4 Controversial Running Backs Experts Disagree On: Javonte Williams, Quinshon Judkins & More! (Ep. 2128)

August 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“Eight of his 11 touchdowns came within the first eight weeks. After that, only three.” That single stat from Matt Modaï captures the central tension around Javonte Williams, the first of four running backs the FantasyPros crew debated. The episode’s throughline is a practical one: when experts look at the same player, they weigh the same factors — volume, efficiency, team context, age, and backfield competition — but land on dramatically different conclusions. The disagreement isn’t noise; it’s a map of the genuine uncertainty in fantasy football valuation.

Javonte Williams: Volume vs. Efficiency Collapse

Williams enters 2025 as the Dallas Cowboys’ lead back, with an ADP of RB16. Pat Fitzmaurice has him at RB17, close to consensus, and makes the straightforward volume case: Williams was 10th in rushing attempts, 9th in yardage, and 8th in rushing touchdowns last year, and he’s the unquestioned starter on a good offense with a strong line. “In a nutshell, I guess that’s the case,” Fitzmaurice said, acknowledging the argument feels thin. Modaï, ranking him all the way down at RB24, counters with a sharp efficiency critique. Beyond the touchdown regression (he projects seven, not 11), Modaï points to Williams’ collapse in the second half of 2024: from weeks 9–17, he averaged just 11.09 half-PPR points per game, which would have ranked RB25. His advanced metrics — success ra

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What you'll learn

1 (00:41) **Show Intro & Format Setup** - Hosts Oprah Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Matt Modica introduce the episode's premise: examining four running backs where expert consensus rankings diverge, with the "high analyst" making the case first.
2 (01:14) **Javonte Williams, DAL (RB16 ADP)** - Pat is the "high man" at RB17, just behind ADP, and makes the case for the Cowboys' lead back.
3 (02:18) **The Case Against Javonte: Efficiency & TD Regression** - Matt, low at RB24, argues Williams' 2024 production is unsustainable due to touchdown regression and declining efficiency.
4 (03:20) **Javonte Verdict: Hate the ADP, Not the Player** - Oprah lands at RB16, agreeing with Pat's floor but acknowledging Matt's regression concerns.
5 (03:49) **Quinshon Judkins, CLE (RB21 ADP)** - Matt is the high man at RB15, arguing the talent and opportunity outweigh the Browns' offensive concerns.
6 (05:19) **The Case Against Judkins: The Browns Offense & Injury** - Pat, low at RB23, argues the team situation and a major leg injury are too risky to ignore.
7 (06:08) **Judkins Verdict: Opportunity vs. Situation** - Oprah and Matt agree on the upside, but Pat's concerns about the offense's floor and Judkins' injury risk are persuasive.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Pat Fitzmaurice

Show Notes

Welcome back to the FantasyPros Football Podcast! Host Alfredo Brown is joined by Pat Fitzmaurice and Matt Modi to debate 4 divisive running backs that they can't agree on.

The guys go head-to-head on player rankings, touching on volume, offensive environments, injury recoveries, and backfield competition to help you decide whether to draft or pass on these middle-round RBs.

In this episode, we cover:

Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys): Is he a safe volume lead back, or will a lack of receiving juice limit his ceiling?
Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns): Does his raw touch volume outweigh the risks of a struggling Browns offense?
David Montgomery (Houston Texans): Can he replicate workhorse production behind a revamped Texans offensive line?
Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots): Will he hold off TreVeyon Henderson for goal-line and early-down work?

Timestamps (may be off due to ads):

Intro - 0:00:00
Javonte Williams - 0:00:37
Quinshon Judkins - 0:03:15
FantasyPros Draft Wizard - 0:06:00
David Montgomery - 0:06:27
Rhamondre Stevenson - 0:09:25

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