3 Fantasy Football Draft Targets: Rookie Running Backs (2025)

In the 2025 NFL Draft, 25 rookie running backs were selected over the three-day event, including two in the first round and four in the top 40.

The running back position is fickle, with teams turning to a more committee approach. However, there’s still value to be had, especially among the rookie class, which has less “wear and tear” than tried-and-true NFL veterans.

Below, we’ll examine rookie running backs that should have an impact this season and be a valuable asset to your fantasy football squad. This is beyond the two obvious 2025 first-round NFL Draft picks, Jeanty and Hampton.

Rookie Running Backs to Draft (Fantasy Football)

RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)

The Broncos needed to overhaul their running back room, and did so with RJ Harvey in the second round.

In addition to Harvey, they also added J.K. Dobbins, who had 195 carries for 905 yards and nine touchdowns last season in 13 games with the Chargers.

Of course, Dobbins is often injured, but what gets me excited about Harvey in his Broncos offense is head coach Sean Payton’s willingness to throw passes to the position.

Over his coaching career, we’ve seen the emergence of Pierre Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Darren Sproles.

Harvey, who caught 61 passes over the past three seasons, will get a chance to eat into the 68 targets left behind by former Broncos running back Javonte Williams.

By the way, those 68 targets were second on the team.

Dobbins being around certainly hurts the value a bit, but his average draft position (ADP) will be down, and I’m going after him in drafts accordingly.

Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)

Going No. 36 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, it should come as no surprise when general manager Andrew Berry refers to Quinshon Judkins as a “bell-cow runner.”

The team does have Jerome Ford, and they also drafted Dylan Sampson, but when it’s all said and done, Judkins will lead this team in carries. He’s a borderline fantasy RB2.

There hasn’t been a lot of Browns training camp news about Judkins, but his early draft capital suggests he’ll have a chance at being the early-down back, at the very least.

I’ll be curious to see if the Browns use Judkins in the passing game. He did catch 59 passes in college, but he’s not exactly known for his pass-catching prowess.

Judkins has top-15 upside based on talent alone, but we must also consider the other backs on the Browns’ depth chart and the Browns’ offensive line (which isn’t great). We’ll also have to wait and see on his passing game usage.

Still, Judkins is worth considering as a borderline RB2.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)

For this final pick, I wanted to go further down the draft board. Interestingly enough, I landed on the final running back selected in the 2025 NFL Draft in Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

When I look at this Commanders depth chart, I’m not exactly “scared” of the competition, but there is, admittedly, a lot of it ahead of Croskey-Merritt.

Brian Robinson Jr. was just inside the top 30 in PPR leagues and Austin Ekeler is now 30 years old. I do prefer Croskey-Merritt over Jeremy McNichols, though.

Croskey-Merritt had an interesting (to say the least) college career. He played just one game last season due to eligibility issues, but he is a player who will be productive once given a chance.

Croskey-Merritt is an explosive player. He played just one game in 2024 but had 13 carries for 106 yards. In 2023, with New Mexico, he had 189 carries for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Croskey-Merritt was also the MVP of the East-West Shrine Bowl, rushing for 97 yards and two scores.

The Commanders’ rookie back has the potential to be highly impactful in 2025, especially later in the season.