Sunday Early · Week 4

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 56/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in under 1% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Change since the last run: Emari Demercado is confirmed inactive for Week 4 in Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4), and no other Cowboys running back appears on the inactive list, so Javonte Williams, Tyler Goodson and fullback Hunter Luepke are the active backs. Malik Davis is unavailable on injured reserve. Projection, not fact: Goodson is the de facto No. 2 and would lead a replacement committee, but he has six carries on the season and no established lead-back workload, so this remains a depth-chart pick and confidence is held low. Goodson is free almost everywhere; he would need Williams inactive and would still probably share work.

Backfield news: Dallas ruled Demercado inactive for Week 4, which leaves Tyler Goodson as the only scrimmage back behind Javonte Williams, with Hunter Luepke a lead-blocking fullback. Williams carries no designation and his volume is secure. Malik Davis is on season-ending injured reserve. The Demercado inactive removes the main committee threat, so a Williams absence would now funnel more cleanly to Goodson, though his role would still be unproven.

Scouting: New arrival who has already passed Demercado. Signed to the Dallas active roster Sept. 15 off Atlanta's practice squad (he signed with ATL in March, joined their PS Aug. 31), filling the hole left by Malik Davis' season-ending IR. Active for Week 3 at BAL while Demercado sat as a coach's decision, making him the de facto No. 2. Former GB/IND back with return-game value; small Dallas sample.

Starter injury history: 2022: multi-ligament knee injury. 2024: full season in Denver. 2025 (DAL): 16 games, 1,201 rush yards and 11 TD on 252 carries, then finished on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. 2026: healthy - no injury designation through three games and he was one of only two active RBs for the Week 3 game in Brazil.

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

Rostered in 52% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Texans running back among the Week 4 inactives, so David Montgomery and Woody Marks are both active and neither carries a designation. Fact: Marks split camp reps nearly evenly with Montgomery, already has 22 carries and seven catches through three games, and led Houston in rushing as a rookie when injuries pushed him between the tackles. Projection: he would take the clear majority of a Montgomery absence including passing downs. Marks is widely rostered and gone in many leagues. The best lower-rostered fallback is Dare Ogunbowale, free almost everywhere, but his path is far thinner: he is a veteran depth and third-down body with no projected offensive role.

Backfield news: Houston has no running back on the Week 4 inactive list. British Brooks and Noah Whittington are out, which leaves Montgomery, Marks and Ogunbowale as the room. Marks is the rare backup with proven volume on his resume and a defined receiving role already, making him one of the better handcuffs in the league rather than a projection. Montgomery is 29 with an MCL tear in his past, so the contingency matters.

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.

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

Rostered in 28% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Cardinals running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier are both active. Arizona's roster carries James Conner and Trey Benson as unavailable on injured reserve, leaving three backs. Projection, not fact: Allgeier out-snapped Love in Week 1 and already handles clock-killing early-down work, so he would lead the backfield rather than split it if Love sat; he is not the passing-down answer. Allgeier is usually available on the wire. Bam Knight is free almost everywhere but is a kick returner and emergency body with no projected rushing role.

Backfield news: No Cardinals running back is on the Week 4 inactive list. Conner and Benson are both unavailable on injured reserve and no return timetable is reported in the sources opened here, so treat the timetable as unknown. Neither is a redraft hold right now; in dynasty Conner's situation still matters more than Allgeier's, but Allgeier is the only Arizona back behind Love with a defined offensive role, and the room is down to three bodies.

Scouting: Out-snapped the No. 3 overall pick 41-32 in Week 1 and led the backfield with 17 carries for 61 yards plus 2 catches, taking the late-game clock-killing work. A thick downhill early-down runner, not a passing-down answer - but he is a genuine threat to Love's volume, not just a handcuff.

Starter injury history: No NFL injury history before 2026. Left high ankle sprain in the Aug. preseason game vs. LV cost him the rest of the preseason; he was a game-time decision but active for the Sep. 13 opener. Mike LaFleur said Love was not on a snap count in Week 1. Durable at Notre Dame (1,372 rush yards, 21 total TD, Heisman finalist).

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

Rostered in 8% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Change since the last run: Devin Singletary is confirmed inactive for Week 4 in Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4), and no other Giants running back is on the inactive list, so Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and fullback Patrick Ricard are active. Projection, not fact: Harris is the listed No. 2 and the most proven lead back in the room, so he would be first in line for early-down and short-yardage work, but he was a healthy scratch in Week 1 and Tracy is the more complete back, so this is an unresolved committee and confidence stays low. Harris and Tracy are both free almost everywhere; for Harris to matter Skattebo would have to miss and New York would still likely split carries with Tracy.

Backfield news: Singletary is inactive for Week 4, which trims the Giants committee to Skattebo, Harris and Tracy plus fullback Patrick Ricard. Skattebo carries no designation and has 50 carries in three games. Harris has 13 carries on the season after being a healthy scratch in Week 1; Tracy has three. Neither backup has a secure role, so a Skattebo absence would most likely be a two-man split rather than a clean handoff. Both are long shots available in nearly every league.

Scouting: 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.

Starter injury history: 2025 (rookie): right ankle dislocation with an open tibia fracture and ruptured deltoid ligament in late October, ending his season and requiring surgery. 2026: returned without reported setbacks, listed atop the depth chart in late August and active for Week 1 on Sept. 13. No 2026 injury designation reported.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 75/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 72% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Rams running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are both active with no designations. Fact: Corum is already carving out a timeshare on merit with 28 carries for 148 yards through three games and is trusted on all three downs. Projection: Williams rarely splits work evenly, so an absence would hand Corum a genuine every-down role in one of the league's best offenses. Corum is widely rostered and gone in many leagues. The best lower-rostered fallback is Dean Connors, free almost everywhere, but his path is far thinner: he has no carries this season and would be a committee body rather than a lead back.

Backfield news: Los Angeles has no running back on the Week 4 inactive list. Ronnie Rivers is out, leaving Williams, Corum and Dean Connors. Corum is the cleanest handcuff in the league right now: he already has a real carry share, handles three downs, and would inherit goal-line work in a high-scoring offense. There is nothing ambiguous about the succession here, which is why he is rostered almost everywhere.

Scouting: The premium handcuff in the NFL: Kyren Williams rarely splits work evenly, so an injury would hand Corum a true every-down role in one of the league's best offenses. Already carving out a timeshare on merit — durable, decisive and trusted on all three downs.

Starter injury history: 2023: high ankle sprain (his second in two years) cost him four games on IR. 2024: played every game but the meaningless finale, when McVay rested starters. 2025: 295 touches across all 17 games, including an in-game ankle scare vs. CAR in late November that did not cost him a start. Two clean seasons after an injury-marred start to his career.

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

Rostered in 16% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Eagles running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are all active and practiced fully this week. Fact: Philadelphia acquired Bigsby from Jacksonville specifically as Barkley insurance and he has proven starter production on his resume. Projection, not fact: he would be the designated lead-back replacement behind a much better line, though his 14 carries in three games mean the role is projected rather than demonstrated in Philadelphia. Bigsby is usually available on the wire. Will Shipley is free almost everywhere but is a change-of-pace third back who was limited by a foot issue earlier this season and projects as a complementary piece.

Backfield news: No Eagles running back is on the Week 4 inactive list, and both Bigsby and Shipley were full practice participants. Barkley's Week 2 stinger has resolved and he carries no designation. Bigsby is the room's designated Barkley replacement and the one Philadelphia backup with a starter's workload in his past, which makes him a premium handcuff in a top offense. Shipley would stay in a change-of-pace role even if one back above him missed.

Scouting: Acquired from Jacksonville specifically as Barkley insurance and the room's designated lead-back replacement: an efficient, physical downhill runner with proven starter production, now behind a much better line. His own abdominal issue is minor enough that he was practicing again by Friday of Week 3. Premium handcuff.

Starter injury history: Durable across three Philadelphia seasons: a 2,000-yard 2024 and 280 carries in 2025 with no multi-game absence. 2026: left-arm stinger on the first offensive snap of the Sept. 20 win over Tennessee (date-only report); he returned in that game, an MRI came back positive, and he practiced in full on Friday, Sept. 25 (date-only report). No games missed.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 66/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 50% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Packers running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Green Bay's healthy backs are all available; Josh Jacobs is out and Pierre Strong Jr. is questionable on the practice squad. Projection, not fact: Lloyd is listed ahead of the others and has the most carries in the room, but Green Bay keeps splitting work three ways and Chris Brooks has out-snapped him while handling most third downs, so this is an unresolved committee and confidence is deliberately low. Lloyd is widely rostered and gone in many leagues. The best lower-rostered fallback is Chris Brooks, free almost everywhere, with a clearer passing-down role but almost no carries.

Backfield news: Josh Jacobs is out for Week 4 and no Packers running back is on the inactive list. Jacobs is still on the active roster rather than injured reserve, but no return timetable is reported in the sources opened here, so treat the timetable as unknown. He remains the back to own for the rest of the season if the absence is short; Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks have been splitting the work rather than one taking over, which caps the replacement upside for all three. Hold Jacobs in dynasty and treat this committee as a weekly guess.

Scouting: Opened as the starter with Jacobs on the exempt list and is still the listed starter in beat reporting, but he has not consolidated the job: 16 snaps in the Week 2 loss to the Jets, fewer than Chris Brooks' 27, then 4 carries for 11 yards on a 24% snap share in the Sept. 29 report. LaFleur keeps splitting carries three ways behind a line that is not blocking.

Starter injury history: No significant reported injury absences. His limited usage in 2025 and in Week 1 of 2026 reflects role and performance rather than health. No injury designation reported through late September 2026. Missing injury data does not establish health.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 78/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 67% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Buccaneers running back among the Week 4 inactives, and Bucky Irving was a full practice participant, so he and Kenny Gainwell are both active. Fact: Tampa Bay signed Gainwell to be a genuine 1A/1B and has structured the backfield as a near-even split, and he is reliable in protection and as a receiver. Projection: he would absorb a full three-down workload if Irving sat, though he has never carried one for long. Gainwell is widely rostered and gone in many leagues. The best lower-rostered fallback is Sean Tucker, free almost everywhere, but his path is far thinner: he is a change-of-pace RB3 who would be a committee piece rather than a lead back.

Backfield news: Tampa Bay has no running back on the Week 4 inactive list and Irving practiced fully. The backfield is already close to a 50-50 split, so Gainwell has standalone value even with Irving healthy and would take a full workload if Irving's injury history resurfaced. Sean Tucker is the only other back and offers a different archetype but no lead-back case.

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.

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

Rostered in 8% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Breece Hall is ruled out for Week 4 with a quad and appears on the Jets' inactive list in Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4); no other Jets running back is inactive, so Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis and Kene Nwangwu are active. Allen steps in as the lead. Projection, not fact: Davis is the third piece of this committee and would take the early-down overflow if Allen also sat, but he has no carries in 2026 and Allen's better passing-down profile keeps Davis rotational, so confidence is low. Davis is free almost everywhere; he would need Allen to go down too. Nwangwu is a kick returner in line for his season debut, not a rushing option.

Backfield news: Hall is out with a quad injury and no return timetable is reported in the sources opened here, so treat the timetable as unknown. He is still on the active roster rather than injured reserve. For this game Braelon Allen is the lead and the eligible pickup; Isaiah Davis is only the next body behind him. For ongoing ownership Hall remains the better hold if the absence is short, while Allen is the one worth owning in redraft if it stretches on, since he already had short-yardage and goal-line work before Hall's injury.

Scouting: Third-year back and the third piece of New York's committee behind Hall and Allen, healthy and off the Week 3 injury report. Efficient on a small career sample (5.6 yards on 73 carries, 8.7 on 30 catches). His 2026 Week 1-2 usage was not verified in this review, and Allen's better passing-down profile keeps Davis a rotational piece rather than the first man up if Hall missed time.

Starter injury history: 2025: ruled out indefinitely with a knee injury that cost him a significant part of the season. 2026: healthy through camp - one of the few Jets backs to avoid injury - and took first-team work while Hall was out with the groin. Played Weeks 1 and 2 and is not listed on the Jets' Week 3 injury report (Sept. 24).

Listed starter Breece Hall is Out; Braelon Allen steps in.

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

Rostered in 77% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Bears running back among the Week 4 inactives, so D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are both active; Swift practiced fully this week after a knee scare. Fact: Monangai is already a weekly contributor on roughly a third of the snaps, and when Swift missed a game in 2025 Monangai handled 26 carries for 176 yards plus three catches. Projection: he would take the clear majority of a Swift absence rather than split it. Monangai is widely rostered and gone in many leagues. The best lower-rostered fallback is Roschon Johnson, free almost everywhere, but his path is far thinner: he is a short-yardage and goal-line specialist whose last multi-carry game was in 2024.

Backfield news: Chicago has no running back on the Week 4 inactive list and Swift's knee is a non-issue after full practice participation. Monangai is the proven handcuff here, not a projection: he has already produced a 176-yard game in Swift's absence and holds a real weekly snap share. Brittain Brown is out. Roschon Johnson remains a goal-line specialist with almost no usage, so the drop-off behind Monangai is severe.

Scouting: The most valuable backup in this room and already a weekly contributor at a 31-43% snap share. The handcuff case is proven rather than projected: when Swift missed Week 9 of 2025, Monangai went 26 carries for 176 yards plus three catches. Swift's knee kept him out of Thursday practice before Week 4 but he is expected to play, so Monangai stays RB2 - hold him as the lead-in-waiting.

Starter injury history: 2025: appeared in and started 16 games with no injury absence - 1,087 rush yards on 223 carries, 34 catches, 10 total TD. 2026 camp: left one practice with what was reported as a cramp, not a core injury. In-season: a knee issue after the Week 3 Monday night game at Philadelphia left him a non-participant on Thursday, Oct. 1; he was back at practice Friday. No games missed.

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

Rostered in 17% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Jaguars running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr. are all active; Allen was limited in practice this week but carries no game designation. Projection, not fact: Rodriguez is listed as a co-starter with Tuten after near-equal camp reps and is the downhill early-down and short-yardage runner who would absorb heavy carries if Tuten sat, but he has no receptions this season and Allen owns most passing-down work, so a replacement backfield would still be split. Rodriguez is usually available on the wire. Ameer Abdullah and Allen are free almost everywhere and are third-down specialists rather than volume options.

Backfield news: No Jaguars running back appears on the Week 4 inactive list. Tuten has handled 43 carries in three games and is the clear lead; Rodriguez is the physical complement with 20 carries and zero targets. LeQuint Allen Jr. was limited in practice but is available and remains Jacksonville's preferred passing-down back. A Tuten absence would give Rodriguez the carries and Allen the receiving work, so Rodriguez is the right pickup for rushing volume only.

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.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 49/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 8% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Samaje Perine NFL Stats & News
• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Deviation from the deterministic pick (Tahj Brooks), on dated evidence. Fact: a Sept. 29, 2026 report (date-only evidence) has Perine at 18 offensive snaps in the Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh against Chase Brown's 40, with Perine at roughly a third of the team's snaps for the season and Brooks near zero; the same tracking lists Perine second and Brooks third. Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Bengals running back among the Week 4 inactives, so all three are active. Projection: Perine would lead a replacement committee but at 31 he is not a 15-carry answer, so confidence stays low. Perine and Brooks are both free almost everywhere; for Perine to matter Brown would have to miss and Cincinnati would still likely split work.

Backfield news: No Bengals running back is on the Week 4 inactive list. Chase Brown is an every-down back with no meaningful competition, playing more than twice Perine's snaps in Week 3 and carrying a secure workload. Perine is the rotational No. 2 and trusted blocker; Tahj Brooks has barely played. If Brown missed time the replacement work would most likely be split rather than handed to one back, with Perine first in line on early downs and in protection.

Scouting: Veteran complementary back and trusted blocker. Week 3 vs. PIT: three carries for nine yards plus one catch on three targets for five yards on 18 offensive snaps against Brown's 40, mostly in the first half, plus a 26-yard kickoff return. Reporting pegs him as rotational unless Brown misses time, and at 31 he is not a 15-carry answer.

Starter injury history: 2025: played all 17 games with no injury absence while setting career highs (1,456 scrimmage yards, 11 total TD), and has cleared 225 carries in back-to-back seasons without missing time. 2026: no Bengals running back appears on the Week 4 injury report, so he remains fully available.

Evidence: high. Stash priority: 54/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 41% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Deviation from the deterministic pick (Nicholas Singleton), on the newest dated evidence. Fact: Tony Pollard was a full practice participant with no Week 4 game designation; Tyjae Spears is questionable with an ankle but Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists Michael Carter as Tennessee's only inactive running back and reports Spears is expected to play, so Spears is available. Projection, not fact: Spears would absorb receiving and change-of-pace work if Pollard sat, but his ankle and his small 13-carry sample mean he is not a lock for lead volume, so confidence stays low. Spears is usually available on the wire. Singleton is free almost everywhere and is the fallback if the ankle limits Spears in-game.

Backfield news: Michael Carter is Tennessee's only inactive running back for Week 4. Spears was questionable with an ankle after a mixed practice week but is expected to play, which resolves a designation that had been unresolved all week. Pollard has no designation and remains the lead back. If the ankle flares up, Singleton is the next early-down body, though he has four carries on the season.

Scouting: Quick change-of-pace and passing-down complement who would normally absorb receiving work if Pollard sat, except he is nursing his own ankle and also missed practice Wed., Sept. 23. Both top backs being limited in the same week is the material change. Availability, not ability, remains the central risk with Spears.

Starter injury history: Ankle: did not practice Wed., Sept. 23 (Titans report) ahead of the Giants game; no return timetable stated. Sept. 23 fantasy item (date-only) called it soreness unlikely to cost him the game. Listed Questionable. History: all 17 starts in 2025, 242 car/1,082 yds/5 TD, fourth straight 1,000-yd year; minor foot/ankle issues, missed Week 17 (flu plus ankle). Age 29, heavy career workload.

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

Rostered in 12% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Ravens running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are both active and no Baltimore back carries a game designation. Projection, not fact: Hill is the passing-down back and Lamar Jackson's protector who spells Henry rather than replacing him, and Henry's 26-carry Week 3 shows the split is unchanged. If Henry missed time Hill would keep third downs and share early work rather than inherit a 20-touch role, which is why confidence stays low. Hill is usually available on the wire. Rasheen Ali is free almost everywhere but is primarily the kick returner.

Backfield news: Baltimore enters Week 4 with no running back on the inactive list and no game designation for Henry or Hill. Henry has carried the room all season and shows no decline at 32; Hill's value is role-based rather than volume-based. Adam Randall is out. If Henry ever misses, expect Baltimore to spread early-down work rather than hand Hill a feature job, so he is a stopgap streamer in redraft rather than a true every-week replacement.

Scouting: Baltimore's passing-down back and Lamar Jackson's trusted protector, described by the team as a runner, receiver and blocker who spells Henry rather than replacing him. Henry's 26-carry Week 3 shows the split is unchanged. If Henry missed time Hill would keep passing downs and share early work, not inherit a 15-carry role.

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. Elevated only for age 32 and repeated 300-plus-carry seasons. Healthy and off the injury report through Week 3 of 2026.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 82/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 90% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Fact: Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Patriots running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are both active; fullback Reggie Gilliam is questionable with a knee and Myles Montgomery is unavailable on injured reserve. Fact: Henderson already splits this backfield, took 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown in his Week 2 debut, and led New England in scrimmage yards and touchdowns as a rookie. Projection: he would handle the large majority of touches including passing downs if Stevenson sat. Henderson is widely rostered and gone in nearly every league. The best lower-rostered fallback is Corey Kiner, free almost everywhere, but he would need both backs out and his role shrank once Henderson returned.

Backfield news: New England has no running back on the Week 4 inactive list and Stevenson carries no designation. This is already a two-man committee in which Henderson is the higher-upside half; Stevenson still out-snaps him but has ball-security problems. Reggie Gilliam is questionable with a knee and plays a fullback role rather than carrying the ball. Henderson is the pick in any format and is effectively unavailable on the wire in most leagues.

Scouting: Back and producing: 16 carries for 76 yards and a TD in his Week 2 season debut once Stevenson fumbled, then 21 snaps to Stevenson's 32 in the Week 3 loss at JAX. As a rookie he led New England in scrimmage yards (1,132) and TDs (10) at 5.1 YPC. Pass protection still keeps him from the full job, but he is the highest-upside back here and Stevenson's fumbling keeps the door open.

Starter injury history: 2024: foot injury cost him Week 6 vs. HOU. 2025: turf toe from the Week 8 win over CLE cost Weeks 9-11 (14 games played), though he dominated postseason snaps. 2026: no injury designation through three games and he led Patriots RBs in Week 3 snaps, so he has been fully available; he carries no current return question.

Evidence: low. Stash priority: 56/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.

Rostered in 5% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.

• Week 4 NFL schedule, scores, live updates: Puka Nacua set to return; Justin Jefferson, Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith ruled out

Change since the last run: Ray Davis carried a questionable tag with a hamstring on the Week 4 injury report and Sunday's pregame file (updated 4:03 p.m. UTC, Oct 4) lists no Bills running back among the Week 4 inactives, so Davis is active. James Cook carries no designation. Projection, not fact: Davis is listed third but profiles as the likelier lead if Cook missed time because he can take early downs, short yardage and pass protection, where Ty Johnson is a receiving specialist. Davis has one carry in 2026, so the role is projected rather than proven and confidence stays low. Davis is free almost everywhere; Cook would have to miss and Davis would still have to hold up on the hamstring. Johnson is the fallback.

Backfield news: Ray Davis entered the weekend questionable with a hamstring after limited practice, and Buffalo's Week 4 inactive list contains no running backs, so he is available. Cook remains the engine of this offense with no designation. Davis is the power/early-down option and Ty Johnson the passing-down specialist, so a Cook absence would likely be a split with Davis leading the carries. Both Buffalo backups are free almost everywhere, which makes Davis a cheap speculative add rather than a contested one.

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.