Which Insurance RBs to Trust in 2025 (Fantasy Football)
The backup RB landscape is always a balancing act for fantasy football managers. Every season, a handful of “insurance backs” or backups turn into league-winners, while others burn a roster spot with minimal upside. Looking at 2024’s efficiency metrics, particularly EPA per play (Expected Points Added), gives us a clearer sense of which backs are worth betting on in 2025. We will also examine the depth charts and contracts of each player in question to help with the analysis.
Backup RBs for 2025
To start things off, we’ll look at Kendre Miller. In his second season, Miller barely got any usage. A -0.14 EPA/play showed his inefficiency; his only hope is that Alvin Kamara turns 31 next season — not only that, but his cap hit also increases from $10 million to $18 million. The Saints, who desperately need to rebuild, are likely to cut Kamara or trade him to a contender to save money and help pursue the future. Miller could get a shot at the RB helm in this case, but he probably isn’t worth rostering in redraft.
Charbonnet handled 135 carries and 42 receptions, totaling nearly 900 scrimmage yards with nine TDs. That’s a healthy workload for a “backup,” but the red flag is his -0.11 EPA/play. Despite the volume, he wasn’t super efficient with it, which could limit his breakout potential if Kenneth Walker doesn’t miss time. However, Walker’s injury-proneness may lead to Charbonnet’s success, so his volume and TD numbers are promising and make him deserving of a roster spot.
Bigsby saw a hefty 168 carries, racking up 766 yards and 7 TDs in 2024. His efficiency was closer to neutral with -0.02 EPA/play. If Travis Etienne misses time, Bigsby looks like a true next-man-up handcuff you can trust to produce solid RB2 numbers.
Benson’s 63 carries and six catches turned into 350 total yards and a TD. While his -0.03 EPA/play wasn’t eye-popping, it was serviceable for a rookie. If James Conner misses time, Benson’s role likely grows; Conner’s $6 million cap hit grows to $10 million in 2026, so the Cardinals may think about moving on from him soon. Benson is the next guy up in this case, so especially in dynasty leagues, he’s a valuable catch.
Stevenson will take a backup role after a disappointing season in 2024 that led to a -0.14 EPA/play.His replacement, TreVeyon Henderson, has made a ton of noise this preseason and is likely to take the majority of touches in this Patriots offense, along with pass-catching back Antonio Gibson. Stevenson’s cap hit increases from $5 million to $7.5 million next year, so his time with New England is dwindling. Avoid him this season.
The Jets’ rookie posted 92 carries, 19 catches, and three TDs, with a -0.03 EPA/play in 2024. Not flashy, but functional. If Breece Hall misses time, Allen steps into one of the league’s best roles for a handcuff. His efficiency suggests room to grow, and his pure talent is there. Allen is certainly worth rostering, especially considering Hall’s injury history last season.
The rookie logged 58 carries and seven catches for just over 260 total yards. His -0.11 EPA/play shows he wasn’t efficient in limited action, and he didn’t find the endzone once. Corum’s $1 million cap hit compared to Kyren Williams‘ $6 million cap hit is the difference maker; however, the Rams are bound to see what they have in Corum in order to potentially save some money in 2026 in the backfield. Corum could be worth a roster spot in deep leagues just for this possibility.
Ray Davis’ numbers stand out. On 120 carries and 17 catches, he totaled nearly 670 yards and scored seven TDs. More importantly, he posted a +0.08 EPA/play, one of the best marks of any backup. Davis was legitimately good when he touched the ball, and in an explosive Bills offense, he’s a premium handcuff with league-winning upside. On contract until 2027 with a current cap hit of $1.1 million, Davis is a versatile piece that isn’t costing the Bills much. They’ll continue to slide him into the offense at a low cost, so roster Davis if you’re in a deep league.
Roschon Johnson flashed in limited work with just 55 carries and 16 receptions, yet found the end zone six times. His efficiency popped with a +0.03 EPA/play — one of the few backups who actually added value to the offense on a per-play basis. That efficiency, paired with red zone usage, makes Johnson an underrated stash who could quickly become a weekly starter if the Bears’ depth chart thins. Johnson’s major downside is his low risk as a Bear; his cap hit is only $1.3 million, and he truly hasn’t shown much promise to be a lead back in his first two years in the league.
Once the lead back in Tampa, Rachaad White is worth noting here because of his handcuff implications. White’s 198 touches in 2024 produced 1,021 scrimmage yards and nine TDs, with a neutral -0.02 EPA/play. He will be a strong grab if starter Bucky Irving goes down with injury, but likely won’t see much opportunity otherwise. White is going into the last year of his contract, so every touch is make-or-break. If he doesn’t show spark early in the season, it might not be worth rostering him.
Jaylen Warren is one of the more polarizing backups. With 122 carries and 42 receptions in 2024, he provided nearly 850 total yards, but his -0.08 EPA/play highlights his relative inefficiency with those touches. His major upside is his ability to split the backfield – he took about a third of the carries from starter Najee Harris last season and was just as active in the passing game as Harris. With rookie RB Kaleb Johnson in the mix, Warren is in for a similar role, as Johnson appears to be more of a power back, leaving room for a flashier player like Warren to enter the fold. He will also be in the last year of his contract, so look for him to be making every touch count; with Pitt paying him $5 million base, he’s bound to see some action. Especially in deeper leagues, Warren is worth a roster spot.
