• Kareem Hunt plays like it’s 2017: Hunt made his first start for the Chiefs since 2018 and immediately took on a tremendous workload, with his 27 carries in Week 5 being the most among any player in the NFL. The veteran now looks like one of the best waiver wire pickups in the game fantasy Season.

• Tank Bigsby is getting closer to stealing Travis Etienne’s job: Bigsby leads the NFL in yards per carry, yards after contact per attempt and breakaway percentage in 2024. He outperforms his teammate Travis Etienne Jr. This could put pressure on the coaches to bring him back to the front of the team sooner rather than later.

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

With so many running backs splitting up their backfield in today’s NFL, it’s more important than ever to figure out which players on their team are getting the most valuable snaps and touchdowns and who is slowly losing their workload to teammates who are superior to them.

Here are the running backs’ key takeaways from the first five weeks of the 2024 season that could have a big impact fantasy Points in Week 6 and beyond.

Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt leads the NFL with 27 runs in his first start of the season

In his first start with the Chiefs since 2018 Kareem Hunt managed a league-high 27 runs in Week 5 – the most of any Chiefs running back since Hunt himself recorded 29 runs in Week 16 of the 2017 season.

Above all, Isiah Pacheco (currently on IR), whom Hunt replaced, has never carried the ball more than 22 times in a game.

Not only did Hunt take on a heavy workload; He also took on the role of the Chiefs’ supervisor red zone back. He accounted for 82% of the team’s running back carries in Week 5, including all four red zone tries and the only goal-line carry on Monday night.

With Carson Steele If he fumbles again in Week 5, it’s clear that Hunt will hold the lead until Pacheco returns from his broken fibula. And no, there is little reason to worry Clyde Edwards HelaireThe possible impact on his return.

Upcoming encounters: Bye week, at the 49ers, at the Raiders

Jaguars Tank Bigsby Teammate out-snaps, out-touches and out-produces Travis Etienne Jr.

Bigsby posted career highs in carries (13), rush yards (101) and rushing touchdowns (2) in Week 5 against the Colts.

The young running back played a career-high 40% of the offensive snaps and scored on 57% of the Jaguars’ rushing attempts last Sunday. He played more snaps as the Jaguars’ starting RB Travis Etienne Jr. and beat him 13-6.

Entering the 2024 season, Bigsby had never averaged more than 32 rushing yards in a game. However, he has now surpassed 70 rushing yards in three of his first five games of the year. The Jaguars back also leads the NFL in yards per carry (8.0) and is averaging an incredible 6.5 yards after contact per attempt in 2024 – an average that is 4 yards better than Etienne’s (2.6) this season.

He’s only carried the ball 34 times this season, but his 18 forced missed tackles are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL – just one missed tackle less Derrick Henry, who ran the ball 61 more times.

Bigsby also had a great breakout performance this season, leading all running backs in the league with a strikeout rate of 76%, while Etienne only had a meager strikeout rate of 18. Kenneth Walker III (54.5%) and Derrick Henry (52.9%) are the only other backs with 30 or more carries who have a breakaway rate of 50% or more.

After the game, head coach Doug Pederson noted that Etienne’s limited role was due to a shoulder injury, stating, “Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game. That’s just how games go.” Despite Pederson’s comments, it could become increasingly difficult for the Jaguars’ coaching staff to justify keeping Bigsby away from a larger role if Etienne doesn’t improve his game quickly.

Upcoming encounters: at Bears, against Patriots, against Packers

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle receives 64.5% of team carries in Week 5

Rico Dowdle posted career highs in a number of metrics in Week 5, including carries (20), rush yards (87), snap rate (50%) and rushing share (65%).

Last Sunday, he led the Cowboys with two red zone carries and scored the team’s only goal line carry, but failed to get into the end zone. Although he has yet to record a rushing touchdown this season, he has caught a touchdown pass in each of the last two games – making him the first Cowboys running back to do so since Robert Thomas in 2000.

Despite his increased workload, I remain cautious about relying on him in future fantasy lineups. He hasn’t shown much explosiveness yet, with zero runs over 15 yards and an average of just 2.5 yards after contact per attempt, ranking him fifth-worst among 28 running backs with 50 or more carries. Additionally, he didn’t define the third-down role, as he only played three third-down snaps in Week 5, with fullback Hunter Luepke seeing most of those opportunities.

The upcoming schedule further tempers expectations as Dowdle next faces a strong Lions run defense followed by a bye week from the Cowboys.

Upcoming encounters: vs. Lions, bye week, at 49ers

Tyrone Tracy Jr. gets 18 carries and plays in 62% of the Giants’ snaps Devin Singletary pushed to the sidelines

Tyrone Tracy Jr. failed in his first NFL start Devin Singletary (groin area) incapacitated. He played 62% of the Giants’ offensive snaps and outperformed his backfield teammate Eric Gray 18-4. Tracy took full advantage of his opportunities in Week 5, putting up 129 rushing yards and an average of 7.2 yards per carry.

Before his injury, Singletary was having his worst game as a Giant, averaging just 1.7 yards per carry on 14 attempts in Week 4. Tracy has been far more efficient this season, averaging 5.3 yards on 30 carries compared to Singletary’s 3.9 yards on 56 carries.

Tracy already has more runs of 20+ yards than Singletary this season. Additionally, both Singletary and Gray have lost two fumbles each this year, while Tracy has yet to put the ball on the ground.

If Tracy can prove reliable and continue to show great playmaking ability, he could retain an important role in the Giants’ backfield even when Singletary is healthy again.

Upcoming matchups: vs. Bengals, vs. Eagles, at Steelers

49ers RB Jordan MasonThe workload decreases in week 5

Jordan Mason had season lows in carries (14) and offensive snap share (64%) in Week 5. His share of team carries also dropped to 54% from the 71% he maintained in Weeks 1-4. Backup RB Isaac Guerendo took five carries, including two crucial ones red zone Tries from Mason in this game. Mason’s problems were compounded by a costly fumble in the fourth quarter with just over six minutes left and the 49ers leading 23-21 deep in Cardinals territory. This turnover allowed the Cardinals to control the clock and score a game-winning field goal, sealing the 49ers’ defeat.

Mason will remain the 49ers’ workhorse for a long time Christian McCaffrey is offside, but his fantasy Production appears to be dependent on a rushing touchdown as he still hasn’t earned a role in the passing game. Mason saw just one target in Week 5 and was on the field for just three of the 49ers’ 12 third-down plays.

Mason should have an efficient day on the ground against the Seahawks’ weak run defense in Week 6, but now might be the time to trade Mason while his value is still at top-five RB status.

Upcoming encounters: at Seahawks, vs. Chiefs, vs. Cowboys