3 Dynasty Rookies Experts Avoid: Running Backs (Fantasy Football)

We’ll have you covered as you prepare for your 2025 dynasty rookie drafts. In order to dominate your dynasty rookie draft, check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings. And sync your dynasty league to practice with fast and free dynasty rookie mock drafts. Below, we dive into dynasty rookie draft picks our analysts are lower on compared to our expert consensus rankings.

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Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks to Avoid: Running Backs

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.
– Derek Brown

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).
– Derek Brown

Ollie Gordon II (RB – MIA)

The 6-2, 225-pound Ollie Gordon was a wildly productive workhorse for Oklahoma State in 2023, with 285-1,732-21 rushing and 39-330-1 receiving. He’s a big, physical runner who’s a real problem for defenders when he gets to the second level. But Gordon’s production nosedived in 2024 (190-880-13 rushing, 29-179-1 receiving). He was arrested on suspicion of DUI last July. Gordon’s long speed is lacking, his lateral agility is mediocre, and he has to gear way down to change direction. Because of his size and his 2023 numbers, Gordon is going to be attractive to dynasty managers, but he could be a Venus flytrap. As a sixth-round pick of the Dolphins, Gordon is likely to be a bit player as a rookie, with De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright and Alexander Mattison ahead of him on the depth chart.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Here are our latest Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings from our consensus of fantasy football experts. You can find the latest Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings and sync your fantasy football league for specific advice.