As the 2025 NFL season barrels towards its midway point, fantasy football managers face critical decisions that can make or break their season. With Week 7 on the horizon, lineup choices become ever more crucial. In this edition of Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, we dive into the running back landscape, offering insights to help you navigate tricky roster decisions. This guide is your key to dominating your fantasy league!
Start ‘Em
Cam Skattebo (NYG) vs. Denver Broncos
Cam Skattebo has emerged as a reliable RB2 with RB1 upside. Over the last three weeks, he’s played over 70% of snaps, consistently receiving 20+ opportunities (carries + targets). Skattebo ranks third in the NFL in red-zone carries since Week 2. Even against a tough Denver defense, Skattebo’s volume makes him a must-start.
Breece Hall (NYJ) vs. Carolina Panthers
Hall is averaging 17.5 touches per game, leading the team in red-zone targets (tied with Xavier Gipson). With Gipson potentially sidelined, Hall’s volume could increase further. Tied for the second-most explosive runs in the NFL, Hall’s big-play potential keeps him in play, despite Carolina’s improved run defense.
Alvin Kamara (NO) at Chicago Bears
Kamara’s presence in this article would have been laughable in the past. He is the RB22 on the season, failing to reach 13 fantasy points in a single game over the last month. Targets seem to be back, with five or more in three straight games. The Bears allow the seventh-most rushing yards and third-most explosive runs to RBs. They’ve given up the sixth-most fantasy PPG to the position, so Kamara remains in play.
Quinshon Judkins (CLE) vs. Miami Dolphins
After a tough week, Judkins faces a prime bounce-back opportunity against Miami. The Dolphins have given up the most rushing yards to RBs and yield explosive runs at the highest rate in the NFL. They have allowed a top-nine fantasy RB in four of their last five games. Judkins is a must-start option.
J.K. Dobbins (DEN) vs. New York Giants
The Broncos-Jets London game was one for everyone to forget. The Giants are in the top seven in rushing yards, touchdowns and explosive run rate allowed to RBs. They also give up the second-most yards after contact on a per-touch basis. Dobbins is tied with Breece Hall for the second-most explosive runs in the NFL and ranks eighth in yards after contact. Dobbins has received all but one of the goal-line carries for Denver this season, so he remains in play this week.
Kimani Vidal (LAC) vs. Indianapolis Colts
Vidal was the clear winner last week, playing 67 percent of snaps while racking up 18 carries and four targets. He turned that into 138 yards and a touchdown, finishing as the RB9 on the week. This week, he gets the Colts, who are a tough matchup on paper, but rank league average in categories like yards per carry and stuff rate. They allow yards before contact and explosive runs at an above-average rate, so Vidal is not a must-start, but he is in play as an RB2 or flex option.
Rhamondre Stevenson/TreVeyon Henderson (NE) at Tennessee Titans
This is a sleeper, or a streamer or a bye-week replacement. Stevenson remains the team’s RB1, so he is the preferred play. With Henderson, you hope he racks up targets and/or hits a home run. At the end of the day, though, this is all about getting the Titans, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards and most rush TDs to RBs this season. Game script should help here. Both backs are in play as flex options.
Sit ‘Em
Zach Charbonnet & Kenneth Walker III (SEA) vs. Houston Texans
This situation is officially awful for fantasy football purposes. Charbonnet is the lead back, playing 57 percent of snaps, compared to Walker’s 43 percent in games both have been active. Charbonnet is also seeing the goal-line work. The issue is, he is averaging 2.6 yards per carry, which is a bit influenced by his short-yard usage, but also shows he has little burst. All of this has turned Walker into a big-play-reliant option. He has outscored Charbonnet once in the five games both have played together. Want to know what is sad? Charbonnet has not reached 13 points in a game this season. The Texans are in the bottom 10 in fantasy PPG, rushing yards and explosive run rate allowed to RBs, so get away from the Seattle backs this week.
Tony Pollard (TEN) vs. New England Patriots
played 59 percent of the snaps last week, compared to 42 percent for Pollard. The passing downs are extremely valuable on a team like this, and if Pollard is losing them, he is nearly unusable in fantasy. Especially against the Patriots, who have allowed the fewest yards per carry and third-lowest explosive run rate to RBs. Get away from Pollard this week.
Chase Brown (CIN) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown is averaging 9.7 fantasy PPG this season. He has not been a top-15 RB in any week this season. It is not just the QB play, either — it is also the offensive line, as Brown has averaged -0.3 yards before contact per carry, the worst of any RB with over 55 carries. He also has just one goal-line carry over the last three games. The Steelers are a middle-of-the-pack matchup, but they did just shut down last week. The ceiling is low — and so is the floor this week.
Nick Chubb & Woody Marks (HOU) at Seattle Seahawks
It was starting to look like Marks taking the RB1 reins from Chubb. In Week 3, they split snaps, and then in Week 4, Marks really took over the volume. Then Week 5 happened, and it was once again the Nick Chubb show, as Marks was limited to just eight opportunities. The hope is that the rookie starts to take over after the bye, but I want to see it first after being dupped once already. Plus, Seattle allows the second-fewest yards per carry, yielding explosive runs at the lowest rate in the NFL. They have struggled with RBs in the passing game, so if you need to play one of these two, I lean Marks.
Michael Carter & Bam Knight (ARI) vs. Green Bay Packers
None of the Cardinals backs played even half the snaps last week. Carter and Knight split carries, with the slight lean going to the latter. The pass-game usage went Carter’s way, but Knight did run 14 routes (Carter: 20). Knight also received the goal-line carry, producing a touchdown. It is a split that makes both low-floor and low-upside options. Even with a TD, Knight scored just 12.4 fantasy points last week. This is a tough matchup, too, as the Packers have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy PPG to RBs, giving up just two touchdowns to the position.
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