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2025 NFL Draft: Running Back Landing Spots

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NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell, left, with Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the number six pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field.

The 2025 RB class is widely regarded as one of the deepest and most exciting classes in recent history. With two backs taken on day one (and six taken over the first two days), there is plenty of reason to believe we may see immediate fantasy starters as early as 2025.

There are many variables taken into consideration when it comes to RBs, but draft capital is arguably the greatest predictor we have for fantasy football. As shown below (courtesy of the great Marvin Elequin), RBs taken in the first round of the NFL Draft are viewed as (almost) “can’t miss” prospects, with an 85% chance of producing at least one fantasy-relevant season.

Day two RBs have shown a high level of success as well, representing a 43% chance of reaching the same value. Day three backs, however, have proven far riskier and less likely to hold long-term value. There is always a chance for Tyrone Tracy Jr. or Bucky Irving to enter the chat, but historically speaking, it’s best to temper your expectations with day three picks, who have historically given a 12.5% chance of reaching fantasy relevance since 2010.

A total of 25 RBs were taken in the 2025 Draft, far surpassing both the quality and quantity of last year’s class. Today, we’ll dive into all the RB landing spots, discussing their immediate value and their path to playing time.

Chart showing RB hit rates by draft round.

Editor’s Note: For a complete look at each RB’s production profile and our rookie rankings for Dynasty, check out the Dynasty Pass part of the Ultimate Draft Kit+.

Ashton Jeanty – Las Vegas Raiders

Round 1, Pick 6

With the sixth overall pick, the Raiders’ new regime selected their RB of the future: Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty has long been the unanimous RB1 of this class, posting over 2,700 all-purpose yards and 30 total TDs last year with Boise State. If it weren’t for the never-before-seen dual-threat ability of Travis Hunter, he likely would have received the Heisman Trophy as well. With top-six draft capital, Jeanty has solidified himself as the number one (or two at worst) pick in dynasty leagues, joining a historic list of elite players and fantasy assets, including LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Saquon Barkley, and Bijan Robinson. With some uninspiring combination of Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, and Sincere McCormick standing in his way, we can expect Jeanty to be thrust into a workhorse role beginning in year one.

Omarion Hampton – Los Angeles Chargers

Round 1, Pick 22

The Dynasty community collectively held its breath as Sean Payton and the Broncos decided to pass on a first-round RB. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long to hear Omarion Hampton’s name announced to the Chargers. Hampton has been the odds-on favorite as the RB2 in this class after back-to-back 1,500+ yard seasons with UNC, and the combination of draft capital and landing spot has cemented him into that spot. While his rookie success could be hampered by the NFL’s most durable RB in Najee Harris, this remains one of the best long-term landing spots, and makes him one of the most valuable handcuff/1 B’s in redraft leagues as well. While we may not see it immediately, Hampton has a bright future in this Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman offense and could take over the starting role as early as this year.

Quinshon Judkins – Cleveland Browns

Round 2, Pick 36

Round 2 was highlighted by Ohio State’s dynamic duo, beginning with Quinshon Judkins to the Browns. Judkins’ true-freshman year breakout was a thing of beauty, and he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in all three of his collegiate seasons (between Ole Miss and Ohio State). He also averaged 15 TDs per year, even while splitting time with TreVeyon Henderson in 2024. Judkins brings attitude and power to every touch, and on paper, appears to be a perfect 1:1 replacement for Nick Chubb in the Browns’ rebuilt RB room. Cleveland did add depth in Round 4, but Judkins’ draft capital has him firmly entrenched as the Week 1 starter, and we can safely expect him to lead the team in carries this year.

TreVeyon Henderson – New England Patriots

Round 2, Pick 38

Just two picks later, Judkins’ backfield-mate TreVeyon Henderson was selected by the New England Patriots. While the Dynasty community collectively hung their head (the Bears held two of the next three picks), TreVeyon carries enormous upside in this rebuilding Patriots offense. Say what you want about Josh McDaniels as a Head Coach, but he has seen nothing but success in multiple stints as an Offensive Coordinator. Henderson carries a Jahmyr Gibbs-lite skill set and is absolutely electric with the ball in his hands. He is arguably the draft’s best receiving back, which is something New England has coveted for many years (think James White, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead, etc.). Unfortunately, with Rhamondre Stevenson still under contract through at least 2026, Henderson’s usage will be difficult to predict in year one, with a simultaneous low floor and week-winning upside. Don’t be afraid to bet on talent, however, as New England clearly has a plan for how to use him.

Before we continue, I just want to make a note of how special this RB class is. The first RB taken in 2024 was Jonathon Brooks at Pick 46, yet this year we’ve already discussed four backs taken in the top 40.

And we’re just getting started..

RJ Harvey – Denver Broncos

Round 2, Pick 60

After watching Denver pass on Hampton in Round 1, Sean Payton shocked us all again with the fifth RB off the board: RJ Harvey. While most of the fantasy community had Harvey somewhere between RB7 and RB10, Payton has a history of proving us wrong (cough, Bo Nix) and a long track record of fantasy success in his backfield. Harvey is a bit smaller (5’8, 205 lbs) and older (24) than most of the backs above, but Payton covets versatility, and Harvey is compact, explosive, and a true receiving threat. For what it’s worth, he also has a knack for getting the most out of smaller backs (Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara). The dynasty mindset is often to avoid older RBs, but given the high level of investment, the offensive scheme, and a highly rated offensive line, this may be an exception. Harvey has officially entered the Round 1 rookie draft discussion, and if you need any more convincing, I’ll let Sean take the mic..

Kaleb Johnson – Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 3, Pick 83

After a 1,500+ yard (and 21 TD) season in Iowa, Kaleb Johnson will continue to don black and gold to begin his NFL career. Although he was viewed as the RB4/5 in most pre-draft circles, Johnson “fell” to the Steelers in Round 3 (who didn’t have a second-round pick), and was the sixth back off the board in this draft. Similarly to the Browns with Judkins, the Steelers did an excellent job of finding a replacement back who can immediately slot in for the loss of Najee Harris. Johnson is an early down grinder who will fit right into the Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith “down your throat” mentality that Pittsburgh always seems to have. Johnson lacks proven receiving production, but with backfield competition from Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, he will have an immediate opportunity for early-down and goal-line touches in his first year. There is still plenty of time before the 2025 season begins, but the counterargument for Johnson is that the Steelers currently have no true QB on the roster and a bottom-10 ranked offensive line. I’d expect at least one of those to be addressed soon.

 

Bhayshul Tuten – Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 4, Pick 104

The Day 3 run began with Bhayshul Tuten to the Jaguars. Tuten ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, marking him in the 99th percentile among the position. He is a big play threat any time he touches the ball, and I’d imagine Liam Coen is already scheming up ways to get him the ball. Tuten does not have an immediate path to touches with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby still around, but this pick was made with the future in mind, given Etienne’s contract status. Tuten is a solid pass catcher with game-breaking speed, and gives us a hint of how Coen may try to replicate the success he had with Bucky Irving in Tampa.

Cam Skattebo – New York Giants

Round 4, Pick 105

Cam Skattebo has got to be the most hyped and exciting RB8 of any draft class in NFL history. Although the landing spot is initially uninspiring, Skattebo’s mental toughness and physical playing style are most certainly what drew him to Brian Daboll in New York. Sophomore Tyrone Tracy will enter the season as the favorite to lead touches, but Skattebo will have an opportunity right away to eat into (Coach’s favorite) Devin Singletary‘s workload. Skattebo’s rookie draft stock will likely be polarizing, but he’ll certainly be someone to monitor entering the second half of 2025 and into next year.

Trevor Etienne – Carolina Panthers

Round 4, Pick 114

Trevor Etienne (brother of Travis) joins a Panthers backfield consisting of Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, and newly signed Rico Dowdle. Chuba just earned himself a brand new, four-year contract at the end of last season, all but ensuring he will be the starter to enter the season. Rico Dowdle signed a one-year contract and is projected to slide in for the early-season change-of-pace role, but there is an outside shot that Etienne could win this role. The status of Brooks’ season (and career) is still murky, leaving Trevor as the team’s RB3 at worst to start the season.

Woody Marks – Houston Texans

Round 4, Pick 116

After holding several top-30 visits with the high-end RBs of this class, the Texans waited until the fourth round to add Woody Marks to their depth chart. What’s important to note here is that despite the initial draft capital reading round four, the Texans also gave up their 2026 third-round pick to move up for Marks. This is a player that they felt they could not pass up, even in a class this deep. That aggression is notable as Joe Mixon will turn 29 this season, and the Texans could save approximately $8 million by releasing him after the year. Marks will immediately compete with Dameon Pierce (who is also in a contract year) for the backup role, while this backfield presents plenty of opportunity in the future. The post-draft coach speak also told us the Texans loved Marks’ receiving capabilities, which may come into play sooner rather than later, given the current state of the Texans’ offensive line.

Jarquez Hunter – Los Angeles Rams

Round 4, Pick 117

Jarquez Hunter enjoyed a successful four years at Auburn and will now join a crowded Rams backfield with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum ahead of him. The Rams have continued their attempt to run Kyren Williams into the ground, leaving very few carries for anyone else in Los Angeles. Kyren is also in a contract year, however there have been rumblings of an extension, which would suppress the value of anyone behind him on the depth chart. Although we did not see very much of Blake Corum in his rookie year, he received Round 3 draft capital just last season and will presumably be ahead of Hunter on the depth chart. We have to applaud Les Snead’s recent late-round draft picks, but the bellcow usage in LA is also hard to ignore.

Dylan Sampson – Cleveland Browns

Round 4, Pick 126

Sampson led the SEC in rush attempts (258), yards (1,491), and TDs (22) for Tennessee last season, and immediately slots in as depth for second-round pick Quinshon Judkins. The team still has Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong on the roster, but the fourth-round capital tells us that Sampson will at least have a chance to compete with Ford for the RB2 (and receiving) role in 2025. With both Ford and Strong in contract years, Sampson’s path to playing time looks promising, and he could be a great late-round stash in dynasty formats.

Jordan James – San Francisco 49ers

Round 5, Pick 147

The 49ers waited until Round 5 to select an RB, suggesting the team’s confidence in the health of Christian McCaffrey, as well as what they saw from Isaac Guerendo last season. The team lost both Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell in free agency, giving James a chance to compete with Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda for the RB3 spot in San Francisco this season. Barring injury, he will struggle to find playing time in year one, but there is always value in the 49ers backfield.

Jaydon Blue – Dallas Cowboys

Round 5, Pick 149

For the second straight season, the Cowboys surprisingly left the draft without a day one or day two RB. The team signed veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals this offseason, but even in a draft chock-full of depth, they waited until Round 5 to draft Jaydon Blue. Blue spent most of his collegiate career buried on the depth chart in Texas, but excelled in his opportunity as a full-time starter last year. He has excellent receiving capabilities, lining up in the slot more than any other RB in the draft, and carries that “electric” quality we love to see/hear from RBs. We can expect Blue to begin as depth behind the proven veterans, but this backfield has arguably the cleanest path to playing time, assuming Javonte Williams does not have a miraculous return to form. Look for the Cowboys to try to deploy Blue in the change-of-pace role early in the season.

DJ Giddens – Indianapolis Colts

Round 5, Pick 151

DJ Giddens was a top-100 ranked player via PFF, which presents great (on paper) value for the Colts with this pick. Coming off an absolutely dominant finish to the 2024 season, Jonathan Taylor will still rule this backfield, but Giddens will have the opportunity to compete for the RB2-4 role, with the likes of Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson.

Ollie Gordon II – Miami Dolphins

Round 6, Pick 179

After a 1,700+ yard season in 2023, Ollie Gordon became one of the top-ranked backs in this class, however, an underwhelming 2024 season caused significant decline to his draft stock. While Gordon may remain a great “upside” pick for the Dolphins, he now joins a crowded backfield with De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Alexander Mattison. Gordon will have to compete with Mattison for a depth spot entering the 2024 season, but could carve out a goal-line role given Miami’s lack of bigger backs.

Devin Neal – New Orleans Saints

Round 6, Pick 184

A pre-draft sleeper in the dynasty community, Devin Neal will join Kellen Moore and the new-look New Orleans Saints. Alvin Kamara will once again dominate touches this season, while the world continues to try to understand why Dennis Allen hated (somehow just) 22-year-old Kendre Miller so much. With a brand new regime in New Orleans, Neal will compete with the ghost of Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the RB3 spot in the Big Easy.

Kalel Mullings – Tennessee Titans

Round 6, Pick 188

Although the team hinted at spending higher capital on an RB in the draft, that never came to fruition, with Kalel Mullings coming off the board in Round 6. With Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears carrying the load in front of him, Mullings (a former LB turned RB) will have to prove himself early and often to see the field this season.

Tahj Brooks – Cincinnati Bengals

Round 6, Pick 193

As predicted, the Bengals stocked up on defensive skill players and offensive linemen in the 2025 Draft. Tahj Brooks was the only offensive skill player taken, as he joins a depth chart of Chase Brown, Zack Moss, and Samaje Perine to begin the season. Given the lingering neck injury for Zack Moss, Brooks has a slightly greater chance of seeing the field this season than some of the other names on this list, and will likely step into that role by next year at the latest.

Damien Martinez – Seattle Seahawks

Round 7, Pick 223

Damien Martinez fell further than most expected and will now slot in as the RB3 behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. It will be difficult for him to see playing time without injury, but given Walker’s history, that is always a possibility. With that said, Seattle surprisingly did not invest (as much as I had hoped) into what was already a poorly ranked offensive line.

Brashard Smith – Kansas City Chiefs

Round 7, Pick 228

Just like the Cowboys, the Chiefs also surprised us by not investing (highly) in the RB position, waiting patiently for Brashard Smith in the seventh round. As a converted WR, Smith could be a perfect complementary weapon in Kansas City. With that said, the team still has Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Carson Steele, and has also signed Elijah Mitchell to the roster. Smith has the potential to take on the former Jerick McKinnon role in Kansas City, but it’s year two that intrigues me, as only Steele is slated to be under contract next season.

Kyle Monangai – Chicago Bears

Round 7, Pick 233

Another pre-draft sleeper was Kyle Monangai, who fell to the Bears in the seventh round. Chicago avoided adding RB depth early, instead focusing on receiving weapons for Caleb Williams. Monangai will have an opportunity to compete with Travis Homer for the RB3 spot, and given a brand new coaching staff, he could compete with Roschon Johnson as the team’s RB2 behind Chicago’s revamped offensive line.

LeQuint Allen – Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 7, Pick 236

LeQuint Allen projects as a third-down back by NFL standards. He could prove a capable receiving back, but enters the 2025 season behind Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, and Bhayshul Tuten (Round 4). Maybe we’re grasping at straws here, but the combination of Tuten and Allen looks like a potential replication of what Liam Coen had with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

Phil Mafah – Dallas Cowboys

Round 7, Pick 239

The Dallas hype crowd projects Phil Mafah as the “thunder” to Jaydon Blue’s “lightning.” Mafah is a big, strong, powerful back who may be relegated to short-yardage situations, but he still enters the season as the RB4 (at best) on the roster. I wouldn’t be wildly surprised if the Cowboys add someone like JK Dobbins to the mix either.

Jacorey Croskey-Merritt – Washington Commanders

Round 7, Pick 245

Another team that surprisingly did not invest in the RB room was the Commanders, taking Jacorey Croskey-Merritt as this article’s Mr. Irrelevant. The Commanders still have Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols under contract, leaving Croskey-Merritt to compete with Chris Rodriguez (among others) for the final Commanders depth spot.



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2025 NFL Draft: Running Back Landing Spots 2025 NFL Draft: Running Back Landing Spots Reviewed by Admin on April 29, 2025 Rating: 5

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