2025 Committee Backfields is a special feature that will be available in the 2025 Football Diehards magazine and was written by guest analyst Andrew Hall. Be sure to grab your copy on newsstands today!
2025 Committee Backfields
by Andrew Hall
“Change is the only constant.” – Heraclitus
If you’ve read anything I’ve written before (and odds are you haven’t), you’d know that I hate making predictions on future events. I get that it’s part of the job as a fantasy analyst, but I think it’s the part of the job that every analyst enjoys the least.
Not only are you wrong more often than you’re right, even when you end up being right, people will just tell you that you got lucky. This is why most fantasy analysts are still fantasy analysts and not retired on a beach somewhere sipping Mai-Tais after winning the lottery.
All that aside, I do like to look for trends with data and try to use whatever limited information we have available to try to extrapolate what I think might happen next. If something has happened 10 times in the past, there’s a good chance of it happening an 11th time. If it’s only ever happened once, predicting exactly when it will happen a second time will be risky.
This is all a long-winded way of saying that I really prefer analyzing situations and using that analysis to make the best guess that I can about what will come next. For me, one of the hardest things to predict is which teams will use a running back by committee (RBBC) each year.
Not only is it almost impossible to predict injuries (which can force teams into a situation no one predicted), but there are also so many different variables that change from one season to the next. Teams get new coaches, they change offensive schemes, they add new players, etc. Very little, if anything at all, stays the same year over year.
That’s where that phrase from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus comes in. If the only constant is change, then nothing truly stays the same. Our job is to take what data we have and see what we can learn from it.
Therefore, the best way for me to predict what will happen with the RBBC landscape in 2025 is to look back at last year and see if I can find anything that might be “sticky” to help inform my opinions. All this data is open to interpretation, but follow along as I walk you through my thought process to try to decipher what 2025 will hold.
Looking at the RBBC Landscape in 2024
When evaluating the running back by committee options for last year, I decided to look at three main stats to break things down.
The first was that both running backs needed to have at least 110 carries on the season, just under six and a half carries per game. Anything lower and I don’t consider it a true committee, but more of a spot use scenario.
The only team that didn’t have a single RB meet this threshold was Cleveland, which had both Jerome Ford and Nick Chubb receive 104 and 102 carries, respectively. Chubb’s injuries really made a large impact on their usage, and the low volume could lead to questionable results, so I excluded them from the study.
The remaining list included 41 players who had at least 110 carries. Of those 41 players, 21 were the only players on their team to make the list. This means that they didn’t classify as a committee as they were the dominant back on their team. The remaining 20 players played for one of 10 teams, all of which were true committees for these purposes.
Once we had the list, I wanted to look at the total snap share each of these backs got for the year. The lowest snap share at RB that any of the 20 backs got was 24%. This means that each RB listed was used about a quarter of the time, minimum, making them a part of a true committee. I think we’re on to something here.
Last, I made sure that the players who got the carries did something with them, so I looked at fantasy points per game for each back on the list. I used PPR scoring, and of the 10 committees I identified, all 20 RBs had 5.8 PPR points per game or more on average. This isn’t a lot of points, but that kind of output could be flex-worthy in some weeks.
So, with all that, here’s how things broke down for the 10 committee backfields from last year.
Tier 1
No surprise, but the Detroit Lions had the best-rated RBBC last year. They deployed Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to the tune of 250 and 185 attempts, respectively. Gibbs finished as the RB1 in PPR scoring while Montgomery finished as RB18.
No other tandem had both players finish in the top 20 in scoring. Both Gibbs and Montgomery averaged over 15 PPG in PPR scoring, making them reliable starters week in and week out. If you had either of these players on your roster, you were probably happy with their output.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a dynamic duo of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White run their committee in 2024. Irving got 207 carries to White’s 144, but White saw a higher snap percentage than Irving. This would lead us to believe that White was in the lineup more, but Irving was more likely to get the ball when he was in the lineup.
The two averaged 14.4 and 12.5 PPR points per game, finishing as RB13 and RB22, respectively. For all the trash talk about White in fantasy circles, he was still a solid RB2 most weeks. Granted, Irving was better, but White was not terrible if you started him.
Lastly, the Seattle Seahawks utilized Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III as their committee at running back. Unlike the other two teams in this tier, the Seahawks had some injuries to deal with. Neither back got over 200 carries on the year since Walker missed six games. This throws off the data slightly.
Charbonnet finished as RB25 while Walker finished as RB27. Both were solid, though, averaging over 10 PPG for the season. While Walker got more total carries, he finished with fewer total fantasy points. On the other hand, Charbonnet got a higher share of the total snaps at RB, but that’s because Walker missed so much time.
In the end, the teams in this tier all had both backs finish in the top 30 for the season and on a weekly average. That’s something you can hang your hat on.
Tier 2
Three of the four teams in Tier 2 had a clear RB1 option, but the RB2 still had some value. The fourth had both RBs finish close to each other, but both were somewhat subpar.
First in this tier is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They ran out Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren as their committee. Harris was the clear RB1, getting 263 carries and finishing as RB20 on the season. Warren got 120 carries and finished as RB39.
The real analysis comes in their usage numbers. Harris got significantly more carries but played only 49% of the snaps. This means that when he was in the game, he was likely getting the ball. However, Warren’s 8.3 PPG gave him flex appeal and made him a solid committee member.
Next, the Buffalo Bills saw James Cook and Ray Davis splitting carries. Cook finished as RB8 with 207 carries, while Davis finished RB40 with only 113 carries. Cook dominated in scoring, averaging 16.7 PPG and being a fantasy darling.
This is another case where there was a clear RB1, but 6.8 PPG from Davis made him at least on the bubble for starting lineups. Davis only saw 26% of snaps, but the team seemed fine leaning on him more than just a backup.
Believe it or not, the third team in this group is the New England Patriots. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson were a true committee, with both players getting over 33% of snaps and both finishing outside the top 24 scorers.
Stevenson was the one to roster, finishing with 11.7 PPG and RB28 to Gibson’s meager 6.1 PPG and RB44 finish. But like others in this tier, Gibson was valuable in a pinch.
Lastly, the Jacksonville Jaguars used Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby as a true one-two punch in 2024. Etienne finished just ahead of Bigsby in ranks, RB35 to RB36, but just behind him in carries, 150 to Bigsby’s 168.
The two averaged 8.7 and 8.1 PPG, making neither option attractive. However, both could at least be considered startable in some spots. It wasn’t pretty, but on the road to a title, you need to win some ugly games too.
These teams had mediocre output from their committees, but fantasy managers probably wouldn’t kick themselves if they started either option.
Tier 3
Finally, three teams round out the 10 committees from 2024. This tier is almost entirely made up of a stud starter and a valuable handcuff. Some may argue that handcuffs don’t belong in an RBBC article, and I tend to agree, so think of these more as “honorable mentions.”
The Atlanta Falcons saw both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier break 110 carries and a 24% snap share, but Robinson was the clear starter. Allgeier managers probably played him when desperate, but didn’t enjoy the endeavor. His RB43 finish compared to Robinson’s RB3 tells the entire story.
Out west, the Denver Broncos were a weird one. They ran Javonte Williams out on 47% of the snaps but only gave him 139 carries. His committee-mate, Jaleel McLaughlin, got 24% of snaps but a robust 113 carries. The two finished as RB30 and RB45, respectively, and neither broke the 10 PPG average on the year.
Based on my criteria, the New York Giants are the last committee from last year. Tyrone Tracy, Jr. saw 192 carries to Devin Singletary’s 113. Tracy finished as RB26 while Singletary finished worst of the entire group studied at RB46. Odds were slim that you were starting Singletary with any real hope, but an average of 6 PPG likely made it better than a literal zero in your lineup.
Committees To Target in 2025
Using last year as a guide, we can start to work out how 2025 will go. Some players switched teams, and plenty of other changes around the players that didn’t will make an impact. Part of the fun of fantasy prep is trying to predict the future.
We don’t have stats to look at for these future outcomes. Projections and ADP are helpful guides, but both are just guesses dressed up as educated ones. If we’re going to guess, let’s at least make it a little fun.
Tier 1
The top tier of RBBC options in 2025 is likely very similar to the top tier from last year. I’m easily predicting the Detroit Lions as the best committee in 2025.
Both Gibbs and Montgomery are back, but this time they’re without their Offensive Coordinator in Ben Johnson. Johnson moves to the division rival Chicago Bears, who might appear later in this article.
I fully expect Dan Campbell, QB Jared Goff, and new OC John Morton to apply the adage of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and wash, rinse, and repeat on how the team used the two stud RBs last year.
Next in this tier is the New England Patriots. They were in the second tier in terms of RBBC usage in 2024, but now they’ve added a rookie to the mix. TreyVeon Henderson was drafted to hit the ground running, pun intended, and I expect the Patriots to let him do just that.
Rhamondre Stevenson returns to New England this year, and he did well as part of the committee last year. Instead of being the 1A option, I expect Stevenson to eventually become the 1B to Henderson’s 1A in 2025. Regardless, both should be solid on a team with few alternatives on the offense.
The last team in this tier is the New York Giants. Much like the Patriots, the Giants drafted a rookie who could be the heir apparent in Cam Skattebo. He doesn’t seem like an elite RB on paper, so I fully expect the Giants to work him and Tracy in together throughout the season.
The Giants were at the bottom of the tier list last season, but Skattebo is much better than Devin Singletary, and I think the team will want to see what they have in the rookie. Tracy shined last year, but I fully expect both him and Skattebo to finish in the top 36 RBs this year, barring injury.
Tier 2
Taking a step down is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Irving and White split the carries well last year, but I think Irving was the better option. I still expect White to get his share of carries, but I don’t think it’ll be as even, making them a prime option for this second tier.
The Bucs get their entire offense back from injury, with some additional depth this year. Add to that the hope that Irving takes a step forward, and I think the RBBC allure takes a slight hit.
The other team to Tier down from last year to this year is the Seattle Seahawks. As long as Walker stays healthy, I fully expect him to get the lion’s share of the carries, much like I do for Irving in Tampa.
If Walker gets more carries, that would mean fewer for Charbonnet, making him less attractive as a true RBBC candidate. Will they both finish in the top 36 at the position? I doubt it, but there’s always a chance.
Next is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They stay in the second tier even though their 1A option, Harris, left the team. Warren gets to step up and is likely going to split carries with incoming rookie Kaleb Johnson.
I would love to put these two higher, but the lack of consistency or clarity at quarterback and wide receiver makes it hard for me to see how either of these RBs will be all that fun to start for fantasy. They make this tier because HC Mike Tomlin is nothing if not consistent.
Lastly, the Los Angeles Chargers make this tier for me because not only are they gaining the 1A from Pittsburgh’s RBBC last season in Harris, but they also drafted a stud RB to come in and make a difference in week one in Omarion Hampton.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hampton be the 1A in Los Angeles with Harris as the complementary option at some point. However, Harris is familiar with playing a role in a committee, and I think he and Hampton will be a tough duo for defenses to figure out as the season rolls along.
Tier 3
This last tier is filled with question marks, but not all of them are bad. Much like last year, think of these more as honorable mentions than true flag-planting situations.
The Buffalo Bills look like a potential RBBC option again, but a slightly less enjoyable one. I see Cook becoming the more elite option and Davis becoming more of an afterthought.
Next, I have the Kansas City Chiefs, mainly because I think Isiah Pacheco returns with a chip on his shoulder. Due to his injury, the Chiefs didn’t qualify as an RBBC last year based on my criteria, but I think a mix of him and either Kareem Hunt or new teammate Elijah Mitchell will make for a great RBBC option by season’s end.
Finally, my 10th RBBC team to keep an eye on and last in this tier is the Chicago Bears. I mentioned them earlier when talking about the best RBBC in Detroit due to new head coach Johnson making the move one state to the west. D’Andre Swift appears to be in line for the 1A role, but don’t be surprised if Johnson takes a page out of his old playbook and finds another RB to play alongside him.
Roschon Johnson hasn’t been great, so maybe it’ll be rookie RB (and late rookie round dynasty darling) Kyle Monangai who will be the 1B to Swift. Whoever it is, I don’t think Swift will be good enough to handle the workload alone for the new-look Bears offense.
Conclusion
As I stated earlier, there’s no way to accurately predict the future, at least not that I’m aware of. I think the best way to get as close as possible is to look for trends and follow them.
2024 had a lot of great running back performances, but overall, only four running backs scored over 300 PPR fantasy points. Will we see a similar result this year? Maybe we’ll see more, maybe we’ll see fewer. The only guarantee is that something I’ve predicted here will be inaccurate, and that’s okay.
As you head into your own draft, use all the tools available in this magazine and do your best to put them all together. No matter how things wind up, I’m sure you’ll have a fun season, and all this hard work and study will pay off, even if it’s only in terms of the fun you’ve had along the way.
Ultimately, that’s what this game is all about. Winning some money is nice too, but don’t forget to have a good time while you’re doing it. Good luck this year!
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