Bell Cow Updates: RB Touch Leaders and Largest Projected Workloads for Week 2

Unlike some people, I appreciate a good sequel: Hot Shots! Part Deux, Home Alone 2, Next Friday. Stop sleeping on sequels.

Week 2 of the NFL season is the follow-up to a pulse-pounding opening week filled with eye-popping plays and plenty of shootouts. The Bears were out there putting up college scores, showing Ben Johnson wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to break the 2013 Broncos’ scoring record. Only 547 points to go.

What a dime by Caleb Williams, just one of Chicago’s EIGHT offensive TDs to open the season.

We’ll discuss one particular Bears player later. For now, let’s examine the RB workloads and potential touch leaders to watch in Week 2.

RB Touch Leaders and Largest Projected Workloads for Week 2

David Montgomery | RB | Houston Texans

It was easy to see the Texans needed to establish the run this season. David Montgomery wasn’t terribly effective in Week 1, averaging only three yards per carry, but he still handled 20 carries and finished with 23 total touches.

That’s what we’re talking about with these RBs: opportunity. Montgomery got plenty of it.

Now he faces a high-caliber Bengals offense capable of putting points on the board. One way Houston can slow Cincinnati down is by leaning on Montgomery and keeping its offense on the sideline.

We could also see another visit to the pay zone. Montgomery received three opportunities near the end zone in the opener, while Cincinnati’s improved, more opportunistic defense still surrendered two rushing touchdowns.

Add it all up, and another high-usage week loading…

D’Andre Swift | RB | Chicago Bears

From one three-touchdown back to another, D’Andre Swift was downright shifty against the Panthers in Week 1, turning 19 touches into three trips to the pay zone.

When the Bears are clicking on all cylinders, they’ll find themselves playing with plenty of leads. That means running the ball will remain a major part of the equation in Chi-Town. Hell, Coach Johnson isn’t going to abandon his RBs, especially after Swift got paid just before the season started. It’s time for him to become the touch leader in this offense.

Peeling back another layer, look at Swift’s history against Minnesota, Chicago’s Week 2 opponent. Since 2023, he has averaged a healthy 21.6 touches per game against the Vikings. At this point, seeing Minnesota on the schedule must have Swift ready to clock in.

Swift has the money and a coach who won’t abandon the run. The work boots are already on, so give me 20-plus touches and another trip to the pay zone in Week 2

Ashton Jeanty | RB | Las Vegas Raiders

Prayer is powerful. Just a few weeks ago, we were all wondering whether Ashton Jeanty would even be available for our fantasy teams. Fast-forward to a fully healed ankle and Week 1, when Jeanty handled a whopping 29 total touches. Whoa!

Coach Kubiak meant every word when he envisioned a Christian McCaffrey-type role for Jeanty this season. Besides the injury concern, another question lingered entering Week 1: How much would Mike Washington eat into Jeanty’s workload?

Well, that question was answered.

Kubiak was brought in to revive the running game, and after the Raiders logged more than 30 rushing attempts in Week 1…it’s alive!

Week 2 brings the Chargers, who just allowed more than 100 rushing yards to RBs as the Cardinals plugged in and Los Angeles short-circuited. Expect the Raiders to stick with last week’s game plan and feature Jeanty yet again.

If Brock Bowers misses his second straight game, Jeanty could become an even bigger factor through the air. He caught all six of his targets and scored twice as a receiver in Week 1.

With or without Bowers, Jeanty is getting fed. Give me another 25-plus touches and a legitimate shot at wearing the Week 2 touch crown.