Must Drafts. My Guys. Ride-or-Dies.
Whatever you call them, the intention remains the same. Leave every draft with as many of them on your team as possible.
For my first series here at QB List, I’ll be breaking down my “Flag Plants” for the 2025 Fantasy Football season. There’s no singular set of criteria. No formula or made up “J.A.Y.” metric. Just a couple of players at each position that I plan on drafting a whole lot of this summer. Some will be studs I’m willing to “buy the risk” at their ADP, while others are bounce-back candidates set to shed their previous bust status. Some will be guys I simply think are being drafted too low.
As we move along to the running backs, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my Quarterback Flag Plants as well.
Jordan Mason – Minnesota Vikings
(FantasyPros ADP: RB31, 94 Overall)
Jordan Mason’s breakout season may have been cut short due to a high ankle sprain, but that didn’t stop the Minnesota Vikings from trading for and signing him to a two-year, $10.5 million contract. Mason was incredible after inheriting lead back duties from an injured Christian McCaffrey. His 15% explosive run rate was the 2nd highest among qualifying backs, and his 5.2 yards per carry and 3.3 yards after contact ranked inside the top-5. Mason’s 25.5% avoided tackle rate was just outside the top-5, ranking sixth.
Jordan. Mason.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/5ZLYZPEh0x— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
I’m not concerned with the 2-year contract signed by the incumbent starter, Aaron Jones Sr. The 30-year-old back (31 in December) ranked in the bottom 10 in avoided tackle rate (18.4), yards after contact (2.5), and explosive run rate (9.8). He was one of seven running backs with an explosive run rate under 10%. Then there’s the age issue. Since 2015, only 14 running backs age 30 or older have averaged 12 or more PPR points per game and played in at least eight games, and only six have averaged over 15. Father time is undefeated, so on and so forth.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has already stated Mason will be involved on the goal line. Unsurprising, considering Jones totaled -2 yards on 13 carries inside the five in 2024. Minnesota’s backfield likely starts the season as a 50/50 split, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see Mason take over the backfield and lead the committee. He’s an upside play who’s proven capable, with little to no risk. I’ll have plenty of Mason shares this season, barring a drastic ADP rise.
James Cook – Buffalo Bills
(FantasyPros ADP: RB14, 42 Overall)
Despite finishing as a top-12 running back on a points-per-game basis since taking over as the starter in 2023, Bills RB James Cook is being overlooked and underdrafted. I’ll admit, some concern is warranted. His workload is lighter than you’d like to see from a lead back with just barely over 200 attempts in 2024. He’s not overly involved in the passing game, and he’s unlikely to match his 18 total touchdowns from a season ago. So why am I still bullish (Billish?) on Cook’s potential to overcome comparatively lesser volume?
For starters, Cook is locked into lead back duties for one of the top offenses in the NFL. Said top offense also happens to run the ball a lot, finishing inside the top-six run rates in each of the past two seasons. In 2023, Cook ranked sixth in yards per carry (4.9), fifth in yards before contact (2.2), and had the third most touchdown runs of 10+ yards (5). Although his 2.4 targets per game feel a bit light, his 6.8 yards per target ranks inside the top 10 among running backs. He’s also cemented in the immensely valuable role as Buffalo’s red-zone back. Cook finished 12th at the position with 48 red-zone attempts despite sharing the backfield with Quarterback Josh Allen, who had 32 red-zone attempts of his own.
The hesitation with Cook is understandable, but his mouth-watering mix of efficiency and explosiveness devours any doubt in his ability to finish as an RB1 for the third straight season.
Quinshon Judkins – Cleveland Browns
(FantasyPros ADP: RB26, 76 Overall)
Among the plethora of rookie running backs in line to be fantasy viable this season, Quinshon Judkins is easily the best value. Judkins has the opportunity to become a true three-down back as early as this season with the departures of Nick Chubb and D’Onta Foreman. But for some reason, fantasy managers seem concerned with—checks notes—Jerome Ford.
Really. Some see 5.4 yards per carry on 100 carries last season and forget he fell flat just two seasons ago when given the backfield all to himself. Ford averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 204 attempts in 2023 after Chubb went down with (yet another) devastating knee injury. Ford was a hot waiver pickup thanks to his first career 100-yard rushing game in relief of the injured Chubb in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Since then, Ford has a grand total of one additional game with over 100 yards rushing. If you haven’t read the tea leaves already, Ford took a pay cut to remain on the roster; otherwise, there was a good chance he was either cut or traded. Despite an uncharacteristically low rushing attempt total of 391 attempts, the Browns have been one of the run-heaviest teams since Kevin Stefanski took over as head coach. Over the previous four years, the Browns finished inside the top 5 in rush attempts three times and ranked 9th in the fourth.
Judkins has the college production pedigree that should leave you salivating at his pro potential. He averaged just over 1,332 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first two seasons as the starting back for Ole Miss. Judkins transferred to Ohio State for his junior year to chase a championship despite having to share a backfield with fellow future first-rounder TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins was still able to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and score 16 total touchdowns en route to a Buckeye’s National Title. He wasn’t used heavily in the passing game, but caught 22 passes in each of the past two seasons and averaged 7.5 yards per reception. Cleveland also added the dynamic Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee in the fourth round of the draft this year, but I view him more as a complement to Judkins rather than a threat to his workload. Judkins has all the tools to become a true three-down workhorse and could put up RB1 numbers as early as this season. The best part? You can draft him with little to no risk in the middle rounds (for now).
Kenneth Walker – Seattle Seahawks
(FantasyPros ADP: RB16, 50 Overall)
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker started the season strong, rushing for 103 yards in Week 1 versus Denver. Unfortunately, it would be the only game he’d eclipse the century mark in 2024. Walker failed to surpass 600 yards for the first time in his professional career, partly due to an ankle injury that limited him to 11 games. While he was one of the biggest disappointments of 2024, the failure doesn’t fall squarely on his shoulders. Thanks to injury and erratic play, Seattle’s offensive line was one of the worst in the league, leading Walker to a paltry 3.7 yards per carry and a league-worst .8 yards before contact. Seattle also ran the ball just 36.8% of plays, ranking 27th in rush rate. They were one of five teams with fewer than 400 rushing attempts.
But there is hope.
Walker led the league in avoided tackle rate at 32.7% (the only back above 30%) and was tied for the seventh-highest yards after contact (2.0). He set career highs in targets (53), receptions (46), and receiving yards (299), ranking third in targets per game (4.8) and catches per game (3.7). The Seahawks addressed their offensive line woes via the draft and free agency. Seattle spent the 18th overall pick on guard Grey Zabel, a versatile lineman who likely starts from day one, and signed veteran Josh Jones to bolster depth. Starters Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas come into the season healthy. They moved on from pass-happy offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and brought in Klint Kubiak, known for his Shanahan-esque run system and balanced offense. He served as offensive coordinator for Minnesota in 2021 and New Orleans last season, with both teams’ run rates over 41%. Seattle won’t become a run-first team reminiscent of the Pete Carroll days, but there should be a significant increase.
I wouldn’t pay a premium for his services, the acquisition cost for Walker is far too low. With improved line play and an increased run rate, Walker is primed for a bounce-back 2025. He’s being drafted beneath his floor and still has top-five potential.
(Data sourced from FTN Fantasy. Qualifying RBs include a minimum of 150 carries unless otherwise stated.)
Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Parker McDonald (@TheCarbonFox on Twitter/X)