FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Week 4 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings & Tiers: Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Chris Welsh
Guest: Pat Fitzmaurice
Missing Co-host: Andrew Erickson (rankings referenced)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into running back rankings and tiers for Week 4 of the fantasy football season. Hosts Chris Welsh and Pat Fitzmaurice break down the top 36 RBs, dissect matchup strengths and weaknesses, debate shifting player value, and highlight sneaky “smash” plays and fades. The discussion is data-driven, blending recent performance, matchup analysis, and coaching trends, all with an energetic, debate-friendly tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Week 4 Top 12 Running Backs & Early Headlines

[00:38-03:56]

• Top 12 RBs for Week 4:
  • Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, James Cook
  • Jameer Gibbs, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Devon Achane, Bucky Irving
  • Jordan Mason (#11), Omarion Hampton (#12)

Jordan Mason as a Set-It-and-Forget-It RB1

• Both hosts agree Mason is a locked-in RB1 while Aaron Jones remains out.
• “You got to start Jordan Mason.” — Chris Welsh [03:53]
• Pat: “He offers zero pass catching value. Like, that is my only hang up.” [05:29]
• Chris: “You don’t need to catch passes when you’re getting five or six yards per carry.” [05:49]

Pat Fitzmaurice’s Expertise

• Fitzmaurice finished third in ranked accuracy in the previous week; particularly strong in RB evaluations.

2. Deep Dive: Jordan Mason & Amarion Hampton

Jordan Mason [03:56-06:45]

• Pittsburgh matchup is friendlier than reputation implies due to early defensive struggles.
• Mason thrives with volume and red zone work.
• Limitation: Little to no receiving upside.
• Steelers’ defense: 19th overall in yards after contact allowed, 19th in missed tackles.

Amarion Hampton [06:45-08:52]

• Najee Harris out for the season, huge opportunity for Hampton.
• “This should be a relatively hefty load of questions you'll get this week.” — Chris Welsh [06:44]
• Usage spike in Week 3: 19 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD, 6 rec, 59 yds (7 targets).
• Matchup: Giants run D is dead last in DVOA and 4th-most points allowed to RBs.
• Fitz: “He’s being ranked more this week like he was in our pre-draft rankings…” [07:30]
• Slightly outside RB1 territory for Pat due to strong passing game and volume questions.

3. RB2 and Volume/Matchup Debates

[13:15-20:39]

Kyron Williams — Overlooked Due to Touchdown Upside

• Frequent goal-line presence keeps his floor high.

Ashton Gentry — Volume vs. Line Play and Passing Usage

• “Every Ashton Genty carry, it seems like...he has to do Bruce Lee type stuff just to get three or four yards.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [14:44]
• RB is contacted behind the line at one of the highest rates in the NFL.
• Passing game let-down: “Six targets, five catches, three receiving yards.” [14:55]
• Still a start in 12-team leagues, but trending down.

Chase Brown — Fade Territory

• “I am a fade of Chase Brown this week.” — Chris Welsh [17:36]
• Bengals’ line and playcalling called out as big negatives.
• Pat: “He is RB31 in fantasy despite averaging 18.3 touches a game...2.0 yards per carry.” [18:03]
• Volume alone keeping him barely afloat.

Trey Benson — Opportunity, but Uncertainty

• Seattle is a tough matchup (3rd in run DVOA).
• “We just don’t know yet whether Trey Benson is actually good. Like he might be. There’s just not enough evidence as of now.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [19:16]
• Imari DeMarcado still lurking in a potential RBBC.

Cam “Scatterboo” — Full Steam Ahead

• Major riser: “He is the truth. Welsh, Cam Scatterboo, I am all in. I am Teddy KGB in Rounders splashing the pot with all my chips.” — Pat [20:39]
• Passing and running work last week: “10 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown...eight targets, six catches, 61 yards.” [20:53]
• Setup for even more volume as other backs are hurt and rookie QB starting.

4. RB3s, Smash Plays & Deep Fades

[22:43-36:10]

Quinshon Judkins — Welsh’s Smash Play of the Week

• “He had the highest team attempt percentage...than any other running back this week.” [23:02]
• “I think Judkins is the dude there and they treated him as such...I am all in on Judkins and like I think I like Judkins more than Chase Brown rest of season at this point.” — Chris Welsh [24:12]
• Pat: More cautious due to game script risk and reliance on Cleveland’s offense staying close. [25:59]

DeAndre Swift — Trending Down

• “Not very. I just, I don't, I don't think he's very good, honestly.” — Pat [30:24]
• Swift is at minus half a yard over expected per carry. Strongly in danger of rookie Kyle Monangai eating into his touches.

Treveon Henderson — Doghouse Drama = Upside?

• NE backfield is a mess after multiple fumbles. “It's just me not knowing what the occupancy is in the New England Patriots doghouse right now.” — Pat [32:15]
• Panthers matchup is fantastic but volume is highly uncertain.

Bill Crosky-Merritt vs. Isaiah Pacheco — The Ceiling Drama

• Both are in murky committees. “Pacheco is in a two-man backfield and Krosky Merritt is in a three-man backfield.” — Pat [35:02]
• Little passing upside and major risk, thus considered desperate flex options.

5. Outside the Top 36: Who's Worth a Dart Throw?

[36:03-37:46]

Zach Charbonnet

• “I do think Charbonnet is playable in a lot of leagues where, you know, once you get beyond the top 25 or so, things start to get pretty dicey at running back.” — Pat [37:00]
• Charbonnet will play but is behind Kenneth Walker, who can be confidently started.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cam Scatterboo’s breakout:
  “He is the truth. Welsh, Cam Scatterboo, I am all in. I am Teddy KGB in Rounders splashing the pot with all my chips.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [20:39]

• Chris’s impassioned Judkins take:
  “He had the highest team attempt percentage...I think Judkins is the dude there and they treated him as such. I am all in on Judkins…” — Chris Welsh [23:02, 24:12]

• On the Bengals’ playcalling:
  “The play calling stinks. They talked about it on the broadcast. Every first down they ran this same inside like shotgunning run or whatever it was with Chase Brown every. It was just textbook and it was never efficient.” — Chris Welsh [17:36]

• On Ashton Gentry’s struggle:
  “He has to do Bruce Lee type stuff just to get three or four yards.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [14:44]

• RB pass-catching gripes:
  “You don’t need to catch passes when you’re getting five or six yards per carry.” — Chris Welsh [05:49]

• Committee confusion:
  “It's just me not knowing what the occupancy is in the New England Patriots doghouse right now.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [32:15]

• Tier break clarity:
  “I think there's a pretty like firm line especially if we look at these ranks. After 30 it's like you, you definitely change tiers...” — Chris Welsh [36:03]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:38] — Kicking off rankings, previewing top 12
• [03:56] — Jordan Mason discussion; matchup and workload breakdown
• [06:45] — Amarion Hampton as new starter
• [13:15] — RB2s: Kyron Williams, Breece Hall, Ashton Gentry, Chase Brown
• [17:36] — Chase Brown fade discussion
• [19:16] — Trey Benson opportunity/uncertainty
• [20:39] — Case for Cam Scatterboo top-15
• [22:43] — RB3 breakdown; Judkins “smash” call
• [30:24] — DeAndre Swift skepticism
• [32:15] — NE backfield and Treveon Henderson talk
• [36:03] — Late-round dart throws: Charbonnet and tier breaks
• [37:46] — Wrapping up RB tiers and streaming advice

Tone and Takeaways

• Language: Conversational, passionate, often tongue-in-cheek with direct references to film/pop culture to illustrate points.
• Approach: Heavy blend of matchup analytics, usage trends, and strong “start/sit” stances.
• Advice Style: Decisive about moving on from fading workhorses (e.g., Chase Brown, Ashton Gentry), bullish on risers (Judkins, Scatterboo), and preaching context-driven tier breaks.

Final Recommendations

• Start:

  • Jordan Mason — locked-in RB1
  • Cam Scatterboo — top-15, major volume regardless of matchup
  • Quinshon Judkins — volume and role combine for big upside
  • Amarion Hampton — plug-and-play starter with touch ceiling

• Proceed With Caution:

  • Ashton Gentry, Chase Brown, Trey Benson — volume but weighed by bad line play or committee threats
  • DeAndre Swift — trending into “bench until further notice”

• Monitor:

  • Treveon Henderson — upside if he emerges, but NE backfield is fluid
  • Zach Charbonnet — deep play if you’re desperate for touches

• Tier Breaks: After RB30, it becomes all dart throws and desperation, so adjust expectations accordingly.

For more details, check the full consensus ranks at fantasypros.com/rankings and catch the Thursday live Q&A stream if you're stuck on tough start/sit calls.