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Let’s reveal the top Dynasty Fantasy Football RB Backups for 2025! Timing the market in fantasy football is one of the toughest things to predict, especially when it comes to backfield workloads. When teams pass the proverbial torch to its secondary running back, having that RB rostered before the switch can make the difference between a trophy and playing in the Toilet Bowl.
We are three weeks into the 2025 NFL season and there are trends starting to develop that your leaguemates haven’t picked up on. Thankfully for you, this breakdown will help you get out ahead of your competition as you look to survive the world of injuries and depth-chart demotions in your running back room.
See Mike’s latest breakdown | Breakout Wide Receivers for the Rest of 2025!
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Top Running Back Handcuffs | Future Feature Backs (2025)
Top Backfield Running Back Targets for Dynasty (Condensed Table)
Below is a shortened cheat sheet for the top backup RBs to target:
| Team | Current RB1 | Backup to Target | Why Target the Backup? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Travis Etienne | Bhayshul Tuten | Etienne’s snaps declining; Tuten already scoring and earning goal-line work |
| Denver Broncos | J.K. Dobbins | RJ Harvey | Harvey getting passing-down work; Sean Payton history with dual-RB systems |
| Houston Texans | Nick Chubb | Woody Marks | Chubb limited to early-down role; Marks trending up in passing game snaps |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Isiah Pacheco / Kareem Hunt | Brashard Smith | Pacheco/Hunt splitting evenly; Smith offers unique pass-catching upside |
Jacksonville Jaguars | It’s Almost Tuten Time
Current RB1: Travis Etienne
Eventual Starter: Bhayshul Tuten
Entering the 2025 NFL season, many in the fantasy community expected the backfield in Jacksonville to be more of a two-headed approach with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. But with Bigsby being shipped out to Philly, rookie Bhayshul Tuten has stepped in as the RB2 and flourished.
- Bhayshul Tuten has found paydirt in both Weeks 2 and 3, scoring once through the air and on the ground
- Travis Etienne’s snap percentage decreased 12 percent from Week 2 to 3, down to 54 percent
Having earned a goal-line carry that resulted in a short TD, the Jaguars clearly value Bhayshul Tuten’s contributions. Expecting a high-value role out of the Virginia Tech rookie isn’t the right outlook to have currently, but expect to see Tuten’s touch rate increase as the season progresses, likely averaging out to around 10 touches per contest. That floor alone gives him RB3 value at this point, with the upside to a weekly flex play as he gets closer to taking over the starter’s job from Travis Etienne.
Denver Broncos | Sean Payton’s Next RB1
Current RB1: J.K. Dobbins
Eventual Starter: RJ Harvey
It is pretty clear that the Denver Broncos do not see J.K. Dobbins as their long-term starter at RB, giving rookie RJ Harvey a leg to stand on later this season. However, even through the first three weeks it has been the J.K. Dobbins show, cracks are starting to pop up.
- J.K. Dobbins saw his smallest workload (12 touches) of the season in Week 3
- RJ Harvey’s snap share averages out to 30 percent per game, and he is averaging six touches per game
- RJ Harvey is making a bigger impression in the passing game, having caught at least one pass in each week, including three in Week 3
Denver continues to lean on J.K. Dobbins for the high-value workload, as he is the only RB to score, but an uptick in RJ Harvey’s workload is inevitable. Facing defenses like those of the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys should get Harvey more playing time, as game script tailored to Harvey’s strengths should get him more playing time.
For more insight, consider this (tap to expand):
- The tandem of Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara both impressed in 2017 as members of the same backfield, where Ingram finished as the RB6 overall and Kamara was RB3 spot under Sean Payton.
- Granted, that offensive playstyle differs from what the Broncos currently utilize under Payton, but Mark Ingramand J.K. Dobbins profile similarly as bruisers with limited receiving upside, while Alvin Kamara and RJ Harvey fill the secondary, change-of-pace role that offers plenty of value.
Houston Texans | Time to Make Your Mark, Woody
Current RB1: Nick Chubb
Eventual Starter: Woody Marks
The cloudy injury situation with Joe Mixon has made it tough for the Houston Texans to run the ball; offseason signee Nick Chubb has become the RB1, with smatterings of Woody Marks and Dare Ogunbowale mixed in. At his age (and knee health), Nick Chubb is limited to living inside the tackles, leaving the pass-catching role in Houston wide open.
- Woody Marks is the natural choice for this role, but only earning one target across two weeks isn’t exactly painting a rosy picture of what’s to come.
- However, relegating Dameon Pierce to being a healthy scratch in both games gives Woody Marks a fighting chance, as does his increased snaps from Week 1 (11 percent) to Week 2 (27 percent).
Nick Chubb is still earning double-digit carries, but he is hovering around the 50-percent mark for snaps, a low total that can easily be unseated.
My money is on Woody Marks to continue his ascension up the HOU depth chart, but it might be a slow burn for the USC rookie. The Texans have a Week 6 bye, with matchups against the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers awaiting them, so expect this to be the point where Marks really takes a big step forward in workload, likely beginning in scripted work in the passing game.
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Kansas City Chiefs | Backfield to Watch
It’s Almost Brashard Smith Time
For one of the more targeted offenses in fantasy football, the Kansas City Chiefs’ running game has been a hot mess to start the season. With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt basically splitting work 50/50, it has turned this backfield into an avoidable one as long as there is no clear starter. This gross splitting of work gives rookie Brashard Smith an excellent chance to gain ground in the race for carries, as he has slowly been gaining more and more looks in the offense.
- Kareem Hunt (23 carries) and Isiah Pacheco (25 carries) each have only 4 receptions this season
- Brashard Smith was a big-time contributor in the passing game in college, averaging 27 receptions and 274 receiving yards per season
While not earning any offensive touches in Week 1, Brashard Smith earned a carry and a target in Week 2 and earned two carries and a target in Week 3 against the New York Giants. As the best passing-game back of the three, Brashard Smith’s snap share is still hovering around the 10-percent mark, but with upcoming matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, game script that could lean more into the passing game would benefit Brashard Smith. Don’t give up hope on the SMU rookie yet, and if you can acquire him as a buy-low guy, you should aim to do that before his workload increases.
Dynasty Running Back Handcuffs to Stash
Running Back Stashes for Dynasty (Week 3)
These are the other top 3 RB handcuffs to trade for in dynasty football:
| Handcuff RB to Stash | Team | Starting RB Ahead | Why Stash Now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaydon Blue | Dallas Cowboys | Javonte Williams (replacing Miles Sanders as backup) | Projected to turn the corner and take over the No. 2 role, giving late-season upside. |
| Kyle Monangai | Chicago Bears | D’Andre Swift | Swift’s snap count has dipped since Week 1, opening the door for increased rookie usage. |
| LeQuint Allen | Jacksonville Jaguars | Travis Etienne | Pass-heavy scripts boost his role; has logged at least 14% of snaps in every game. |
Jaydon Blue (Dallas Cowboys)
- Javonte Williams is the clear RB1 in Dallas, but rookie Jaydon Blue should turn the corner and start replacing Miles Sanders as his backup, giving him late-season upside.
Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears)
- It has been the D’Andre Swift show for the Bears, but he’s taken a step back snap-count wise since Week 1, opening the door for rookie Kyle Monangai to increase his workload.
LeQuint Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Pass-heavy game scripts benefit LeQuint Allen, and if the Jaguars continue to play from behind, LeQuint Allen should continue to earn his fair share of snaps in passing situations, as he has seen at least 14 percent of snaps in every game.
Best Running Back Drop Candidates
Top 3 Running Back drop candidates for Dynasty Fantasy Football
Feel free to drop these Running Backs in shallower formats:
| Player | Team | Reason to Drop |
|---|---|---|
| Emanuel Wilson | Green Bay Packers | Behind Josh Jacobs + Chris Brooks, limited role left |
| Ray Davis | Buffalo Bills | Buried behind James Cook + Ty Johnson, little opportunity |
| Devin Neal | New Orleans Saints | Healthy scratch, Kendre Miller locked in as RB2 |
Emanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers)
- Josh Jacobs has been the clear workhorse in Green Bay, and with Chris Brooks the better pass catcher, Emanuel Wilson’s role has taken a major step back from last year.
Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills)
- While less a drop and more so a ‘bury on your bench’ situation, the heavy James Cook workload and Ty Johnson passing-game work has kept Ray Davis without much of a role in Buffalo.
Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints)
- Slated to be the RB2 behind Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal has been a healthy scratch in Weeks 2-3, with Kendre Miller earning the backup job cleanly.
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FAQ | Dynasty Fantasy Football RB Backups
Who is the best RB stash for dynasty leagues in 2025?
Bhayshul Tuten of the Jacksonville Jaguars is seeing increased usage and has already found the end zone.
Which RB could be Sean Payton’s next fantasy star?
RJ Harvey fits the Alvin Kamara mold and could see more work as J.K. Dobbins fades.
Which RBs should dynasty managers drop now?
Emanuel Wilson, Ray Davis, and Devin Neal are all trending toward little or no value.
What is the best dynasty RB handcuff strategy?
Smart dynasty managers stash backups with direct paths to meaningful workloads, especially in run-heavy or injury-prone backfields. Handcuffing ensures immediate replacement value if an RB1 goes down.
How do I keep my dynasty roster anti-fragile at RB?
Prioritize depth over stars. Spread investments across multiple RB stashes, leverage unpredictability (injuries, trades, benchings), and position your roster to benefit when chaos strikes.
Which rookie RBs have the most long-term upside?
Bhayshul Tuten, RJ Harvey, and Woody Marks stand out as rookies with paths to meaningful work by the second half of the 2025 season.
