on early downs, Rachaad White on passing downs.

• Kaytron Allen didn't play a snap in Week 3 despite being cleared off the injury report (hip). That's what consolidated the work.
• JCM had 19 of 25 early-down carries but only 36 yards (1.9 per carry). White had 4 of 5 two-minute snaps and caught a 6-yard TD.
• Verdict: JCM is a volume flex; White is a PPR flex only in plus matchups. Watch whether Allen is active in Week 4.

Spotlight teams, part 2

Packers: still nothing to trust

Three backs split a run game that almost disappeared in Week 3, and there's no timeline for Josh Jacobs.

• Green Bay called just 8 RB runs in a loss to Atlanta. PFF called it a near-even three-man rotation.
• The trends: Kaleb Johnson's snaps are rising (27% → 36%), MarShawn Lloyd's are falling (44% → 27% → 23%), and Chris Brooks is the pass-down back with zero carries.
• Verdict: Avoid all three. If you must stash one, Johnson has the best trend.

Rams: Kyren back in charge

Kyren Williams took back the lead role after a 50/50 Week 2 with Blake Corum.

• Kyren had 88 rushing yards, 6 catches for 70 yards and 7 third-down touches. Corum had 15 yards on 6 carries.
• Some of the receiving bump is from Puka Nacua being out and TE Terrance Ferguson being limited to 22 snaps. RB targets jumped to 11 from 3–4.
• Neither back had a goal-line carry in Weeks 2–3.
• Verdict: Kyren is an RB1/2 again. Corum still gets about 40% of carries on the season, so he's a strong handcuff.

Patriots: back to a committee

TreVeyon Henderson's Week 2 spike didn't hold. Mike Vrabel said the split would go back to about even, and it did.

• Rhamondre Stevenson led in snaps and had the team's only goal-line carry. Henderson had one more carry.
• Corey Kiner took 6 carries (29%), mostly late in a 35-6 blowout.
• Only 21 RB carries and a combined 63 rushing yards. Vrabel said his "concern level is very high" for the team.
• Verdict: Henderson is a flex with upside, not a bell cow. Stevenson keeps the passing-down and pass-protection snaps.

Saints: Kamara up next, Etienne hurt again

Travis Etienne re-aggravated his hamstring in the third quarter and is expected to miss time. Alvin Kamara should lead in Week 4.

• Etienne pulled up on a 16-yard run. He'd been limited in practice all week with the same hamstring.
• Kamara has 18 carries for 51 yards (2.8 per carry) since his return, plus 7 targets. Kendre Miller had 4 carries and 3 targets in Week 3.
• Tyler Shough takes goal-line carries (2 in Week 2), which caps every Saints back's TD odds.
• Verdict: Kamara is a volume flex for Monday night vs. Atlanta. Miller is a deep-league add.

49ers: the split flipped back to McCaffrey

The split was a Weeks 1–2 story. In Week 3 McCaffrey was the bell cow again, and Kaelon Black barely played.

• McCaffrey had 116 total yards and a 1-yard TD. He has 5 of the team's 6 goal-line carries this season.
• The reason is unclear. Shanahan's stated plan is to limit CMC's workload, and Black was questionable in Week 2 with a groin issue. One week doesn't prove the plan is gone.
• Verdict: McCaffrey stays an RB1 either way because of targets and goal-line work. Black is a handcuff; don't start him on Weeks 1–2 usage.

Seahawks: Price in the doghouse, but not for long

Jadarian Price was benched after a second straight lost fumble. The backups didn't take advantage, and Mike Macdonald says Price will keep getting the ball.

• Price wasn't hurt in Week 3; he was cleared from his chest injury Friday. The benching was about ball security.
• Emanuel Wilson ran 9 times for 14 yards but has 6 of the team's 11 goal-line carries. George Holani was the pass catcher (5 catches, 48 yards).
• Macdonald: "We're going to continue to give him the ball." Zach Charbonnet could return from PUP after Week 4.
• Verdict: Avoid this backfield for now. Price is the best buy-low if you can wait; Wilson is a TD-only dart.

Other backfields that moved

Panthers: Hubbard alone after Brooks's injury

Jonathon Brooks had core-muscle surgery and is on IR for at least six weeks. Chuba Hubbard's share jumped.

• Carry share went 53% → 60% → 83% (19 of 23). Snap share hit 84% (65 of 77).
• AJ Dillon is the only other back, with 4 carries and 12 snaps.
• Carolina had no red-zone or goal-line carries in Week 3, so the TD upside depends on the offense.

Broncos: Dobbins leads while Coleman is out

Jonah Coleman was ruled out for Week 3, and J.K. Dobbins took 17 of 20 RB carries (85%).

• Dobbins is still a two-down back: 49% of snaps and 2 targets. RJ Harvey played 36% of snaps and had 7 targets, 6 catches and 41 yards.
• Dobbins has 4 goal-line carries and zero TDs, and ran for 2.9 yards per carry in Week 3.
• When Coleman returns, expect the Week 2 split again (Dobbins and Coleman had 10 carries each).

Giants: Najee Harris is rising

Cam Skattebo is steady at 67% of carries and hit a season-high 77% of snaps. The change is behind him.

• Najee Harris went from 4 carries (21%) to 9 (30%) and ran for 52 yards. Devin Singletary didn't play an offensive snap.
• Skattebo averaged 3.0 yards per carry; Harris averaged 5.8. Worth watching if Skattebo stays inefficient.

Steelers: Warren as a true bell cow

With Rico Dowdle (toe) out, Jaylen Warren played through a shoulder issue and handled nearly everything.

• Carry share went 56% → 55% → 89% (17 of 19). Snap share went 37% → 71% → 90% (56 of 62).
• He ran for 127 yards (7.5 per carry) and added 3 catches for 49 yards. The only other backs were practice-squad call-ups Travis Homer and Lew Nichols.
• Dowdle was a DNP on Monday, and Pittsburgh plays Thursday vs. Cleveland. Another Dowdle absence keeps Warren an RB1-level volume play.

Titans: Pollard's carries up, snaps flat

Tony Pollard had 85% of carries (17 of 20), up from 60% in Weeks 1–2. His snaps stayed at 53%.

• Tyjae Spears still played 47% of snaps but had 3 carries and zero targets.
• Cam Ward took 3 goal-line carries in Week 2, so Pollard's TD odds are capped.

Stable backfields, quick hits

These roles held in Week 3. Sorted by season carry share.