- Rico Dowdle is an elite fantasy running back in a newfound role: Dowdle’s playtime jumped up to 72% in Week 9 due to Chuba Hubbard struggling to get going on the ground this season. In Dowdle’s three starts, he has averaged over 200 scrimmage yards and 31.5 fantasy points per game.
- Ashton Jeanty finally gets elite playing time: Following the Las Vegas Raiders‘ bye week, Jeanty played a career-high 90.5% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 9. This is a big jump from the 68.5% of playing time he was receiving over the Raiders' first seven games of the season.
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Below are the top running back takeaways from Week 9 that could have a significant impact on fantasy points in Week 10 and beyond.
Rico Dowdle has taken over the Carolina Panthers’ backfield
The Carolina Panthers’ coaching staff finally smartened up and realized that their best chance to win is when they feed Rico Dowdle and limit Chuba Hubbard’s touches. From Weeks 7-8, with Hubbard back from a couple-game absence, Dowdle saw the field for just 42% of the Panthers’ offensive plays and was given only 39% of the team’s carries over that span. However, Dowdle has been the far more efficient back than Hubbard this season, so the Panthers made Dowdle their starter in Week 9, and he was on the field for 72.4% of plays and earned 25 carries in the game. Hubbard, on the other hand, was limited to five carries and 22% playing time last week.
In his three starts in 2025, Dowdle has averaged 29 touches, 204.7 scrimmage yards and 31.5 fantasy points per game — he has hit at least 28 fantasy points in all three games. Among running backs with 100-plus carries, Dowdle ranks third with 5.6 yards per carry, fourth with 3.8 yards after contact per attempt and fifth in rushing first downs converted. The only running backs averaging more yards per carry than Dowdle this season are Jonathan Taylor and James Cook (min. 100 carries).
Upcoming matchups: vs. Saints, at Falcons, at 49ers
Kareem Hunt is a clear RB1 with Isiah Pacheco out
With Isiah Pacheco sidelined due to a knee injury, Kareem Hunt was the Kansas City Chiefs’ clear lead back in Week 9. Hunt was on the field for 80% of the team’s offense snaps and led the backfield with 11 carries in the game, while backups Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie Brashard Smith had a combined five touches. This was the first time this season that Hunt notched more than 45% playing time in a game.
Even before Pacheco’s injury, Hunt was already the team’s goal-line back, getting nine of the 10 goal-line carries by a Chiefs running back this season while scoring five of the team’s seven rushing touchdowns. With increased playing time and less competition for touches, Hunt should be considered a weekly top-20 RB fantasy option until Pacheco returns to the field.
Upcoming matchups: BYE, at Broncos, vs. Colts
TreVeyon Henderson plays 75% of the New England Patriots’ offensive snaps but still earns just a 42.4% share of the rush attempts
With Rhamondre Stevenson out due to a toe injury, TreVeyon Henderson finally dominated backfield snaps, playing on 75% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in Week 9. Backup running back Terrell Jennings was only on the field 25% of the snaps. However, Henderson still split backfield carries, seeing 14 carries to Jenning’s 11. Jennings also stole the Patriots’ one goal-line carry in the game and successfully got into the end zone. On the plus side, Henderson was able to grab four receptions, giving him a career-high 18 touches in last week’s game.
Henderson has yet to score more than 12 fantasy points in a game in his rookie season. Still, if Rhamondre Stevenson remains inactive, it will be hard to sit Henderson with a very favorable upcoming schedule. The New England Patriots will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10, and they have allowed the seventh most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. They especially struggle against pass-catching backs. Then, the Patriots face the New York Jets, who have given up the 11th most points on average to running backs, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the most points to RBs in Weeks 11 and 12.
Upcoming matchups: at Buccaneers, vs. Jets, at Bengals
Ashton Jeanty plays a career-high 90.5% of the offensive snaps coming out of the Las Vegas Raiders’ bye
The Las Vegas Raiders came out of their bye week and finally gave Ashton Jeanty the playing time he deserved. In Week 9, Jeanty played on a career-high 90.5% of the team’s offensive snaps after seeing the field for just 68.5% of the time over their first seven games of the season. Jeanty was one of just four running backs to play on over 90% of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 9. He dominated the Raiders' backfield touches, getting 18 touches, while the other running backs saw zero carries and only one reception in the game.
Fantasy managers should be especially encouraged about his increased workload on third down. Jeanty played on 80% of the Raiders' third-down snaps in Week 9 after seeing the field for just 49% of their third-down snaps from Weeks 1-7. He also was given two goal-line carries in Week 9 but failed to get in on either attempt.
Unfortunately, Jeanty has two tough upcoming matchups against the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns over the next three weeks — both teams are very stingy against fantasy running backs this season. But, with the increased playing time, Jeanty should be a steady top 12 running back producer the rest of the way.
Upcoming matchups: at Broncos, vs. Cowboys, vs. Browns
Washington Commanders RBs Jacory Croskey-Merritt are Chris Rodriguez Jr. are splitting carries and snaps
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has recorded just 166 yards, zero touchdowns and 17.6 fantasy points over the last four games combined after having a massive breakout game in Week 5, where he put up 150 yards, two touchdowns and 27 fantasy points. Over the last four weeks, Croskey-Merritt has scored 5.8, 4.2, 2.5 and 5.1 fantasy points. He has been leading the Commanders’ backfield in snaps but recently, Chris Rodriguez has been seeing more work and has shown greater efficiency than Croskey-Merritt.
Despite playing fewer snaps than Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez still had as many carries as him (12 each) in Week 9. Rodriquez was more efficient, too, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt compared to Croskey-Merritt’s 3.2 yards per attempt. This was Croskey-Merritt’s third straight game averaging 3.2 or fewer yards per carry. On top of that, in those three games, Rodriguez has seen four red zone carries to Croskey’s two, and stole both of the two running back carries inside the five.
This week, the Commanders will face the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the running back position this season. It is best for fantasy players just to stay away from the Commanders‘ backfield altogether.
Upcoming matchups: vs. Lions, at Dolphins (Madrid), vs. Broncos
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