RB Rankings
Tier 1: The Palindrome Tier
A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward.
1. Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL) – There’s a two-person race for the top-ranked overall player in Fantasy Football this season: either Joe Burrow’s bae Ja’Maar Chase, or Bijan Robinson (pronounced bih-ZHAN, not BEE-zhan). Honestly, we’re just splitting hairs here. Both are absolute studs. But because bellcow backs are so hard to come by in fantasy football, I give the edge to my bae, Bijan Robinson. He was one of just six running backs to handle over 300 carries and more than 45 targets (a whopping 72!) in 2024. And, Robinson was one of just three backs to average over 20 points per game and was THE RB1 from Week 6 on. I expect him not just to be RB1, but the #1 position player in fantasy football for 2025.
2. Ashton Jeanty (RB, LV) – There’s always hesitation with rookie running backs for fantasy. You’ll hear, “He’s never played a down in the NFL, how can you rank him so high?”. Well, simply put, Ashton Jeanty is special. A historic 2024 season had him finish as the Heisman runner-up to Travis Hunter and just 28 yards short of breaking college football’s all-time single-season rushing record (currently still held by Barry Sanders). Jeanty ran for 2,601 and 50, yes, 50 touchdowns! 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 and top 10 in all of fantasy.
3. Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET) – Remember the three running backs I mentioned back in Bijan’s blurb that averaged 20+ points last season? Jahmyr Gibbs was one of them (Saquon Barkley the third). I have nothing negative to say about Gibbs’ game. But there are a couple of concerns for the Lions’ offense heading into 2025. Can they remain an offensive juggernaut sans Ben Johnson? How much of a step back does the offensive line take after the retirement of Frank Ragnow and the loss of Kevin Zeitler in free agency? Gibbs likely finishes the season among the best running backs in fantasy, but it’s not out of the question for a drop outside the top 10, considering the wide range of outcomes for a Lions offense in transition.
4. Saquon Barkley (RB, PHI) – Saquon Barkley‘s historic 2024 was attained partially thanks to a massive 482-touch workload (the second-highest total ever for a running back). Phenomenal for his 2024 production and the Philadelphia Eagles, but exponentially increases his risk for fantasy purposes in 2025. History has not been kind to running backs who exceed 370 touches in a season. Most have suffered a major injury or a significant decline in performance the following year. Recent victims of the 370-touch curse include Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, and Josh Jacobs. Barkley is genuinely a “generational talent” who can defy these historical trends and repeat as an RB1, but despite his immense talent, the overwhelming historical data against running backs with his level of usage make him too risky to draft among the top three.
Tier 2: The Frog Tier
You actually can’t get warts from frogs, but work with me here.
5. Bucky Irving (RB, TB) – Another late-round rookie pick that carried many to fantasy championships, Bucky Irving is in a position to improve on his rookie season that saw him amass 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. It would be negligent not to mention potential production pitfalls for Irving. Pro Bowl left tackle Tristin Wirfs is set to miss the start of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in July, and Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen was the Bucs’ offensive coordinator for Irving’s immaculate rookie season. Still, Bucky has the talent to thrive even if the offense takes a step back. A heavy workload was already expected, but A groin injury suffered in Week 1 of the preseason is expected to sideline backup Rachaad White for an extended period. This could push even more work Bucky’s way.
6. De’Von Achane (RB, MIA) – While the absence of Tua Tagovailoa negatively impacted the fantasy production of most of the Miami Dolphins, none were affected more than star running back De’Von Achane. His rushing wasn’t affected too heavily, although he averaged nearly nine fewer yards without Tua. Instead, it was the evaporation of his passing game work that caused Achane’s points per game average to drop 13.7 points in the six Tua-less games. Achane is in line to lead this backfield once again, and as long as Tagovailoa is on the field, Achane’s an RB1. If Tua plays in all 17 games, that could mean an RB1 overall season.
7. Kenneth Walker III (RB, SEA) – I’m not one to make excuses for players, but external factors heavily influenced Kenneth Walker III‘s disappointing 2024. A horrendous offensive line (league-worst .8 yards before contact) and a pass-heavy offense that ranked 27th in rush rate certainly don’t help the cause. Walker practically walked on water when given the rock. He led the entire NFL in avoided tackle rate and ranked inside the top ten for yards after contact. He set career highs in every receiving category, adding a dimension to his game we’ve yet to see from him in the pros. Seattle invested a first-round pick in guard Grey Zabel to elevate the offensive line, and key starters Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas come into the season healthy. Pass-happy OC Ryan Grubb was replaced by Klint Kubiak, who historically runs a much more balanced, run-friendlier offensive system. I’m not concerned with missed time in training camp due to a minor foot injury. Walker is being drafted far too low, around RB16. He still holds top-five potential.
8. Derrick Henry (RB, BAL) – While I’m willing to embrace the unknown in fantasy, I prefer to be out a year too early than a year too late on running backs. I’ve been about four years too early on Derrick Henry. He’s an enigma. All the historical evidence shows he should have slowed down a long time ago. But historical evidence gets obliterated by outliers such as King Henry. While running backs historically fall off a production cliff at age 30, Henry at 30 nearly became the first running back in history to rush for 2,000 yards twice. He’s been able to stiff-arm Father Time thus far, but the end will inevitably come for King Henry as well. He’s finished outside the top 10 running backs once over the last six seasons, in 2021 when he played in just eight games. He still finished as RB21.
9. Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF) – How you value Christian McCaffrey for this season all depends on your risk tolerance and whether or not you think he’ll play the majority of the season. His talent has never been in question. If CMC is on the field, he’s locked in as an RB1 and in contention to be the RB1 overall. Considering the state of the San Francisco wide receiver room, McCaffrey could be leaned on even more in the pass game if he’s on the field. The only risk in drafting CMC is the extensive injury history. He’s among the group of players in an echelon of their own. If you’re willing to take the gamble, McCaffrey can win you a fantasy championship single-handedly. However, without a solid backup plan behind him, another injury-riddled season could send you to the Toilet Bowl if you draft him too high.
10. James Cook (RB, BUF) – I understand the concern for James Cook from a fantasy perspective this season. He’s due for massive negative touchdown regression, rushing for 16 touchdowns in 2024 after totaling four over his first two seasons. He’s in a contract dispute at the time of writing, and he’s not used a ton in the passing game. But, he could still wind up a value if his ADP remains outside the top 12 running backs. Cook is established as the lead back for a Bills offense that has ranked inside the top six highest scoring offenses in each of the past five seasons–an offense that runs at one of the highest rates in the NFL. Despite sharing the backfield with Josh Allen, Cook ranked 12th with 48 uber valuable red zone attempts. There’s little to suggest Cook won’t finish as an RB1 in 2025, but he’s currently being drafted like it.
11. Chase Brown (RB, CIN) – Volume is king in fantasy football, as the adage goes, and Chase Brown is a textbook example. He wasn’t particularly efficient last season, sporting 4.32 yards per carry. He certainly wasn’t explosive; his 4.4% explosive run rate tied for 23rd out of the 46 running backs with at least 100 carries. However, Cincinnati fed him 229 rushing attempts, and his 63 targets were the sixth most at the position. Brown also saw 52% of the Bengals’ carries inside the five. After the recent release of Zack Moss, his only competition for touches is sixth-round rookie Tahj Brooks. With how bad the Bengals’ defense is projected to be, both can be plenty productive if Brooks earns a few extra touches. Brown’s volume isn’t going anywhere.
12. Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND) – Jonathan Taylor‘s RB1 finish last season is massively misleading. A considerable part of his stats came against three of the worst teams in the league, who were all very accommodating to opposing running backs. An unprecedented 36% of his rushing yards and 55% of his rushing touchdowns came over the final three games of the season versus the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars. Thanks to the Colts’ shaky quarterback situation, Taylor faced one of the highest rates of stacked boxes in the league (47.5%). With Daniel Jones now part of the QB room, the potential for improvement is mild at best. While Taylor’s talent is tantalizing, his surrounding situation is significantly worse than that of the other backs being drafted near him.
13. Josh Jacobs (RB, GB) – Despite finishing inside the top 12 at the position four out of the last five seasons, Josh Jacobs is perennially underrated. Jacobs’ first season in Green Bay was one of the best of his career, rushing for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. At age 27, there’s nothing to suggest Jacobs is due for a drop in production. While he lacks some of the upside of his peers, he offers one of the highest floors an RB1 can offer.
Tier 3: The Mosquito Tier
The little buzz that just won’t go away.
14. Kyren Williams (RB, LAR) – The disconnect between the game of football and the game about the game of football can blur perceptions of a player’s production. Yes, Kyren 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 believe Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter will get more playing time 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. If the Rams offense takes a step back with Stafford ailing, what if Williams doesn’t hit double-digit touchdowns? 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.
15. TreVeyon Henderson (RB, NE) – Omarion Hampton has been the most talked-about rookie running back this offseason, but TreVeyon Henderson is just as likely to finish as the top first-year back in fantasy. Henderson has the explosiveness to score at any time, as evidenced by his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown on his first NFL touch. He’s in line for a solid workload from day one, and if he goes full hostile takeover on the backfield, he has legit RB1 upside—the perfect RB2 target.
16. David Montgomery (RB, DET) – Montgomery has scored 25 total rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, averaging 15.4 points per game and finishing as RB16 & RB15 in his two seasons as a Lion. Although he shares the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, he’s still averaged over 200 carries and 30 targets per season with Detroit. And he’s missed three games each season! He gets 53% of the team’s carries inside the 5 and outcarried Gibbs inside the 10 last season 33 to 26. Even if the Lions’ offense takes a step back in 2025, it’s not suddenly going to be one of the worst in the league. Monty’s a high-end RB2 being drafted closer to FLEX value, but offensive line concerns and the loss of Ben Johnson bloody up Knuckles’ ceiling just a bit.
17. Jordan Mason (RB, MIN) – Jordan 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. I’m not concerned with 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). Jones was also one of seven running backs with an explosive run rate under 10%. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has already stated that Mason will be involved on the goal line. He’s an upside play who’s proven capable with little to no risk. I’m incredibly high on Mason compared to consensus, but I believe in the talent and opportunity. I expect we’ll see him on a hefty share of championship teams at the end of the fantasy season.
18. Omarion Hampton (RB, LAC) – If you asked ChatGPT to build you a prototypical NFL running back, odds are the output would be Omarion Hampton. Big, powerful, fast, and a skillset that can keep him on the field for all three downs. Najee Harris‘ fourth of July freak accident could hinder his availability at the start of the season, opening the door for Omarion Hampton to run away with the job if he comes out of the gate blazing. His ADP is a tad higher than fellow rookie TreVeyon Henderson, but Hampton shares that same top 10 upside. Hampton’s a stud, but as the great JJ Zachariason has brought up, there’s traditionally been a cap on running backs’ pass-catching upside in a Greg Roman offense. Each scenario is different, and Hampton’s an uber-talented prospect. But it’s something to keep in mind.
19. Breece Hall (RB, NYJ) – 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. I’ve been a big fan of Hall since his rookie season, but I prefer to draft the other backs going around his ADP, such as Kenneth Walker III and Omarion Hampton.
Tier 4: The “Nick at Nite” Tier
Nostalgia can be a nice warm hug that punches you in the throat.
20. Isiah Pacheco (RB, KC) – Pacheco went down with a fractured fibula in Week 2 and didn’t return until Week 13 last season. He understandably had some rust and never looked exceptionally like the fiercely aggressive runner we saw over his first two seasons. As the lead back for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pacheco should be considered a safe-ish RB2 for fantasy purposes. However, the backfield is more crowded than we’ve seen in recent seasons with the Chiefs bringing back Kareem Hunt, signing Elijah Mitchell, and drafting Brashard Smith out of SMU. Pacheco is the top dog to start the season, but if he struggles to return to form, it could turn into an ugly committee in Kansas City.
21. Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR) – Chuba Hubbard was left for dead after the Panthers drafted Jonathan Brooks in the 2024 draft. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy took full advantage of his early-season opportunity with Brooks recovering from a torn ACL. Hubbard scored double-digit fantasy points in eight of the first 10 games and over 18 in half of them. His workload was expected to drop with the return of Brooks in Week 12, but in a cruel twist, Brooks tore his ACL for a second time in as many years in Week 15. Hubbard comes into the season as the unquestioned starter for the Panthers, but don’t discount the addition of Rico Dowdle. Hubbard is a rock-solid RB2, but Dowdle’s involvement has the potential to eat away at his upside.
22. Alvin Kamara (RB, NO) – Although he’s past the dreaded 30-year-old threshold, Alvin Karma is set to age more gracefully than his fantasy counterparts. Despite never rushing for over 1,000 yards, Kamara has finished as an RB1 in seven of eight seasons, ranking a respectable RB16 in 2022. His ADP currently sits at RB15 and 37 overall, which is a little too high for my taste. Slipping even just a round or two would make his cost much more palatable.
23. D’Andre Swift (RB, CHI) – With all the changes the Chicago Bears made this offseason, it was a surprise they didn’t add any backfield competition for D’Andre Swift. His first year as a Bear was a bummer, sporting a career-low 3.8 yards per carry, the first in his career under four. Although Swift disappointed from a rushing perspective, he performed through the air. Among backs with a minimum of 35 targets, Swift ranked top 10 in yards per target (7.4), yards per reception (9.2), and yards after the catch per reception (9.6). He caught 42 passes on 52 targets for 386 yards. Those totals have a reasonable chance to go up with new Bears head coach Ben Johnson running the offense. Detroit running backs saw over 100 targets under Johnson in each of the last three seasons, including 70 for Swift as a Lion in 2022. With an ADP of RB24, the risk is already baked in. If the Bears’ offense takes the leap expected under Ben Johnson, a top 10 season is within reach.
24. James Conner (RB, ARI) – James Conner tends to be underrated from a fantasy perspective, but I have a cluster of concerns for him heading into 2025. After topping the 200-carry threshold just twice in his first six seasons, Conner managed to do so in back-to-back years over 2023-2024, also attaining his first two 1,000-yard seasons. I try to avoid the label of “injury prone,” but Conner’s never played in a full season, missing two or more games in each of his eight years in the NFL. He also turned 30 in May. That’s not old in “real life” (says the 38-year-old), but it’s ancient in RB years. When you’re looking to cook up a productive running back, start with an age-30 back, throw in a dollop of career-high workload, and sprinkle in a lengthy injury history, you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Tier 5: The Skeleton Key Tier
Choosing wisely can lead you to a championship.
25. RJ Harvey (RB, DEN) – The hype surrounding Broncos rookie RJ Harvey was smothered with a wet blanket when Denver signed veteran JK Dobbins, but that may have been an overreaction. Harvey handled all the carries with the first team offense in the Broncos’ first preseason game, and actually ran more routes than Dobbins despite not playing a single third down snap. Harvey can handle a heavy workload, and if Sean Payton gives the bulk of the carries to the rookie, he’d immediately become a locked-in RB2.
26. Kaleb Johnson (RB, PIT) – Considering the opportunity and offensive scheme, Kaleb Johnson couldn’t have landed in a better spot for his fantasy value. Arthur Smith loves to run the ball, and he has two capable backs in Johnson and Jaylen Warren. Although Johnson is the superior talent, Warren has been productive over his first three seasons, and I expect him to be a thorn in Johnson’s side, much like he was to former teammate Najee Harris. If given the bulk of the carries, Johnson can put up solid numbers, but with Warren expected to share the load, the rookie running back is more of a borderline RB2.
27. Tank Bigsby (RB, JAC) – 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 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. As much as I like Bigsby, his upside is capped by his lack of involvement in the passing game. There is absolutely ZERO risk drafting Bigsby at his current ADP. Don’t mistake his lack of top 10 upside for lack of value. Drafting a potential top-24 back outside the top 40 is an incredible boost for your fantasy team.
28. Tony Pollard (RB, TEN) – Tony Pollard was better than you remember last season. He was certainly better than I remembered. Pollard surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the third straight season and chipped in 41 catches to finish as RB21. What has me excited for his 2025 prospects are the underlying metrics. Pollard’s 2.76 yards after contact was the sixth-best at the position, and his 5.0% explosive run rate was among the best backs in the league, ahead of De’Von Achane, James Cook, and Bijan Robinson. His main competition for touches is Tyjae Spears, who missed five games last season due to injury. The oft-injured back is already set to miss most of the preseason and potentially the first few weeks after suffering the dreaded high ankle sprain in the Titans’ first preseason game against the Packers. Pollard’s a safe bet as your RB2 and could make a push for borderline RB1 status if Spears cedes the majority of touches.
29. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, WAS) – Brian Robinson Jr. is also a McDouble (a solid but unspectacular fantasy option with a high floor but low ceiling). Robinson’s lack of involvement in the pass game and inefficiency (4.3 yards per carry) caps his upside. He doesn’t have a ton of backfield competition, but Jayden Daniels averaged nearly 9 carries a game and had only three fewer red-zone carries. Robinson remains a decent RB3 or FLEX, but not much else.
30. Joe Mixon (RB, HOU) – This ranking of Joe Mixon takes into consideration the nagging foot injury that has had him on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp. We’ve yet to find out what the exact injury is and what sort of timetable is expected for his return. I’m assuming he misses a game or two to start the season, but if it turns out to be more, I’d drop Mixon outside the top 100. I’m likely avoiding him regardless of the injury updates. Take a chance if he falls to the seventh round or so, but I’m avoiding drafting him at his current ADP in the late 50s.
31. Trey Benson (RB, ARI) – Second-year back Trey Benson has an ADP around RB46 and has—stop me if you’ve heard this before— league-winning potential if he manages to get the bulk of backfield carries in Arizona. Benson matched Conner’s 4.6 yards per carry over the full season and got better as the year progressed. From Weeks 10-17, Benson bested Conner’s yards per carry, 5.7 to 4.8. Over that same period, Benson had a higher avoided tackle rate, explosive (20+ yard) run rate, and yards after contact. Granted, that was in about 1/4 of the touches, but it proves the point I’m trying to make: Benson is more than capable of producing at the highest level. I believe there’s a good chance Connor sees a drop in production and/or misses multiple games due to injury. Either could lead to a backfield takeover by Benson.
32. J.K. Dobbins (RB, DEN) – J.K. Dobbins took the fantasy world by storm with his electric start to his Chargers career, rushing for a combined 166 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks of the 2024 season. Unfortunately for Dobbins, those would be the only games he’d rush for over 100 yards the entire season. It was a mirage you could see right through if you looked closely enough. Over his first four games, he had an undoubtedly unsustainable 6.1 yards per carry and 16.1% explosive run rate. He finished the season with respectable ratios: 4.64 yards per carry and a 5.1% explosive run rate, but nowhere near the elite numbers of his first two games. Dobbins signed late in free agency with the Broncos, after the draft and after drafting RJ Harvey in the second round. Sean Payton has a record of preferring to use multiple backs, and Dobbins will get a little run. But this backfield belongs to Harvey, and Dobbins is little more than a handcuff with some FLEX value. Pass.
33. Travis Etienne Jr. (RB, JAC) – After a top-five finish in 2023, Travis Etienne Jr. had a full-on fantasy faceplant last season. He fell to RB35 in 2024, and if it hadn’t been for his usage in the passing game, it could have been a whole lot worse. Among the 31 running backs with at least 150 carries last season, Etienne ranked 30th in yards per carry, 21st in explosive run rate, 20th in yards after contact per attempt, and 30th in percentage of team carries inside the five. I know people are excited to see what ETN can do with Liam Coen, but it feels eerily similar to the Rachaad White/Bucky Irving situation from just a season ago: an incumbent starter with pass-catching chops who is an inefficient runner is replaced by an efficient, explosive “backup” who is a capable pass catcher but has not been asked to do it at the pro level. I recognize I am extremely low on Etienne compared to the masses. But I trust my process, and I’m willing to eat crow if I wind up on the wrong side of this take.
34. Zach Charbonnet (RB, SEA) – Zach Charbonnet holds tremendous upside if something were to happen to Kenneth Walker. What makes him one of the most valuable handcuffs in all the land is his viability as a FLEX starter even if he remains KWIII’s understudy all season. Charbs averaged 11 points per game last season, good for 29th among RBs with at least 100 carries. In the six games Walker missed last season, Charbonnet averaged 19.2 ppg, including games with point totals of 25.7 and 38.3. He’s a tremendous value coming off the board around the 116th pick.
Tier 6: The Netflix Tier
Endless options that are mostly mediocre
35. Cam Skattebo (RB, NYG) – I have Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. ranked butt-to-butt because of Skatt’s bum hammy. The training camp injury has kept the rookie off the field for a few weeks, but the hope is he’ll be able to get some run before the preseason is over. You’ll see why I’m not a fan of Tracy in his blurb below, but Skattebo’s injury sets back what I feel like is an inevitable backfield takeover. Missing invaluable training camp touches and a chance to show his skills in preseason games gives Tracy a longer leash to start the season. I’m still drafting Skattebo everywhere I can; I’d much rather stash him to start the season than drop the waiver wire bag on him when he becomes the G-Men’s RB1.
36. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, NYG) – It’s relatively simple: Tyrone Tracy Jr. was a waiver wire darling that paid dividends thanks to a cost of $Free.99. But Tracy was simply not very good. Tracy was tied for 20th in yards per carry (4.4), 24th in yards before contact (1.5), 18th in yards after contact (2.8), 25th in avoided tackle rate (20.3%), and 35th in explosive run rate (9.4%). And that’s without mentioning the five fumbles Tracy committed in 2024, tied for third-most among RBs. As we know, ball security is job security, and the leash for Day 3 running backs is not long. The Giants drafted running back Cam Skattebo in the fourth round, and I expect him to overtake this backfield before the season’s end. If not for a training camp hamstring injury, it may have been before the season’s start. Tracy’s lackluster efficiency, explosiveness, and the addition of Skattebo make him a complete fade for me in 2025.
37. Rico Dowdle (RB, CAR) – Despite leaving Dallas for the land of the pines, Rico Dowdle once again finds himself stuck behind an incumbent starter. But don’t sleep on Dowdle’s potential to carve out a role in the Carolina offense. He’s a much better pass catcher than Chuba Hubbard, and per Dwain McFarland, Dowdle ran most of the running back routes with the starters and was on the field in third-and-long situations. The Panthers could have themselves a full-blown committee, lowering the ceiling of Hubbard and bringing Dowdle into standalone FLEX territory. But as we saw in Dallas last season, Dowdle can put up solid fantasy numbers if given the touches. He’s practically free with an ADP of 142 overall. He’s not a must-draft, but he’s certainly someone to keep an eye on early in the season.
38. Najee Harris (RB, LAC) – Until we know the true severity of Najee Harris‘ Fourth of July eye injury, it’s impossible to rank him accurately. At the time of writing, Harris had just begun to return to practice to run drills, but nothing more. I don’t expect him to miss multiple regular-season games, but the truth is, at this point, we don’t know. If/when Harris returns, expect him to get just enough work to hold FLEX value while lowering the floor for stud rookie Omarion Hampton.
39. Ray Davis (RB, BUF) – As much as the Buffalo Bills run the ball, all of their running backs should be on your radar. Ray Davis is the direct handcuff to James Cook, who recently secured the bag. So dreams of a holdout or trade leading to Davis becoming the starter are, in the words of *NSYNC, “Gone”. But Davis is a worthy stash at the end of the benches as a lottery ticket.
40. Aaron Jones Sr. (RB, MIN) – I’ve understandably caught a lot of heat for my exceptionally low rank of Aaron Jones Sr., but I’ve got the rationale to back it up. Jones is 30 years old, ancient for a running back. In the past 10 seasons, only 14 running backs 30 or older averaged 12+ points per game and played in at least eight games. He was inefficient, ranking in the bottom 10 in avoided tackle rate, yards after contact, and explosive run rate among all running backs with at least 150 carries. Jones totaled -2 yards on 13 carries inside the five, which led to the offensive acquisition of Mason, who KOC has made it clear will handle the short-yard and uber valuable goal-line carries.
41. Rachaad White (RB, TB) – Rachaad White had his starting job pilfered by Bucky Irving last season, but considering his career 3.8 yards per carry average, it’s not all that surprising. As long as White continues to see a solid amount of targets, he is viable as a FLEX play. But White suffered a groin injury in Week 1 of the preseason and is expected to miss time. That could open the door for teammate Sean Tucker to carve out a larger role, and it wouldn’t be Bucky losing touches.
42. Braelon Allen (RB, NYJ) – As I mentioned in Breece Hall‘s blurb, we’ve yet to see him back to the pre-injury form. The drum beats continue to get louder, suggesting a Lions-esque committee could be in store for the Jets with new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand following Aaron Glenn from Detroit. We’ve seen flashes of elite upside from Braelon Allen. If Hall were to go down with an injury, Allen has RB1 upside.
43. Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) – Just as Jaylen Warren truthers thought he’d get his time to shine with Najee Harris moving on to LA, the Steelers drafted a running back in the third round. Pittsburgh added Kaleb Johnson, a versatile back coming off a 1,537 rushing yard and 21 touchdown season. Knowing awful Arthur Smith’s disregard for common sense, the season likely starts as a true 50/50 committee. But I expect Johnson to become the lead back before long. Despite what you may hear elsewhere, Jaylen Warren is Just A Guy.
44. Dylan Sampson (RB, CLE) – Similar to the Rashee Rice/Xavier Worthy discussion, so much of Dylan Sampson‘s fantasy value relies on what becomes of Quinshon Judkins‘ potential/inevitable suspension. If Judkins misses the entire season, Sampson is in line for a heavy workload and immediately becomes a borderline RB2. But if Judkins plays in 2025, his return would relegate Sampson back to handcuff territory.
45. Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE) – I was high on Rhamondre Stevenson over the past few seasons, and he’s produced solid numbers. But his inability to hold onto the ball (seven fumbles last season) and inefficiency led the Patriots to draft TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of this year’s draft. Stevenson likely starts the season in a timeshare with Henderson, but the rookie is talented enough to completely take over the backfield. It may be over for Rhamondre.
46. Jaydon Blue (RB, DAL) – Reports of the team’s unhappiness with Jaydon Blue‘s work ethic appear to be entirely fabricated. He’s impressive in training camp and a name to keep an eye on in case he can take over a wide-open Cowboys backfield.
47. Javonte Williams (RB, DAL) – The favorite to start the season as the Cowboys’ starting running back, Javonte Williams, is another in a long line of “what-ifs” whose ceiling is likely never reached due to injury. There’s a snowball’s chance he could have a career resurgence in Dallas, but don’t bet on it.
48. Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN) – Tyjae Spears is once again expected to miss significant time due to injury, this time a high ankle sprain. He won’t play the rest of the preseason at a minimum, and likely more. He’s an unreliable handcuff with a smidge of upside.
49. Tahj Brooks (RB, CIN) – Shoutout to our very own Chris Helle for putting me on to Tahj Brooks. The Bengals’ release of Zack Moss elevates Brooks to actual handcuff status, and if he gets enough work in the pass game, he has potential standalone FLEX value.
50. Jerome Ford (RB, CLE) – Currently slotted in as the Browns’ starting running back with the uncertainty surrounding Quinshon Judkins. He failed to do anything when he had this backfield to himself in 2023 after Nick Chubb’s injury. He’s a warm body with little to no upside.
Tier 7: The “Mystery Box” Tier
It could be anything. Even a boat.
51. Roschon Johnson (RB, CHI) – Chicago’s offensive line has been significantly upgraded this offseason, and with Ben Johnson on the sidelines calling plays, the offense is expected to be substantially improved. Johnson is still just 24 years old; if he can become the “Knuckles” to Swift’s “Sonic”, Johnson would be in line for major fantasy production. A $1 scratch off where you’re trying to win $1,000,000.
52. Jarquez Hunter (RB, LAR) – The rookie has sky-high upside if he finds himself with significant touches, but Jarquez Hunter is nothing more than a handcuff for now.
53. Woody Marks (RB, HOU) – Houston traded up and gave a 2026 third-round pick to draft Woody Marks, so there’s obviously something they see in him. With Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb already dealing with injuries, Marks could find himself in a position to earn a role in the offense early in the season.
54. Jaylen Wright (RB, MIA) – The handcuff to De’Von Achane, it appears Jaylen Wright is also the goal line back for the Dolphins. He offers sneaky touchdown upside if that holds throughout the season.
55. Quinshon Judkins (RB, CLE) – Until his legal matters are resolved, Quinshon Judkins is the biggest question mark of 2025. If he misses fewer than six games, I’d be willing to draft him somewhere in the 80-100 range. Anything more than that, he’s outside the top 50 RBs.
56. Bhayshul Tuten (RB, JAC) – The chiq late-round rookie running back is everyone’s obsession this year. If he earns significant touches, he’s got the wiggle and zoom to put up some crooked numbers. But he’s more likely a target for 2026, when free-agent-to-be Travis Etienne Jr. is likely no longer on the team.
57. Brashard Smith (RB, KC) – Nothing more than a name to watch. Brashard Smith has serious upside, but has multiple names ahead of him to start the season.
58. MarShawn Lloyd (RB, GB) – His rookie season was over before it started, playing in just one game before succumbing to injury. Appears fully healthy and could be the handcuff to Josh Jacobs in a potent Packers offense.
59. Blake Corum (RB, LAR) – I’d be much more interested had the Rams not drafted Jarquez Hunter, but Blake Corum still has upside if he found himself with significant touches.
60. Ollie Gordon II (RB, MIA) – Not draftable, but a name I’m watching very closely on the waiver wire.
61. Austin Ekeler (RB, WAS) – Wonderful human being. Former fantasy stud. Nothing more than a low-tier FLEX.
62. Tyler Allgeier (RB, ATL) – Bijan Robinson‘s handcuff, nothing more.
63. Elijah Mitchell (RB, KC) – Outside of Elijah Mitchell, the only additions at the position for the Chiefs were re-signing soon-to-be 30-year-old Kareem Hunt and seventh-round pick Brashard Smith. Significant opportunity if Isiah Pacheco were to miss time or is unable to return to pre-injury form, but the fact that there are multiple potential handcuffs makes this handcuff’s upside less clear.
64. DJ Giddens (RB, IND) – Didn’t look great in his first preseason game, but it’s too early to write him off just yet. Worth watching as Jonathan Taylor‘s handcuff.
65. Miles Sanders (RB, DAL) – Could stumble into a few starts based on the Cowboys’ RB room, but not much upside.
66. Jordan James (RB, SF) – Any running back on the 49ers roster is worth keeping an eye on.
67. Isaac Guerendo (RB, SF) – Any running back on the 49ers roster is worth keeping an eye on. Was that an echo?
68. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB, WAS) – The belle of the preseason fantasy football (I’m sorry), and an intriguing deep sleeper who’s impressed this preseason.
69. Nick Chubb (RB, HOU) – Even with the injury status of Joe Mixon, I’m not interested in Nick Chubb this season. He’s talented enough to make me eat my words, but he’d have to find the fountain of youth first.
70. Isaiah Davis (RB, NYJ) – Isaiah Davis could see some run in a potential Jets committee, but would need an injury to Breece Hall or Braelon Allen to become fantasy viable.
Tier 8: The “Mayo in the Back of the Fridge” Tier
Is it really worth it?
71. A.J. Dillon (RB, PHI) – Intriguing name to watch in case the curse of 370 indeed hits Saquon Barkley.
72. Devin Neal (RB, NO) – In the discussion for the Saints’ backup running back job. Set to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury.
73. Kendre Miller (RB, NO) – The favorite to start the season as the Saints’ backup running back, but should change his legal name to Kendre Meh-ller.
74. Will Shipley (RB, PHI) – A handcuff to Saquon Barkley is worth watching regardless of who it is.
75. Trevor Etienne (RB, CAR) – The fourth-rounder is battling for the RB3 spot on the Panthers.
76. Kyle Monangai (RB, CHI) – A sneaky late-round dart throw that would pay huge dividends if he can become the Bears’ version of David Montgomery.
77. Kareem Hunt (RB77, KC) – Proved he still has it last season, earning another contract with the Chiefs. A viable FLEX if he winds up with a solid number of touches.
78. Justice Hill (RB78, BAL) – Justice Hill is a desperation FLEX play who needs a touchdown to get over the double-digit point threshold.
79. Antonio Gibson (RB, NE) – An injury away from being fantasy viable in New England.
80. Devin Singletary (RB, NYG) – Could be in line for more early-season work than anticipated with rookie Cam Skattebo battling a hamstring injury.
81. Damien Martinez (RB, SEA) – Considering the injury history of the guys ahead of him, he’s an intriguing name to keep an eye on.
82. Keaton Mitchell (RB, BAL) – Looked explosive in the Ravens’ first preseason game; could become FLEX viable if he regularly spells King Henry.
83. Sean Tucker (RB, TB) – In line for a larger role if Rachaad White‘s injury lingers.
84. Raheem Mostert (RB, LV) – Nothing more than Ashton Jeanty‘s handcuff, and an old and injury-prone one at that.
85. Ty Johnson (RB, BUF) – A handcuff to James Cook, worth keeping an eye on considering how much the Bills run the ball.
86. Dameon Pierce (RB, HOU) – With Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb already dealing with injury, Dameon Pierce could find himself in line for significant touches. Limited upside, but we’ve seen him have stretches of productivity.
87. Kimani Vidal (RB87, LAC) – Offers upside as the likely RB3 behind Hampton and Harris, but needs to perform over the final weeks of the preseason to avoid being cut.
88. Sincere McCormick (RB, LV) – Buried behind Raheem Mostert and Zamir White on the depth chart, but showed promise when given the opportunity in 2024.
89. Zamir White (RB, LV) – We’ve seen the upside when given enough work, but Zamir White is off the fantasy radar unless Mostert gets hurt or demoted.
90. Cam Akers (RB, NO) – Another “what if” working to earn the Saints’ backup role.
91. Emanuel Wilson (RB, GB) – Finished the season scoring in three straight games. In a battle with MarShawn Lloyd for the right to be Josh Jacobs’ backup.