Own the next man up before the starter goes down.

Jacksonville's top option on all passing downs in camp and a polished protector, but built as a specialist rather than a volume runner. His Week 1 availability is in doubt with a soft-tissue issue.

Injury history: 2026: unspecified soft-tissue injury late in camp; Liam Coen said he would be 'pleasantly surprised' if Allen were ready for Week 1. No prior long absence.

33-year-old veteran kept for third-down reliability and special teams, especially with Allen banged up. Trustworthy in protection; no longer a candidate for meaningful carries.

Injury history: Durable in a small role over the last three seasons with no long absence, but he is 33 and has never carried a heavy workload.

Small, quick fourth back who has mostly been practice-squad depth. Emergency option only in a room where Harvey and Coleman are ahead of him.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences in the last three seasons; has spent most of his career as a roster-bubble depth back.

Third-down and special-teams back whose value is as a receiver out of the backfield and a returner. In line for more offensive snaps with Jeanty limited, but never a between-the-tackles solution.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences since entering the league in 2024; his snaps have come mostly on special teams.

Hybrid fullback/tight end used as a blocker, short-area receiver and special-teamer — part of the versatility Las Vegas built around Jeanty. Not a ball-carrier of consequence.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences in the last three seasons.

Pure home-run speed threat brought in as a change-of-pace weapon and now in a tight RB2 race with Vidal. Explosive in space but slight, with a major knee injury behind him — not a candidate to carry a full workload.

Injury history: Career has been shaped by a torn ACL suffered in December 2023 that cost him most of 2024; usage stayed limited through 2025 as he worked back. Healthy in 2026 camp after signing with the Chargers.

Among the NFL's best all-around fullbacks — elite lead blocker, sure-handed on check-downs and a core special-teamer. Occasional short-yardage carries only; not a factor in the RB pecking order.

Injury history: Durable across the last three seasons with no long injury absence; one of the more available fullbacks in the league.

Carved out the short-yardage and goal-line job rather than pure depth: five Week 1 carries, two short-yardage snaps and the only Seattle RB snap inside the five, after being cast in preseason reporting as the room's power complement. Touchdown-dependent, but he is taking the highest-value carries.

Injury history: An undisclosed injury sidelined him during the 2026 preseason; he was back and active for Week 1. No significant reported absences in his prior three seasons in Green Bay and Seattle. Nature and severity of the preseason issue were never reported.

Fullback/H-back kept for blocking and special teams. Not a ball carrier and not part of the backfield rotation.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences in the last three seasons; used almost exclusively as a blocker and on special teams.

Now one of only three running backs on Arizona's 53-man roster alongside Love and Allgeier, with Conner on IR. That raises his emergency floor but not his projected role: he is a kickoff returner and depth back, not a player the run game would be built around.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences 2023-2025; snaps have come mostly on special teams and in reserve duty. No new injury reported this cycle - absence of injury data does not establish health.

Physical rookie sharing the No. 3 spot who fits Washington's stated situational approach on early downs and in short yardage. Real ability, but he would split work rather than take over if Croskey-Merritt sat.

Injury history: Rookie with no NFL injury history; healthy through camp and the preseason.

Lead-blocking fullback and special-teams core player who occasionally gets a short-yardage touch. Not part of the running back rotation in any meaningful way.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences in the last three seasons.

Explosive, straight-line third-year back who won the No. 2 job. Similar speed archetype to Achane and would get the first crack at carries if he sat, but Miami would likely rotate him with Gordon rather than hand him a 20-touch role.

Injury history: Has dealt with assorted lower-body issues that limited his availability across 2024-2025 without a single long absence; healthy entering 2026 as the RB2.

Rookie fullback and special-teams body. No role in the backfield rotation.

Injury history: Rookie with no NFL injury history.

Second-year back who lost the No. 2 job to third-round rookie Kaelon Black, who Shanahan said earned it in training camp while James was slowed by a camp rib injury. Healthy for Week 2 and the next man up if Black's groin sits him, but as RB3 his handcuff case is weaker than it was a month ago.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences since entering the league in 2025; missed 2026 training camp time with a rib injury. Carries no designation on San Francisco's Week 2 injury report (dated 9/18).

The league's signature fullback and the linchpin of Shanahan's blocking and play-action schemes, still a real receiving threat. Practicing fully in Week 2 despite a finger issue. Takes a handful of touches a year and is not a backfield contingency at any point.

Injury history: Remarkably durable for the position with no long injury absence in the last three seasons. Listed with a finger injury on San Francisco's Week 2 report (dated 9/18): limited Thursday, full Friday, no game designation. He is 35 and in his 14th season.

Second-year back with the most complete backup skill set in the room, but he was passed for the No. 2 job by rookie Seth McGowan and is now RB3. Questionable for Week 2 with a knee issue that surfaced Thursday. Still the most plausible lead back if Taylor missed extended time, though the demotion weakens that case.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences since entering the league in 2025; his light usage (26 career touches) reflects Taylor's workload, not health. 2026 Week 2: added to the injury report Thursday with a knee issue and did not practice that day, then listed questionable vs. Kansas City (reports dated 9/17 and 9/18). No return timetable stated beyond the game designation.

Material change: despite preseason flashes, Smith played just three snaps in Week 1, all on special teams, with the rookie Johnson ahead of him. Reporting in September described him as a gadget back lacking the size to be trusted in pass protection. Deep-bench only unless two backs ahead of him are unavailable.

Injury history: No reported injury absences since entering the league in 2025. He has played little, so the clean record is weak evidence either way.

Fourth-year converted linebacker signed to Kansas City's initial 16-man practice squad on Sept. 1, 2026 - a notable add given Andy Reid's long use of fullbacks. Blocking and special-teams role only; he carries no meaningful carry or handcuff value.

Injury history: No injury history researched for this profile; the absence of reports does not establish health.

Veteran kept for reliability and pass protection, listed in a three-way tie for RB2 in late August. He was active in Week 1 while Najee Harris sat, which is the meaningful update - he currently sits ahead of Harris in the pecking order despite being fourth in raw talent.

Injury history: A handful of missed games across the last three seasons with lower-body issues; now 29 with a heavy career touch count and no chronic condition reported. Active for Week 1 on Sept. 13 with no injury designation.

Material change: Harris was a healthy scratch for Week 1 (Sept. 13) as the Giants dressed Skattebo, Tracy and Singletary. His track record of 250-plus-carry seasons still makes him the most proven lead back in the room, but he is currently fourth in line and must earn his way back into the rotation. Not a usable redraft hold yet.

Injury history: Never missed a game in his first four seasons, then tore his Achilles in Week 3 of 2025, ending that season. Signed with the Giants in mid-August 2026 and has practiced without restriction. Week 1 inactive was a coach's decision, not an injury designation.

Special-teams-first third back who has been in the building for years. Emergency depth only — the Rams' plan behind Kyren Williams starts and ends with Corum.

Injury history: No significant reported injury absences in the last three seasons; used almost exclusively on special teams.