Running Back Resurgence | FFF Friday

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Our Friday devotionals are Fantasy Football-related in July, so this is the last one…

Over time, the NFL has become increasingly quarterback-driven, and as a result, many teams began emphasizing the passing game, making wide receivers even more valuable.

As the NFL focused on wide receivers, it also paid them huge contracts, while running backs became less valued, almost considered disposable and interchangeable.

Teams started to believe they could put any running back in the backfield, and there was no need to pay top dollar for running backs.

NFL teams also didn’t think drafting them in the first round was necessary, and there was no reason to give older running backs contract extensions. They pushed running backs aside and no longer considered them as valuable as they once did. Players like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry weren’t re-signed by their previous teams.

Trickling down into Fantasy Football as well, there was a time when running backs were always the top picks and top-ranked players. However, there was a shift when Fantasy managers started targeting the top wide receivers early and often in drafts.

As a result, many managers began prioritizing other positions over top running backs. A popular strategy was “zero RB,” which meant a manager wouldn’t select the position until round 6 or even 8.

However, there appears to be a shift that Fantasy managers are taking notice of. The reality is that in the NFL and in Fantasy, there has been a running-back resurgence in recent years, as coaches have been willing to hand off the ball more often and have relied on their backfields consistently.

Running backs are becoming more prominent again. In 2025, 17 running backs rushed for over 1,000 yards compared to 2021 when only 7 hit that mark.

Wide receivers are still critical and are taken in the first round of Fantasy Drafts, but my longtime league just drafted last weekend, and 10 out of the first 14 picks were all running backs.

Even NFL GMs are changing their minds about selecting running backs in the top 10 picks during the NFL Draft, as Bijan Robinson, Ashton Jeanty, and Jeremiyah Love have all been chosen early in recent years. From 2019-2022, that wasn’t the case at all.

With the resurgence of running backs and a reminder of their value and power at the forefront of NFL and Fantasy Football storylines, I think there are some encouraging parallels for us to unpack in our own lives.

For a while, running backs were pushed aside and undervalued. I wonder: in what ways are we guilty of doing something similar?

Have we stopped valuing meaningful relationships? Are we taking God’s Word for granted? Are we undervaluing the importance of worship and gratitude? Have we overlooked confession and accountability? Have we pushed aside a vibrant prayer life and forgotten the power of prayer?

James 5:16 (NLT) says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

As the Fantasy Football community changes its thoughts about running backs, in what ways must we change our perspective about something in our lives? In what ways do we need to “start drafting running backs again” or rather embrace corrections and adjust any mindsets or behaviors that have trended in the wrong direction lately?

Proverbs 10:17 (AMP) tells us, “He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing], but he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].”

As running backs remind their coaches of the importance of handing off the ball and demonstrating how they can handle a significant workload, are we taking advantage of what it means to “hand it off” in our lives? Are we hanging on to our burdens, concerns, and problems, or are we handing them off to the One who can handle them?

Psalm 55:22 (NLT) encourages us to “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

During this running back resurgence, they are becoming more prominent and leading the way again. Fantasy managers are relying on and prioritizing them, and they have a strong presence on their rosters.

Today, let’s experience a resurgence as we make Jesus more prominent and our top priority in our lives, recognizing His strong presence in everything we do. Let’s trust Him to lead us each day, relying on His grace, reminding ourselves of His immense value and power.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to value the right things and correct any wrong thinking. Teach me to hand off my burdens to You and to trust in Your power. I desire for Jesus to make a resurgence in my life and be prominent in every aspect of who I am and what I do. In His name, I pray, Amen.