Checking in on Dual-Back NFL Teams: Fantasy Football Impacts of De'Von Achane, J.K. Dobbins, Austin Ekeler and Other Running Backs Sharing Touches
Analyzing usage so far for teams that feature (or we thought were going to feature) multiple running backs.
In the age of backfield rotations and the devaluation of the running back position, it can be hard to find consistent, productive performers in fantasy football. Especially when top guys like Christian McCaffrey are out, running back seems like the most desolate position in the fantasy game.
Split backfield work lowers the value of both players while making it hard to know who will get more work on a week-to-week basis. The beginning of the season is the hardest to predict: new players are on new teams playing under new coaches who are working in new circumstances – that’s a lot of moving parts.
It’s important to regularly check in with rotational backfields to see who is getting the most work and has the most fantasy value. Things change based on matchup and the flow of the game, but trends start to form early in the season and can solidify as time goes on.
Let’s look at some of the teams who came into the season with two or more running backs in line to get work and see how things have been distributed through three games. This won’t include every backfield in which multiple players get carries, but I am focusing on situations where something stands out with possible fantasy implications.
Preseason Duos
Arizona Cardinals, James Conner and Trey Benson
Los Angeles Rams, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum
We’ll start here quickly: These were both situations with successful veterans being joined by rookie Day 2 picks, leading to speculation the young players could steal work. The veteran has both kept the starting role and excelled in both locations, meaning the rookies have very little fantasy value.
Carolina Panthers, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders (and Jonathon Brooks)
Hubbard is the clear lead back, having carried the ball twice as much as Sanders, and owns nine catches to Sanders’ five. Sanders likely would have been cut after last season if his contract didn’t dictate his place on the team, so it’s not a surprise to see Hubbard in the lead role.
This setup is unlikely to change until Brooks enters the lineup. The rookie suffered a torn ACL last November, causing him to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and miss at least the first four games. There is no timetable for his return other than knowing it’s Week 5 at the earliest.
Despite Andy Dalton’s Week 3 heroics, it’s unlikely this team will compete for the playoffs, so the franchise has every reason to be extra cautious with Brooks and ease him into action upon his return. That would mean limited fantasy value until either late in the season or 2025.
Hubbard is a streamer right now, a guy to consider against the rest of your lineup each week; he’s probably not a starter very often unless you’re hurting for backs. Sanders isn’t fantasy relevant despite scoring a touchdown in Week 3's route of the Raiders.
Brooks is in the eye of the beholder: he’ll be worth a roster spot upon his return just in case he takes over, but I project him to have limited work most of this season before taking over as the top guy next year.
Cincinnati Bengals, Zack Moss and Chase Brown
Moss has been the lead back, not a surprise after signing for somewhat meaningful money in free agency. He has carried the ball 33 times to 14 for Brown. Moss also leads eight receptions to five, standing out as the first option.
As such, Moss is a flex guy to consider each week, and Brown is off the fantasy radar. Brown might be worth a roster spot in deeper leagues, but you can probably find a better option otherwise.
Detroit Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery
This is the only situation in the league in which two running backs are both fantasy starters. Both Gibbs and Montgomery are worthy of being in a lineup every week due to Detroit’s commitment to the run and success when doing it.
Los Angeles Chargers, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards
Dobbins has always had the allure of a productive fantasy back, but health had other ideas. After playing 15 games as a rookie, Dobbins missed all of 2021 then appeared in just nine combined games in ’22-23. The most likely outcome based on history is that Dobbins will again miss significant time.
That doesn’t matter to owners right now, though, as the former Baltimore back has gained over 300 yards in the first three games, doing it at 7.4 yards per carry. He and Edwards had essentially split carries over the first two games, but Dobbins dominated the workload in Week 3 (15 carries to three).
Edwards has been super inefficient as his teammate has excelled, pushing things even further in Dobbins’ favor. If health holds, Dobbins seems likely to continue seeing the ball most. He has also caught seven passes while Edwards has just one reception, meaning Dobbins has more value in PPR leagues (though it’s still limited).
Dobbins is at or near weekly starter status, while Edwards has fallen off the radar unless an injury puts him back into a workhorse role.
Miami Dolphins, De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert (and others)
Mostert has missed the past two games, making this a one-sided affair. More than just out-touching Mostert, though, this is about how Achane has seized a workhorse role on a team that likes to rotate backs.
Achane’s 43 carries are more than the rest of the team put together (34); same with his 150 rushing yards (135 for everyone else). Achane also leads the team with 17 receptions while star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have 13 apiece.
Even when Mostert returns, Achane will probably continue leading the backfield. He’s the most explosive element among the backs and has shown so far that he can handle a starter’s load of touches.
Achane is a weekly fantasy starter, and Mostert is worth a spot on someone’s roster due to the level of success he reached last season in this same situation.
New England Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson
Conventional thinking said that Stevenson would lead the rushing attack in New England this season while Gibson worked more as a pass catcher. Neither has been very involved in the passing game, but Stevenson actually has more catches and targets than Gibson.
The 69 passes Stevenson caught in 2022 are 21 more than Gibson has ever had in a season, and he hauled in 38 last year, just 10 fewer than Gibson. It was an easy conclusion to jump to, but maybe Gibson isn’t the better pass catching back in this duo.
Stevenson has more than twice as many carries, a trend that’s likely to continue. Without contributing in the passing game, Gibson has no place on fantasy rosters. Stevenson is a guy to consider every week and could be a weekly starter for a team without strong running backs.
Pittsburgh Steelers, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren
In maybe the biggest upset of projection season, Warren has just 14 carries and five receptions versus 55 and seven for Harris. Harris had been productive but inefficient in his first three seasons, and many thought Warren would become the more used player this year, the last of Harris’ rookie contract.
Harris is still inefficient; his 3.8 yards per carry are near his career average. Warren hasn’t been any better, though, and with Harris getting so much more usage, it’s likely he continues taking the bulk of the carries, especially as the team sits at 3-0.
Harris is a guy to consider each week, though he’s far from a weekly starter. He hasn’t scored any touchdowns, and Justin Fields is currently stealing some of the rushing thunder. Warren is off the fantasy radar and might not find his way back.
Tennessee Titans, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears
When it became clear that Derrick Henry was leaving Tennessee, many thought Spears would step into the lead role uncontested. He was a third-round pick who had averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a rookie, and the team was getting younger, fitting Spears into the timeline.
Then they signed Pollard early in free agency to a sizeable deal, pushing Spears back to the bench and seemingly killing his fantasy value. Sure enough, Pollard has carried the ball 39 times to just 12 for Spears, both backs averaging right around 4.0 yards per carry.
Probably due to Will Levis’ lack of passing acumen, Pollard and Spears are the top two receivers on the team in terms of catches, with 11 and 10 receptions respectively. Spears doesn’t get the chance to make up the difference in carries on the pass catching end.
Much like the situation in Pittsburgh, Pollard is a player to consider each week while Spears is off the fantasy radar. The Titans probably aren’t going to be good on offense all season, and that will affect their running backs.
Washington Commanders, Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler
Robinson has dominated the carries, toting it 45 times to just 13 for Ekeler. While the team was winning most of Monday night, Robinson had 13 attempts versus Ekeler’s three.
The former Chargers’ RB is unsurprisingly leading the backs in the passing game: Ekeler has nine catches for 121 yards while Robinson is at five receptions and 56 yards. Ekeler is a flex-level player, especially in PPR, due to his receiving work.
Given Robinson’s advantage in the running game, he is the more valuable fantasy back. Robinson is in the RB2 range and should be considered every week.
New Time-Shares
Las Vegas Raiders, Zamir White and Alexander Mattison
White was seen as the clear starter for the Raiders, and while that has been the case, he has been outplayed by his supposed backup.
White has handled most of the rushes in Vegas, but Mattison has gotten the most valuable touches. Mattison has received the only three rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line among the running backs, turning two of them into touchdowns.
He has even thrown in seven receptions for 80 yards while White has five and 16. Despite White carrying the ball 32 times to just 12 for Mattison, the latter has around 20 more fantasy points.
Neither player is a great fantasy option, just flex-level players to consider on the right weeks. White’s volume advantage hasn’t led to success because of complete inefficiency, making it possibly a better idea to hope for Mattison to score a touchdown (and catch a few passes in PPR).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rachaad White and Bucky Irving
White was drafted between RB10-15 in many leagues, an area in which an owner would surely expect to get a player who could start most weeks. White hasn’t been up to that level, and even worse, he’s been outplayed by his rookie teammate.
This is the exact scenario as detailed above in the Cardinals/Rams section, where a rookie outperforms and eventually usurps the veteran. Irving is averaging 6.2 yards per attempt on 25 carries while White has a 2.1 average on 31 attempts.
White has been the better pass catcher, getting a boost in PPR leagues with his 12 receptions (just five for Irving). That work in passing situations will help keep White on the field, but his rushing production is untenable for a fantasy player.
It’s worth keeping White on your roster because he will get touches, but Irving is the better fantasy option. His production can’t be ignored, and the team will surely feed the rookie the ball more if this void in performance continues.
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