In a league dedicated to stopping the explosive playmaking ability of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, the role of the running back has become more critical. Even if teams have pass-first offenses, they will eventually need to establish some semblance of a run game to keep a defense honest.

That's why when running backs have a slow start to the season, it's a noteworthy concern. And these four running backs starts are the most concerning.

Saquon Barkley

In 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles captain rushed for 2,005 yards and averaged 125.3 yards per game. In 2025, he has just 194 yards through three games and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry . Part of the problem is that the Eagles' offense is off to a slow start overall, averaging just 3.7 yards per run play.

Barkley

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