The NFL landscape changes rapidly, and Week 4 brings new opportunities for backup running backs thrust into starting roles. Cam Skattebo and Trey Benson stand out as potential fantasy contributors after unexpected developments opened doors for expanded workloads. For fantasy football managers navigating their lineups, here’s what to expect from these emerging options.
Cam Skattebo Fantasy Outlook
Fantasy managers already got a glimpse of Skattebo as the lead back after Tyrone Tracy Jr. exited the Giants’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. The rookie carried the ball 10 times for 60 yards and a touchdown, while adding six receptions for 61 yards in an impressive debut as the primary option.
Despite his size and lack of speed, Skattebo was a prolific receiver in college and possesses the skill set to operate as a three-down back. His performance against Kansas City showcased his ability to handle both rushing and receiving responsibilities, leading the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards.
Cam Skattebo in his last two games:
21 Carries + 5.0 YPC
105 Rushing Yards + 2 TDs
8 Receptions + 75 YardsBEAST. pic.twitter.com/7rPCDmf0t9
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 24, 2025
Devin Singletary will certainly mix in this week, but he’s nowhere near as talented as Tracy and lacks the physical presence that Skattebo brings to the backfield. What likely would have been a relatively even split between Tracy and Skattebo should now shift to something closer to a 65/30 distribution between Skattebo and Singletary.
With that said, this presents a challenging spot for the rookie’s first official start against a Los Angeles Chargers defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. The matchup becomes even more difficult considering the uncertainty surrounding Jaxson Dart in his first career start. The Giants are now deploying rookies at both QB1 and RB1, creating multiple layers of risk.
However, volume remains king in fantasy football. Skattebo is a strong bet for at least 15 opportunities between carries and targets, making him a volume-based RB2 option at worst. His receiving ability provides a solid floor even if the rushing game struggles against Los Angeles’ stout defense.
Trey Benson Fantasy Outlook
If you want to see what improvement looks like, look no further than Benson. He appeared slow and indecisive during his rookie campaign, but has emerged as a new player in his sophomore season.
Benson was already cutting into James Conner’s workload before the injury, operating as the primary passing-down back and handling more responsibilities than he managed last year.
With Conner done for the season, Benson will become Arizona’s clear lead back. The Cardinals’ apparent desire to maintain a designated passing-down specialist has a slight downside: That role will likely go to Emari Demercado. This arrangement will probably reduce Benson’s target share compared to a true workhorse role.
The good news is he should more than compensate for any lost receiving work through increased rushing volume. Plus, he now becomes the clear goal-line back, inheriting valuable touchdown opportunities that previously belonged to Conner.
Trey Benson easily moves past backfield penetration, pushes the pile pic.twitter.com/SZeXFPdpuG
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 24, 2025
Based on his improved play and expanded role, Benson projects as a top-18 running back for the rest of the season.
Now for the not-so-good news. Benson’s first start comes on a short week against a formidable Seattle Seahawks defense that ranks seventh in fewest rushing yards allowed per game. This challenging matchup limits his ceiling for Week 4, as he would need touchdown variance to work in his favor for any sort of explosive outcome.
Given the difficult circumstances, fantasy managers shouldn’t force Benson into Week 4 lineups. But they should feel very bullish about his rest-of-season outlook. His transformation into a reliable option, combined with Arizona’s commitment to the running game, makes him a valuable asset moving forward.
