I do not like fantasy football rankings.
Rankings are easily the most misapplied resource used by fantasy football managers. Is it helpful to have a list of players organized by an analyst’s order of preference, or even your own list to reference on draft day? Of course! But far too many focus on the insignificant details and miss out on significant player upside.
To elevate your fantasy football skills, you must begin thinking in tiers. Don’t focus on the rigidity of numbered rankings. It’s much more essential to understand the drop-off between Tier 2 and Tier 3 quarterbacks than thinking “I can’t draft the eighth-ranked quarterback over the seventh!
That’s why, for this year’s QB List positional rankings articles, the focus will shift more towards the differences in each tier instead of “Player X is ranked one spot ahead of Player Y”. I’ll still be discussing the majority of players, but talking points will be broken up by tier instead of by player. Think of it more as the “why” than just giving you the “what”.
I’ll be going position by position, and next up is running backs. Let’s take a gander at my 2025 Running Back rankings, presented first below as a table, and then we’ll go tier-by-tier to break down my favorite (and least favorite) guys in each grouping.
Tier 1: The Palindrome Tier
A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward.
There’s not much to say about this group. All four are first-round picks regardless of format. You could flip them in order from 4-1 to 1-4, and I’d be completely fine with it. Saquon Barkley brings up the rear because I’m concerned about his workload from last season. Ashton Jeanty is special, and I have zero hesitation ranking a rookie this high. He’s got the talent, expected workload, and scheme that immediately puts him in contention for RB1 overall.
Tier 2: The Frog Tier
You actually can’t get warts from frogs, but work with me here.
I’d be more than happy to wind up with one of the Tier 2 running backs as my RB1. They’ve all got a few extra warts compared to the four horsemen of Tier 1. Bucky Irving and De’Von Achane are both young and have proven they belong, but can they stay on the field and sustain the success for a full season? James Cook hasn’t signed a contract at the time of writing, and is currently not practicing because, I quote, “business.” I’ve been fading Derrick Henry due to age and workload for the past few seasons, and I’ve finally accepted that he’s not human. The “He Who Remains” of fantasy football, existing outside the restrictions of time to dominate until he decides he’s done. It’s straightforward with Christian McCaffrey. If he’s on the field, he’s an RB1 (if not THE RB1). But that’s a big if.
Player I’m higher on than most:
Kenneth Walker III – One of my running back flag plants this season, I’m scooping him up everywhere I can. He’s my favorite of this tier because he’s the cheapest, and that’s what you should keep in mind when using my rankings. Pay less attention to how players are ranked inside the tier. Focus instead on the tiers themselves. Ranks inside tiers are splitting hairs, and I generally draft the best value.
Walker’s ability to force missed forced tackles and top ten rank in yards after contact (2.0) are what excited me most about his potential for an RB1 finish in 2025. Seattle was one of five teams with fewer than 400 rushing attempts, but that should change with Klint Kubiak replacing former OC Ryan Grubb this offseason. The offensive line should improve after spending a first-round pick on guard Grey Zabel and returning starters Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas healthy. A sore foot in training camp at the time of writing has some concerned about Walker’s availability this season. Take advantage and get an even better value if his ADP is suppressed even further than RB16 due to the needless worry.
Acting concerned with Kenneth Walker's "injury" so I can buy the dip pic.twitter.com/HUNHrrgExb
— Jay Felicio (@GMenJay) August 5, 2025
Tier 3: The Mosquito Tier
The little buzz that just won’t go away.
The second and third tiers of running backs were by far the most difficult to place, and I almost smushed them together for one giant mega-tier. But each back in this group has a minor flaw that kept buzzing around my head like an annoying mosquito you just can’t kill.
Omarion Hampton is a stud, but as the great JJ Zachariason brings up, there’s traditionally been a cap on running backs’ pass-catching upside in a Greg Roman offense.
There’s obviously nuance to this kind of thing, and I said as much in the intro to this newsletter. I’m still taking Hampton despite at least some worry about pass-catching upside. He’s an elite prospect. And I don’t want to overthink that. https://t.co/dpsPBjRAoF
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) July 22, 2025
Just as JJ said, don’t overthink it too much. Each scenario is different, and Hampton’s an uber-talented prospect. But it’s something to keep in mind. We’ve still yet to see the pre-injury explosiveness that made us fall in love with Breece Hall, and offseason chatter continues to get louder that the Jets backfield will become a Lions-esque committee with new head coach Aaron Glenn bringing Tanner Engstrand with him from Detroit. David Montgomery is being drafted at his floor, even if the Lions’ offense takes a step back. But offensive line concerns and the loss of Ben Johnson bloodies up Knuckles’ ceiling just a bit.
Player I’m higher on than most:
Jordan Mason – Another of my flag plant running backs, Mason has the esteemed honor of being the first player dubbed with the majestic moniker of a “RiBeye“. What is a RiBeye, you ask? Well, most people consider a filet mignon the finest cut of steak, but I personally prefer a ribeye (the upside is all in the marbling). A RiBeye is a running back who is generally considered the second-best on his team, but offers much better value and eventually surpasses the player ahead of him. Mason may go into the season second on the Vikings’ depth chart, but it is merely a matter of time before the explosive back blows by the aging and inefficient Aaron Jones Sr.
Player I’m lower on than most:
Kyren Williams – I’m sure I’ll get plenty of hate for having Williams down in Tier 3, especially after signing a 3-year, $33 million extension with $23 million guaranteed the night before this article was published. But my disdain for Williams is strictly from a fantasy football perspective. The disconnect between the game of football and the game about the game of football can blur perceptions of a player’s production. Yes, Williams is coming off back-to-back 1,000 rushing-yard seasons, but his value relies on a large volume of touches and touchdowns. He was one of six backs with over 300 attempts last season, but his 4.11 yards per carry was the worst among the group (which averaged 4.96 ypc). Williams was the only member of the 300+ carry club with an explosive run rate under 2%. I firmly believe Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter get worked in more this season to help keep Williams fresh. A drop in touches may not be disastrous for his floor, but it certainly is for his ceiling. With Matthew Stafford already dealing with back ailments, what if the Rams offense takes a step back and Williams doesn’t hit double-digit touchdowns again? I like Williams as an RB2, but you’ll have to draft him as an RB1. It’s just not a price I’m willing to pay.
Tier 4: The “Nick at Nite” Tier
Nostalgia can be a nice warm hug that punches you in the throat.
Tier 4 is similar to the mosquito tier, but without the ceiling and a nonexistent floor. This grouping is heavier on the aging vets, equivalent to the shows on “Nick at Nite”. They’ve had their time to shine, and it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy to see their name on your roster. But sometimes nostalgia lies, and you realize “this show just doesn’t have it anymore”. Concerns primarily stem from age (Alvin Kamara, James Conner) and injury (Joe Mixon, Isiah Pacheco), giving them a range of outcomes with a lower floor and limited upside. I’d much prefer this tier as my third running back or a FLEX play, but if you have a strong RB1, they’ll do as an RB2.
Tier 5: The Skeleton Key Tier
Choosing wisely can lead you to a championship.
Tier 5 is easily my favorite range of running backs. The ratio of risk-to-upside with these guys leans favorably towards upside. It’s the bizarro-Tier 4, with mostly younger players with inexact roles in their backfield. RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, and Cam Skattebo were all drafted to teams without a dominant running back. They head into the season as part of a committee, but have the talent to take over their respective backfields. The same goes for some of the young vets in this tier. Trey Benson, Zach Charbonnet, and Tank Bigsby have a chance to return tremendous value and jump a tier or two if they can commandeer the majority of touches. Those types of jumps are what fantasy championships are made of.
Players I’m higher on than most:
Tank Bigsby – I’ve been in on Tank Bigsby since last year, and he’s one of my favorite post-hype sleepers. Even before the steady drumbeat of positive training camp reports, Bigsby just makes more sense. He outproduced Etienne in nearly every rushing category last season and was among the best in the league in both explosive run rate and yard after contact. Don’t shy away from him because he doesn’t have top three potential. Drafting a top-24 back outside the top 40 is an incredible boost for your fantasy team.
Trey Benson – Although James Conner has aged like a fine wine, I expect Trey Benson to be much more involved this season. Conner has said it himself. Benson produced when given the opportunity and averaged 5.7 yards per carry from Week 10 on. He should offer a standalone FLEX value with potential for much more were he to take over. He’s another example of a RiBeye.
Tier 6: The Netflix Tier
Endless options that are mostly mediocre
THIS is where things start to get interesting. This tier has seemingly limitless options, some that you’ve seen before and know they’re just ok (Tyrone Tracy, Rico Dowdle), some older ones everyone seems to still love for some reason (Aaron Jones Sr.). I initially had Tier 6 and 7 lumped into one giant tier, but thanks to my fantastic editor Christian (don’t forget to Venmo me), we realized there’s a drop in value after Jerome Ford. Tier 6 has more running backs who come into the season with an already expected workload and should offer at least FLEX value for the first few weeks at a minimum.
Player I’m lower on than most:
Aaron Jones Sr – Old. Inefficient. Younger, more explosive back brought in to “share the load”, who I think becomes the 1a rather quickly. I love Mason. Jones, not so much.
Tier 7: The “Mystery Box” Tier
It could be anything. Even a boat.
If you have kids, you’ve likely seen the “Mystery Box” option Netflix offers for their children’s programming. Generally, the result is something terrible, and they wind up watching “Gabby’s Dollhouse” for the umpteenth time. But every now and then, it unearths underrated gems (Jarquez Hunter, Woody Marks) you may not have watched otherwise. Tier 7 is the guys that you take dart throws at the end of drafts and stash while you still have the room. There are some aging vets mixed in this group who could have a few productive weeks, but you’ll be able to find similar value on the waiver wire if you find yourself in a pinch. You’re much better served taking a shot on the upside.
Tier 8: The “Mayo in the Back of the Fridge” Tier
Is it really worth it?
Looking for something to put on your sandwich, you reach in the back behind the Simply Lemonade and find an almost empty jar of mayo. But how long has it been here? Is it expired? It looks fine, but the date is partially rubbed off, and it’s unclear whether it’s “2025” or “2022”. What’s the range of outcomes? Are you risking salmonella for a light dusting of mayo?
The same goes for these backs. Yeah, they’re available if you need them. But what’s the point? You’ll find them available on the waiver wire, and the chances of them becoming more than wasted bench space are slim to none. A couple of names to keep an eye on include AJ Dillon, Will Shipley, Kendre Miller, and Keaton Mitchell. But they’re only worth rostering in the deepest of leagues.
Photos by Kyle Ross, Jeff Robinson | Adapted by Parker McDonald (@TheCarbonFox on Twitter/X)