Broncos running backs prove offseason swap was right call by Denver brass

Much was made this week heading into the Broncos and Cowboys matchup about Javonte Williams, JK Dobbins, and RJ Harvey. The trio was at the center of the Broncos' overhaul of their running backs room following the 2024 season. Following four years in Denver, the Broncos let Williams walk in free agency. It was a fairly easy decision based on his 2024 campaign.

Ultimately, Williams landed in Dallas on a one-year contract in free agency, where he figured to be the backup heading into training camp. As camp progressed and roster decisions were made, the former Tarheel quickly found himself as the top back in Dallas. Elsewhere in Denver, the Broncos were putting the finishing touches on what they figured to be their best rushing attack under Sean Payton.

Entering play, Dobbins was a surprising seventh in the league in rushing, averaging almost 75 yards per game. Above him in second place was Williams, arguably the most shocking development in football so far this season. After the way the matchup between the two went in Week 8, it's clear which side made the better decision.

Broncos clearly made the right decision with their running back room last offseason

If there is one definitive conclusion that can be made from Denver's Week 8 victory, it is that they clearly made the right decision with their running back room. In letting Williams walk and replacing him with JK Dobbins, the Broncos made the right decision. Dobbins was by far the best back on the field on Sunday, and once again ran for over 100 yards as a Bronco.

Dobbins did this in front of Williams, who averaged an absurdly low 30 yards per game in his final season as a Bronco. Williams had more games with under 20 yards last season than he did 100-yard games. Dobbins had multiple carries over 20 yards, which was also Williams' high-water mark last season. In just one game, Dobbins showed more juice and life than the Broncos saw from Williams all of 2024.

To put the icing on top, RJ Harvey dominated the first quarter. He scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 40-yard explosion. Harvey would also score on a wildcat snap, something he ran frequently during his time at UCF. A quick passing touchdown from Nix in the fourth would cap off his hat-trick, a rarity for rookies. His early work did a great job complementing JK Dobbins' great performance, showing that Denver's new tandem is a significant upgrade over what they had last season.

Eagles Wallop Giants, 38-20, Behind Season-Best Rushing Attack

PHILADELPHIA – Every week the question was: Is this the week Saquon Barkley breaks out?

The Eagles running back, behind a strong game from backup center Brett Toth pulling to the outside, finally had an answer – yes. Barkley ran for 150 yards on 14 carries, a 10.7 yards-per-carry average, including a 65-yard burst just 17 seconds into the start of Sunday’s game against his former team, the New York Giants, to spark the Eagles to a 38-20 win.

Barkley added a 9-yard receiving touchdown early in the second quarter. His two-score half gives him six touchdowns this season – four rushing and two receiving. However, he injured his groin on a 28-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles will have a week to heal as they enter their bye week at 6-2 and in first place in the NFC East. The Giants continue on their road to nowhere for yet another year, and still have no answers with Brian Daboll as their head coach after falling to 2-6.

Tank Bigsby Adds To Rushing Attack

Oct 26, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (37) reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

It wasn’t just Barkley. Tank Bigsby cleared 100 yards, too, rushing for 104 yards on nine carries (11.6 per carry) as the Eagles ripped the New York defense for a season-best 277 yards rushing.

The last time the Eagles had two running backs over 100 yards rushing in the same game was on December 13, 2020, against the New Orleans Saints. Miles Sanders rushed for 114 yards and Boston Scott rushed for 119 yards in that game.

The win avenged a 34-17 loss to the Giants just 17 days ago, and the running game was a big part of it. The Giants held the Eagles to just 73 yards rushing in that game and a 3.7 yards-per-carry average.

The Eagles weren’t slouches in the passing game, though. Dallas Goedert caught a pair of touchdowns – from 6 yards and 17 yards. He now has seven TD catches this season, which is a new career high.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw four touchdown passes – the two to Goedert, the one to Barkley, and a 40-yard heave to Jahan Dotson, who outjumped a defender to make the grab. It was the 100th TD pass of Hurts' career. A week after posting a perfect 158.3 passer rating, he ended this one with a PR of 141.5. He has 15 this season and only one interception.

THOUGHTS

-Who needs A.J. Brown? That is said tongue-in-cheek, but the Eagles offense ran quite well without the star receiver, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. It was the first time this season the offense put up more total yards than opponent. 427-246.

-DeVonta Smith needed to step up without Brown, and he did, catching six of nine targets for 84 yards.

-What a nice play design by OC Kevin Patullo on the 17-yard TD toss to Dallas Goedert with 11:17 to play in the game. The Eagles were eating on the ground with Tank Bigsby picking up big chunks, when Jalen Hurts kept the ball on a fake handoff to Bigsby. It looked like Hurts was going to sweep the right side for a run, when he pulled up and found a wide-open Goedert to make the score 31-13.

-Speaking Bigsby, he looks like he is entrenched as Barkley’s backup, so A.J. Dillon appears to be a spare part, one who could get released to make room for players expected to come off IR after the bye – Nolan Smith and Jakorian Bennett.

-Will Shipley deserves props for returning two kickoffs for a total of 79 yards – one for 41, the other for 32 – to give the Eagles good starting field position. The Eagles used that good starting position to score the touchdown that put them up 21-10 at halftime – a 6-yard touchdown reception from Dallas Goedert.

-Jordan Davis continues to put together an underrated season. The defensive tackle notched his career-high third sack.

-Speaking of sacks, two Eagles got their first of the season – Jalen Carter and Jalyx Hunt. Until Hunt ended one Giants drive inside the red zone, forcing a field goal with 19 seconds left to pull with 24-10, he had more interceptions (1) than sacks. Zack Baun had his third, but Moro Ojomo continues to lead the team after he notched his fourth.

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