It’s Labor Day weekend! The sun will be shining, the beers will be flowing, and the drafts will be rolling!
As we enter the final week of the offseason before the NFL season kicks off, this is one of the busiest stretches for fantasy football drafts and auctions on the calendar.
Here’s your final cram session ahead of your late drafts. Print this article and bring it with you to your draft as a helpful guide for ranking and organizing your 2025 fantasy football options.
The Elite Running Backs
The players in this group are the best of the best, on whom you can count for enormous weekly production to anchor your team’s scoring.
Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons): As the undisputed focal point of the Falcons’ offense, Bijan Robinson offers an elite combination of high-volume rushing and valuable receiving work, making him a safe bet for top-tier production.
Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions): Jahmyr Gibbs is an explosive dual-threat back in one of the NFL’s most potent offenses, with a growing role that makes him a legitimate threat to finish as the overall RB1.
Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles): Playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Saquon Barkley is a true workhorse who combines elite rushing ability with a strong pass-catching floor, providing immense weekly upside.
Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens): Despite his age, Derrick Henry remains a powerful, high-volume runner in a run-heavy Baltimore offense, and his continued dominance makes him a premier fantasy asset.
The Near-Mint Running Backs
These are the players who are going to offer tremendous value and weekly dominance. They only have minor flaws to consider but will provide a consistent floor every week.
Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders): Ashton Jeanty’s elite combination of contact balance, vision, and pass-catching ability, along with a significant workload in a run-friendly offense, makes him a prime candidate for a breakout rookie season.
Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers): Even at 29, Christian McCaffrey remains a fantasy cheat code due to his unparalleled dual-threat skill set and central role in one of the league’s most creative and effective offenses, despite recent injury concerns.
Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts): Jonathan Taylor is a volume-based powerhouse who, when healthy, can single-handedly win weeks with his high-end rushing production, solidifying his status as a top-tier running back.
Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers): Josh Jacobs is a high-volume workhorse in a run-heavy Packers offense, and his elite usage—especially in the red zone—provides a rock-solid foundation for weekly RB1 production.
Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams): After a new contract, Kyren Williams is poised to once again be the undisputed lead back in a strong offense, making him a dependable source of consistent touches and touchdowns.
The Explosive, Yet Combustible Running Backs
These players are incredibly explosive and have the opportunity to produce huge scoring weeks. Yet each one has his concerns about injuries or lack of long-term success.
Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Bucky Irving’s incredible efficiency and a new lead-back role in a potent offense give him immense upside, but his smaller frame and the history of the Buccaneers utilizing multiple backs could cap his ceiling.
De’Von Achane (Miami Dolphins): De’Von Achane’s elite speed and explosiveness can lead to league-winning weeks, but his injury history and a potential workload split with other backs could make him a weekly gamble.
Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): Chase Brown’s explosive playmaking ability and workhorse role in a high-powered Bengals offense make him a fantasy goldmine, but his late-season surge from 2024 was boosted by an injury to Zack Moss, so his true workload in a healthy backfield remains to be seen.
James Cook (Buffalo Bills): James Cook’s pass-catching prowess and role in a Josh Allen-led offense give him a high weekly floor, yet his lack of consistent red zone usage and an unsustainable touchdown rate from last season make him a candidate for touchdown regression.
The Rock Solid RB2s
While the players in this group might not reach RB1 status at this point in their careers, you can count on them to be your RB2 and return production deserving of their draft status.
Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers): With Najee Harris sidelined by an eye injury, Hampton is set to assume a significant workload in a run-heavy, Greg Roman offense, providing him a strong floor with a high ceiling.
Ken Walker (Seattle Seahawks): Ken Walker’s explosive rushing talent, combined with a new offensive system under Klint Kubiak that prioritizes the run, makes him a consistent and reliable fantasy option, even if he shares some work with Zach Charbonnet.
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints): Despite his age, Alvin Kamara’s elite pass-catching role and high-volume usage, especially in a new offense that will likely lean on him heavily, give him an incredibly safe PPR floor.
James Conner (Arizona Cardinals): As the undisputed lead back for the Cardinals, James Conner is a reliable source of rushing volume and red-zone opportunities, making him a safe bet for consistent fantasy production when healthy.
The High-Upside RB2s
The following are players who are likely RB2s but offer high upside due to various factors working in their favor for the 2025 season.
TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots): TreVeyon Henderson enters an offense under new leadership with a clear path to a significant role, giving him a massive ceiling as a do-it-all rookie running back.
RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos): As a dynamic pass-catcher in Sean Payton’s offense, RJ Harvey has the perfect skill set to capitalize on a potentially high-volume receiving role, but he will need to earn a bigger slice of the rushing pie to reach his full potential.
Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs): Isiah Pacheco’s explosive running style and central role in the Chiefs’ high-powered offense make him a consistent threat for touchdowns, and if he can overcome his injury-plagued 2024 season, he could easily return to RB1 form.
D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears): D’Andre Swift is the clear lead back in a Bears offense that has added a dynamic offensive mind in Ben Johnson, and he has the opportunity to build on his career-high in touches from last year and become a true three-down weapon.
The Buyer Beware Running Backs
You might be playing with fire by drafting one of the players in this group. They’ve each had success in the past but face some kind of hurdle or uncertainty heading into 2025.
Breece Hall (New York Jets): Breece Hall’s elite talent is undeniable, but his fantasy production is at risk due to the new Jets coaching staff’s repeated talk of a committee approach, potentially limiting his high-volume workload.
Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers): Chuba Hubbard has shown flashes of being a solid back, but he hasn’t done it long enough to warrant clear button-smash status in your draft. The Panthers are still figuring things out on offense and new bodies to the backfield could water down his workload.
David Montgomery (Detroit Lions): While productive, David Montgomery’s fantasy value is tied to touchdown production and he faces a potential reduction in his overall workload as the team looks to give the explosive Jahmyr Gibbs a bigger role.
Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings): Aaron Jones’s age, increasing injury history, and the Vikings’ commitment to using other backs like Jordan Mason could limit his touches and diminish his fantasy value, even with his reliable pass-catching role.
The Good Floor, Low-Ceiling Running Backs
The players in this group are starters who offer a decent baseline of production, but don’t appear to be set up to bring a huge return on investment. Fortunately, the investment is minor to begin with.
Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans): Tony Pollard is a reliable source of yardage and receptions, but with a new quarterback and an offensive scheme that could limit his red-zone touches, he may struggle to find the high-end touchdown production needed to elevate him beyond a high-floor RB2.
Tyrone Tracy (New York Giants): Tyrone Tracy’s strong receiving skills give him a consistent fantasy floor, but his fumbling issues and the presence of rookie Cam Skattebo could prevent him from ever becoming the clear lead back needed for a high-end ceiling.
Jaylen Warren (Pittsburgh Steelers): Jaylen Warren’s efficiency and excellent pass-catching ability ensure a safe floor in PPR leagues, but his consistent role in a committee backfield and a history of low touchdown totals cap his weekly upside.
The Undetermined Usage Running Backs
The players in this group are talented, have had some success in the past, are possible starters but also have yet-to-be-determined workloads that could swing the pendulum of their 2025 fantasy value.
Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys): Javonte Williams’ role as the lead back is established, but he’s competing with veteran Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue for touches in a crowded backfield, and his full recovery from a major knee injury is still a concern.
Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars): Despite his explosive talent, Travis Etienne’s usage is a major question mark as the Jaguars drafted rookie Bhayshul Tuten and may look to get him more involved, potentially limiting Etienne’s volume and making him touchdown-dependent. Tank Bigsby continues to be a pest as well.
J.K. Dobbins (Denver Broncos): J.K. Dobbins is listed as the starter but his injury history, coupled with the presence of explosive rookie RJ Harvey and other backs, creates significant uncertainty about his workload and ability to stay on the field.
Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders): Austin Ekeler’s age, injury history, and the emergence of rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt create a murky situation in Washington, leaving his role and weekly usage in doubt despite his proven pass-catching ability.
The Usurper Running Backs
The following are running backs who are talented and ready to snipe the players in front of them for playing time and steal their production if given the opportunity.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders): Jacory Croskey-Merritt has a legitimate chance to be Week 1’s highest usage back for the Commanders, and his impressive preseason performance suggests he could quickly seize the lead role from Austin Ekeler.
Kaleb Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers): With Najee Harris gone, Kaleb Johnson is expected to step into a significant early-down role in the Steelers’ run-heavy offense under Arthur Smith, giving him a great shot at being a productive fantasy asset.
Jordan Mason (Minnesota Vikings): Jordan Mason has proven to be an efficient runner when given the opportunity, and with the Vikings looking to manage Aaron Jones’s workload, Mason is in a prime position to handle goal-line duties and a significant portion of the rushing volume.
Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks): Zach Charbonnet has shown he can be a highly productive back when given an expanded role, and he is a top-tier handcuff with the potential to have standalone value in a more run-centric Seahawks offense.
The Searching for Upside Running Backs
If you’re looking for players with upside at this stage in your draft, these are running backs who offer that possibility of production if given the opportunity to see meaningful touches this year.
Cam Skattebo (New York Giants): Skattebo’s physical, do-it-all skill set and the Giants’ history of not committing to a single back give him a path to stealing the lead role and becoming a high-volume fantasy producer.
Braelon Allen (New York Jets): With the Jets’ new coaching staff reportedly planning a two-back system, Braelon Allen’s physical, downhill running style makes him a strong candidate for goal-line and early-down work, offering significant touchdown upside.
Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals): Trey Benson possesses elite speed and explosiveness, and while he starts behind James Conner, his talent makes him an injury away from being a top-end fantasy back in a run-heavy Cardinals offense.
Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills): Ray Davis has a proven ability to produce when given the opportunity, and he is a top-tier handcuff with the potential to have standalone value and a significant workload if James Cook were to miss any time.
Jaydon Blue (Dallas Cowboys): Jaydon Blue is a burner with excellent receiving skills who has a chance to wrest the starting job from Javonte Williams at some point this season, giving him a massive ceiling in a high-scoring Cowboys offense.
Bhayshul Tuten (Jacksonville Jaguars): Bhayshul Tuten’s explosive playmaking ability and speed could force the Jaguars to get him on the field more, making him a high-upside stash and a potential league-winner if Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby were to get injured.
The Clinger Running Backs
These are players who are desperately clinging to their current roles and looking for relevancy in 2025, but they may have already been bumped out of fantasy consideration.
Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville Jaguars): Despite showing flashes of efficiency last season, Tank Bigsby’s role is in jeopardy due to the Jaguars’ investment in a rookie back, making him a touchdown-dependent player in a crowded backfield.
Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots): Rhamondre Stevenson’s declining efficiency and the arrival of highly-touted rookie TreVeyon Henderson have put him on thin ice, as he’ll need to prove he can regain his explosiveness to hold onto a significant workload.
Rachaad White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Rachaad White lost his bell-cow role to the more explosive Bucky Irving last season, and his value is now mostly limited to a low-end PPR floor and handcuff potential.
The Red Flag Running Backs
These running backs, while talented, have major red flags ahead of the 2025 season.
Najee Harris (Los Angeles Chargers): Najee Harris’s fantasy value is in serious jeopardy due to a significant eye injury suffered in the offseason, a crowded backfield with rookie Omarion Hampton, and a coaching staff that may not lean on him as a workhorse.
Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns): While talented, Quinshon Judkins’s rookie season is off to a rocky start due to a contract holdout and a recent off-field legal situation, creating major uncertainty about his availability and role in the Browns’ offense.
The Minimal Value Running Backs
Due to injuries, legal troubles or contract issues to other players, these running backs are set to benefit the fallout. But how much value you get from them appears to be minimal.
Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns): Jerome Ford’s value is minimal as he has been relegated to a change-of-pace and pass-catching role. With the uncertainty of Quinshon Judkins and the presence of fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, there’s little to be excited about with Ford.
Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns): As a rookie in a crowded and uncertain backfield, Dylan Sampson’s value is minimal, as he will likely be vying for touches with Jerome Ford and could be overshadowed by the more highly-touted Quinshon Judkins once — and if — he returns from his legal issues.
Nick Chubb (Houston Texans): Nick Chubb’s value is minimal due to his age, a history of serious injuries, and a crowded Texans’ backfield that includes rookie Woody Marks, leaving his health and workload as major question marks.
The Late-Round Flyers
If you’re looking to take a shot on a late-round prospect with upside, these players offer you that chance.
Ollie Gordon (Miami Dolphins): With De’Von Achane’s injury history and the Dolphins’ continued desire for a bruising short-yardage back, Ollie Gordon has a clear path to a meaningful role and potential touchdown upside as a late-round flyer.
Woody Marks (Houston Texans): Woody Marks offers both pass-catching upside and a potential role boost if Joe Mixon is out a prolonged time, making him a great late-round stash in a high-powered Texans’ offense.
Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears): Kyle Monangai has a real chance to beat out Roschon Johnson for the Bears’ RB2 role, and his ability to handle a heavy workload would make him a potential league-winner should D’Andre Swift miss any time.
Brian Robinson Jr. (Washington Commanders): Brian Robinson Jr. is a great late-round pick as he’s the clear handcuff for Christian McCaffrey, a player with a history of injuries, and would have immense upside in the 49ers’ run-heavy offense if McCaffrey were to get hurt.
The Don’t Waste Your Time Running Backs
Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans)
Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons)
Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers)
Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams)
Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins)
Kendre Miller (New Orleans Saints)
Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs)
Roschon Johnson (Chicago Bears)
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Washington Commanders)
