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3 Starters With Shaky Job Security (2025 Fantasy Football)


Depth charts across the NFL can shift drastically throughout a fantasy football season. Former stars may suffer uncharacteristic drop-offs in efficiency, others struggle to regain form after lengthy injury-related absences and some simply fall out of favor with their coaching staff, all of which can lead to major changes in volume distribution.

As fantasy managers, it’s crucial to recognize that starter-backup dynamics are fluid and can shift abruptly. Players whose fantasy appeal relies solely on their current roles often prove to be poor investments to make, as inefficient starters are frequently phased out as the season progresses. On the other hand, backups selected in the later rounds can prove to be league-winning selections when opportunity strikes.

In 2024, Tyrone Tracy originally slotted in as the No. 2 RB on the Giants’ depth chart. He served primarily as the backup to veteran Devin Singletary to start the season. Singletary, who continuously failed to provide the dynamism and explosiveness needed in Brian Daboll’s run-heavy system, eventually ceded the starting role to Tracy. The rookie performed as the RB15 in half-PPR formats from Week 5 onwards.

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Starters With Shaky Job Security

In what follows, we’ll highlight some players whose starting roles may not be as stable as they seem. Savvy managers can gain an edge on their peers by acquiring their backups at the end of drafts.

D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)

D’Andre Swift’s reunion with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson may appear to positively impact the veteran back’s fantasy value. However, Swift was never given a workhorse role during their tenure together in Detroit. Across three years as a Lion, Swift failed to earn an excess of 151 carries in any given season. Johnson seemed insistent on limiting Swift’s usage as the likes of Jamaal Williams and Adrian Peterson earned more consistent looks in his system.

Chicago signed Swift to a lucrative three-year, $32 million contract in the 2024 offseason. During his first season as a Bear, Swift operated as the team’s clear lead back, earning 198 more carries than any of the other running backs on the roster. He set career highs in scrimmage yards, rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns. Yet, Johnson’s arrival casts doubt on Swift’s ability to build upon his career-best output in 2024.

Despite accumulating decent surface-level production, Pro Football Focus (PFF) metrics suggest Swift’s efficiency was far from ideal. Among backs with a minimum of 100 carries, he ranked 40th in rushing grade, 44th in yards after contact per attempt and 41st in elusive rating. Listed at a modest 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, these tallies suggest Swift may not be built to withstand a full three-down workload.

Roschon Johnson and Kyle Monangai will both be vying for touches in this backfield. Johnson has proven to be a versatile asset throughout his young career. Most notably, he’s demonstrated an excellent nose for the end zone, accumulating six rushing touchdowns on just 55 carries in 2024. His physical, between-the-tackles running style draws natural comparisons to Williams, who thrived under Johnson’s guidance in Detroit. Williams eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns during the 2021 campaign.

Monangai will also be a name worth monitoring. During his final year at Rutgers, he surpassed 1,200 rushing yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns. According to PFF, he averaged an impressive 3.25 yards after contact per carry throughout his four-year collegiate career.

Swift’s troubling inefficiency trends won’t help his already tenuous relationship with his new head coach. Johnson and Monangai, who can both be acquired at the very end of drafts, can both earn significant roles in this offense and return excellent value for fantasy football.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYG)

Tyrone Tracy now finds himself on the opposite end of the starter-backup dynamic that once worked in his favor. In 2024, Tracy undoubtedly provided a boost to this offense that was in dire need of playmakers outside of Malik Nabers. Per PFF, he earned 31.3% of his rushing yards on attempts that gained 15+ yards. Formerly a receiver in college, Tracy has game-breaking athleticism and elusiveness.

Tracy’s ball security issues are the primary reason his starting role is now in jeopardy. His four fumbles were the most of any running back with fewer than 200 carries in 2024. He also dropped a concerning 13.6% of his catchable targets, according to PFF.

The Giants’ fourth-round draft selection of Cam Skattebo further complicates Tracy’s path to workhorse volume. Skattebo emerged as one of the nation’s most electric runners in 2024. He ranked fourth in rushing grade and third in missed tackles forced among FBS backs with a minimum of 100 carries. He also excelled as a pass-catcher, averaging 13.5 yards after catch per reception and 2.10 yards per route run, per PFF. Arizona State’s do-it-all back will pose a significant threat to Tracy and his hopes to resume his role as the Giants’ top back.

Tracy’s slender frame and ability in space would suggest he’s built for more of a third-down, change-of-pace role. Conversely, Skattebo has a track record of handling elite levels of volume and maintaining impressive efficiency while doing so. His gritty and physical play style will prove to be a seamless fit in the Giants’ system that prioritizes clock management and pragmatic football. With this in mind, I’d expect Skattebo to usurp Tracy as New York’s starter in his rookie season. He’s well worth the investment as the current RB39 in the expert consensus rankings (ECR).

Skattebo’s average draft position (ADP) is RB35.

Travis Etienne (RB – JAX)

Heading into the 2025 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense is trending upwards. Sophomore wideout Brian Thomas Jr. is coming off a sensational rookie season during which he accumulated 1,282 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He’ll now be accompanied by the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Ingenious play-caller Liam Coen will look to maximize franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence and this impressive group of pass-catching weapons.

Dating back to their collegiate days at Clemson, Travis Etienne has historically operated alongside Lawrence as the team’s lead back. Etienne enjoyed an extremely productive start to his career in Jacksonville, accruing a minimum of 1,400 scrimmage yards in two consecutive seasons. However, Etienne’s production reduced drastically in 2023. He set career lows in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. More concerningly, he was outperformed by running mate Tank Bigsby. Per PFF, Bigsby bested Etienne in rushing grade, yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced and elusive rating.

The Jaguars also invested fourth-round draft capital in Virginia Tech back Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten soared up draft boards after a stellar NFL Scouting Combine draft performance, where he recorded a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and a 1.49-second 10-yard split. His raw athleticism could eventually be called upon to replace the explosiveness Etienne once brought to this backfield.

Etienne’s saving grace is his pass-catching prowess. Over his three-year NFL career, he’s totaled an excess of 130 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. Neither Bigsby nor Tuten — both of whom failed to record 100 receiving yards in 2024 — pose a serious threat to Etienne’s usage through the air. The veteran’s established rapport with Lawrence may be the most compelling reason for him to retain the starting job in 2025.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Etienne’s status, both Bigsby and Tuten are worth speculative selections in the later rounds of drafts. Currently being ranked as the RB33, Etienne is a very risky proposition.

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