It's Week 7, so we're at about that time of year when lots of teams are down to backup running backs. This can be a good thing, if you have the right players, but it also puts some lesser guys into lineups.
This week alone, I can think of three running backs who have been backups most of the season who either will or might be starting. Giving us both great and not-so-great options.
The best one is Tank Bigsby. He should be starting for Jacksonville, with Travis Etienne likely out with a hamstring injury. Bigsby has been the most efficient running back in the league so far, in terms of yards per carry. It's not a perfect metric, sometimes reliant on offensive line and scheme and matchups, but there's some value to it.
Two other potential starters have been at the other end of the spectrum (among all running backs with at least 40 attempts this season). Ty Chandler might be starting for Minnesota, with Aaron Jones dealing with a hip injury, and Alexander Mattison for the Raiders (with Zamir White out with a groin injury the last two weeks). Of course, White has been worse than Mattison, so he constitutes an upgrade.
Table shows all running backs with 40 carries so far this year, sorted by yards per attempt. Some of these guys will doubtless be starting in leagues. Bigsby should be, he might be a top-10 option this week. Mattison hasn't been great, but at least he's facing a Rams defense that's been really bad defending the run this season.
| RUNNING BACK RUSHING, 40-PLUS ATTEMPTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Run | Avg | TD |
| Tank Bigsby | 41 | 297 | 7.2 | 2 |
| Derrick Henry | 119 | 704 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Bucky Irving | 58 | 328 | 5.7 | 2 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 86 | 485 | 5.6 | 2 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 51 | 283 | 5.5 | 1 |
| Chase Brown | 51 | 283 | 5.5 | 3 |
| Joe Mixon | 52 | 286 | 5.5 | 2 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 81 | 438 | 5.4 | 3 |
| Jordan Mason | 114 | 609 | 5.3 | 3 |
| Saquon Barkley | 91 | 482 | 5.3 | 4 |
| Jerome Ford | 50 | 264 | 5.3 | 1 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 66 | 348 | 5.3 | 3 |
| Emanuel Wilson | 42 | 210 | 5 | 0 |
| Aaron Jones | 71 | 350 | 4.9 | 1 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 72 | 349 | 4.8 | 4 |
| Antonio Gibson | 48 | 226 | 4.7 | 0 |
| David Montgomery | 75 | 351 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Bijan Robinson | 82 | 380 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 77 | 356 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Kenneth Walker III | 51 | 234 | 4.6 | 5 |
| James Conner | 90 | 403 | 4.5 | 3 |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | 73 | 325 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Tyrone Tracy | 47 | 208 | 4.4 | 1 |
| James Cook | 70 | 309 | 4.4 | 4 |
| Tony Pollard | 78 | 339 | 4.3 | 3 |
| Josh Jacobs | 108 | 464 | 4.3 | 1 |
| Kareem Hunt | 41 | 171 | 4.2 | 1 |
| Rico Dowdle | 59 | 246 | 4.2 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | 104 | 428 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Travis Etienne | 56 | 230 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Devin Singletary | 56 | 221 | 3.9 | 2 |
| Najee Harris | 96 | 376 | 3.9 | 1 |
| Zach Charbonnet | 49 | 187 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Kyren Williams | 95 | 360 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Ray Davis | 46 | 172 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Breece Hall | 83 | 310 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Cam Akers | 40 | 147 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Rachaad White | 51 | 187 | 3.7 | 0 |
| Javonte Williams | 59 | 213 | 3.6 | 0 |
| D'Andre Swift | 91 | 325 | 3.6 | 3 |
| Zack Moss | 63 | 224 | 3.6 | 2 |
| Ty Chandler | 42 | 147 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Alexander Mattison | 46 | 158 | 3.4 | 3 |
| De'Von Achane | 56 | 183 | 3.3 | 1 |
| Zamir White | 49 | 152 | 3.1 | 0 |
--Andy Richardson