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Below are the top running back picks from Week 7 that could have a significant impact on fantasy points in Week 8 and beyond.
Alvin Kamara plays 84% of the New Orleans Saints‘ offensive snaps in week 7 with Ken Molenaar injured
Alvin Kamara’s playing time decreased as he was on the field for only 59% of the offensive plays in Weeks 5 and 6, but that number increased to 84% in Week 7 as his backfield teammate, Kendre Miller, went down due to a torn ACL in the game. Kamara’s velocity should remain extremely high for the remainder of the season, with no significant competition in the Saints backfield. Unfortunately, it may not make a huge difference in fantasy points going forward as Kamara has been very inefficient this season and his next two matchups don’t favor running backs.
Kamara is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry on the ground, a career-low 17.6 receiving yards per game, and has scored just one touchdown this season. His next two games are against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed fewer than four yards to running backs this season, and the Los Angeles Rams, who allow the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs in 2025.
Upcoming matches: vs. Buccaneersbee Ramsbee Panthers
New England Patriots Rookie TreVeyon Henderson doesn’t deserve playing time
Even in a great game where the Patriots dominated the Tennessee Titans in a 31-13 victory, TreVeyon Henderson was relegated to the sideline for most of the game. Henderson played a career-low 14% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 7. With Antonio Gibson suffering a torn ACL in Week 5, there was hope that Henderson’s usage would increase, but that was not the case at all. Over the past two weeks combined, Henderson has played a total of 28 snaps, finishing with just 12 touches for 41 yards and no touchdowns.
For whatever reason, despite his fumbles and inefficiencies, Rhamondre Stevenson has already earned the trust of the Patriots coaches. The worst part for Henderson’s fantasy managers is that there is really no incentive for the Patriots to change their game plan since they are winning football games. The Patriots have won four straight games and without an injury to Stevenson, it’s hard to imagine them making any changes to their backfield usage.
At this point, Henderson should be included as an insurance policy for Rhamondre Stevenson, but he can’t be trusted to go everywhere near your starting fantasy setups.
Upcoming matches: vs. Tanningvs Falconsbee Buccaneers
Chicago bears Rookie Kyle Monangai playing a career-high 46% of offensive snaps in Week 7
Ben Johnson slowly begins to create his new version of “Sonic and Knuckles” in Chicago. As the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Johnson tired defenses while leaning on both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to run over their opponents. Now, as head coach of the Bears, he’s finding success using both D’Andre Swift and rookie running back Kyle Monangai to tire defenses. In Week 7, Monangai achieved career-highs in playing time (46% of offensive snaps), touches (15) and scrimmage yards (94), while also scoring his first touchdown in the NFL. Swift and Monangai combined for 205 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in last Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
This duo’s success should continue as they have an advantageous schedule. Over the next two weeks, they will face the worst two fantasy defenses against running backs this season (Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals). Then they get the New York Giants, who have allowed the second-most yards per carry to running backs in 2025.
Upcoming matchups: at Ravenbee Bengalvs Giants
Woody Marks struggles with his greatest opportunities
Woody Marks was on the field for 63% of the Houston Texans’ offensive snaps last week – his highest percentage yet in his rookie season. However, he could only manage 15 rushing yards on 10 carries and 20 receiving yards on five targets. He had two chances inside the opponent’s three-yard line in Week 7 and was unable to get into the end zone on either play. He also failed to convert a first down on all three of his third and fourth down opportunities in last week’s game; him actually lost ten feet above those attempts. No running back had a worse run grade from PFF than Marks in Week 7 (48.1).
Last week was his chance to completely take over the Houston Texans’ lead over Nick Chubb, but after that uninspiring performance, it’s fair to expect the team to give Chubb more work in the future. Neither Chubb nor Marks should be trusted in fantasy lineups moving forward unless they are facing a very weak defense, but that won’t be the case in the coming weeks as they face the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, all of whom have above-average defenses against the run.
Upcoming matches: vs. 49ersvs Broncosvs Jaguars
Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt a one hit wonder?
After his breakout performance in Week 5 with 150 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns and 27 fantasy points, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has just 100 yards, zero touchdowns and 10 total fantasy points over the past two weeks combined. He has now scored fewer than eight fantasy points in three of the last four weeks. Last weekend, against the weak Dallas Cowboys defense, Croskey-Merritt was only able to gain 33 yards on 13 carries, for a career-low game of 2.5 yards per carry.
The good news is that Croskey-Merritt has been used as a clear lead for the Washington Commanders in each of the last three games, even though it has produced very little production outside of the Week 5 game. Unfortunately, it is difficult to foresee his efficiency increasing anytime soon as his next three games are very tough. He will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, who have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, who have allowed the fewest yards per carry to running backs this year, and then the Detroit Lions in Week 10, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs in 2025.
Upcoming matchups: at Leadersvs Seahawksvs Lions
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