Sunday Early · Week 1

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 58/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Justice Hill is listed RB2 on the Baltimore Ravens depth chart behind Derrick Henry. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Adam Randall: Out (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Baltimore's third-down back and Lamar Jackson's trusted protector, averaging 4.8 YPC and 8.3 yards per catch since 2023. If Henry missed time he would keep the passing-down role and split early downs, not become a 15-carry lead back.

Starter injury history: Played all 17 games in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025 (2025: 307 carries, 1,595 yds, 16 TD). Has not missed a game to injury since a broken foot cost him nine games in 2021. Bumped up only for age 32 and repeated 300+ carry seasons.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 65/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Seth McGowan is listed RB2 on the Indianapolis Colts depth chart behind Jonathan Taylor. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: DJ Giddens: Inactive (espn_summary)

Scouting: Rookie who leapfrogged Giddens for the No. 2 job on the strength of camp and preseason play. Zero NFL carries — Indianapolis would likely lean on a committee rather than hand him Taylor's workload.

Starter injury history: 2024: high ankle sprain (Week 4 vs. PIT) cost him multiple games — he had missed at least three games in each season from 2022 through 2024. 2025: played the full 17-game slate, above a 70% snap share in all but one game, with 20 total TD. Healthy entering 2026 and in line for another heavy workload.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 65/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Brian Robinson Jr. is listed RB2 on the Atlanta Falcons depth chart behind Bijan Robinson. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Trey Sermon: Out (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Powerful early-down and short-yardage back signed to spell Bijan Robinson. Would carry a real early-down load if Bijan missed time, but Atlanta would likely go to a committee on passing downs rather than hand him a full three-down job.

Starter injury history: 2023: played 17 games. 2024: started all 17 (304 carries). 2025: all 17 games, league-high 2,298 scrimmage yards on 366 touches. No significant injury absences in three seasons; slight bump for back-to-back 300+ touch workloads.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 74/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rico Dowdle is listed RB2 on the Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart behind Jaylen Warren. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: No current injury notes available; availability is not independently confirmed.

Scouting: Back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher signed in free agency and, per ESPN reporting, the better bet to handle early downs — he also knows Mike McCarthy's scheme from Dallas. Listed RB2 only nominally; if Warren's knee flares up Dowdle is an immediate every-down lead back.

Starter injury history: 2024: hamstring strain in the second preseason game, then ruled out for Week 4 vs. IND with a knee injury; knee and hamstring issues recurred through the year. 2025: knee kept him limited/questionable in late September and he briefly left the Week 11 game vs. CIN with an ankle, though he avoided a long absence. 2026: no injuries reported entering the season.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 65/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Kyle Monangai is listed RB2 on the Chicago Bears depth chart behind D'Andre Swift. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Brittain Brown: Out (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Tough, compact second-year back who won the RB2 job outright and is the clear next man up in Chicago. Would carry a real early-down and short-yardage load if Swift missed time, with the knee the only near-term question.

Starter injury history: 2025: appeared in and started 16 games, no injury absence — career year with 1,087 rush yds on 223 carries (4.9), 34 catches, 10 total TD. 2026 camp: left one practice with what was reported as a cramp, not a core injury, and returned to practice in early September.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 72/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Jonathon Brooks is listed RB2 on the Carolina Panthers depth chart behind Chuba Hubbard. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Trevor Etienne: Out (espn_rosters) Jonathon Brooks: Full Participation in Practice (unknown)

Scouting: Former second-round talent with three-down tools who has barely played because of two ACL tears. Carolina plans a rotation with Hubbard, so he would see a big workload if Hubbard's hamstring lingers — but his own availability is the biggest question in the room.

Starter injury history: 2024: 15 games, all starts (1,195 rush yds). 2025: Grade 2 right calf strain cost him two games and his starting job for much of the year — appeared in 15 but started only the first six. 2026: hamstring strain in training camp, missed the entire preseason, called week-to-week after an MRI; team expected him ready for Week 1 vs. CHI.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 67/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Kendre Miller is listed RB3 on the New Orleans Saints depth chart behind Travis Etienne Jr.. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Alvin Kamara: Inactive; Full Participation in Practice (espn_summary) Audric Estime: Out; Did Not Participate In Practice (espn_rosters) Ty Chandler: Out (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Talented downhill runner whose career has been derailed by injuries; he is in a contract year fighting for a rotational role. Would take early-down carries in a pinch, but betting on his availability has never paid off.

Starter injury history: 2024: hamstring injury cost him two games. 2025: played all 17 — the third time in four seasons he has done so. 2026: rested for all three Saints preseason games and fully healthy entering Week 1 at Detroit.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 51/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Jacob Saylors is listed RB3 on the Detroit Lions depth chart behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Isiah Pacheco: Out (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Preseason standout who made the roster on merit — team-high 187 rush yds on 31 carries at 6.0 a pop. Shares the committee behind Gibbs with Vaki; the better pure runner of the two but with essentially no regular-season sample.

Starter injury history: 2023: missed two games with a hamstring. 2024: played all 18 games. 2025: played all 17. Only two missed games in three seasons and no injury reported entering 2026; recently signed a Lions extension.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 69/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Dylan Sampson is listed RB2 on the Cleveland Browns depth chart behind Quinshon Judkins. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: No current injury notes available; availability is not independently confirmed.

Scouting: Explosive, pass-catching second-year back (175 rush, 271 rec yds as a rookie) and the clear handcuff in Cleveland — analysts point to him specifically as the man who inherits the job if Judkins' ankle flares up. Would need to prove he can hold up on early-down volume.

Starter injury history: 2025: dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula vs. BUF in Week 16, ending his rookie season; surgery Dec. 23 with a 4-6 month return-to-football window. 2026: recovered ahead of schedule, cleared for full contact and opened training camp on July 31 with no limitations. Otherwise no injury history.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 64/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is listed RB2 on the Jacksonville Jaguars depth chart behind Bhayshul Tuten. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: LeQuint Allen Jr.: Questionable; Limited Participation in Practice (nflverse_injuries)

Scouting: Free-agent signing listed as a co-starter with Tuten after taking near-equal camp reps. A downhill, physical early-down and short-yardage runner who would absorb heavy carries if Tuten went down, but not a passing-down back.

Starter injury history: No significant reported injury absences; played his full 2025 rookie season behind Travis Etienne and has been healthy through 2026 camp.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 67/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Braelon Allen is listed RB2 on the New York Jets depth chart behind Breece Hall. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Chip Trayanum: Out (espn_rosters) Isaiah Davis: Full Participation in Practice (unknown) Breece Hall: Full Participation in Practice (unknown) Kene Nwangwu: Inactive; Did Not Participate In Practice (espn_summary)

Scouting: Big back with genuine passing-down ability who is the clear next man up — the Jets leaned on him all preseason with Hall sidelined. Reporting is candid that he is not ready for a full workhorse load, so expect a committee, but he handles early downs and protection well.

Starter injury history: 2024: played through a knee injury he later called 'pretty serious' — same left knee as his 2022 ACL tear — missing one game. 2025: healthy, career-high 1,065 rush yds. 2026: strained his groin in an Aug. 17 practice going down untouched; Aaron Glenn said 2-3 weeks and expected him for the 9/13 opener, and he was a full participant by early September.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 59/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Tyjae Spears is listed RB2 on the Tennessee Titans depth chart behind Tony Pollard. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Nicholas Singleton: Inactive (espn_summary)

Scouting: Quick, creative complement who has been much more active than Pollard in the passing game this camp and keeps Tennessee from being a one-man backfield. Would take the receiving and change-of-pace load if Pollard sat, but his own availability record is spotty.

Starter injury history: 2025: started all 17 games — 242 carries for a career-high 1,082 yds and five TD, his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. Missed the Week 17 game with a combination of the flu and an ankle issue, and managed minor foot/ankle problems through the year but no real absence. 2026: entered the season with no injury designation. Age 29 with a heavy career workload.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 68/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Ray Davis is listed RB2 on the Buffalo Bills depth chart behind James Cook III. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Ty Johnson: Out; Limited Participation in Practice (espn_rosters)

Scouting: Compact, physical back who slipped behind Ty Johnson on the 2026 chart but is still the likelier man to take the RB1 role if Cook missed time — he can handle early downs, short yardage and pass protection, where Johnson is a specialist.

Starter injury history: Largely durable in 2023-2025; Buffalo leaned on him more heavily in 2025 (roughly a 57% snap share) without a multi-game injury absence. Occasional in-season knocks but no chronic issue.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 74/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Woody Marks is listed RB2 on the Houston Texans depth chart behind David Montgomery. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: No current injury notes available; availability is not independently confirmed.

Scouting: Led Houston in rushing as a rookie (196 carries, 703 yds) when injuries forced him between the tackles, and now slides back to his natural pass-catching role. Split camp reps nearly evenly with Montgomery and has already proven he can carry the load — a strong handcuff.

Starter injury history: 2024: torn MCL vs. BUF on Dec. 15 cost him the final three regular-season games (he declined surgery, rehabbed and returned for the divisional round). 2025: finished the season with Detroit. Age 29 with a heavy career touch count, and knee/shoulder issues have cropped up repeatedly across his career.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 79/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Kenny Gainwell is listed RB2 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart behind Bucky Irving. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: Sean Tucker: Inactive; Limited Participation in Practice (espn_summary)

Scouting: Signed to be a genuine 1A/1B with Irving and expected to split touches close to evenly. Reliable in protection and as a receiver, and with Irving's 2025 injury history he is the obvious man to absorb a full workload — though he has never carried one for long.

Starter injury history: 2025: missed seven games with a shoulder subluxation and a foot/ankle sprain, and was visibly hampered when he did play — 588 rush yds, one rushing TD, 3.4 YPC in 10 games. Offseason shoulder surgery had Todd Bowles warning he might not be back until 'summer or fall.' 2026: fully healed, no restrictions at the start of camp and taking first-team reps.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 51/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Tahj Brooks is listed RB3 on the Cincinnati Bengals depth chart behind Chase Brown. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.

Backfield news: No current injury notes available; availability is not independently confirmed.

Scouting: Compact, powerful second-year back seen as a short-yardage option if he cracks the rotation. The most likely early-down fill-in behind Brown, but unproven with almost no NFL volume.

Starter injury history: 2025: played all 17 games with no injury absence, setting or matching career highs across the board (1,456 scrimmage yds, 11 total TD). Has cleared 225 carries in back-to-back seasons without missing time.

Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.