If a team did that with a running back nobody would follow suit because the league knows full well running backs are a dime a dozen. They would just let that team go ahead and be stupid. Note for example that the average salary of the highest-paid running back in the league in 2022 (McCaffrey) is roughly 14 million dollars less than the average salary of the highest-paid wide receiver in the league (T. Hill). Moreover, that running back has a tremendous history of catching the ball and functioning more like a receiver than almost any other running back in the league, while that receiver has virtually no history of running the ball.
It will be interesting to see where this goes in future, due to the influence of a guy who could well be that highest paid WR in the league very soon - Deebo Samuel. He is a high profile WR moved to the RB position while still playing snaps as a WR, and I think it could potentially shift the game in contrast to say when Green Bay did it with Ty Montgomery a few years back when it was seen as an abnormality. It certainly takes something to do this, something beyond the occasional reverse call...
If a WR is big enough and strong enough to run inside, I can see some other teams trying to adopt this - and drafting for it too. That kid in the Gasparilla Bowl, Ryan O'Keefe, is what I'm talking about - another dynamic player who can make you forget about RB and just slot the guy in anywhere! If there are more guys out there in the Deebo Samuel territory in college, a big WR who can run between tackles - I reckon they will get a look at in the next couple of years.
Would I be surprised if Hill or Waddle end up taking some snaps in the RB position next season - the answer would be no. I admit I wouldn't be particularly happy with the thought given our investment in these guys, but I wouldn't be surprised either - Hill has already said he wants to return more kicks next year!