2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings

We already hit the quarterbacks. Now we’re moving to the 2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings! Consigliere and I have some work to get done today, so I’m not talking your ear off with a long intro paragraph here.

This list features a combination of redraft and dynasty. The color coding will help guide you to that path of victory.

Color key:
🟩 = Target
🟨 = Monitor
🟧 = Caution
🟥 = Avoid

15: Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints)

Dynasty: 🟧

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Homeless man’s version of Chris Carson (profile)

Notes: Productive runner with a nose for inside lanes. If he carves out the old Mark Ingram role, there’s standalone value — but limited ceiling with Kamara still functional. Neal was productive at Kansas, but clearly has a ceiling. If he becomes 80% of David Montgomery, I think you’re pretty happy with a deep flier pick.

14: Brashard Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Tyrone Tracy, except probably worse (profile)

Notes: SMU transfer who will be used like Jerick McKinnon on passing downs. Andy Reid can make a gadget guy relevant — especially with Pacheco’s violent style wearing him down. Best case is he can replicate what Tyrone Tracy did. Wouldn’t expect that though, and might take time. Can’t imagine every converted wide receiver just steps in like that again.

13: Jaydon Blue (Dallas Cowboys)

Dynasty: 🟥

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Worse but faster Chase Brown (profile)

Notes: Fumble issues, but he’s the most explosive back on the Dallas roster. Opportunity exists. Needs to prove he can stay on the field. Pass pro an issue. Javonte Williams is washed and Miles Sanders is somehow more washed. He’s going to get an opportunity, but probably isn’t good enough to be a real thing long term.

12: Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟥

Shades of: Kenneth Gainwell with more ceiling (profile)

Notes: Blocked by Jerome Ford and Quinshon Judkins. We like the player but hate the spot. Nobody got cheesed harder on landing spot. Efficiency guy who likely won’t get volume in this crowded backfield. Maybe some shotgun snaps early, but that’s about it. Has fumble issues stemming from college too, that may take even more time to give him his shot.

11: Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Mike Davis with better toughness (profile)

Notes: Big Ten rushing leader two years ago. Likely becomes the better version of Roschon Johnson. Steady, power back who fits well next to D’Andre Swift. Low ceiling, but a pro’s pro. Blocks his tail off. Zero career fumbles. Don’t be surprised if he’s a factor.

10: Trevor Etienne (Carolina Panthers)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Thicker Travis Etienne with more speed and ceiling (profile)

Notes: Jonathon Brooks is out again giving him early work. His hands and burst give him a shot to lead a committee. Easy to see him producing. Not scared of Chuba Hubbard. Should have a role.

9: Cam Skattebo (New York Giants)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Mike Alstott evolution (profile)

Notes: Giants will love his no-nonsense style. Red zone threat. Tyrone Tracy doesn’t overlap skillset. Can catch, squat a house, and might vulture 8+ TDs. Not sure how long it lasts, but I think he’s a legitimate player.

8: Jarquez Hunter (Los Angeles Rams)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Tank Bigsby with better pass catching (profile)

Notes: Weight room freak. Kyren’s contract situation opens doors. Hunter has clean feet, speed, and was productive on a bad Auburn team. Going to pass Blake Corum eventually. Rams traded up for this guy. Buy in now.

7: Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟩

Shades of: Beanie Wells (profile)

Notes: Not flashy but built for volume. Jim Harbaugh got him for a reason. Physical runner with receiving chops. Safe redraft pick with the line they have, but I’m not convinced he’s actually good. Najee Harris could form the Spiderman pointing Meme with Hampton if this thing goes the way I think it will.

6: RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Poor Man Brian Westbrook, but with knee bend and less catching ability (profile)

Notes: Converted QB. Really nice feet despite the knee injury history. Sean Payton will get production here. Room to win both early-down and passing-down roles. Who else is he competing against? Loved the player at UCF and confirmed it at the pre-draft All-Star event process.

2025 NFL Scouting Combine: Running Back Notes

5: Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟩

Shades of: Doug Martin / Jay Ajayi mix (profile)

Notes: Not elite, but perfect fantasy setup. Raiders have no one else. Can catch, absorb volume, and knows how to finish runs. Gets the ball even when they’re losing. I’m just lower on him than the idiots who put the guy in the Hall of Fame already.

4: Jordan James (San Francisco 49ers)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: Bucky Irving off distant cousin — but he might’ve been better at Oregon (profile)

Notes: Great short-area burst. Catches well. McCaffrey’s age gives him a chance in 2026+. Stud in waiting if he gets a shot. Classic Shanahan redshirt stash. Big time believer in the player.

3: Kaleb Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Dynasty: 🟨

Redraft: 🟩

Shades of: Better Trey Sermon with better hands (profile)

Notes: Arthur Smith makes RBs eat. He fits the zone scheme. Not fast, not twitchy, but Pittsburgh gives him a ton of carries.

2: Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟨

Shades of: 90% Marshawn Lynch (profile)

Notes: Hate the Browns logjam, but he’s a freak. Short-area explosion. Productive at two programs. Will eventually take the job. Has RB1 traits.

2025 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings

1: TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots)

Dynasty: 🟩

Redraft: 🟩

Shades of: Jamaal Charles with better protection instincts (profile)

Notes: Zero fumbles in career. Elite pass blocker. Home-run speed. Rhamondre Stevenson is unreliable. Patriots’ offense will eventually run through him. Was the best running back in his class coming out of high school and should have been the first back off the board in the actual draft. I think it’s Henderson as RB1 short and long term.

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