Chasing upside is the name of the game when building a championship-winning fantasy football roster. Whether you’re looking for breakout stars, league-winning late-round picks, or high-risk, high-reward talents, targeting players with massive ceilings can be the difference between a good team and a great one. To help you identify this year’s top boom-or-bust candidates, we’ve gathered insights from our collection of Featured Pros experts. These analysts have pinpointed their favorite high-upside players for the 2025 fantasy football season. Check out the running backs who could explode and become true difference-makers. Let’s dive into the expert picks.
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High-Upside Fantasy Football Draft Picks: Running Backs
Running Backs
Which RB comes with the most upside at his current positional half-PPR ADP and which player(s) would you pass on with a higher ADP at his position?
Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
“Jordan Mason is the RB34 in ADP and one of my favorite draft targets this season. Last year, he was the RB5 over the first month, averaging 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 16.9 or more in all but one contest. While the veteran struggled with injuries, Mason was outstanding when healthy. More importantly, he has a real chance to steal significant work from Aaron Jones in 2025. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mason had a better explosive run rate (7.8% vs. 3.5%) and missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22% vs. 11%) than Jones in 2024. Don’t be surprised if he starts as the No. 2 running back with a role at the goal line and eventually forces the Vikings to use a 50-50 split with Jones or takes over as the starter. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaylen Warren, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. have a higher ADP than Mason. Yet, I would take him over all three without hesitation.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Jordan Mason is currently RB37 and being drafted outside of the top 100. The offensive line changes with one of the top offensive coordinators in the league, sign me up. Vikings have been one of the top offenses in football for several years. I don’t see JJ McCarthy as a downgrade to Sam Darnold. I want pieces of these offenses, especially at this value. RB2 with RB4 prices.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
“The RB comes with the most upside at his current positional half-PPR ADP is Omarion Hampton. Although he is a rookie, he is in a position to take the starting job in week 1 due to the eye injury to Najee Harris. Even if there is an early split in carries, Hampton’s bruising running style and goal-line opportunities will earn him most of the carries as the season progresses. The player that I would pass on with a higher ADP at his position is Breece Hall (RB-NYJ). Hall is talented, but I’m afraid of taking a high draft pick that is likely in a running back by committee situation. And when facing tough defenses, Hall tends to be held in check.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
“Few RBs have the immense upside that Omarion Hampton does. Hampton (aka The Hammer) has the potential to be a rare bell-cow RB due to his size, receiving prowess, and first-round draft pedigree. That’s not happening with many RBs going before him (mainly due to the situations they’re in) such as: Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Chase Brown, Bucky Irving, James Cook, Alvin Kamara, and Kyren Williams, etc., who I’d pass on for Hampton. Omarion could start off under the radar in fantasy leagues, but by later in the year, he might very well be leading shrewd drafters to titles. With a current ADP at RB 17, Ringo thinks it’s “Hammer time”. Ringo’s comp- Omarion Hampton reminds me of former Steelers’ all-pro RB, Barry Foster.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)
“Kaleb Johnson. The Steelers fed Najee Harris an average of 274 carries (16.1 per game) over the last four years. There’s a good chance Kaleb slides right into Najee’s role, and the rookie may well be an upgrade over the veteran. I’d draft Kaleb over Joe Mixon, David Montgomery, D’Andre Swift, and Tony Pollard.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson has tremendous upside in the Steelers’ offense this season. The 6-foot-1 and 224-pound RB fits Arthur Smith’s scheme perfectly and has ample backfield touches to soak up in Pittsburgh. Smith’s offense feeds running backs, and with Najee Harris gone (nearly 300 touches vacated), Johnson will EAT once he climbs the depth chart. He led this entire rookie class in career dominator rating (33%) and posted 1,500+ yards, 21 TDs, and 6.4 YPC in 2024 (zero fumbles). The former Iowa Hawkeye running back is an ideal 1-2 punch with incumbent Jaylen Warren. I’d draft Johnson over Isiah Pacheco, TreVeyon Henderson, and Tony Pollard.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)
“R.J. Harvey priced as the RB22 is a steal. Harvey is set to explode in his rookie season. The runway is clear for takeoff. Sean Payton just put second-round capital behind a back that enters a room with Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, and J.K. Dobbins. No, I’m not worried about Estime or McLaughlin when they couldn’t carve out consistent roles last year with only the ghost of Javonte Williams standing in their way. Dobbins will assist Harvey on early downs so Denver doesn’t run their talented rookie into the ground, but I don’t project him taking away passing down work or high-leverage opportunities. It’s hard not to love a player like Harvey, who has 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 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. I’m drafting Harvey over David Montgomery, Joe Mixon, Chuba Hubbard, James Cook, and fellow rookie Omarion Hampton.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
James Conner (RB – ARI)
“I love James Conner at his current ADP and believe he is being taken at least a round too late. Conner was a top ten back last season, with the Cardinals making no changes to their offense and Conner signing a sizeable new contract. I would take him well ahead of Kenneth Walker. Walker averaged just 3.7 YPC behind an offensive line that remains one of the league’s worst, while Zach Charbonnet takes the vast majority of receiving snaps.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAC)
“At this stage in the offseason, Travis Etienne is a massive value. His current ADP is RB33, which means he’s valued at his sub-basement floor. His price does not consider the possibility that he’s a full-time starter, which is likely, nor does it factor in his stranglehold on the Jags’ passing game volume. Conversely, I’m passing on Joe Mixon as RB19. A terrible offensive line, a lingering injury, and the threat of Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks is enough for me to avoid Mixon at cost in drafts this year.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)
“Even with his stock rising relatively quickly, the potential around Cam Skattebo is particularly interesting even at low-end RB3 (RB36) cost. Skattebo will be in a split with Tyrone Tracy Jr., yet high leverage touches could go the way of Skattebo, specifically at the goal line. His knack for being a north-south bruiser will make him appealing to the Giants pretty quickly, and goal-line reps could make him a very nice source of reliable touchdowns. The upside of Skattebo is significantly greater than the likes of Najee Harris and Travis Etienne, both with higher ADPs at the RB position.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
“Chuba Hubbard is currently the RB18 (half PPR), making him a steal at this position. Last year, he was left for dead when they drafted Jonathon Brooks, and all he did was rush for 1195 yards and 10 touchdowns. Not much has changed in Carolina; if anything, they are improved, which will take pressure off of Hubbard. Owners can consider drafting him before higher-ranked players like Omarion Hampton (committee backfield), James Cook (touchdown regression), and Chase Brown (although they are quite close).”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
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