Eagles Running Back Battle: Will Barkley’s Workload Ease with Dillon & Shipley in the Mix? Who is RB2?
- Liam O'Neill
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2025 season primed to lean on superstar Saquon Barkley, but this year’s running back room feels deeper and more versatile. Barkley’s record-breaking 2024 carries anxiety about mileage and late-season freshness, yet the addition of brute-force A.J. Dillon and pass-catching dynamo Will Shipley promises to share the load and keep defenses guessing—all while packing a punch for Eagles fans tuning in from the UK and Ireland.
Barkley’s 2025 Workload vs. 2024 Record Season
In 2024, Barkley tore through NFL records with 2,005 regular-season rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, then extended that dominance into the playoffs to amass 2,504 total yards and 18 total rushing scores—both single-season marks for the postseason and overall yardage.
Carrying 378 touches last year, Barkley’s durability is a concern for many Eagles fans. With Dillon’s veteran power and Shipley’s receiving chops ready to shoulder critical snaps, Barkley’s burden should lighten. Expect his total touches to dip by 10–15% (based on historical NFL data) in 2025, preserving his explosiveness for late-season and postseason drives.
First-Game Flashes: Shipley & Dillon Impress
When the Eagles kicked off the Pre-season, both Dillon and Shipley made statements:
Will Shipley exploded for 48 yards on seven carries, highlighted by a 38-yard burst that showcased his sudden gear and open-field vision.
A.J. Dillon piled up 32 yards on six carries, including a decisive 19-yard run into the secondary, capped by a powerful touchdown plunge that underscores his downhill running style.
Their complementary skill sets—Shipley’s burst and hands, Dillon’s contact balance and drive—gives new Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo a feast of options behind Barkley.
Jemal Singleton on the RB2 Competition
Eagles running backs coach Jemal Singleton summed up the battle on our recent podcast.
“It’s a competition, there is an open spot there for Running Back 2. That AJ and Will, are in competition against each other for. They are two totally different styles of backs, that allows you to do different things. I’m excited. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Behind the Top Three: Who’s Next in Line?
Beyond Barkley, Shipley, and Dillon, a handful of prospects are fighting for roster consideration:
ShunDerrick Powell: Showcased home-run speed and vision in camp, and had a really good outing against the Bengals with 6x carries, 32 yards and a two-yard TD. More performances like this and Powell will give the Eagles a headache.
Kellan Robinson: Kellan did not have a good outing vs the Bengals when he ran the ball, with 12 carries for 24 yards, averaging just two yards per carry...good math's Liam. He did however have 75 return yards on 3x returns.
Montrell Johnson Jr.: Flashed home-run speed on limited preseason carries, making him a dark-horse for depth work. Unfortunately, he didn't dress against the Bengals as he is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in early august.
Avery Williams: Known for return prowess, he remains in the mix as a utility piece and special-teams ace. He led the league in return average yardage in 2022 so there is pedigree there if the Eagles wish to use him primarily as the Covey guy.
Eagles brass will weigh each player’s special-teams contributions, injury history, and fit within the offensive scheme.
Roster Outlook: Three Backs Will Suffice
Despite some talent potential waiting in the wings, I feel like the Eagles are unlikely to carry four running backs on the 53-man roster. Here’s why:
Barkley is built for three-down work, handling early-down load and red-zone touches.
Shipley’s pass-catching prowess makes him the go-to for third-downs and screen packages.
Dillon’s power running is ideal for short-yardage, clock-management, and spell duty
They are very likely to have 6x WRs on their 53-man roster this year (they normally keep 5).
All season long, these three can cycle through to keep Barkley fresh and protect quarterback Jalen Hurts in critical short-yardage and pass-protection situations. The depth prospects will provide insurance via the practice squad and spot activations, ensuring the Eagles’ ground game remains relentless from kickoff to the final whistle.
Let us know your thoughts:
Great read thanks Liam!
I actually wonder whether Dillon starts on the PS? We can call him up 4 times right? And as a seasoned vet we don’t need to subject him to waivers. Could free up a slot for one of those extra WRs whilst we figure things out.
Anyway Barkley and the battle for #2? I mean we all expect Barkley to have less touches and “less” of an impact right? And I do think unfortunately that will be the case… But the way they seem to be using him in TC they don’t seem to want to slow down his usage. If he can carry the load and stay injury free then there’s a chance he could…