Rookie Running Backs to Draft or Fade (2025 Fantasy Football)

Before the 2025 NFL Draft kicked off, I released an article titled How to Value Rookies Pre-Draft (2025 Fantasy Football) to provide some insight into the approach for rookies in dynasty and pre-draft best ball fantasy football formats.

The first-year talent that has entered the league over the past few seasons warrants excitement because guys are hitting the ground running for fantasy football. The list is impressive: Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Bucky Irving, Brock Bowers, Xavier Worthy, Ladd McConkey, Jalen McMillan, Tyrone Tracy, C.J. Stroud, Zay Flowers, Sam LaPorta, Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Drake London, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jonathan Taylor, Jaylen Waddle, Najee Harris, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Let’s look at fantasy football rookie running backs and how you should value them for 2025 redraft leagues.

Rookie Running Backs to Draft or Fade

Below you will find some rookie ADP comparisons from pre- and post-draft, which were obviously impacted by draft capital and team landing spot.

All in all, I think this RB class presents a lot of great values from top to bottom. Jeanty has sticker shock, but the floor justifies his ADP. I think that Jake Ceily from the Athletic has made a great comparison with Jeanty to Bijan Robinson‘s rookie year. Didn’t quite match RB3 expectations, but wasn’t a bust either. But you know who were busts? The two RBs picked directly before and after him in 2023. Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb. Both were busts. In fact, Robinson was better than 6 of the 7 RBs drafted closest to him.

That being said, I do think the gap between Hampton and Jeanty is too large. Hampton’s ADP should climb as Harris misses time.

The second-round RBs are probably the ones most difficult to pay off their ADPs (aside from Judkins, whose ADP is in flux). We’ve seen both coaching staffs implement committees, and that might cause frustration with fantasy RB2 expectations out of the gate.

Hence why Kaleb Johnson is my must-have rookie RB. Same upside as the Round 2 guys. Not the same price. Round 6.

Skattebo and Tuten are good prices for essentially “Round 3 RBs,” although it doesn’t make too much of a difference whether they were Round 3 or 4 backs when it comes to their production. Just impacts the suppressed price.

My remaining favorite Day 3 rookie RBs are listed out below, many of which were featured in my Rookie Draft Sleepers: Running Back piece back in the spring.

Rookie RB Targets:

Ashton Jeanty (LV)
Omarion Hampton (LAC)
Kaleb Johnson (PIT)
Cam Skattebo (NYG)
Bhayshul Tuten (JAC)
Trevor Etienne (CAR)
Jarquez Hunter (LAR)
Dylan Sampson (CLE)
Brashard Smith (KC)
Kyle Monangai (CHI)
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS)

But the TLDR version:

Trevor Etienne (CAR) – Was not high enough on him pre- or post-draft as a 4th-round pick. If Rico Dowdle is nothing more than a JAG, Etienne is carving out a role on passing downs alongside Chuba Hubbard.
Jarquez Hunter (LAR) – Blake Corum is Kyren Williams 2.0. Hunter is the explosive big-play complement to both of them.
Dylan Sampson (CLE) – See the Judkins section above.
Brashard Smith (KC) – Former WR, wheels up in the Jerick McKinnon role.
Kyle Monangai (CHI) – Zero-nonsense rusher. If D’Andre Swift and/or Roschon Johnson don’t pan out, Monangai can deliver.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) – Austin Ekeler is past his prime, and Brian Robinson Jr. is fine. Bill (yes, that is what Croskey-Merritt prefers to be called) is vastly underrated and gives MORE if the Commanders need more from their backfield.