Let's take a look at the backup RBs, who are listed in the order that they should be rostered, taking into account both their immediate fantasy football value as a flex option and their long-term potential to take on a larger role. Current roster rates are listed in parentheses.
Note: Rachaad White (56%) became ineligible for the Week 7 edition of this article when Jacory Croskey-Merritt was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday. White would have topped this list.
1. Braelon Allen, Jets (89%)
Allen continued to be an effective replacement for injured starter Breece Hall when he gained 78 yards on 17 carries and 26 yards on two catches in a Week 6 loss to the Patriots. The third-year pro has tallied 253 rushing yards in three games without Hall, and he has averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in each contest. If Hall remains out of the lineup for Week 7, Allen would be a borderline RB1 for a favorable home matchup against the Dolphins.
Of course, the status of Hall is the big asterisk when it comes to evaluating Allen. The Jets have not put Hall on injured reserve, which suggests that they expect him to miss fewer than four weeks. Allen has played well enough to have a role when Hall returns, but if Hall plays against the Dolphins, Allen will move back into flex territory.
2. Woody Marks, Texans (85%)
With David Montgomery sidelined by a groin injury, Marks moved into the starting lineup against a stout Jaguars defense. His final stat line, including 56 yards rushing and two catches for 25 yards, looked solid. But the numbers somewhat misrepresented a game in which Marks mostly struggled prior to catching a couple of balls on the Texans’ final drive. Backup running back Jawhar Jordan fared better than Marks on the ground by producing 42 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
Should Montgomery miss another game this week, Marks will enjoy a more favorable matchup against the Giants. Given that Marks has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry while catching only 13 passes, he will need Montgomery to be on the sidelines to be considered an RB2 or flex option.
3. Kyle Monangai, Bears (80%)
Monangai has missed two straight games with thumb and toe injuries, and his eventual return will help a Bears offense that got on track in Week 6 but continues to be mediocre on the ground. D'Andre Swift averaged just 2.9 yards on his 16 carries in a game where the Bears could have put the Falcons away sooner if they had a dominant rushing attack.
Monangai will have a short week to make his return, as the Bears play on Thursday Night Football. If he can make it back, he would be a useful RB2 option and could get more touches than Swift, who will have a short amount of time to recover from a significant Week 6 workload.
4. RJ Harvey, Broncos (79%)
Harvey was the most dangerous member of a Broncos offense that was historically inept in an overtime win over the Seahawks. The versatile asset recorded 25 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while also leading the team with 31 receiving yards.
Admittedly, the stat line from Harvey is far from impressive. But with head coach Sean Payton trying to jumpstart his offense in any way possible, he must notice that Harvey has been the team's best weapon at times this season. Harvey continues to lead the team in catches (23) and is a serviceable RB2 for those who have been burned by an injury or are dealing with a bye week for a key contributor.
5. Blake Corum, Rams (77%)
Despite the public criticism from Kyren Williams, the Rams’ backfield usage was not the cause of their upset loss to the Cardinals. Williams received a 72% snap share, in comparison to a 28% share for Corum. Both players were effective on the ground, with Williams averaging 5.0 yards per carry and Corum averaging 4.7. Corum also turned two catches into 18 yards and a touchdown, while Williams tallied 17 yards on his three receptions.
While Corum continues to clearly be the backup to Williams, there are games such as the one in Week 6 where their workload volume is similar. Corum has found the end zone in two consecutive weeks, and the big news is that he has become an option in the Rams’ passing attack. The Rams face plenty of mediocre defenses in the coming weeks, which makes Corum a low-ceiling flex option.
6. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (4%)
The Giants have the messiest backfield in football right now. That's not necessarily a bad thing for fantasy managers, as a messy backfield provides an opportunity for a new starter to emerge. Although no one thrived during a Week 6 contest in which starter Cam Skattebo didn't touch the ball, Tracy was the closest thing to a success story. Tracy led the RB room on the ground with 18 yards and a touchdown on six carries. He also turned two catches into 27 yards and a score.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh indicated after the game that they are looking for someone to seize the backfield opportunity. Logic would dictate that Tracy was the closest to accomplishing that feat last week. While Skattebo or Najee Harris could ultimately emerge from the pack, Tracy is the Giants RB that desperate fantasy managers would want in their Week 7 lineup.
7. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (81%)
Week 6 was a strange one in the Patriots backfield. The week started with an announcement that Henderson had suffered a significant ankle injury in Week 5. Then came a steady stream of positive news during the week, which culminated in Henderson remaining active for the game against the Jets. And while we were deciding how much Henderson would eat into Rhamondre Stevenson's workload, third-string RB Corey Kiner snuck in and led the team with 57 yards on 11 carries. To his credit, Henderson averaged a solid 4.4 yards on his seven carries and recorded the only catch from a Patriots running back.
The New England backfield is now completely unsettled as the team heads into a Thursday Night Football game in Chicago. The bad news is that Henderson isn't playable in Week 7. The good news is that Stevenson, who is averaging 3.7 yards per carry, has opened the door for the coaching staff to consider other options.
8. Tyjae Spears, Titans (22%)
Tony Pollard continued to dominate carries in the Titans’ upset win in Indianapolis. The 29-year-old gained 76 yards on 19 rushes, as he remained the most stable member of an inconsistent offense. Spears gained just one yard on one carry and seven yards on one catch.
After such an unproductive Week 5 game, Spears remains in this article for just one reason: Pollard is one of the hottest names on the NFL trade market. The Titans would be wise to get a draft pick for their veteran running back prior to the November 10 deadline, which would thrust Spears into a starting role. He's a fine bench option for those who do not need immediate help.
9. Samaje Perine, Bengals (5%)
Week 5 felt like a "get right" game for Chase Brown, who had struggled on the ground all season. But even in a favorable matchup against the lowly Dolphins, Brown gained just 39 yards on 13 carries, with a long run of seven yards. Perine was much more effective, averaging 4.9 yards on his 14 carries, while also scoring a touchdown on one of his two catches.
The Bengals will now emerge from a Week 5 bye with a fresh opportunity to divide their backfield touches. Perine gave the coaching staff something to think about during the hiatus and could cut into Brown's workload in a huge Week 7 game against the Ravens. At the very least, he's an interesting player to stash for managers with extra bench space.
10. Mike Washington Jr., Raiders (6%)
In Week 7, Washington once again outperformed Ashton Jeanty on the ground, with the rookie averaging 4.9 yards on nine carries in comparison to a 2.2 average on 10 carries for Jeanty.
Given the Raiders’ massive draft investment in Jeanty, he is sure to remain the starter. But it's worth noting that after six games, the second-year pro is averaging 3.2 yards per carry, in comparison to 4.9 yards per carry for Washington. After starting the season 3-0, the Raiders have dropped each of their past three games. Getting Washington more carries could add balance to an offense that already has a respectable passing attack.
The best of the rest, factoring in current Flex value and long-term potential:
Dameon Pierce, Eagles; Kendre Miller, Saints; Rico Dowdle, Steelers; Brian Robinson, Falcons; Keaton Mitchell, Chargers; Pierre Strong Jr., Packers; Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals; Austin Ekeler, Commanders; Corey Kiner, Patriots; MarShawn Lloyd, Packers; Najee Harris, Giants; Justice Hill, Ravens; Kimani Vidal, Chargers; Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars; Bam Knight, Cardinals; Kaelon Black, 49ers; Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers; Jaylen Wright, Dolphins; Emmett Johnson, Chiefs
Injured backups to stash:
Jordan Mason, Vikings (designated to return from IR this week); Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks; Jonah Coleman, Broncos; Jonathon Brooks, Panthers