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:
Top NFL DFS Cash Game Options
Rachaad White ($4,700 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
The injuries continue to pile up heading into Week 5. This week, there are multiple starters down at running back, opening up plenty of value at the position.
White stands out as one of the best. He’s been outplayed by Bucky Irving over the past 1.5 years, but with Irving out for Week 5, it should allow White to step back into a bell-cow role. We’ve seen White deliver plenty of fantasy value in that role in the past. He had more than 1500 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 2023, resulting in an RB4 finish in PPR formats.
White’s receiving ability is his best attribute for fantasy purposes. He’s caught just under 90% of his targets for his career, and he averaged 3.8 receptions and 32.3 receiving yards in his last full year as a starter. Irving has averaged 4.8 receptions and 48.3 receiving yards per game so far this season, so White should slip into that role pretty seamlessly.
White isn’t as productive as Irving as a runner, and it’s possible that Sean Tucker factors into the equation vs. the Seahawks. Still, White figures to see the bulk of the carries, which should more than supplement his work as a receiver.
Add it all up, and White stands out as one of the best pure values on the slate.
Rico Dowdle ($4,300 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel)
Dowdle is another player who will be stepping into a starting role for his team. Unfortunately, Carolina’s offense isn’t nearly as productive as Tampa Bay’s. They’re 26th in points per game and 24th in yards, so it’s not nearly as fruitful a situation.
However, one thing the Panthers do somewhat well is running the ball. They’re seventh in ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate, and they have the eighth-best run blocking grade per PFF. They should open up some holes for Dowdle to run through.
Like White, Dowdle is someone with plenty of previous starting experience. He was the Cowboys’ top running back last year, and he ultimately racked up 4.6 yards per carry and more than 1,000 rushing yards in 16 games.
Dowdle gets a fantastic matchup this week vs. the Dolphins. Miami is one of the few teams in the league that the Panthers might be able to keep things competitive against. They’re currently listed as just 1.5-point underdogs, so the game script should be neutral. The Dolphins are also 23rd in rush defense EPA, and they’re 31st in defensive EPA/play overall.
Dowdle is extremely affordable across the industry, and he leads the position in projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He should be a staple of cash game lineups.
De’Von Achane ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)
With two clear values at the RB position, it should be no problem to fit a stud runner in as well. There are plenty of options to consider, but Achane stands out as the best value of the bunch.
He’ll be on the other side of that matchup vs. Dowdle, and Carolina’s defense is nearly as bad as Miami’s. They’re 24th in the league in rush defense EPA, and they’ve surrendered the 12th-most PPR points to opposing RBs this season.
Achane has been extremely reliable for the Dolphins this season, scoring at least 16.1 PPR points in all four games. As a result, he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus on DraftKings in each contest.
Achane is coming off his best performance as a runner in Week 4, turning a season-high 20 carries into 99 yards and a touchdown. However, Achane is best known for his work as a receiver. He owns a 22% target share out of the Dolphins’ backfield, which is an elite figure at the RB position. Only Christian McCaffrey has seen a higher percentage of his team’s targets this season, and he’s arguably the top running back in fantasy.
One way or another, expect Achane to produce against the Panthers. He has the second-highest ceiling projection at the position on DraftKings, and he has the best projected Plus/Minus among RBs priced over $6,300.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
Top NFL DFS Tournament Options
Jonathan Taylor ($8,000 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel)
Taylor tops our projections from a ceiling standpoint, and he’s in a fantastic spot vs. the Raiders. Their defense has actually been pretty stout against the run this season – they’re second in rush defense EPA – but the Colts are listed as seven-point home favorites. That sets up an extremely favorable game script for Taylor, who has carried a massive workload for the Colts this season. He’s played on 83% of the team’s snaps and handled 71% of their carries, and that number would be even higher if we looked solely at RB touches. Taylor has 77 carries across his four outings, while backup DJ Giddens has merely 13. It should come as no surprise if Taylor reaches 20+ carries in this matchup.
Running backs tend to perform well as favorites, and Taylor is no exception. He’s been a favorite of at least 4.5 points in 14 career contests, and he’s averaged a ridiculous +8.98 Plus/Minus in that split (per the Trends tool). He’s only been a favorite that large twice since 2022, and he’s scored more than 30 DraftKings points on both occasions.
Taylor ultimately has the second-highest DraftKings optimal rate in SimLabs, trailing only Achane. He’s an even stronger option on FanDuel, where his average production in the passing game doesn’t hurt him quite as much.
Breece Hall ($5,600 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)
Hall is another player who should benefit from his team’s current injury situation. Braelon Allen has served as his backup for most of the year, and he’s handled 20% of the team’s carries. However, Allen went down with an injury in Week 4, and he’s going to miss 8-12 weeks while recovering. That opens the door for Hall to step into a potential bell-cow role moving forward.
Hall’s talent has never been a question. He’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry for his career, and he’s right at that figure once again in 2025. He’s also a capable receiver out of the backfield, and he had a season-high 22% target share last week vs. the Dolphins.
The matchup vs. the Cowboys is the cherry on top. Dallas has been a disaster defensively this season, ranking dead last in EPA per play. They’ve been a bit worse through the air than on the ground, but they’re still just 25th in rush defense EPA. Overall, they’ve allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game to the position.
Add it all up, and Hall stands out as an excellent option. He’s particularly appealing at just $5,600 on DraftKings, given his 93% Bargain Rating.
Omarion Hampton ($6,500 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
Hampton was the chalk at RB last week, and he certainly did not disappoint. Even though he only managed 12 carries in a game that the Chargers trailed throughout, he still turned in 128 rushing yards and a touchdown. He added five catches for 37 yards through the air, bringing his tally to more than 30 DraftKings points.
Hampton is considered an elite talent at the RB position, which is why the Chargers used a first-round draft pick on him in 2025. With Najee Harris now on IR, the coast is clear for Hampton to step into an every-down role. He played on 88% of the snaps and handled 100% of the carries last week vs. the Giants, so with a more favorable game script, Hampton could be poised for some big performances.
The matchup is the only drawback with Hampton this week. The Commanders have been far better against the run than they have been against the pass, and the Chargers are already one of the most pass-heavy teams in football. It’s possible they lean on the pass even more this week.
The good news is that Los Angeles is implied for 25.25 points in this contest, which is the third-highest mark on the main slate. Even if Hampton isn’t super busy as a runner, he could certainly punch in another touchdown.
Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside
Javonte Williams ($6,200 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel)
Williams has been one of the biggest surprises at the RB position this year. He was expected to compete with Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue for touches, and the three players were expected to form some sort of committee. Instead, Williams has taken the starting job and run with it. He’s handled 68% of the team’s rushing attempts compared to just 22% for Sanders, while Blue hasn’t even been able to get on the active roster.
Williams has been highly efficient with his opportunities. He’s averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and he had a season-high 20 carries last week vs. the Packers. He’s also added four touchdowns, and only three players have more through the first four weeks.
With CeeDee Lamb still sidelined, Williams could continue to pick up a few additional opportunities vs. the Jets. It’s a solid matchup, with the Jets ranking 28th in points per game and 20th in yards per game allowed. Williams has posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his first four games, and he remains a bit underpriced across the industry.
Cam Skattebo ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel)
Skattebo took over as the Giants’ clear No. 1 RB in Week 4. Tyrone Tracy was out with an injury, and he’s listed as doubtful for Week 5 vs. the Saints.
Even before Tracy went down with an injury, Skattebo was starting to establish himself as the RB1 in the Giants’ backfield. He saw more snaps and rushing attempts than Tracy in Weeks 2 and 3, but he moved into a clear workhorse role in Week 4. He handled 75% of the snaps, including the majority of short yardage and pass-catching opportunities.
It makes Skattebo one of the cheapest bell-cow backs in football, and he could be a bit undervalued this week vs. the Saints. New Orleans has allowed the seventh-most PPR points per game to opposing RBs this season, and they’ve been average in terms of rush defense EPA. It’s one of the few matchups this season where the Giants won’t be clear underdogs, which sets up a potentially favorable game script.
Skattebo is showing up as underowned in Sim Labs across the industry, with his optimal lineup rate exceeding his projected ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel. His $6,200 salary on FanDuel makes him particularly appealing on that site, with his 86% Bargain Rating tied for the third-best mark at the position.
Ashton Jeanty ($6,700 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel)
Jeanty got off to a slow start this season, but he showed everyone just how talented he is in Week 4. He racked up 138 yards and one touchdown on the ground, and he added two receiving touchdowns and 17 yards through the air. He ultimately finished with 37.5 DraftKings points, making him the top scorer at the position for the week.
Jeanty has had to overcome a brutal situation in Las Vegas as a rookie. He’s averaged just 1.0 yards before contact per attempt, which is the worst mark in the league among players with more than 18 carries. That means he’s had to do most of the work himself, and he was able to do that last week. PFF credited him with nine missed tackles forced last week – tied for the top mark at the position – and 124 of his rushing yards came after contact.
Will he be able to do it again? That remains to be seen, but it’s clear that he at least has an outstanding ceiling. The Colts are in the middle of the pack in terms of run defense, and this game has an excellent 47.5-point total. Jeanty is another player who stands out as underpriced at just $7,200 on FanDuel.
Jahmyr Gibbs ($7,700 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
Gibbs isn’t expected to garner a ton of ownership this week, but he has a ton of positive things working in his favor. For starters, the Lions are currently listed as 10.5-point favorites against the Bengals, with an implied point total of 30.0. That’s the largest of the week by a pretty comfortable margin.
The Bengals also stand out as a phenomenal matchup. They’re 27th in rush defense EPA, and they’ve allowed the second-most PPR points per game to the position. They surrendered just 49 rushing yards to the Browns in Week 1, but since then, they’ve allowed 139, 168, and 186 rushing yards in three consecutive games. Ultimately, Gibbs’ +4.2 Opponent Plus/Minus is the second-best mark at the position.
The Lions also continue to boast one of the best rushing attacks in football, despite losing coordinator Ben Johnson and three starting offensive linemen this offseason. They rattled off more than 220 rushing yards vs. the Ravens in Week 3 before coming back to reality a bit vs. the Browns’ elite defense in Week 4.
Gibbs isn’t a true bell-cow, but he makes the most of his situation. He’s already scored four touchdowns this season after racking up 20 scores last year, and he’s averaged better than five yards per carry for his career. It gives him one of the highest ceilings on the slate, so he’s an elite pivot in lineups where you’re fading Achane and Taylor.
Pictured: De’Von Achane
Photo Credit: Imagn
