-2025 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2025 Draft Kit
Henderson is expected to operate in a split backfield, likely projecting for around 150–200 carries and strong receiving work. However, early reports and projected depth charts indicate he will need to earn snaps over Stevenson, who led the team in high-value touches and passing down work late last year. When given a featured role, Henderson has shown elite explosiveness, capable of multi-touchdown and 100+ yard games. He is a weapon in space and operates as a high-value, efficient back. In redraft leagues, owners should treat him as a high-reward asset. He is generally a target for managers who want to secure a high-ceiling runner in the middle rounds to pair with safer, higher-floor players.
Right now we are seeing Kyle Monangai's ADP hovering at RB34, drafted around pick 98 overall. We see that as excellent value. He is a reliable depth piece and weekly flex option in standard/half-PPR formats who sees steady carries to keep the offense on schedule. If Swift misses any time, Monangai instantly projects as a high-end RB1/RB2 due to an expected heavy workload inside the red zone. As part of Chicago's RBBC he operates as the 1B to Swift's 1A. Monangai routinely handles early-down and short-yardage work, drawing frequent comparisons to David Montgomery due to his hard-nosed running and tackle-breaking capabilities. Down the stretch last season, Monangai logged a notable 19 red-zone rushing attempts, proving to be a valuable asset for touchdown-dependent formats.
In the off-season Kenneth Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers, with $10 million guaranteed, ensuring steady in-season usage. Gainwell steps into the role vacated by Rachaad White. While Bucky Irving handles the majority of early-down work, Gainwell will be utilized as a dynamic check-down weapon and third-down specialist. His baseline projection makes him incredibly safe in PPR formats. He has a solid weekly floor as a flex play, and he serves as a direct, high-value handcuff to Irving. We project Gainwell for roughly 100 carries and over 350 rushing yards, complemented by a strong receiving floor of roughly 45-50 catches and 350 receiving yards, putting him in play for around 6 total touchdowns.Last season he reeled in 73 catches for 486 yards, ranking in the top 10 among qualifying backs in target share, yards per route run, and first downs per route run.
Last year, Chase Brown started slowly as the RB34 in fantasy points per game in Weeks 1-5. After that point, he was exactly who fantasy gamers thought they were drafting as the RB6 in fantasy points per game. In Weeks 6-18, among 48 qualifying backs, he ranked 17th in explosive run rate, fifth in yards after contact per attempt, and 16th in missed tackles forced per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). During that span, he averaged 18.2 touches and 100.1 total yards. Brown had to deal with Samaje Perine eating into his workload during Weeks 13-18, but it didn't capsize his production. During that stretch, while he did play 60.5% of the snaps and 71.6% of the snaps in the red zone, he did have 17 red zone carries versus Perine's 13. If Brown can capture more of the red zone work in 2026, his ceiling and floor will be raised considerably from a week-to-week and season-long perspective. Brown is a solid RB1 with top-five upside this season.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. landed a surprising two-year, $10 million contract ($6.2 million guaranteed) from the Jaguars this off-season, cementing himself as the likely primary between-the-tackles runner. Jacksonville's head coach, Liam Coen, was his OC at Kentucky during Rodriguez's 1,300-yard collegiate season. Coen trusts Rodriguez's north-south running style and proficiency in picking up yards after contact. He is expected to split carries with second-year back Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten provides the explosive playmaking ability, while Rodriguez handles the gritty, high-leverage and short-yardage situations. Rodriguez underwent a procedure on his left foot during the early off-season program, though the Jaguars expect him to be fully ready for training camp. Chris Rodriguez Jr. projects as an unexciting but highly functional early-down and short-yardage back for the Jacksonville Jaguars this year. He is best viewed as a late-round depth pick or waiver-wire stash in fantasy drafts with RB3/Flex upside
Brooks enters the season competing for touches in a crowded Carolina Panthers backfield alongside veteran Chuba Hubbard, with additional depth from Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon. Hubbard is expected to get the first crack at lead-back duties. However, if Brooks can prove he's 100% healthy, his elite elusiveness and pass-catching ability give him a clear path to overtaking the backfield or carving out a lucrative 1B role as the season progresses. Current projections estimate a moderate but climbing workload for Brooks, hovering around 125 carries for roughly 550 rushing yards, alongside 20-25 receptions. Brooks is a high-upside, late-round gamble with an ADP hovering around the RB41-RB46 range (roughly Rounds 10-14). While a heavy workload early on is unlikely as he shares the backfield, his massive collegiate profile and receiving upside make him a premier 'buy-low' stash
J.K. Dobbins returns to Denver this season as their early down hammer. It's tough to count on him for a full season at this point, but while he's out there, he should be a nice RB2/flex play this season. Last year, Dobbins did see his season cut short with a foot injury. In Weeks 1-10, he was the RB24 in fantasy points per game, averaging 16.4 touches and 80.6 total yards. The bulk of that work was in the rushing department as he averaged only 1.4 targets and 3.7 receiving yards per game. He had only four games in which he saw more than one target, and he never saw more than two targets in any game. Dobbins was on pace for 260 carries and 1,313 rushing yards before his injury, so his value on early downs is quite nice. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked third in explosive run rate and eighth in missed tackle rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Dobbins should return RB2/touchdown-dependent flex value this season.
In standard redraft leagues, Singleton will likely be be viewed as an RB4 or speculative handcuff. He begins his rookie year buried behind established veterans Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. Unless an injury occurs to the players ahead of him, his early-season contributions will likely be limited to special teams and occasional change-of-pace work. Do not reach for him; he is strictly a late-round target to stash at the end of your bench. So why is he on this list? Well, if you operate in a Dynasty format, he could be a very nice long-term investment. While he holds limited value in standalone re-draft leagues for the 2026 fantasy football season, Singleton is a high-upside dynasty stash. After slipping to the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round (165th overall) due to a pre-draft foot injury, the former Penn State star faces a crowded immediate backfield but enters an ideal long-term situation.
David Montgomery now finds himself as the Texans's do it all workhorse for 2026. Last year, he was phased out of the Lions' offensive plans as the season moved along, which led to his RB32 finish in fantasy points per game. In Weeks 12-18, he was the RB43 in fantasy points per game with a 32.1% snap rate, 8.2 touches per game, and only 42.8 total yards per game. Montgomery still has the juice to produce as a workhorse this season. Last season, he ranked 30th in missed tackle rate, but he was 12th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). His receiving chops are also still alive and well, as he was also 22nd in yards per route run and 12th in first downs per route run. Many will worry that Montgomery will split Houston's backfield workload with Woody Marks this season, but I don't see that happening. Montgomery should absorb a workload close to what Joe Mixon saw in 2024. In 2024, Mixon ranked fifth in opportunity share, 14th in snap share, and 13th in carries among running backs, finishing with 281 touches. Last season, Montgomery bested Marks in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, rushing success rate, yards after contact per attempt, and yards per route run. Legit, every per-touch metric that I care about. Montgomery is the superior back, even at this stage of his career, and he'll be a strong volume-driven RB2 that could flirt with RB1 production.
With Travis Etienne gone, Bhayshul Tuten will compete with Chris Rodriguez to be the lead back for the Jaguars in 2026. I want to bet on Tuten this year and his talent. Last year, Tuten was unfortunately robbed of the stretch run of his rookie season as he was sidelined by a finger injury. Before the injury, he was starting to make some noise. This could be the big breakout season for Tuten, who, on a per-touch basis, flashed the immense talent that I really liked when he was in college. Last season, among 55 qualifying backs, he ranked fifth in rushing success rate, 11th in missed tackle rate, and 17th in yards after contact per attempt. Rodriguez will remain a worry for Tuten at the goal line and to his overall touch count until we see his role fleshed out this season, but if he can be the clear lead guy, he has the talent to match Etienne's RB13 finish last year in fantasy points per game.