Welcome to the 2025 NFL season! After all the anticipation, you’re finally rewarded with four full days of football right off the bat—Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday. Roger Goodell is probably plotting to integrate soccer into the mix soon, but for now, let’s focus on which running backs to start this week.
Mixon is on the NFI list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first month. Nick Chubb seems to be taking the lead as the starter going into week one, although his circumstances aren’t perfect since the Rams are favored against the Texans. If the Texans struggle, Chubb could find himself losing opportunities.
Spears is also out for the first four games due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Tony Pollard looks well-positioned to be a strong fantasy pick, likely seeing an uptick in his workload.
Harris has recovered from an eye injury and might take the field against the Chiefs on Friday night. That’s a boost for his availability going forward, but rookie Omarion Hampton is also ready to step up, which complicates things for fantasy owners. You’ll want to see how that shakes out before deciding to start him.
De’von Achane, Dolphins
Achane is dealing with a calf issue but appears to be back at practice and ready to go for week one.
Wright looks like he’ll miss the first week with a leg injury, which will give rookie Ollie Gordon a chance to see more action against the Colts.
Jeanty is set for his NFL debut this Sunday when the Raiders kick off their season at the Patriots. After a standout 2024 at Boise State, where he rushed for over 2,600 yards and scored 29 touchdowns, he was drafted sixth overall.
O’Mallion Hampton, Chargers
Hampton will make his debut on Friday against the Chiefs. This 221-pound running back from North Carolina has shown impressive skills in training camp and is likely to play a significant role in the offense.
Trevion Henderson, Patriots
Henderson is expected to see his first professional action when the Patriots host the Raiders on Sunday. Although he’ll back up Rhamondre Stevenson, his skills as a pass-catcher could make him a key player in New England’s offense this season.
Pittsburgh opted to let Johnson go in free agency and drafted his replacement in the third round. The Iowa tailback has a chance to be Pittsburgh’s primary early-down back, although he starts off the week behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. We’ll have to watch how much playing time he gets against the Jets.
When evaluating running backs, take note of the odds, especially if there’s a strong favorite. This can really influence their workload, particularly if the game allows them to stay grounded rather than forcing them to chase points in the fourth quarter. If your roster returned solid players, you’d ideally want them in a scenario where they have the chance to run down the clock.
Bills’ Ravens (-1.5) – 52.5
Packers Lions (-2.5) – 47.5
Browns Bengals (-5.5) – 47.5
Eagles Cowboys (-7.5) – 47.5
The highest implicit individual team total
Eagles 27.5, Bills 27, Bengals 26.5, Commanders 26, Ravens 25.5, Packers 25
Jets Steelers (-2.5) –37.5
Titans Broncos (-7.5)—41.5
Cardinals Saints (-5.5) – 42.5
Patriots Raiders (-2.5)—43.5
Bears Vikings (-1.5) –43.5
Lowest implicit individual team total
Titans 17, Jets 17.5, Saints 18.5, Giants 19.5, Cowboys 20, Steelers 20
Eagles Cowboys (-7.5)
Broncos Titans (-7.5)
Commanders Titans (-6.5)
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