Running backs experienced a massive resurgence in identity last season, with all three major free agent acquisitions (Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon) catapulting their teams to the playoffs through massive contributions.
Their success brought the “Is this position truly worth spending a significant portion of your team’s cap?” question back to the limelight. I, for one, would respond with a resounding yes.
Twelve players at the position eclipsed the 200-point mark in PPR formats, the most since we’ve been retaining statistics on FantasyPros. A rise in overall touches (especially receptions out of the backfield on teams with young quarterbacks), coupled with defenses selling out to stop wide receivers downfield, dramatically aided running backs’ weekly point total floors.
Receivers might be flashier with chunk plays, but the tried-and-true formula of bludgeoning an opponent into submission late in the second half behind a stout running attack remained successful.
Last season’s breakout then begs the question: Was this simply a one-year fluke, or do we anticipate additional players at the position experiencing the same level of success? And if so, then whom?
Here are several players I’m willing to plant my flag behind for the 2025 fantasy football season, and my rationale on why they are “must-have” options this season.
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Must-Have Running Backs: Fantasy Football Draft Targets
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
Bucky Irving was a player I was able to acquire in nearly all of my drafts last season, since I felt his overall skillset was more well-rounded than receiving specialist Rachaad White. It took the Buccaneers a few weeks to share this vision, but once Irving ascended ahead of White up the depth chart, he became the RB6 in fantasy points per game.
Scary enough, I don’t think that Irving has reached his ceiling yet. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry (YPC) on 207 touches out of the backfield in 2024, yet he didn’t have his third game with 10+ carries until mid-November. Irving can make defenders miss in open space and run through them if necessary, all while being a capable blocker and an outstanding receiving outlet for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Tampa Bay made no effort to bring in any semblance of competition at running back during the offseason, so it is all systems go for Irving to finish as a top-seven option at the position. Entrenched as Tampa Bay’s early-down and goal-line back, the additional amount of touches Irving will inherit is all gravy at this point.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)
The knee-jerk reaction that many pundits had when the Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft was that they brought him in to complement, rather than usurp, Rhamondre Stevenson. Call me skeptical. Henderson is a “lightning in a bottle” prospect with 4.43 speed and the uncanny ability to accelerate to maximum speed with a quick burst.
Henderson’s 5-foot-10, 202-pound frame is large enough that he shouldn’t be pigeon-holed as just a receiving threat out of the backfield. He can handle all three downs if asked to do so. Importantly for fantasy managers, Henderson is one of the best pass-protecting backs in this draft class, so he won’t lose any snaps in obvious passing situations in favor of Stevenson.
My initial comp for Henderson was Jahmyr Gibbs-lite, someone who will flash in a committee situation as the more athletic option that fans will clamor for to inherit more touches. As the 2025 season drags on, I expect Henderson to siphon away work from Stevenson, eventually overtaking him as New England’s lead back.
Investments made in free agency and the draft along the offensive line will open up plenty of holes for New England’s running game, and the addition of Josh McDaniels as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator bodes well for his outlook.
Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)
Some will say Cam Skattebo’s inclusion here is due to my homerism as a Giants fan, but hear me out before you become dismissive. New York was interested in Skattebo from the jump, bringing him in for a top-30 visit before selecting him in the fourth round. A fan favorite at Arizona State for his tough-nosed approach and desire to run over (not around) defenders, Skattebo’s highlight tape is filled with him trucking linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties alike.
Skattebo was a First-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-Big 12 player who rushed for a school-record 1,711 yards and totaled 2,316 all-purpose yards in 2024. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein aptly described him as a “carnage creator”— someone who will continually fight for extra yardage after contact, with more elusiveness than you’d think for a more compact option.
Skattebo should immediately leap ahead of Devin Singletary on New York’s depth chart, and I feel that his presence is a looming threat to Tyrone Tracy. Though he occasionally showed flashes of brilliance last year, Tracy struggled with fumbles in key situations around the goal line and is best served as a receiving threat, rather than a three-down back.
Akin to the situation above in New England, the shift from the entrenched starter to the upside rookie may take several weeks to occur, but once it does, I expect there will be no going back. Skattebo has drawn comparisons to Jaylen Warren from other analysts, but I think that is selling him short. Think higher like a Maurice Jones-Drew. Skattebo is an instant fan favorite and will be heavily featured on NFL Network’s “Angry Runs” segment.
Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA)
Walker will go down as my “I can’t quit you” player at the running back position entering 2025. I’ve long been a fan of his overall skillset dating back to his days at Michigan State, and was ecstatic when he landed with Seattle during the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, nagging (and constant) soft-tissue injuries have hampered him, coupled with the Seahawks operating as a committee backfield in tandem with Zach Charbonnet.
So why the optimism?
Seattle chose to hit the reset button on the offensive side of the ball in the offseason, dealing away quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, and allowing veteran Tyler Lockett to sign with Tennessee in free agency. They also opted to go back to their roots as a run-heavy squad by bringing in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Anyone unfamiliar with his outstanding track record of success running the ball would do well to look up stats during his tenure with Denver (2016-18), Minnesota (2019-21), Denver (2022), San Francisco (2023) and New Orleans last year.
Each of the past two seasons, Seattle has chosen to pass first, and ask questions later. The looming threat of Charbonnet behind Walker is an acceptable risk, knowing that Walker is the superior talent, who will occasionally need a breather. He remains an outstanding receiver out of the backfield (he caught 46 passes in just 12 games during 2024) and has a knack for finding the end zone when afforded the opportunity. Walker is just 24 years old and has his best days ahead of him, provided that he can stay healthy. He is listed on our ECR (Experts Consensus Rankings) as the RB16, but he has mid-RB1 upside. I’m willing to take the chance one more time on him.
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