Nailing the running back spots is essential for constructing a solid DFS lineup. It’s a bit easier to project than the receivers, where touchdowns and big plays are going to result in weekly variance. The workloads for the top running backs are much more stable, so they’re typically more consistent fantasy producers.
However, that also results in some of the heaviest chalk you’ll see across the industry. How do you handle those players each week?
In this piece, I highlight running backs who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
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Christian McCaffrey ($8,500 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel)
McCaffrey entered this season as a major wild card. He’s coming off essentially a lost campaign in 2024, but he was the clear top player in fantasy the year prior. Could he stay healthy in 2025, and if he did, would he be able to return to his previous levels?
Things got off to a rocky start for McCaffrey, who surprisingly popped up as questionable on the Week 1 injury report. Fortunately, he was able to play through the injury. Not only that, but he’s handled one of the largest workloads in football. He’s played on 82% of his team’s offensive snaps and handled 72% of their rushing attempts, both of which are outstanding figures.
Of course, McCaffrey’s biggest value is derived from the passing game. He has been an absolute monster catching passes out of the backfield this season. He leads all running backs with a ridiculous 30% target share. There are only seven receivers with a higher target share this season, so McCaffrey is essentially combining a WR1’s pass-catching volume with an RB1’s rushing workload.
McCaffrey hasn’t been quite as efficient as usual on the ground, averaging just 3.4 yards per attempt so far this season. Still, that hasn’t stopped him from posting some huge performances. He’s racked up at least 22.7 DraftKings points in all three games, and there’s no reason to expect much different this week.
McCaffrey’s price tag has yet to return to his pre-injury levels. He was routinely priced in the five-figure territory on DraftKings, so $8,500 represents a solid bargain. He’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.14 with a comparable figure (per the Trends tool), and he leads all running backs in ceiling and projected Plus/Minus. Ultimately, he’s an elite building block in all formats.
Omarion Hampton ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)
Hampton was selected 22nd overall by the Chargers in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he was expected to be the leader in their backfield. That was the clear case in Week 1, but Najee Harris ate into his workload a bit in Week 2. The two players appeared destined for a more even split moving forward, but Harris went down with a torn Achilles last week vs. the Broncos.
It’s awful news for Harris, but it should allow Hampton to step into a bell-cow role in Week 4. With Harris limited in Week 1, Hampton racked up more than 80% of the snaps and designed rushing attempts for Los Angeles. If that’s going to be his level of involvement, he’s simply too cheap at $5,900.
Hampton hasn’t been particularly efficient to start his NFL career, but there’s little doubt about his talent. He rushed for more than 1,500 yards in his final two collegiate seasons, and he tested very well athletically at the NFL Combine. This is a player who should improve as he gets a bit more comfortable at the NFL level.
Hampton also benefits from an excellent matchup this week vs. the Giants. They rank 30th in rush defense EPA, and they’ve allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. Add in the fact that the Chargers are sizable 6.5-point favorites, and everything lines up for Hampton to have his best game as a professional.
Cam Skattebo ($5,500 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel)
On the other side of that matchup, the Giants also have a rookie running back worth considering. Skattebo was not considered the same level of prospect as Hampton, but he’s a bowling ball who can be extremely tough to tackle. He’s led the Giants in carries in back-to-back weeks, and with Tyrone Tracy now on IR, Skattebo could take on an even larger workload vs. the Chargers.
That said, there are a few downsides to consider. For starters, the matchup is going to be daunting. The Chargers have been excellent defensively through the first three weeks, though they have been a bit weaker against the run than the pass. Jaxson Dart is making his first career start at quarterback, so it’s possible that the Giants’ offense is pretty stagnant on Sunday.
Additionally, Devin Singletary is still around in the Giants’ backfield, and he could work in on passing downs. Skattebo did catch a bunch of check-downs from Russell Wilson last week, but it’s possible that Singletary gets more of that work in the future.
The good news is that Skattebo is so cheap on FanDuel that none of that really matters. He’s priced at just $5,400, and he leads all RBs in projected Plus/Minus at that figure. He’s priced in the same range as backups or timeshare backs, and Skattebo could legitimately see 80+% of the team’s RB opportunities vs. the Chargers. That’s too much cheap volume to pass up, even in a tough spot.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
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Ashton Jeanty ($6,200 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
Is it time to panic with Jeanty? He entered the league with as much fanfare as possible for a rookie running back, but he has not lived up to expectations to start the year. It’s not entirely his fault. The Raiders are dead last in Run Block Win Rate (RBWR), but Jeanty hasn’t helped himself either. He’s averaged -0.94 Rushing Yards Over Expectation per Attempt, which is the third-worst mark in the NFL.
That’s caused Jeanty’s price tag to dip all the way to $6,200 on DraftKings after starting the year at $7,000. Jeanty isn’t quite getting bell-cow usage – he’s played on 68% of the Raiders’ snaps and handled 70% of their carries – but volume hasn’t been the issue. It’s been efficiency and a lack of scoring opportunities that have really held him back.
Perhaps that will change in Week 4. He gets a matchup vs. the Bears, who have been a friendly matchup so far this season. They’re 23rd in rush defense EPA, and they’ve allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game to the position. Ultimately, it’s a great spot for the Raiders to potentially feed their talented rookie and look to get him on track.
Bucky Irving ($6,900 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
Irving has had some modest performances to start the year, scoring between 13.9 and 18.1 DraftKings points in all three games. However, that belies some fantastic underlying usage. He’s handled 74% of the Bucs’ designed rushing attempts this season, and he’s racked up a solid 15% target share. Ultimately, Irving is one of just four backs with at least 70% of their team’s carries and 15% of their targets, joining McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Jaylen Warren. That makes Irving potentially a bit undervalued.
Irving draws a matchup vs. a tough Eagles’ defense in Week 4, but Philly hasn’t looked quite as dominant on that side of the ball this season. They’re merely 16th in EPA per play defensively, and they’re 18th against the run.
Irving is popping with the third-highest optimal lineup rate at the position on DraftKings, trailing only McCaffrey and Hampton. He looks even better on FanDuel, where his $7,300 salary comes with a 70% Bargain Rating.
Bijan Robinson ($8,200 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel)
Robinson is one of the most talented backs in the league, and he’s put his full skill set on display to start the year. He already has one 100-yard receiving game and another with 146 rushing yards, and he’s fifth at the position in PPR points per game. If not for the fact that he’s scored just one touchdown through three weeks, he could very easily be atop the position.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Tyler Allgeier is going away. He continues to eat into Robinson’s workload more than we’d ideally like, logging 33% of the rushing attempts so far this season. He’s also a threat to vulture him around the goal line, just like he did in Week 2.
Robinson is at least dominating the usage as a pass-catcher, and he had 22 carries in the team’s lone win this season. The Falcons are currently listed as 2.5-point home favorites vs. the Commanders, and Robinson unsurprisingly thrived as a favorite last season. He averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.29 on DraftKings in that split, so there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about him in Week 4.
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Saquon Barkley ($7,600 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel)
Barkley hasn’t been quite as explosive this season as he was in his first year with the Eagles. He’s averaged just 3.3 yards per attempt through the first three weeks, which is down a full 2.5 yards compared to his mark last season. As a result, his rushing yards per game have dipped from 125.3 in 2024 to just 64.7 this year.
Still, we know about Barkley’s talent, and he’s still getting fed plenty on a weekly basis. As long as he can stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t start ripping off big games in bunches. His ownership projection is below his optimal lineup rate across the industry in SimLabs, making him a very interesting pivot off some of the chalkier backs.
James Cook ($7,100 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel)
After the Bills rewarded Cook with a new contract this offseason, Cook has responded with the best football of his career. He’s ripped off four touchdowns through the first three weeks, and he’s added 284 rushing yards, nine receptions, and 71 receiving yards. Overall, he’s averaged 25.0 PPR points per game, good for the No. 1 spot at the position.
Can he keep it going all season? That remains to be seen, but Cook is in a position to get fed once again on Sunday. The Bills are massive 15.5-point favorites at home vs. the Saints, and they lead all teams with a 31.75 implied team total. Massive favorites tend to thrive at the RB position, and Cook is no exception. He’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.15 in five games when favored by at least a touchdown since the start of last season, including 23.8 DraftKings points vs. the Dolphins in Week 3.
Even if Cook doesn’t end up playing the full contest, he could still do enough damage in three quarters to provide value.
Nick Chubb ($5,100 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel)
The Texans have been one of the biggest disappointments through the first three weeks. They’re currently sitting at 0-3, and their offensive line has been a nightmare. They’re 29th in yards per game and dead last in points, so I don’t blame you if you want nothing to do with them.
However, they are favored by a touchdown this week vs. the Titans, setting up a potentially juicy spot for Chubb. Chubb has fared pretty well behind the Texans’ subpar blocking, averaging +0.57 yards over expected per attempt. He could get a few more opportunities if the Texans can perform as expected, and the Titans’ defense has been horrendous against the run. They’re dead last in rush defense EPA through three weeks, so it’s an ideal spot for one of the Texans’ RBs to get going. Chubb seems like the most likely candidate, though rookie Woody Marks factored more into the rotation last week. Both guys make for interesting contrarian dart throws.
Quinshon Judkins ($5,500 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)
Judkins has taken the reins in the Browns’ backfield much quicker than anyone anticipated. He handled 95% of the team’s rushing attempts in Week 3, and he responded with 94 yards and a touchdown against a tough Packers defense. Overall, Judkins has averaged 5.5 yards per attempt through his first two contests.
It’s another subpar matchup for Judkins in Week 4, with the Browns listed as 10-point underdogs vs. the Lions. Judkins hasn’t played much on passing downs, so if the Lions can run away with this game, Judkins could get scripted out.
However, the Browns have played competitive games all season, and their defense has a chance to keep things interesting. If they can slow down Jared Goff and company, expect the offense to continue to flow through Judkins. Ultimately, he’s too talented for his current price tag.
Pictured: Omarion Hampton
Photo Credit: Imagn
