Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings & Tiers: Running Backs (2025 Fantasy Football)

It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here. The 2025 NFL Draft is in the rearview, and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head-first into our fantasy football mock draft simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my positional primers. You can find each of them in our 2025 Dynasty Draft Kit.

Check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings as you prepare for your leagues. Here is our dynasty rookie draft primer for running backs, including my rankings and tiers, stats, 2025 NFL Draft scouting reports, player comps, and dynasty draft outlook.

• DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | WR | TE
• Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
• Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
• Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings & Tiers: Running Backs

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 1

1) Ashton Jeanty (RB – LVR)

I know this was the outcome that many mocked during the entire draft process, but now it is set in stone. The Raiders & Pete Carroll have their featured bellcow back. With Chip Kelly at the offensive controls, I expect Las Vegas to rank inside the top ten in rushing attempts. During Kelly’s tenure in the NFL, his offenses have never ranked lower than 11th in rushing attempts. Jeanty should also see plenty of passing game involvement, with only Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers ahead of him in the target pecking order. During Kelly’s four years as an NFL offensive coordinator, in three of those seasons, his backfields had a 16.6-17.7% target share, but he also flooded his Philly backfield with targets in 2015 (28.7%). Jeanty remains the clear 1.01 in every dynasty format.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 1st
  • Breakaway rate: 12th
  • PFF elusive rating: 1st
  • PFF receiving grade: 103rd
  • Yards per route run: 109th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 3rd
  • Breakaway rate: 53rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 2nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 1st
  • Yards per route run: 2nd

Scouting Report:

• Ashton Jeanty is an elite rusher of the football. His combination of contact balance and effortless acceleration is incredibly fun to watch. Jeanty doesn’t lose speed when stringing tackle-breaking moves together. He has a Batman-level tool belt to deploy against incoming defenders. Jeanty can juke, jump cut, stiff arm and spin out of wraps.
• In his final collegiate season, defenses knew they were going to receive a heaping dose of Jeanty, and they were powerless to slow him down. He had at least 100 rushing yards in every game in 2024 except his season finale (six games with at least 200 rushing yards).
• Defenders have to attack Jeanty with superb tackling technique or he’ll make them pay. Jeanty has a unique combo of speed and power packed into a muscled-up frame. He sheds defenders with ease and routinely makes the first would-be tackler miss. It’s rare to see the first defender he encounters bring him down.
• Jeanty has a no-nonsense running style. He is quick and decisive, diagnosing how to weave through the offensive line and the second level of a defense. Jeanty has superb vision, as he will also let off the gas at times to allow his blocks to set up in front of him. I have no worries about his speed. His home run gear might not be truly “elite,” but he has plenty of juice to break long runs and snap the spine of a defense in the process.
• If there’s one area Jeanty can improve in the NFL it’s his skills as a short-yardage back. He has the leg drive and lower-half power to excel in this role, but at times he runs too upright when there are only a few yards to gain or a goal-line situation. Defenders can get up under his pads and push him back or halt his momentum.
• Jeanty is a pass-game weapon. His usage in the passing game changed drastically from 2023 to 2024. In his final season, Boise State stripped him of his versatility and poured more touches into the early downs. In 2023, he lined up in the slot or out wide on 18.3% of his snaps. In 2024, that figure dropped to 2.3%.
• Jeanty is fluid in his route running. His smooth hips allow him to turn on a dime. He was utilized mainly on flat routes and as a check-down option. Jeanty did have an expanded route tree in 2023 with some go routes and outs. He displayed easy separation and superb body control with these reps, securing some back-shoulder targets. Jeanty has the skills as a receiver to see his role expand immensely in this area in the NFL.
• Jeanty still needs to hone his pass-protection skills. He was a chip-only option on plenty of passing downs. He will drop his eyes at times and lunge at defenders. He also needs to square up defenders better and get low to lock them down and anchor. Jeanty has the necessary lower-half strength, tenacity and play strength to improve in this area in the NFL.

Player Comp: LaDainian Tomlinson

2) Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)

Hampton lands in Los Angeles with first-round draft capital attached to his name. While I know that Najee Harris is already on this roster, I’m not worried about Hampton establishing himself as the team’s workhorse in short order. Harris was signed to a cheap one-year deal this offseason to give the Bolts a trusted running back to carry the load in case they missed out on a running back early in the draft. Well, Hampton dropped into the Chargers’ lap, and they were unable to pass on him. In Greg Roman’s 11 years of coordinating NFL offenses, he’s never finished lower than 11th in rushing attempts (last year). Hampton is in the conversation as soon as the 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of format.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 12th
  • Breakaway rate: 30th
  • PFF elusive rating: 16th
  • PFF receiving grade: 49th
  • Yards per route run: 32nd
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 11th
  • Breakaway rate: 82nd
  • PFF elusive rating: 26th
  • PFF receiving grade: 28th
  • Yards per route run: 85th

Scouting Report:

• Omarion Hampton is a north/south, upright and linear runner. Hampton has quick acceleration as he gets to top gear quickly. He doesn’t have a high-level second gear or elite long speed. He’ll get caught from behind on long runs, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a chunk play artist in the NFL. He has only one year in college where his breakaway percentage eclipsed 40%.
• Hampton isn’t the most fluid runner when changing direction in the open field. He’ll utilize jump cuts at the line to get to a free lane, but in the open field, he is a straight-line runner. His footsteps get choppy and he loses speed in the second level when attempting to change course. His hips look stiff at times.
• Hampton is a volume-gobbling machine. In his final collegiate season, he had 20+ carries in 67% of his games. His physical running style can wear down a defense throughout a game. Hampton will lower the boom plenty throughout a game, serving as a tone-setter. This physical running style doesn’t do much in the realm of gaining him extra yards as he doesn’t fall forward many times when lowering his shoulder and instead gets stood up. However, the physicality still isn’t something defenders want to deal with 20-25 times during a game. He can soften up a defense with these repeated body blows.
• Hampton’s upright running style can get him into trouble at times. His lower half is strong enough to run through weak wraps and defenders diving at his ankles, but if a defender can wrap him up decently, he can get chopped down.
• Hampton is a check-down option only in the passing game. He is reliable in this realm, with only two drops and a 90% catch rate in college, but I don’t see him growing into a pass-game weapon in the NFL. His stiff hips, short-area agility and raw speed limitations will limit his route-running upside.
• He isn’t a skilled pass protector at this juncture. Hampton has a decent punch but doesn’t engage or anchor in pass protection well right now. He can chip and slow defenders down, but his pass-protection technique is lacking. He drops his eyes and lunges at defenders too often.

Player Comp: Zach Charbonnet

3) RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)

IT’S R.J. HARVEY’S WORLD & WE’RE ALL JUST LIVING IN IT! I couldn’t be happier for Harvey and the Broncos. This is a wonderful pairing of situation and talent. Harvey and his second-round NFL draft capital land in a backfield where his only direct competition is Audrice Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin. Before the NFL Draft, Harvey was my RB5 of this class, but now, after the conclusion of the draft, he has risen to my RB3. I’m sky-high about his prospects and will be heavily overweight in the rookie draft season. It’s hard not to love a player that ranked inside the top 20 among FBS running backs in each of the last two seasons in breakaway percentage and elusive rating (per PFF). Add in Sean Payton’s running back usage, and Harvey looks primed to smash. Over the last two years, Payton has ranked fifth and first in running back target share. Harvey is in play as high as the 1.05 in every dynasty format. He’s currently my 1.07 in super flex rookie rankings.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 31st
  • Breakaway rate: 14th
  • PFF elusive rating: 19th
  • PFF receiving grade: 75th
  • Yards per route run: 36th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 53rd
  • Breakaway rate: 15th
  • PFF elusive rating: 18th
  • PFF receiving grade: 35th
  • Yards per route run: 42nd
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 36th
  • Breakaway rate: 44th
  • PFF elusive rating: 27th
  • PFF receiving grade: 30th
  • Yards per route run: 11th

Scouting Report:

• RJ Harvey is a tough runner. His leg drive allows him to pinball off defenders and pick up tough yards. He sheds arm tackles well, especially in the second level and is a better short-yardage runner than you’d expect from a player his size.
• Harvey’s lateral agility and burst improved toward the end of the 2024 season. After watching some of his early-season games, I questioned his long speed, initial burst and lateral agility. All of those improved as the 2024 season moved along. While he might not be a home run hitter in the NFL (he gets caught from behind plenty), he should have the ability to break off chunk runs.
• He has a good feel for when to press and flow with outside-zone runs. He can get tentative at the line with some inside zone and interior runs. His vision isn’t horrible by any stretch of the imagination, but when the picture is muddier, his feet can get choppy. Needs to be more willing to bounce runs at times.
• Harvey’s grit shows in pass protection. He’s a willing and able blocker who can stick his nose in there and get physical. His strong lower half serves him well here.
• As a receiving option, he is nothing more than a dump-off option at this juncture. Harvey was tasked with only leaking out the backfield for check-downs in college. He does have moments as a receiver where he has concentration drops when he gets ahead of himself and worries too much about what he is about to do with the ball in his hands before securing the pass.

Player Comp: Aaron Jones

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 2

4) TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)

Henderson didn’t get the first-round draft capital that we all hoped for, but he landed in the second round with the New England Patriots, so it’s not all doom and gloom. Henderson will compete with Rhamondre Stevenson immediately for touches. The big question that remains unanswered for Henderson is what his weekly volume will look like in the NFL. Will he be a three-down workhorse? Is he destined to be a passing down back that works in on early downs amounting to 9-12 touches weekly? That’s an unknown, but what we do know is that Henderson has the juice to make the most of whatever work comes his way, and his running mate (Stevenson) is an inefficient runner inherited from the previous regime. Last year, Henderson ranked seventh in Yards after contact per attempt, tenth in breakaway percentage, and 22nd in receiving grade (per PFF).

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 7th
  • Breakaway rate: 10th
  • PFF elusive rating: 30th
  • PFF receiving grade: 22nd
  • Yards per route run: 55th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 42nd
  • Breakaway rate: 37th
  • PFF elusive rating: 86th
  • PFF receiving grade: 21st
  • Yards per route run: 24th
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 127th
  • Breakaway rate: 112th
  • PFF elusive rating: 153rd
  • Only six targets* (0.26 Yards per route run)
• 2021 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 8th
  • Breakaway rate: 18th
  • PFF elusive rating: 14th
  • PFF receiving grade: 52nd
  • Yards per route run: 48th
• Career
  • Multiple injuries
    • 2021: missed the final two games of the season with a foot injury
    • 2022: missed five games with a broken foot (required surgery)
    • 2023: undisclosed injury (missed three games)

Scouting Report:

• TreVeyon Henderson’s juice jumps out immediately as soon as you turn on the film. He consistently looks shot out of a cannon. Henderson, at times, will take a handoff and slow play the beginning of a rushing play as he casually inches toward the line before dropping the hammer into fourth gear and exploding upfield. The change-up can leave defenses on their heels.
• Henderson runs angry like a pissed-off Tasmanian devil. Despite his smaller muscular frame, Henderson runs with underrated power. While he’s not a player who will consistently punish defenses with his physicality, he can run through contact and deal out a mean, stiff arm.
• Henderson’s feet are electric. He’s a big play waiting to happen. He’s shifty, utilizing jump cuts and jab steps near the line and in the open field to find space in defenses to exploit.
• Henderson also has a wicked spin move he’ll use when defenders immediately penetrate the backfield and he has to evade a tackler immediately after receiving a handoff.
• His tenacity as a pass protector is evident. He has no issue launching himself at incoming rushers to keep his quarterback clean. He plays with fearlessness as a pass protector. Henderson anchors well for a back his size and has numerous reps where he puts defenders on their butts when they attempt to get near his quarterback.
• Henderson is a serviceable receiver. He operated out of the backfield with flat routes and swing passes on many plays. He has the short-area agility to grow as a route runner at the next level.
• Henderson’s size and lengthy injury history likely slot him in as the thunder component of a running back-by-committee situation, but that doesn’t mean he can’t handle 12-15 touches weekly and make the most out of his volume.

Player Comp: C.J. Spiller

5) Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)

After Johnson was maligned after the combine for his “slow” 40-yard dash time, the fantasy community seemingly was turned off by him. I never waivered in my love for Johnson, and now we’ll see some capitulation from those who were fading him after the Steelers selected him in the third round of the NFL Draft. Johnson is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ run scheme, and he should be considered the early favorite to gobble up volume on the ground. Jaylen Warren remains on the roster and will prominently factor in, but Johnson has the raw talent to seize more of the work in this backfield, unlike Najee Harris could ever do. I know that’s saying a lot for Johnson after Harris handled 299 touches last year, but the upside is there. Johnson has an explosive play element to his game that Harris never has after ranking fifth in breakaway percentage last year (per PFF). Johnson is a late first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 8th
  • Breakaway rate: 5th
  • PFF elusive rating: 14th
  • PFF receiving grade: 58th
  • Yards per route run: 47th

Scouting Report:

• Kaleb Johnson is a fluid mover. He glides across the field with good bend around the edge. Some have questioned Johnson’s speed, but I have no worries about his raw speed. Johnson hits the gas as soon as he sees a sliver of daylight and can hit dingers. 
• Johnson has a great feel for pressing and flowing through a run in sync with his offensive line. He can stop on a dime in the second level, pivoting and then hitting the gas again as he blows past a defender. He can make people miss in a phone booth.
• Johnson can stiff-arm a defender into the ground, but he isn’t a dominating physical runner. He excels with vision, footwork, bend and speed. He isn’t a pile-pushing physical presence as a rusher, but he does keep his legs moving through contact.
• Johnson is still a work in progress in pass protection, but he has all the tools to become a serviceable option in this realm. His hands are strong like magnets. Once he gets his mitts on a rusher, he isn’t letting go of them. He needs to improve his pass-blocking technique by utilizing his lower half and setting up lower, but the raw intangibles are there.
• Johnson was utilized as a receiving option in a limited capacity. He was a trustworthy option, though, with only two drops in his collegiate career. He mostly was used as a check-down option running flat or swing routes from the backfield. He did get the occasional angle route or outside alignment with a slant route. His loose hips and short-area agility give hope that he offers more in the NFL as a receiver than he showed in college.

Player Comp: Joe Mixon

6) Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)

Judkins got the draft capital and clear runway for volume that many had hoped for with his transition to the NFL. The Browns took him early in the second round of the NFL Draft. Judkins should be considered the easy favorite to lead the backfield in touches in 2025. I wasn’t the biggest Judkins fan during this draft process, but one skill that I can’t dispute is his ability to handle volume as a back that an offense can lean on. He averaged 246 carries across his three years in college. During Kevin Stefanski’s five-year tenure in Cleveland, his offense finished outside of the top nine teams in rushing attempts only once (2024). I think Stefanski rectifies that abrupt change and gets back to running the rock in 2025 with Judkins spearheading the ground game. The conversation for drafting Judkins begins in the late first round of rookie drafts.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 121st
  • Breakaway rate: 41st
  • PFF elusive rating: 95th
  • PFF receiving grade: 29th
  • Yards per route run: 55th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 82nd
  • Breakaway rate: 128th
  • PFF elusive rating: 66th
  • PFF receiving grade: 71st
  • Yards per route run: 97th
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 46th
  • Breakaway rate: 23rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 44th
  • Yards per route run: 0.63* (only 17 targets)*

Scouting Report:

• Quinshon Judkins has a compact build and can utilize his upper body strength to shed incoming tacklers. It’s not difficult for him to get loose from a lazy wrap. He has a nasty stiff arm that he’ll deploy.
• Judkins is a one-speed runner. He gets up to top speed quickly, but his raw speed isn’t eye-popping. He will be able to rattle off chunk plays in the NFL, but I doubt he will hit many home runs. Judkins ranked 41st or lower in breakaway rate in his final two seasons in college.
• With many runs, Judkins gets what is blocked, but not a ton more. He’s a linear runner who needs to rely on his offensive line to clear the way more than some other backs in this class. Judkins does keep his legs moving through contact, which helps him fall forward and finish runs well at times.
• Judkins is passable as a pass protector. He has no issues sticking his nose in there and getting dirty with an incoming defender. However, Judkins will drop his eyes occasionally and lunge at incoming rushers, which he’ll have to stop in the NFL.
• Judkins is a dump-off option only in the passing game. Most of his passing game action was as a check-down option or on swing passes.

Player Comp: Isaiah Crowell

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 3

7) Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAC)

Jacksonville added to their backfield with the selection of Tuten in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Travis Etienne is gone after this year, and Tank Bigsby has only two years left on his rookie deal. Tuten could easily be the future of the Jags’ rushing attack. The combine superhero posted strong tackling breaking numbers over the last two years, ranking top-ten in elusive rating in each season (per PFF). He was also tenth in Yards after contact per attempt and breakaway percentage last season. It doesn’t take much effort to see that Tuten could be this year’s Bucky Irving, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if Etienne and Bigsby do just enough to hold him off this season, and the true breakout isn’t until 2026. Tuten is a late second-round home run swing in dynasty rookie drafts.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 10th
  • Breakaway rate: 10th
  • PFF elusive rating: 8th
  • PFF receiving grade: 77th
  • Yards per route run: 114th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 34th
  • Breakaway rate: 91st
  • PFF elusive rating: 10th
  • PFF receiving grade: 99th
  • Yards per route run: 60th

Scouting Report:

• Bhayshul Tuten has a solid burst and nice long speed, but Tuten doesn’t consistently win the edge on stretch plays. He’s best suited for a run scheme that will allow him to get north/south with one cut and hit the gas.
• He has good bend in traffic and can utilize decent footwork to solve problems in space, but you won’t see Tuten with jump-cut highlights where a defender is launched into the shadow realm. He loses speed substantially when attempting to string together multiple moves to spring himself.
• Tuten has a short, squatty build and can run through weak wraps with decent power, but don’t expect him to be a short-yardage back or pile mover in the NFL. He needs momentum built up to access this, with these flashes occurring in the second level of defenses.
• Tuten’s ball security issues will be brought up at the beginning of any conversation regarding his game. That’s an unfortunate fact when you have nine fumbles over the last two years. This could be related to small hands, as his faulty hands have also plagued him in the passing game, with nine drops over the last three seasons.
• He’s a decent check-down option in the passing game, operating with flat routes, leaks out of the backfield and with swing passes primarily. His short-area lateral agility limitations and questionable hands cap his upside in the passing game.

Player Comp: Elijah Mitchell

8) Jarquez Hunter (RB – LAR)

Hunter is arbitrage Bhayshul Tuten in rookie drafts. Hunter, much like Tuten, is headed to the NFL (Rams) via the fourth round of the NFL draft. Also, like Tuten, Hunter finds himself possibly buried for 2025 behind two veterans, but he also possesses the talent and pathway to surpass one or maybe both of them in the running back pecking order. Kyren Williams is a free agent after this season. The Rams thought so much of Blake Corum’s rookie season that they addressed running back again this year. Hunter isn’t the same caliber of athlete as Tuten (7.1 RAS), but he did run a 4.44 40-yard dash and finished his collegiate career with an impressive tackle-breaking resume. Hunter has ranked inside the top 24 in Yards after contact per attempt in each of the last three seasons while also sitting in the top 22 in breakaway percentage in two of three years (per PFF). Hunter offers the Rams an explosive element that neither Williams nor Corum has. Last year, among 46 qualifying backs, Williams ranked 44th in explosive run rate, 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 40th in Yards after contact per attempt (per FantasyPointsData). Hunter is the best running back value on the board in dynasty rookie drafts. He’s consistently available in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts and will occasionally fall into the fourth round. At the end of the second round, I’m looking at the board and figuring out where which pick I need to acquire to secure his services safely.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 20th
  • Breakaway rate: 22nd
  • PFF elusive rating: 10th
  • PFF receiving grade: 55th
  • Yards per route run: 97th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 16th
  • Breakaway rate: 31st
  • PFF elusive rating: 48th
  • PFF receiving grade: 79th
  • Yards per route run: 100th
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 24th
  • Breakaway rate: 22nd
  • PFF elusive rating: 7th
  • PFF receiving grade: 39th
  • Yards per route run: 11th

Scouting Report:

• Jarquez Hunter shows immediate and palpable speed on film. Hunter hits the accelerator to the metal as soon as he gets the ball in his hands. He has 4.44 40-yard speed. He can gain the edge consistently in outside-zone runs. His smooth lateral agility sneaks up on you. Hunter doesn’t wow with insane twitchiness, but he has good bend and can deploy jump cuts to avoid would-be tacklers or adjust to hit the hole quickly.
• His low center of gravity allows him to get skinny through the hole. He has a nice leg drive for his size and consistently fights for extra yards. He finishes runs well, fighting for an extra 1-2 yards with every carry. He can push a pile.
• Hunter is an adequate check-down option in the passing game out of the backfield. He is also a willing blocker in pass protection. He engages quickly with incoming rushers and can anchor them. He can get into trouble when tasked with sustaining his blocks, but considering his size, he is more than passable in protecting his quarterback.

Player Comp: Jeremy McNichols

9) Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)

The bulldozing behemoth back from Arizona State is headed to the Big Apple after the Giants picked him in round four of the NFL Draft. Skattebo will immediately compete with Tyrone Tracy for volume in the New York backfield. Skattebo’s strengths and weaknesses are well known. He can handle heavy usage, break tackles (21st in Yards after contact per attempt last year), and is an underrated receiving option (2024: tenth in Yards per route run among running backs, per PFF), but he’s not a home run threat. Skattebo has never ranked higher than 91st in breakaway percentage over the last three seasons (per PFF). Skattebo could become New York’s volume back in 2025, or he could get stuck in a frustrating committee with Tyrone Tracy. Skattebo is a second-round rookie pick who could go anywhere from the early portion of the round or the tail end, depending on the league and its scoring settings.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 21st
  • Breakaway rate: 91st
  • PFF elusive rating: 11th
  • PFF receiving grade: 9th
  • Yards per route run: 10th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 104th
  • Breakaway rate: 148th
  • PFF elusive rating: 39th
  • PFF receiving grade: 86th
  • Yards per route run: 44th
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets for FBS & FCS RBs*)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 37th
  • Breakaway rate: 93rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 11th
  • PFF receiving grade: 32nd
  • Yards per route run: 25th

Scouting Report:

• Cam Skattebo runs like a dancing rhino with anger management issues. He’s a volume-vacuuming tone-setter who can be a workhorse for a run-heavy offense. Unless a team is smitten with him during the draft process, he is likely better viewed as a committee back at the next level. His vision at the line and in the second level allows him to weave through traffic and make the most of his physical abilities.
• He’s not a twitchy player, but he can deploy jump cuts with success and has the lateral agility to make people miss in a phone booth. Skattebo has an underrated quick first step and is decisive with his runs. The run scheme he operates in the NFL will be key. I’d love for him to land with a team that utilizes duo and inside zone. I have no clue what Arizona State was thinking when featuring Skattebo with some tosses and stretch zone plays. Get this tank moving downhill and allow his quickness in short areas to work to his advantage.
• Skattebo isn’t a home run hitter. While he can rip off some long runs with well-blocked plays, that likely won’t be a hallmark of his game in the NFL. He’s a physical/tough runner with strong contact balance and leg drive that fights for every blade of grass. He quickly gets up to top speed, but that also means he is pretty much a one-speed runner who lacks the second and third gear to outrun speedy corners in the open field. He gets caught from behind plenty.
• He has soft hands and can be a trusted check-down weapon in the passing game. His athleticism will limit what all you can do with him in the passing game, but he has the attributes to operate as a dump-off option with the occasional wheel or angle route. His underrated short-area agility works to his advantage on angle routes.

Player Comp: Tyler Allgeier

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 4

10) Jaydon Blue (RB – DAL)

Blue fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft as he was swimming in a ridiculously deep running back draft class. The former Longhorn displayed some three-down big play ability in his final collegiate season. He ranked 26th in elusive rating, 35th in Yards after contact per attempt, and 25th in Yards per route run (per PFF). It’s not hard to envision Blue having a role in the backfield immediately in Week 1, considering the lackluster players surrounding him on the Dallas Cowboys’ depth chart. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders’ best football looks to be behind them. Blue could be the passing down back from Day 1 with an avenue to become the team’s lead back quickly. Blue’s a great depth add and dart throw in the third round of any dynasty rookie draft.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 35th
  • Breakaway rate: 51st
  • PFF elusive rating: 26th
  • PFF receiving grade: 59th
  • Yards per route run: 25th

Scouting report:

• Blue is a gliding slasher back. He wins with vision and razor-sharp short-area agility. Blue can jump-cut a defender out of his shoes. He creates something out of nothing routinely with his nifty footwork.
• He is a decisive runner with quick decision-making. Blue has very little wasted movement. He can string together moves and quickly get downhill with little decrease to his speed.
• Blue has superb raw speed (4.4) with quick acceleration (94th percentile 10-yard split). He has an easy second gear and can hit home runs in the open field. He isn’t a powerful runner, which isn’t surprising considering his build.
• Blue should be a passing game weapon at the next level. He can turn on the jets on a wheel route, leaving defenders in the dust (vs. Ohio State). Blue can also snap off a mean angle route.
• He is relatively untested in pass protection. He had only 44 pass-blocking snaps in college and allowed two sacks and four pressures.

Player

11) Dylan Sampson (RB – CLE)

Sampson joins the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He’ll pair with Quinshon Judkins, forming the new-look duo for the Browns’ rushing attack. Yes, Jerome Ford remains on the roster, and Sampson has to outplay him to earn the RB2 job in 2025 officially, but I think that will happen because Cleveland’s selection of two backs inside the top four rounds of the NFL Draft speaks volumes about their lack of faith in Ford. This easily could be Cleveland getting an updated version of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt for their offense. No, I’m not saying there’s a direct comparison with talent, but the usage could be similar. In 2023, Sampson ranked sixth in receiving grade and 14th in Yards per route run (per PFF), so there are some reasons to be encouraged with his profile if he does take over the passing down duties for the Browns. Sampson is a late third-round rookie draft pick.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 51st
  • Breakaway rate: 118th
  • PFF elusive rating: 31st
  • PFF receiving grade: 48th
  • Yards per route run: 88th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 77th
  • Breakaway rate: 83rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 50th
  • PFF receiving grade: 6th
  • Yards per route run: 14th

Scouting Report:

• Dylan Sampson is an upright-running speedster who wins with speed, vision and smooth footwork. He also navigates traffic in the second level well with jump cuts.
• Sampson’s play strength limitations show up in pass protection and as a runner. Sampson goes down easily with first contact many times, especially if defenders are aiming at his legs or feet. He can break tackles when defenders hit him high. His raw upper body strength makes its way to the field more consistently than his lower half. Sampson can hold his own in pass protection. He engages well but can be blown off his feet or moved as his anchor isn’t great. He’s best utilized as a chip option at this juncture.
• Sampson is a runway back. His speed is more of the build-up variety and he can create yards on his own with speed and footwork in the second level. If he’s contacted near or behind the line of scrimmage, he’s most likely going down.
• He’s a serviceable pass-catcher. Sampson had only three drops in his collegiate career. He was utilized as a check-down option. His speed could lend itself to wheel routes and some creative usage in the NFL, but that didn’t come to fruition in college.

Player Comp: Jerome Ford

12) Brashard Smith (RB – KC)

Smith was another talented victim of this deep running back class. He dropped all the way to the seventh round of the NFL Draft, which was surprising. The Chiefs added him to their already overstocked backfield. The Chiefs are no strangers to allowing a seventh-round running back a legit shot at starting (hi, Isiah Pacheco), so we can’t say that Smith has zero shot. I was enamored with Smith’s receiving ability as a converted wide receiver, his lightning quickness, and his possible upside as a rusher for a player who is still getting acclimated to the position. Last year, Smith ranked 34th in breakaway percentage, second in receiving grade, and 22nd in Yards per route run (per PFF). Smith is a player that I will prioritize at the top of the fourth round in rookie drafts. He could climb this depth chart quickly. After 2025, Smith and Carson Steele are the only running backs that will be under contract as Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, and Keaontay Ingram are all unrestricted free agents.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 79th
  • Breakaway rate: 34th
  • PFF elusive rating: 74th
  • PFF receiving grade: 2nd
  • Yards per route run: 22nd

Scouting Report:

• Brashard Smith is a converted slot wide receiver who transferred from Miami to SMU and switched to running back. He was also a wide receiver in high school. His feel for the running back position is impressive, considering the short timeframe he has been a full-time player at the position.
• Smith is lightning in a travel-sized bottle. He is a quick and decisive runner with silky smooth feet. He runs with conviction but also has the patience to allow his blocks to set up in front of him.
• He wins with lateral agility, speed and vision. Smith’s frame and wide receiver background show up in his rushing style. He isn’t a powerful or physical runner, but he can churn out yards quickly.
• Smith isn’t a decorated pass protector. He is adept at picking up rushers and understanding his assignment, but will sometimes drop his head and eyes and lunge at defenders.
• Smith’s wide receiver background is evident when you watch him run routes. He was deployed from the slot or out wide on 14.7% of his snaps in 2024. He can exploit the soft spots in zone coverage and also has the raw speed (4.39 40-yard speed) to burn corners with a double move. Smith plucks balls out away from his frame. He could be a nice chess piece for a creative offensive coordinator in the NFL.

Player Comp: Jahvid Best

13) D.J. Giddens (RB – IND)

My predraft man crush for Giddens was real. He was my predraft RB6, but his fall to the fifth round of the NFL Draft has cooled my hope and outlook for his NFL future. Giddens was the 15th running back selected in the draft as he landed with the Colts. He’ll compete with Khalil Herbert to earn backup duties behind the Colts’ incumbent starter, Jonathan Taylor. Giddens’ talent is very real after he ranked 16th in Yards after contact per attempt, sixth in breakaway percentage, and 22nd in elusive rating last year (per PFF). Taylor has two years left on his current contract, but the Colts can get out of his deal after 2025 with only a 2.5 million dollar cap hit. With the uninspiring draft capital and landing spot, Giddens is just another third-round rookie draft dart throw at this point.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 16th
  • Breakaway rate: 6th
  • PFF elusive rating: 22nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 118th
  • Yards per route run: 59th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 76th
  • Breakaway rate: 117th
  • PFF elusive rating: 55th
  • PFF receiving grade: 72nd
  • Yards per route run: 40th

Scouting Report:

• Giddens is an upright runner with surprisingly nimble feet and underrated contact balance, especially considering his running style. Most upright rushers get cut down easily with low hits and can struggle in short-yardage situations, but not Giddens. Giddens has the leg drive and finishing power to push piles and carry defenders for a few extra yards after first contact.
• Giddens is a second-level yards-creating artist. He has an explosive jump cut and impressive lateral agility. He has a plethora of runs where he sticks his foot in the turf and teleports laterally, evading defenders in the second level. It’s incredibly fun to watch. He loses little speed in the process and can quickly hit his second gear and leave defenders flailing.
• Giddens wins with footwork, vision, and explosive lateral agility. While you don’t see him stiff-arm defenders into the ground much, he does have a wicked spin move that can make the opposition look silly. Giddens has plenty of raw speed to hit homers in the NFL. His sixth-best breakaway rate last year is no fluke.
• He still needs to grow at the next level in the pass protection department. Giddens will drop his eyes and lunge at incoming defenders. There are plenty of reps where he’ll land his shoulder shot in the mid-section of a rusher, but there are also snaps where he looks like a bull versus a matador. All it will take is for his quarterback to get smushed once when his bull in a china shop routine misses, and he’ll work diligently to rid his game of this approach.
• Giddens has some untapped potential as a passing game weapon. He lined up in the slot or out wide with 12.4% of his collegiate snaps. Giddens was utilized as a check-down option in the passing game while also excelling with wheel routes, angle routes, and more. His route tree could be expanded in the NFL, but he does have stiff hips at times, but his crisp footwork helps to cover it up. Giddens did pile up five ghastly drops in 2024, but many of these were more of the concentration variety than Giddens having flawed hands.

Player Comp: Ryan Mathews

14) Tahj Brooks (RB – CIN)

Brooks lands in Cincy via the sixth round of the NFL Draft. With the depth of his running back class, it isn’t surprising to see him having slipped that far down the board, but it still sucks. Brooks has the talent that should have justified an earlier pick and would have had he come out last year. Brooks will need to hop Zack Moss (assuming health) and Samaje Perine on the depth chart to even be proclaimed as the direct handcuff to Chase Brown. I think he has the talent to do so, but it remains to be seen if he can achieve it. Texas Tech’s run blocking was abysmal last year, and it hurt Brooks’ tackle-breaking numbers. In 2023, he ranked 60th in Yards after contact per attempt and 37th in elusive rating (per PFF). Brooks is a nice fourth-round pick and taxi squad candidate for dynasty squads.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 121st
  • Breakaway rate: 58th
  • PFF elusive rating: 103rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 82nd
  • Yards per route run: 100th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 60th
  • Breakaway rate: 119th
  • PFF elusive rating: 37th
  • PFF receiving grade: 84th
  • Yards per route run: 113th

Scouting report:

• Brooks is a tough runner with a low center of gravity. He is quick and decisive through the hole, getting downhill immediately. His vision lapsed at times in 2024, operating behind a putrid Texas Tech offensive line (52nd in run blocking grade). He missed a few holes and cutback lanes, but overall, his vision isn’t a concern.
• With Brooks’ raw speed, which is more of the build-up variety, he shouldn’t be asked to operate in a stretch zone scheme in the NFL. I would worry about his ability to consistently gain the edge. With gap and inside zone runs, he should excel in the NFL.
• Brook is a chunk run author, but he lacks true home run gear. Brooks had only a 33.7% breakaway rate in college, but last year, he was ninth in runs of at least ten yards and had the fourth-most runs for 15 or more yards.
• Brooks has some wiggle and can navigate traffic and the second-level of a defense with jump cuts. With speed built up, he can pinball off defenders. He’s a proven volume rusher with at least 24 carries in 82% of his games last year.
• Brooks is an underrated receiver. Yes, I know he has only 0.55 Yards per route run in his collegiate career, but the film says that he is much better than this. Brooks was sent down the seam, occasionally flashing some nifty one-handed catches. He was utilized as a check-down option on most downs, and he had only two drops in his collegiate career (one of which was a concentration drop). He might not be a dynamic player in the passing game, but he has the hands, ball tracking, and build-up speed to be utilized on checkdowns, wheels, and the occasional angle route in the NFL.
• Brooks is a stud pass blocker. Over the last two years, he has amassed 230 pass-blocking snaps while allowing only two sacks and five quarterback hurries. His thick and powerful lower half allows him to anchor well and put the brakes on incoming pass rushers. Brooks should quickly become a trusted passing-down option in the NFL.

Player Comp: Dameon Pierce

15) Devin Neal (RB – NO)

The depth of this running back struck another of my predraft love list players as Devin Neal fell to the sixth round of the NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints stopped his tumble. Neal will compete with the oft-injured Kendre Miller and Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the RB2 job behind Alvin Kamara. Kamara’s contract will keep him in the starter’s chair in the Big Easy for at least the next two seasons. Miller also isn’t an unrestricted free agent until 2027. We’ll see if New Orleans moves back to more of a committee approach with the backfield in 2025, but that hasn’t been the case in recent seasons, with Kamara soaking up nearly all of the work. This also might not have been the case had Miller stayed healthy for any period, but that’s just guessing. I loved Neal predraft as a running back who has displayed the ability to soak up volume, flash a three-down skillset, and rank in the top 20 in breakaway percentage in two of his final three collegiate seasons (per PFF). With the disappointing draft capital and muddied landing spot, Neal is only a fourth-round rookie pick and taxi squad stash.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 41st
  • Breakaway rate: 75th
  • PFF elusive rating: 61st
  • PFF receiving grade: 53rd
  • Yards per route run: 40th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 47th
  • Breakaway rate: 19th
  • PFF elusive rating: 29th
  • PFF receiving grade: 47th
  • Yards per route run: 53rd
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 103rd
  • Breakaway rate: 19th
  • PFF elusive rating: 84th
  • PFF receiving grade: 69th
  • Yards per route run: 77th

Scouting Report:

• Devin “Sweet Feet” Neal is a fun player to watch. He can carve up run defenses with his insanely quick feet. Neal’s stop/start ability is special, with the skill to cut on a dime and change directions effortlessly. Neal can string together multiple moves fluidly without losing a ton of speed.
• Neal has a great feel for the press and flow of outside zone runs, the short-area agility to excel and the vision to operate well within inside zone. He’s a nice fit in multiple-run schemes, which can add to his appeal to NFL teams.
• Neal wins with quickness and lateral agility while flashing immediate speed. He gets up to top speed in a hurry. It helps offset the fact that he doesn’t have an elite home run gear. Neal’s tackle-breaking ability isn’t great, though. He goes down easily when wrapped up well or hit low. He needs to continue to add strength to his lower half and improve his leg drive. I can’t wait to see how his game evolves in the NFL, especially after spending some time in an NFL strength and conditioning program. If he can add some more in this realm to his game, his upside is huge.
• Neal was deployed out of the backfield on check-down passes. He displayed a set of soft hands that rarely dropped a ball. I want to see Neal deployed with a creative play-caller in the NFL. He didn’t see more than an 8% slot rate in the 2024 season until his final three games of the season. I want to see what Neal can do from the slot, on wheel routes and with angle routes. His short-area quickness leads me to believe there’s another evolution of his game as a receiver that could take place in the NFL.
• Neal made substantial improvements as a pass protector in 2024. He only allowed five pressures all season — four came in one game. Neal had a 76.2 or higher pass protection grade in seven games in 2024. In previous seasons, he had a hard time anchoring and would routinely get blown off his spot and out of his cleats. He has the willingness and tenacity to develop into a trusted pass protector. His improvements in 2024 suggest he could take that next step in the NFL.

Player Comp: Nightcrawler

16) Trevor Etienne (RB – CAR)

With all of the needs that the Carolina Panthers have, I didn’t see them investing a fourth-round draft pick in a running back. My big takeaway from this selection, with Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard already on the roster, is that we should be very worried about Jonathon Brooks. We probably don’t see him play in 2025, so I understand adding depth to the backfield. It doesn’t feel like something that was needed particularly for this upcoming season with Dowdle already signed. Etienne is a talented back who has good vision and a well-rounded skill set, even if he doesn’t have any superpower traits. In 2023, he ranked 15th in Yards after contact per attempt and 21st in elusive rating before his stats dipped in 2024 (per PFF). The draft capital is the most alluring thing about Etienne. He’s a player that I will look to add via waivers after rookie drafts where he’s available, but I doubt that I’m spending more than a late fourth-round pick on him (if I have it).

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 68th
  • Breakaway rate: 113th
  • PFF elusive rating: 46th
  • PFF receiving grade: 39th
  • Yards per route run: 69th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 15th
  • Breakaway rate: 29th
  • PFF elusive rating: 21st
  • PFF receiving grade: 48th
  • Yards per route run: 35th

Scouting Report:

• Trevor Etienne maximizes every opportunity. He is a patient, savvy runner who allows his blocks to set up in front of him. He has a fantastic vision paired with smooth lateral agility and tenacious legs. He keeps his legs churning through contact and breaks plenty of tackles because of it.
• He has 4.42 40-yard dash speed that plays up because of his vision and decisiveness. Etienne has the second gear to erase plenty of pursuit angles. His well-rounded skillset allows him to be a scheme-agnostic back.
• Georgia’s offensive line didn’t do him many favors in 2024, ranking 43rd in run blocking grade.
• Etienne is a sound receiving option out of the backfield. He can operate from the slot and split out wide with the ability to get open on out routes and slants. Etienne’s hands are as dependable as they come with only one drop in college. He secured 62 of his 63 collegiate targets.

Player Comp: Kenneth Dixon

17) Woody Marks (RB – HOU)

The Texans added Marks to their backfield in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. he looks like a passing down back upgrade over Dare Ogunbowale, who can also take on some early down work to spell Joe Mixon occasionally. I wasn’t high on Marks as a prospect. Since 2021, he never finished higher than 102nd in Yards after contact per attempt or elusive rating (per PFF). He could siphon off some targets from Mixon, though. He has ranked 26th or higher in receiving grade in three of the last four seasons. Marks is a taxi squad candidate and a player I’ll wait until waivers run post-rookie draft to acquire unless maybe I have a contending roster and Joe Mixon on the team.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 122nd
  • Breakaway rate: 68th
  • PFF elusive rating: 131st
  • PFF receiving grade: 26th
  • Yards per route run: 61st
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 102nd
  • Breakaway rate: 106th
  • PFF elusive rating: 117th
  • PFF receiving grade: 7th
  • Yards per route run: 38th
• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 136th
  • Breakaway rate: 110th
  • PFF elusive rating: 154th
  • PFF receiving grade: 66th
  • Yards per route run: 62nd
• 2021 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 166th
  • Breakaway rate: 166th
  • PFF elusive rating: 149th
  • PFF receiving grade: 19th
  • Yards per route run: 50th
• Career
  • 257 collegiate receptions

Scouting Report:

• Woody Marks is a linear runner. His physical limitations show up on film. He’s at his best when he runs downhill, utilizing good vision with little wasted movement. Marks will continually get what is blocked, but the down-to-down question is how much more he can get.
• His burst is average and lateral agility is limited. He can get into trouble at times when pressing a run and overcommitting. At times, Marks will do this and run into the back of one of his blockers as he lacks the explosiveness to change courses quickly enough.
• His thinner lower half doesn’t allow him to do much more than run through weak arm tackles or defenders with poor pursuit angles. This also shows up in pass protection. Marks is a willing blocker. There’s nothing I’ll add besmirching his technique, but his physical limitations show up here as well. Marks will engage with defenders in pass protection, but he can struggle to anchor his defender or get blown out of his cleats by stronger defenders.
• Marks displays a soft set of hands as a receiver and the ability to snag balls outside of his frame, but his route running is limited. He was moved to the perimeter at times at USC. His limited deceleration and change of direction skills showed up when he was asked to run curls and stop routes.

Player Comp: Eric Gray

18) Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS)

Croskey-Merritt was a predraft love lister for me. Sadley, he dropped all the way to the seventh round of the NFL Draft before the Commanders picked up the phone. If Croskey-Merritt hadn’t had his 2024 season cut off by an eligibility issue, he would have gone much higher than this. His 2023 season was excellent. He ranked 19th in Yards after contact per attempt and 12th in elusive rating (per PFF). He’s a no-nonsense runner who makes one cut and gets downhill. He’ll have his work cut out for him to climb up a crowded running back depth chart, but he has the talent to do so. Pick him up with your final rookie pick (late fourth round or fifth round) or as a priority waiver/taxi squad add.

Stats:

• 2024 *limited to one game*
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 19th
  • Breakaway rate: 50th
  • PFF elusive rating: 12th
  • Yards per route run: 0.99* (only 8 targets)*
• Career
  • Missed the 2024 season after one game related to an eligibility issue.

Scouting report:

• Croskey-Merritt is a one-cut downhill, upright runner. He has a good feel for pressing the line and utilizing cutback lanes. His strong lower half allows him to finish runs well, pushing for extra yards after first contact.
• He has average burst and has more buildup speed than an electric second gear. Croskey-Merritt has solid lateral agility in the second-level, creating off-angle tackling attempts for defenders while creating yards for himself with jump cuts and vision. He can struggle to get back to top speed at times when stringing multiple moves together.
• Croskey-Merritt doesn’t have an illustrious pass-catching resume, with only 45 targets across parts of six collegiate seasons. He never had more than 1.19 Yards per route run or 18 targets in any season. He was a decent dump-off option when called up, though, and had impressive body control adjusted to sideline wheel routes.
• He has to improve in pass protection if he’s going to have any shot at three-down duties in the NFL. His physical limitations show up here consistently. He is slow to laterally adjust to incoming pass rushers and can easily be out of position in a hurry. Speed rushers have no issues getting around him without much effort. He’ll dive at the defender’s ankles and looks like he’s going through the motions even when chipping out of the backfield.

Player Comp: Marlon Mack

19) Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)

Well, the Bears didn’t address running back early in the draft, but they didn’t overlook the position. Chicago selected Monangai in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Monangai is a squatty pinball back that can handle volume and fight for every blade of grass. He isn’t an explosive runner, but he can roll up plenty of chunk gains and handle a ton of volume. Last year, he had 25 or more carries in 55% of his games and at least 18 carries in every game. He’ll have to beat out Roschon Johnson for RB2 duties behind D’Andre Swift, but that’s not impossible. Johnson hasn’t exactly set the league on fire so far, and he has had trouble staying on the field (concussions). Monangai is a decent last-round pick/taxi squad candidate.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 76th
  • Breakaway rate: 77th
  • PFF elusive rating: 64th
  • Yards per route run: 0.44* (only 17 targets)*
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 46th
  • Breakaway rate: 108th
  • PFF elusive rating: 28th
  • Yards per route run: 0.79* (only 14 targets)*

Scouting report:

• Monangai has a thick, squatty bowling ball. He’s a no-nonsense one-cut downhill runner. Monangai has no issues dropping his shoulder to run over a defender or set the tone.
• He has enough lateral agility to create extra yards with jump cuts. He’s at his best utilizing his low center of gravity and contact balance in the second level of a defense with some steam built up.
• He’s a chunk-run author lacking the juice to hit explosive runs. He has at least 33 ten-plus yard runs in each of the last two seasons, but that is flanked by a 29.6% breakaway rate in college. He ranked outside the top 75 rushers in FBS (minimum 100 carries) in each of the last two seasons in breakaway run rate.
• He’s a proven volume rusher. Last year, he had 25 or more carries in 55% of his games and at least 18 carries in every game.
• His size and lateral agility limitations show up in pass protection. He can get burnt easily by speed rushers and blitzing members of the secondary. He can impede the flow of a rusher to the quarterback with a chip attempting to buy his quarterback time, but he’s not a back that will latch onto a rusher and drive them into the dirt.
• Monangai isn’t known for his pass-catching. He never had more than 17 targets in any collegiate season and only 0.53 Yards per route run (career). Any passing game action that he offers in the NFL is a plus and isn’t a given.

Player Comp: Zac Stacy

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 5

20) Ollie Gordon II (RB – MIA)

The big, bruising back out of Oklahoma State was selected by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. He’s currently the RB4 on the depth chart behind Jaylen Wright and Alexander Mattison. He could hop both of them by the end of the season if he can regain his 2023 form. Gordon had a disappointing 2024 season, but the year prior, he ranked 39th in Yards after contact per attempt and seventh in breakaway percentage (per PFF). I’m not immensely high on Gordon. He’s at the bottom of a long tier of taxi squad stash backs. If I can add him to a dynasty roster for cheap, that would be fine, but I’m not bidding aggressively with FAAB to do so.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 91st
  • Breakaway rate: 126th
  • PFF elusive rating: 80th
  • PFF receiving grade: 25th
  • Yards per route run: 94th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 39th
  • Breakaway rate: 7th
  • PFF elusive rating: 61st
  • PFF receiving grade: 76th
  • Yards per route run: 71st
• Career
  • Multiple leg injuries in 2024

Scouting Report:

• Ollie Gordon is a smooth mover for his size. He has solid lateral agility for his size, but he can get happy feet at times. With some runs, he dances too much at the line when he needs to be decisive and get downhill. This isn’t a problem on every run, but it does pop up.
• Gordon has build speed (4.61 40-yard time). Is at his best when he has one cut and gets upfield or uses his bend around the edge. Gordon has the problem most big backs do, which is that he can go down easily in the backfield when the offensive line doesn’t give him some room to get moving. If Gordon can get moving he is a problem for defenses. His feet can play up in the second level of a defense. Is tougher to bring down when that big body is barreling through a defense 4-5 yards past the line of scrimmage.
• He’s a decent receiving option out of the backfield, thanks to his soft hands. Gordon doesn’t have a developed route tree from the backfield, with dump-offs and screens comprising most of his routes. Gordon had zero drops in his final collegiate season.
• The limiting factor for Gordon on passing downs could be his pass protection. For a back his size, his play strength doesn’t shine here at all. He has plenty of reps where he squares up an incoming rusher and gets blown back. He attempts to compensate by chipping rushers or blindly diving low at them to take them out. This won’t cut it in the NFL, and it barely worked in college.

Player Comp: D’Onta Foreman

21) Jordan James (RB – SF)

The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He’ll likely begin the year as the team’s RB3 with the opportunity to push Isaac Guerendo for the backup job behind Christian McCaffrey. Jordan Mason and Guerendo proved last year that being a solid backup for the 49ers can be fruitful if injuries strike, so for this reason, he’s worth a stash on taxi squads. I’m not exceptionally high on him as a prospect, though. Last year, James ranked outside the top 65 FBS running backs in Yards after contact per attempt (107th), breakaway percentage (151st), and elusive rating (68th, per PFF).

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 107th
  • Breakaway rate: 151st
  • PFF elusive rating: 68th
  • PFF receiving grade: 103rd
  • Yards per route run: 83rd

Scouting Report:

• James is a one-cut linear runner with average burst. He’s a one-speed runner who lacks the extra gear to pull away from defenders in the second level. James won’t rip many long runs in the NFL, as it wasn’t even part of his game in college (151st in breakaway rate in 2024).
• He has decent short-area agility and can make people miss with well-timed jump cuts. Despite his thick lower half, James isn’t a powerful rusher.
• James is a check-down option in the passing game with questionable hands. With only 53 collegiate targets, James earned seven drops and didn’t impress on a per-route basis, with only 0.95 Yards per route run in college.

Player Comp: Scottie Phillips

22) Marcus Yarns (RB – NO)

Yarns was a predraft love list player for me. Sadly, he didn’t get selected in the NFL Draft. He did sign as a UDFA with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have a stocked running back room, especially after adding Devin Neal in the sixth round to a depth chart that already included Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jordan Mims. The hope for Yarns is that he can beat out Mims for the RB4 job on this team. Yarns is a pass-game weapon with three-down upside. Last year, he ranked 22nd in Yards after contact per attempt and 19th in Yards per route run (per PFF). I’ll stash him on as many taxi squads as possible and see how things play out.

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS/FCS minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 22nd
  • Breakaway rate: 82nd
  • PFF elusive rating: 81st
  • PFF receiving grade: 35th
  • Yards per route run: 19th
• 2023 (FBS/FCS minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 52nd
  • Breakaway rate: 71st
  • PFF elusive rating: 133rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 7th
  • Yards per route run: 18th

Scouting report:

• Yarns’ 84th percentile 10-yard split is on display immediately. He has quick acceleration, getting up to top gear quickly. Yarns has the raw speed (4.45 40-yard dash) to hit homers as well as the necessary short-area quickness to author chunk plays.
• Yarns is more of a linear runner than a twitchy jitterbug. That doesn’t mean that he can’t hit a defender with a juke and leave them in the dirt. Yarns is a decisive runner who gets downfield quickly, wasting little time hitting the hole.
• He has decent finishing power at the end of his runs, as he can fight for some “dessert yards” after the main course. Yarns has solid contact balance for his size and can run through arm tackles.
• Yarns is a true pass-game weapon. He has lined up in the slot or out wide 13-19.4% of his snaps over the last two years. He was tasked with plenty of branches of the route tree running outs, ins, fades, whip routes, and wheels. He is crisp at the top of his routes and looks like a legit receiver.
• He should quickly earn passing down snaps in the NFL not only because of his route prowess but also because of his aptitude for pass protection. Yarns is more than willing to get his uniform dirty and doesn’t shy away from incoming rushers with chips or diving at their ankles. While he won’t knock rushers back a few yards, he can definitely defend his patch of grass and keep his quarterback clean.

Player Comp: James Cook

23) Damien Martinez (RB – SEA)

The rugged tackle-breaking former Miami Hurricane was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Martinez could easily hop former seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh for the RB3 job for Seattle by Week 1. Last year, Martinez ranked eighth in Yards after contact per attempt and 16th in elusive rating (per PFF). He’s another back worth a taxi squad spot after he likely falls to waivers post-rookie draft. If you feel the need or want to make sure that you secure his services, use your final-round pick on Martinez. Kenneth Walker is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Martinez could walk into 2026 as the RB2 on the depth chart behind only Zach Charbonnet.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 8th
  • Breakaway rate: 71st
  • PFF elusive rating: 16th
  • PFF receiving grade: 67th
  • Yards per route run: 73rd
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 26th
  • Breakaway rate: 64th
  • PFF elusive rating: 27th
  • PFF receiving grade: 91st
  • Yards per route run: 99th

Scouting Report:

• Damien Martinez has average burst and lateral agility. Martinez can get too cute at times in the open field, attempting to juke defenders when he would be better off to jump cut or power through a defender with a decisive downhill attack plan. He can create bad angles for tacklers with his footwork at times, but he’s not explosive enough to dance around as much as he does at times.
• The hallmark of Martinez’s rushing is his tenacity. He always has his legs churning and fighting for extra yards. He finishes runs well and has enough pure strength to carry defenders along with him.
• Martinez is a volume back and chunk play author, as he doesn’t have the home run speed to break many 40+ yard runs in the NFL. 
• Martinez is a classic check-down-only back with little upside in the passing game. His pass protection is inconsistent. He has several snaps where he’ll stand up defenders at the attack point, but he also has snaps where he’ll drop his eyes and chip defenders blindly or get blown out of his cleats.

Player Comp: Jordan Howard

24) Phil Mafah (DAL)

The Cowboys selected Mafah in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. The hulking former Clemson Tiger enters as the RB4 on the roster surrounded by washed-up veterans and Jaydon Blue. It wouldn’t shock me if Mafah makes some noise this preseason by bulldozing backups, and he climbs up the depth chart. He finished his collegiate career with 3.47 Yards after contact per attempt (per PFF). He’s a taxi squad hero, but unless your taxi squad has plenty of room, he could only be a deep league add because of space.

25) Raheim Sanders (RB – LAC)

The rocket crashed and burned as he fell out of the NFL Draft. I figured a team would select him in the final rounds, but it didn’t happen. He signed a UDFA deal with the Chargers. He’ll walk into camp at the bottom of a deep depth chart on a team that just spent a first-round selection on Omarion Hampton. The best-case scenario for Sanders is that he can climb the depth chart during the season, and when Najee Harris departs after this season, he can cement himself as the RB2 for the team behind Hampton. I wasn’t high on Sanders as a prospect. He’s an add-to taxi squads in deeper dynasty leagues only, especially those that give a fantasy scoring nudge to carries.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 47th
  • Breakaway rate: 75th
  • PFF elusive rating: 21st
  • PFF receiving grade: 42nd
  • Yards per route run: 28th

2023 – limited to six games (shoulder and knee injuries)

• 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 78th
  • Breakaway rate: 20th
  • PFF elusive rating: 45th
  • PFF receiving grade: 88th
  • Yards per route run: 54th

Scouting report:

• Sanders is an upright runner who looks to get downhill quickly and punish defenders when he has momentum built up. Sanders has build up speed like a train locomotive. When he is forced to string moves together, or he is contacted early in the run, he can look lumbering as he attempts to get back to top speed.
• Sanders is a linear mover with substantial upper-body strength. When tacklers look to hit him high or wrap up poorly, Sanders can easily break their weak tackling attempts.
• Sanders has soft hands in the passing game, snagging balls out of his frame. He’s a competent check-down option in the passing game, with only four drops in college.
• His play strength doesn’t really translate to pass protection. He looks to chip incoming rushers and buy time for his quarterback. His punch is weak, and he doesn’t anchor well.
• Sanders’ vision can lapse at times. He’ll miss a hole or cut back lane at times. He’s best suited for a running game in the NFL that features a heavy dose of gap runs.

Player Comp: Zamir White

26) LeQuint Allen (RB – JAC)

The former Syracuse standout fell to the seventh round of the NFL Draft. He landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He could climb up the depth chart by season’s end to the RB4 spot, but I don’t see him hopping anyone else to get higher. Travis Etienne is likely gone after this year, which could help Allen’s 2026 outlook, but he profiles as a passing down back in the NFL only and not as a true three-down guy or possible workhorse. Over the last two years, Allen hasn’t ranked higher than 119th in Yards after contact per attempt (per PFF). In 2024, he was fourth and first in the FBS in receiving yards and receptions among running backs. Allen is a low-end taxi squad stash with a bump in full PPR leagues.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 128th
  • Breakaway rate: 147th
  • PFF elusive rating: 126th
  • PFF receiving grade: 8th
  • Yards per route run: 42nd
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 119th
  • Breakaway rate: 125th
  • PFF elusive rating: 97th
  • PFF receiving grade: 57th
  • Yards per route run: 77th

Scouting Report: 

• Allen is a linear rusher with average burst. He needs to be in an inside zone, gap, or duo heavy run scheme in the NFL. He’s decisive and has relatively good vision, but he lacks the raw speed to continually gain the edge with outside zone runs.
• Allen isn’t a twitchy runner in the open field. You’d love to see more creativity in the open field from him, but it’s not the case.
• He’ll lose speed when attempting to sandwich moves together. He will deploy a jump cut or juke here and there. Allen does have solid leg drive when finishing runs.
• Allen should carve out a receiving back role in the NFL. He was utilized on flat routes, swing routes, and some angle routes in college. In college, he lined up in the slot or out wide with 18.9% of his snaps. For most of the perimeter alignment, he was just used as a decoy in the games I sampled. In 2024, he was fourth and first in the FBS in receiving yards and receptions among running backs.
• Allen is a solid pass protector overall, but he still has areas to clean up in this department. He’ll dive at defenders and find himself quickly out of position at times. He will attack defenders high with some reps and get blown out of his cleats. There are plenty of other reps where he does a solid job of defending his area and keeping his quarterback clean.

Player Comp: La’Mical Perine

27) Lan Larison (RB – NE)

The former UC Davis legend landed with the Patriots after signing on as a UDFA. New England is the land of misfit receiving backs. A monument, for Rex Burkhead and Danny Woodhead, resides somewhere in Foxborough. Let’s see if Larison can break camp with the team before adding him to taxi squads (outside of deep leagues). If he can make the NFL roster, then I’m all in for him to be added to squads. Last year, Larison ranked third in receiving grade and sixth in Yards per route run (per PFF). In 2023, he was 32nd in Yards after contact per attempt and 33rd in breakaway percentage.

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS/FCS minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 160th
  • Breakaway rate: 135th
  • PFF elusive rating: 153rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 3rd
  • Yards per route run: 6th
• 2023 (FBS/FCS minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 32nd
  • Breakaway rate: 33rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 69th
  • PFF receiving grade: 120th
  • Yards per route run: 78th
• Career
  • 1,642 receiving yards (2.03 YPRR)

Scouting report:

• Larison has average burst and build-up speed. Larison can struggle with short area change of direction. He needs to incorporate more jump cuts over the choppy steps. Once he is in the second level of a defense, his play speed picks up, but he doesn’t have a true home run gear, and the second gear is average at best.
• Larison is a linear runner. With his build-up speed, he needs to be deployed in a gap scheme in the NFL. He’s a decisive, patient runner who hits the hole quickly but also displays patience, allowing his blocks to set up in front before hitting the accelerator.
• His calling card in the NFL will be his receiving chops. Last year, he led all FBS & FCS running backs in receiving yards (853) and receptions (65). He’s a natural receiver out of the backfield with soft hands (only eight drops across 174 collegiate targets).
• Larison was utilized with wheels, angles, swings, and flats out of the backfield. He also lined up in the slot and out wide with some curls and slants sprinkled in.
• Larison is a strong pass protector. He can hold his own, keeping his quarterback clean with a solid anchor, punch, and strong base. With 131 pass-blocking snaps in college, he allowed zero sacks and only one quarterback hit.

Player Comp: Pierre Thomas

28) Kalel Mullings (RB – TEN)

The Titans selected Mullings in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. he could win the RB3 job out of camp with only Julius Chestnut to hop on the depth chart. Mullings is a physical downhill thumper who ranked 55th in Yards after contact per attempt and 54th in breakaway percentage last year. He’s a deep dynasty league taxi squad add only (preferably with bonuses for rushing attempts).

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 55th
  • Breakaway rate: 54th
  • PFF elusive rating: 81st

• Collegiate Yards per route run: 0.59*

(Only 10 targets in college across three seasons)*

Scouting Report:

• Kalel Mullings is a classic downhill thumper. He has strong legs to push through first contact and move a pile in short-yardage situations. Mullings has build-up speed and needs a runway to get going, but he can do damage in the second level of defenses. If defenders can contact him immediately or early in a play he can have issues.
• Mullings offers some nice pass-protection reps. His physical strength shows up again here. He has plenty of reps where he takes on free rushers, stands them up and corrals them with a solid anchor.
• Mullings utilizes jump cuts to access different running lanes instead of choppy footwork. When he can’t jump cut in a situation he does face some challenges changing course.
• Mullings offers little in the passing game. He had only 10 targets across three seasons of collegiate football and 0.59 Yards per route run to show for it. His value to NFL teams will arise primarily from what he can do as a rusher, although his pass protection skills could get him plenty of hollow passing down snaps, depending on his NFL backfield.

Player Comp: Jeremy Hill

29) Donovan Edwards (RB – NYJ)

Donovan Edwards signed a UDFA deal with the New York Jets. I had Edwards buried in my rankings during the entire process. As the current RB6 on the depth chart, I still have no interest in rostering him in dynasty. Even if Breece Hall were traded before Week 1, I don’t foresee Edwards cracking the starting lineup even in a change-of-pace role.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 141st
  • Breakaway rate: 121st
  • PFF elusive rating: 146th
  • PFF receiving grade: 36th
  • Yards per route run: 107th
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 132nd
  • Breakaway rate: 114th
  • PFF elusive rating: 148th
  • PFF receiving grade: 18th
  • Yards per route run: 19th

Scouting Report:

• Donovan Edwards has an average burst with build-up speed. He’s at his best when getting north/south quickly and using his size to his advantage as he builds up a head of steam downhill.
• Edwards can get himself into trouble when he hesitates behind the line. He’ll slow up near the line at times to survey the scene before bursting forward. Edwards gets away with this on well-blocked run plays, but he doesn’t have the juice to do this regularly. He misses cut-back lanes at times, and his vision can lapse.
• Edwards is a one-cut runner with a mean, stiff arm. He can power through arm tackles in the open field with built-up momentum. If he is contacted behind the line of scrimmage many times, he’ll struggle to shed defenders. He doesn’t have the burst or raw speed to get to the edge consistently with outside-zone runs. Edwards isn’t as physical as you’d hope from a rusher his size. He doesn’t push the pile and can get blown up in short-yardage situations.
• Edwards can sometimes jump cut at the line and in the open field to avoid defenders, but he can struggle to change direction in the open field with some runs.
• Edwards is a decent dump-off option. He’ll make some nice catches outside of his frame. His route tree doesn’t extend beyond flat and swing routes in most games.

Player Comp: Wayne Gallman

30) Corey Kiner (RB – SF)

The 49ers had fun adding another short, squatty back in the draft before Kiner (Jordan James). Kiner was signed as a UDFA after his final season at Cincinnati, ranking 17th in Yards after contact per attempt, 28th in breakaway percentage, and fourth in elusive rating (per PFF). I’m not investing in Kiner currently, as he is the RB6 on the 49ers’ depth chart. He’s more likely a cut candidate in camp and snuck onto the practice squad than an active roster member. If he starts making noise in the preseason, I’ll reverse course in deeper leagues.

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 17th
  • Breakaway rate: 28th
  • PFF elusive rating: 4th
  • Yards per route run: 0.60* (only 16 targets)

Scouting report:

• Kiner is a squatty back with a low center of gravity. He’s a linear runner who doesn’t have an issue with lowering his shoulder at the end of a run. This is partially out of necessity, as Kiner doesn’t have the raw speed or juice to run around defenders or juke them out of their shoes. He gets up to top speed quickly, but he’s still just one speed back.
• Kiner has a no-nonsense North/South running style. He hopefully lands with a team that utilizes gap runs heavily. He can get what’s blocked consistently, but it’s unlikely that he’s getting more than that.
• Kiner is a dump-off option only in the passing game. He failed to surpass 16 targets or 0.60 Yards per route run in any collegiate season.

Player Comp: Trayveon Williams

27) Montrell Johnson (RB – PHI)

Johnson Jr. isn’t worth rostering at the moment. He signed a UDFA deal with Philly, and currently, he’s sitting at RB6/7 on the depth chart. If the Eagles decide to carry four backs on the roster, it’s likely Barkley, A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley, and Tyrion Davis-Price. Last year, Johnson Jr. ranked only 94th in Yards after contact per attempt and 61st in elusive rating (per PFF).

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 94th
  • Breakaway rate: 29th
  • PFF elusive rating: 61st
  • Yards per route run: 0.58* (only 16 targets)*
• 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 56th
  • Breakaway rate: 58th
  • PFF elusive rating: 77th
  • PFF receiving grade: 68th
  • Yards per route run: 53rd

Scouting report:

• Johnson is a decisive linear runner with solid burst. He gets downhill quickly. He can create for himself in the second level with some well-timed jump cuts. He has better-timed speed at the combine (4.41 40-yard dash) than game speed. He looks more like a 4.5-speed guy in the film.
• Johnson will likely develop into a solid depth option for an NFL team as the RB2 or RB3 on a depth chart. He has soft hands in the passing game and can catch some dump-offs.

Player Comp: Ty Chandler

32) Nate Noel (RB – MIA)

Stats:

• 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
• Yards after contact per attempt: 156th
• Breakaway rate: 111th
• PFF elusive rating: 156th
• Yards per route run: 0.29* (only 17 targets)*

Scouting report:

• Undersized, jitterbug back. His low center of gravity serves him well with contact balance, getting under defender’s pads with pass pro, and darting behind the offensive line, but his diminutive size also shows up during and at the end of runs. He isn’t a pile pushing back and can get blown up by defenders in the open field.
• Noel can rip some chunk gains with his vision and short-area quickness (nice spin move), but he lacks a home run gear to rip off any back-breaking big plays.
• Noel is a decent dump-off option in the passing game with a small catch radius. He had only one drop in his five-year collegiate career (80 targets). He’s a serviceable but not standout pass protector with only two sacks and five quarterback hits allowed with 311 collegiate pass-blocking snaps.

Player Comp: Emani Bailey

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