Tank Bigsby broke out in a big way in the Philadelphia Eagles 38-20 Week 8 win over the New York Giants, finishing with nine carries for 104 yards (that’s a ridiculous 11.6 yards per carry).
With Saquon Barkley also going off for a 65-yard TD, finishing with 150 rushing yards and a receiving score, Bigsby’s surge very likely solidified him in the No. 2 role behind Barkley.
Bigsby arrived via trade in early September, but he hadn’t played much until this past Sunday. Entering Week 8, he had just one carry as an Eagle, but by night’s end he had his first 100-yard game with Philadelphia, which included a key conversion on 2nd-and-26.
“It’s clear Bigsby has passed A.J. Dillon and even Will Shipley on the depth chart and for good reason,”Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote on October 26. “While Barkley is obviously still going to be the Eagles’ featured running back, Bigsby is a good candidate to spell him with some fresh legs the rest of the season.”
More on Why Tank Bigsby Will Likely Replace Will Shipley as RB2
GettyRB Tank Bigsby likely solidified his role as the Philadelphia Eagles’ RB2 ahead of Will Shipley.
The win over the Giants very likely crystallized the RB pecking order. Barkley is still the clear RB1 — Sunday was his first 100-yard game of 2025 and a reminder of why the offense runs through him — but Bigsby gave the Eagles exactly what they’ve lacked behind Saquon.
When you’ve struggled all year to run the ball the way Philly has, and then the ground game breaks out with 8.4 yards per carry — you’re likely going to roll with the group who led the breakout.
“I’m not surprised,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said about Bigsby’s big game, via Zangaro. “I just waited for him to have a breakout game. Just happened to be today. That boy’s hungry. Talk about hungry dogs. We always talk about hungry dogs run faster. Tank is a hungry dog.”
So, where does this leave Shipley?
Shipley missed time earlier this season with an oblique injury, and his role has mostly been situational: returns, perimeter packages, some third-down work. He’s still a nice downhill complement to Barkley, but Bigsby is likely the best fit for RB2 right now.
Barring injury, expect Tank to be the first backup behind Saquon when Philly returns from its bye.
Will A.J. Dillion Be Cut After Bigsby’s Breakout?
With Bigsby showing what he can do, Dillon’s status is now in serious question. Dillon was a healthy scratch Week 7, with the Eagles dressing Saquon, Shipley and Bigsby instead.
Dillon, who’s more a grinder with size, could remain game-plan dependent unless injuries or matchups dictate otherwise. He could stick around — but he could also find himself getting cut or traded if he no longer has a role.
After Week 8, the most probable rotation looks like Barkley as the bell cow, Bigsby as his backup and Shipley as the change-of-pace/third-down option.
For his part, Bigsby is just going with the flow and trying to make the most of his touches.
“Whenever you get an opportunity, whenever your number’s called, you just got to be ready in this league,” Bigsby said. “Just trying to be the best back I can be for my guys. Anything it is, just going out there and being the best person you can be.”
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