Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today's installment covers:
But first, an assessment of some unanticipated early returns in the ground game ...
Heading into the sixth Sunday of the 2025 NFL campaign, five unexpected names top the board in yards per carry among qualified players:
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders: 6.6 yards per carry
- Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars: 5.8 ypc
- Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers: 5.7 ypc
- Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys: 5.7 ypc
- Breece Hall, New York Jets: 5.3 ypc
While running backs are typically judged by total rushing yards or rushing yards per game, astute evaluators pay closer attention to the yards-per-carry figure, because it spotlights efficiency.
So, when it comes to those five surprising RBs listed above, whose hot start to this season is the most sustainable? The least? Here is my ranking:
Jacksonville's new ground-and-pound approach has been powered by Etienne's inspired effort as a shifty playmaker between the tackles. Moreover, the combination of the former first-round pick's no-nonsense running style and an improved offensive line has transformed the Jaguars into AFC heavyweights, fresh off a thrilling win over the back-to-back-to-back reigning conference champion Chiefs. With new head coach Liam Coen committed to punishing opponents via a versatile rushing attack that has Etienne exploding through creases on zone- and gap-scheme runs, the Jags' RB1 could surprisingly own the league's rushing crown at season's end.
The ultra-explosive rookie has shown Pro Bowl-caliber talent as the Commanders' feature back. Croskey-Merritt is averaging a ridiculous 6.6 yards per carry, exhibiting excellent speed and quickness while turning corners on various off-tackle runs. Additionally, the seventh-round pick flashes enough shake and bake to elude tacklers in the hole and produce explosive plays. As offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury continues to concoct schemes designed to create chunk gains from "Bill" and others, the Commanders' new RB1 could post spectacular numbers alongside second-year star QB Jayden Daniels in the backfield.
After linking up with a run-centric head coach and a talented offensive line, Williams has been the impact player some envisioned when he was initially selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Williams suffered a brutal knee injury in his second pro campaign, but he seems to be fully recovered and running as hard as ever before. The 5-foot-10, 220-pounder has shown the patience, vision and power to rumble through defensive fronts on various downhill running plays. Though the fifth-year pro lacks elite speed, Williams has given Brian Schottenheimer's Cowboys a much-needed pile pusher to keep the offense on schedule.
Despite their winless record, the Jets' third-ranked rushing attack leads to sleepless nights for defensive coordinators tasked with defending quarterback Justin Fields and Hall on various options and downhill runs. The former second-round pick mesmerizes opponents with an unorthodox running style that mixes stop-start cuts with slippery shoulder turns and lateral jumps to evade tacklers in the hole. Hall's efficient efforts as a workhorse have yet to put New York in the winner's circle, but the veteran is doing his best to keep his overmatched squad competitive.
After a sensational effort in Carolina's exhilarating comeback win over Miami (23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 28 yards), the former undrafted free-agent signee must continue to silence the naysayers who have cast him as something of a "one-game wonder." Although he is coming off a 1,000-yard season with the Cowboys, Dowdle has to string together a few more standout performances before he can enter the VIP room for RBs this season. With defensive coordinators taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to defending the 27-year-old, Dowdle must demonstrate to the football world that he can continue to excel as the lead runner for an offense seeking its identity under head coach Dave Canales. And he'll have another chance to carry a heavy load this week, with Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out of Sunday's game vs. Dallas.
Two moves that lifted Washington
While the 2025 trade deadline (Nov. 4) is still a few weeks away, one team is already significantly benefiting from a pair of offseason swaps that reshaped its offensive lineup. Way back in March, the Washington Commanders acquired Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil -- and we have seen how those moves transformed a good Jayden Daniels-led offense into an even scarier attack.
Last season, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year led the league's seventh-ranked offense to the NFC Championship Game while working with a Pro Bowl receiver (Terry McLaurin), a veteran tight end (Zach Ertz) and a patchwork offensive line that protected Daniels via a smoke-and-mirrors approach from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The Commanders managed to be a statistical marvel despite their inferior personnel. However, they also suffered a pair of beatdowns (in Week 11 and the NFC title match) at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. Thus, it was no surprise to see general manager Adam Peters move aggressively on the trade market to bring in some veterans capable of helping Washington take the next step in 2025.
Tunsil, 31, is a blue-chip left tackle with the confidence and skill to shut down elite pass rushers on the blind side. The five-time Pro Bowler can win with force or finesse on the edges to snuff out defenders before they can transition into pass-rush form. At 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds with heavy hands, Tunsil displays ballerina-like footwork and can shadowbox with the best of them, rarely needing assistance from a running back or tight end against a high-end pass rusher.
The numbers show the former Dolphin and Texan locking down the back-side like a premier pass protector in Washington this season. Per Pro Football Focus, Tunsil has given up a grand total of six pressures in five games, including just two over his past three outings. And yes, he's dealt with some penalty woes, which could be ascribed to spells of lazy technique. But even so, the 10th-year pro hasn't given up a single sack since Week 1, per PFF, when No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter scooted by him for one.
Meanwhile, Samuel's final year in San Francisco was marked by iffy production (a career-low 8.7 yards per touch) and frustration. But through five games in Washington, the 29-year-old has re-emerged as one of the league's most dangerous weapons while serving as a fill-in WR1.
At the time Samuel was acquired, McLaurin stood as the undisputed leader in the Commanders' receiver room, having logged five straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards. However, he missed time during training camp due to a contract dispute, then suffered a quad injury that has kept him out since Week 3, forcing Washington's offense to adapt to life without McLaurin.
Luckily, Samuel has stepped up as the No. 1 option on the perimeter. So far this season, the former first-team All-Pro leads the Commanders in targets (38), receptions (30), receiving yards (300), receiving first downs (13) and receiving touchdowns (3), showcasing the rugged playing style that made him a nightmare to defend during his San Francisco heyday.
Kingsbury has tapped into Samuel's talents as a versatile weapon/kick returner by getting him the ball quickly in space on various bubble screens, slip screens and swings behind the line of scrimmage. The low-risk throws not only swiftly deliver the ball to a dangerous runner's hands, but they also enable Daniels to rack up completions to maintain his rhythm as a passer. Given how efficiently and effectively the offense has operated with Samuel slotted as WR1, the Commanders could absolutely explode when McLaurin rejoins the party, forcing opponents to deal with a raw playmaker (Samuel) and a pair of dangerous route runners (McLaurin and Ertz) at the same time.
Throw in the speed and explosiveness brought by rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and it's clear the Commanders have the personnel to utilize a more balanced approach come January, should they launch another playoff run. As good as these trades appear now, we might look back on them in a few more months as the moves that truly set Washington apart from its counterparts down the stretch.
