Committee Backfield Outlook Heading into Week 1
- Faraz Siddiqi
- Sep 5
- 4 min read
Here's how I'm treating each committee backfield going into Week 1:
Washington Commanders
Expectation: 3-Man Committee
Chris Rodriguez can handle goal-line work, Austin Ekeler can lead in snaps and pass work, and Bill Croskey-Merritt can be the home-run hitter with potentially 8-10 touches. If I’m starting anyone in a deep league this week, it would be Ekeler.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
Bigsby can handle early down and goal line work, while Etienne handles passing work and some early down. Both are deep options, but Etienne likely has a high floor.
Tuten is still a high-priority stash, waiting in the wings for one of these two to falter.
New England Patriots
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
Not worried about Antonio Gibson listed ahead of Treveyon Henderson on the depth chart. Henderson will get touches, and he’ll serve as the passing-down back in a system that prioritizes it. Rhamondre will likely get most work on early downs in Week 1. If he fumbles somewhat early on this season, it will open a huge door. Starting Henderson as a low-end RB2 with upside, while Rhamondre is a TD-dependent deep flex play. Good matchup overall against the Raiders.
Cleveland Browns
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
Jerome Ford will likely start, but Dylan Sampson won’t be too far behind. Ford has been trusted as the passing-down back, so he’ll get that plus a bit of a role on early downs, as well. Ford is a RB3/flex play, while Sampson is more of a desperation start against a lifeless Bengals defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
Maybe I’m a wishful thinker hoping that Kenny Gainwell is actually not involved, despite him being listed ahead of Kaleb Johnson on the depth chart. It does seem like Jaylen Warren is getting the first crack at the 1A role, so he is the best start of the bunch as a RB3/flex play with a higher floor in PPR. Johnson is more of a desperate, deeper play if you need one, but I wouldn’t rely on him. Despite that, the hope is that he comes out of this game giving us more confidence in his rest-of-season potential.
Dallas Cowboys
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
A lot of ambiguity here between Javonte Williams (presumed starter), Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue, but I would assume this morphs into a 2-man committee with Williams handling early down duties, as well as when he needs to stay in for pass protection on passing downs. However, Blue can be the receiving outlet out of the backfield with the Cowboys likely moving towards a pass-first offense (by choice and necessity). Blue is coming off an ankle injury, so keep that in mind going into Week 1.
Houston Texans
Expectation: 3-Man Committee
Expecting Nick Chubb to start, while Dameon Pierce also sees touches on early downs, continuing a bit of a competition with Chubb. I think Pierce has an opportunity to take over if Chubb doesn’t produce on his touches, and isn’t the same guy he was pre-knee injury. I’d expect Dare Ogunbowale to be the primary pass protector in obvious passing situations, but he likely won’t touch the ball much. Woody Marks can challenge for touches as a satellite back option, but likely not as the primary runner given his skillset.
Denver Broncos
Expectation: 3-Man Committee
JK Dobbins will likely start for the Broncos as he’s listed as the RB1, but in a Sean Payton offense, we’d be looking at multiple RBs to get opportunities. But because such a large percentage of opportunities historically go to RBs in a Payton offense, there will be plenty to go around, especially if the lion’s share is spread between just Dobbins and RJ Harvey. My preferred start is still Harvey (low-end RB2), as he’ll likely be the back playing more of a receiver role who also has a role in the run game and in the red zone (a la Alvin Kamara in his rookie year). Dobbins will likely be the Mark Ingram type - an early down thumper who will get some targets, but not as many. Goal line snaps could lean Dobbins’ way (flex with RB2 upside play), but we’ll see.
Los Angeles Chargers
Expectation: 2-Man Committee
Word is that Najee Harris might get the start this week, which would be hilarious given that he missed all of camp with an eye injury, so if it happens, it’s probably a ceremonial start given to a veteran. I’d expect Omarion Hampton to get slightly more work than Najee - I have Hampton as a solid RB2 this week, but there is a high range of outcomes given Greg Roman’s history of split backfields. JK Dobbins (2nd round pick) was a monster his rookie year (led NFL with 6 YPC, led NFL with breakaway run %), but Roman didn’t give a shit - he kept splitting work evenly with Gus Edwards. Hopefully, with Hampton being a higher pick, he will be used more so he can get closer to that sweet upside we all know he has in this offense.
