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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Why these four NFL running backs are off to slow starts

By Conor Killmurray | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 8:36 PM ET

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 is still the man who won Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, so it's hard to see him continuing this trend. But it will continue if the Eagles' offense doesn't give him enough chances or the team doesn't open up the playbook more, so defenses don't solely focus on Barkley.

Ashton Jeanty

The sixth overall pick in the draft has just one touchdown in his rookie campaign, and hasn't been close to the goal line with the Las Vegas Raiders since. The promising rookie has rushed for 144 yards and is averaging 3.1 yards per carry, according to Next Gen stats. And those yards have been hard fought, as, according to ESPN reporter Ryan McFadden, Jeanty has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 57% of his rush attempts.

#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of his 17 rushes vs. Washington.

Jeanty has now been hit at or behind the line on 57% (27 of 47) of his rush attempts this season.
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 21, 2025

A running back can't reach their full potential when the majority of the time they get the ball, they're immediately hit by a defender. While Jeanty will have to adjust to the speed of the NFL quickly, the Raiders coaches and offensive linemen must do a better job of finding ways to open running lanes for him.

Christian McCaffery

The good news for the San Francisco 49ers is that their No. 1 running back is not among their long list of injured starters, which includes quarterback Brock Purdy. However, the bad news is that McCaffery has only 176 yards rushing and has yet to run for a touchdown. Now, in fairness, the star running back is coming off missing the previous season due to injury, so there seems to be some rust to shake off.

Still, the usually hard-hitting offense under head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't been as effective with McCaffery carrying the ball. The team has scored six touchdowns and barely escaped with three wins. McCaffery will have to get going quicker; otherwise, there will be a lot more tight games 49ers fans will have to sweat out.

Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens running back has the fourth most rushing yards in the NFL (242) through the first three weeks. So, why is it a slow start? Because Henry has fumbled in each game of 2025. The two fumbles he lost then cost the Ravens a win each time. In all fairness, the 1-2 Ravens have lost their games for multiple reasons, such as not getting their pass rush going on defense.

Still, the Buffalo Bills' come-from-behind win in Week 1 was sparked by Henry fumbling the ball in the fourth quarter. Then, in Week 3, Henry lost another fumble that led to the Detroit Lions securing a major road victory. No matter how many yards Henry records this season, they won't matter if he keeps putting the ball on the ground.

Conor Killmurray

Conor Killmurray is a long-suffering fan of New York sports, particularly the Giants and Mets—a potent combination for heartbreak, if you ask him. He graduated from West Chester University with a degree in English and enjoys searching for the most interesting sports stories to write about.

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