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Position Battles
Position battles

Jobs still in play

The most compelling open starting jobs across the NFL and college football.

60 contested jobs tracked · 50 projected starting roles · Updated Sep 17
13matching battles · All · RB

Best running back battles

The most open, consequential, and active starting-job competitions.
Navy MidshipmenNavy
College · American Athletic · starter
Crowded room
Job at stake
Starting running backStarting RB
Why this battle matters

The winner projects to open the season as Navy’s starting running back, a full-time role in an FBS offense.

Current read

Listorti holds the top listing on the current chart, but the room behind him is close enough — the job stays live. 2025 usage ran 5.4% to 6.4% of team plays, both returning.

Chart currentOrder verified · Sep 16
Crowded room
Cardinals
Starting RB
TATyler Allgeier
JLJeremiyah Love
Slight edge

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

Crowded room
Oklahoma
Starting RB
LALloyd Avant
XRXavier Robinson
Slight edge

Both contenders hold current top-two listings in the room.

Crowded room
Louisville
Starting RB
IBIsaac Brown
KBKeyjuan Brown
Leader emerging

Returning usage is nearly even at 18.3% and 16.4% of team plays.

Crowded room
Air Force
Starting FB
OAOwen Allen
KHKemper Hodges
Leader emerging

Returning usage is nearly even at 17.2% and 13.1% of team plays.

Browse all battles

8 of 13 shown · grouped by stakes and openness
Must-watch starting jobsThe most open and consequential competitions.
3 battles
Navy
Starting RB
College · American Athletic
VLVic ListortiReturning player5% usage ’25 · 3 car · 17 yds
Slight Listorti edge

Returning usage is nearly even at 5.4% and 6.4% of team plays.

High confidence
Jackson GutierrezReturning player6% usage ’25 · 28 car · 172 ydsJG
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 16
8 contenders
Cardinals
Starting RB
NFL · NFC West
TATyler AllgeierYear-5 veteran30% snaps ’25 · 143 car · 514 yds · 8 TD
Slight Allgeier edge

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence
Jeremiyah LoveRookieROOKIE R1 · $13.3M APYJL
Untested contender
Love has no 2025 sample · Sep 17
3 contenders
Oklahoma
Starting RB
College · SEC
LALloyd AvantPortal addition90 car · 417 yds · 5 TD · 3-JR
Slight Avant edge

Both contenders hold current top-two listings in the room.

Medium confidence
Xavier RobinsonReturning player15% usage ’25 · 83 car · 421 yds · 4 TDXR
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 16
8 contenders
Leaders emergingA favourite exists, but the job remains live.
5 battles
Louisville
Starting RB
College · ACC
IBIsaac BrownReturning contributor18% usage ’25 · 101 car · 884 yds · 7 TD
Brown leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 18.3% and 16.4% of team plays.

High confidence
Keyjuan BrownReturning contributor16% usage ’25 · 96 car · 704 yds · 6 TDKB
New contenders
1 portal addition in the room · Sep 17
5 contenders
Air Force
Starting FB
College · Mountain West
OAOwen AllenReturning contributor17% usage ’25 · 131 car · 749 yds · 5 TD
Allen leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 17.2% and 13.1% of team plays.

High confidence
Kemper HodgesReturning player13% usage ’25 · 49 car · 207 yds · 3 TDKH
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 16
5 contenders
Texas Tech
Starting RB
College · Big 12
CDCameron DickeyReturning contributor23% usage ’25 · 211 car · 1138 yds · 14 TD
Dickey leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 22.8% and 18.3% of team plays.

High confidence
J'Koby WilliamsReturning contributor18% usage ’25 · 154 car · 866 yds · 6 TDJW
New contenders
1 portal addition in the room · Sep 17
7 contenders
Boise State
Starting RB
College · Pac-12
DRDylan RileyReturning contributor21% usage ’25 · 195 car · 1125 yds · 10 TD
Riley leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 20.6% and 15.9% of team plays.

High confidence
Sire GainesReturning contributor16% usage ’25 · 161 car · 812 yds · 8 TDSG
New contenders
2 portal additions in the room · Sep 15
7 contenders
Notre Dame
Starting RB
College · FBS Independents
AWAneyas WilliamsReturning player7% usage ’25 · 24 car · 224 yds · 5 TD
Williams leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 6.7% and 5.6% of team plays.

High confidence
Nolan James Jr.Returning player6% usage ’25 · 14 car · 37 ydsNJ
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 17
7 contenders