Kenneth Walker III “heads home” to Seattle, Chase Brown wonders what kind of workload he is returning to post-bye, and Woody Marks readies for another day carrying the mail vs. the Giants.

Other positions: Quarterback | Receiver | Tight End/Kickers/Defense

Week 7 Running Backs

RB Notes: The Packers have made little attempt to downplay expectations for Josh Jacobs’ return. There has been no talk of pitch counts, conditioning issues, etc. It’s clear he is going to immediately reassume lead-back status, and perhaps turn this backfield into a one-man band. MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong and Kaleb Johnson are all droppable. Jacobs’ efficiency appeared in real decline last season, but his likely workloads put him safely into RB2 territory. … Sidelined since Week 4, Saquon Barkley (hamstring) appears ready to return vs. the Cowboys’ No. 32 overall run defense. Barkley’s questionable health paired with the Eagles’ collapsed offensive environment makes him difficult to trust as an RB1, but you aren’t leaving him on your bench vs. the Cowboys. … Bucky Irving played a season-high 85.1 percent of the snaps in Week 6 but had one of his quieter outings of the year. Now goal-line nuisance Sean Tucker (quad) is set to return from his one-game absence, though the same is apparently true of Baker Mayfield (thumb). Jalon Daniels exceeded his nonexistent expectations during Mayfield’s absence, but the starter’s return would be a nice boost to this entire offensive environment, hopefully offsetting the potential for Tucker to steal a high-value touch or two.

In true contingency back fashion, Woody Marks dominated the Texans’ Week 6 snaps and touches but could only watch in horror as No. 2 Jawhar Jordan busted the big play and scored the touchdown. Well it apparently cost Jordan his health, as he’s now on injured reserve. Dare Ogunbowale is the next man up for change-of-pace status, but Marks will probably clear 80 percent of the Texans’ snaps against the Giants. That will always be a recipe for an RB2 day in all but the worst offenses, and the Texans have been surprisingly solid this year. … Ashton Jeanty has slipped beneath 60 percent of the Raiders’ snaps each of the past two weeks. Rookie Mike Washington Jr., meanwhile, was on the field for a season-high 34.8 percent of the plays in Week 6. Seemingly nowhere close to 100 percent health, Jeanty is dead last in total rushing EPA. This is the long way of saying it might be time to adjust down both Jeanty’s workload and production expectations. I am now considering him more of a mid-range RB2 than high-end option.

Aaron Jones held up better than anyone could have expected during Jordan Mason’s (thumb) lengthy absence. There is almost no way the Vikings want their road-weary veteran to keep taking the rock 20-plus times per week, but for now we will assume he has earned the right to continue monopolizing Minny’s high-value touches. Mason begins his second tour of 2026 duty as an uncertain FLEX. … First guessed as one of the worst FAAB expenditures of all time, Ollie Gordon II has instead been an exemplary RB2. He’s not catching passes with dual-threat Malik Willis declining to check down, but he is mixing in big runs and is the Dolphins’ first choice on all three downs over Jaylen Wright. Gordon has earned his spot in the top 20 even if there are destined to be down weeks in this undermanned attack. … Quinshon Judkins (ankle) ended up missing only one game. Absolutely nothing happened on the field during his absence, though it appears third-down running mate Dylan Sampson (knee) might be ready to come off injured reserve. Judkins’ snaps have been hovering in the good but not great range 60-65 percent. Sampson is unlikely to cut further into that, but he’s also not going to cede ground, either. It’s nevertheless a worry for another day, as Judkins’ Browns are favored vs. the probable worst team in the league, Tennessee.

You shouldn’t overreact to Corey Kiner coming out of nowhere to act as the Patriots’ “closer” in Week 6. You also better have some reaction after Kiner took the rock 11 times in the final 16:30 of a game that remained in doubt. Speaking afterward, coach Mike Vrabel praised Kiner’s “hot hand.” Presumably, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson will still receive the first opportunities to “get hot.” But leashes that were already short have grown moreso after Kiner proved he’s a legitimate option in the four-minute offense. He is worth rostering for running back desperate managers. … Things did not go as planned during Tyler Allgeier’s Week 6 spot start, as he failed to even reach a season-high snap percentage. He was shockingly out-gained by Bam Knight even with Mr. Zonovan dealing with “full body cramps” during the second half. Allgeier did double Knight up in routes despite Knight out-catching him 2-1. Allgeier should still be forecast for a snaps and touches advantage. We just know he has company, and can no longer be considered a plug-and-play RB2 for however long Jeremiyah Love’s (ankle) absence drags on.

Much to former Saints coach Dennis Allen’s dismay, Kendre Miller is coming ott the first 20-carry outing of his career. The Saints are giving franchise icon Alvin Kamara some charity snaps in the passing game — with the same being true for UDFA CJ Donaldson — but Miller is dominating the overall work and goal-line opportunities. He is the only Saints back sniffing RB2 status. … Zach Charbonnet (knee) is poised to return and immediately reclaim No. 1 status. “Charbs” never got the backfield to himself even at full health, and we doubt he’s at full health coming off last year’s torn ACL. But the Seahawks have been desperate for more overall competence in their running game, and here’s guessing they will retreat to Charbonnet’s warm embrace even if there is no real difference between him and Emanuel Wilson. … The Giants benched Cam Skattebo then cut Najee Harris. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary played the most Week 6 snaps. True patterns were difficult to spot in a game that got of hand before J.J. McCarthy’s garbage time mastery, but Skattebo should be re-involved this Sunday. Whether he successfully holds off his veteran backfield mates is another matter. None of these players can be trusted as more than a low-end FLEX.