Of all the fantasy football positions, the running back position is arguably the most valuable. While wide receivers are always a top asset for PPR leagues, finding stable or breakout running backs can really put your team over the hump and ahead of the competition.
Below, I’ll use FantasyPros’ ADP data to examine players going RB3-ish range that have the potential to rank inside the top 12 when the season ends.
Spoiler: They’re all rookies.
Let’s check them out.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football RB3s with RB1 Potential
RJ Harvey (RB – DEN) | ADP: RB25
Harvey’s going just on the outskirts of RB2 range at RB25, and I’m highly intrigued by him. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round, Harvey will get a chance to be “the guy.”
Of course, the addition of J.K. Dobbins is certainly worth noting, but Harvey is head coach Sean Payton’s guy, as evidenced by a top-60 pick.
Over his final two college seasons, Harvey ran 458 times for 2,993 yards and 38 touchdowns. He has come a long way in catching ability, too, catching 39 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns in that same span.
Payton has even mentioned Harvey as potentially being in a “Joker” role. That role is reserved for tight ends or running backs who are rare receivers, per Payton.
We also can’t forget that Payton drafted Alvin Kamara, and Harvey could get that kind of treatment. Harvey ran with the starters to start the preseason, too.
Dobbins played in 13 games last season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He ran 195 times for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. He also has a lengthy injury history, but he will still be involved.
That said, Harvey has the potential to be an RB1, and I think he has a good chance of achieving that.
Jaydon Blue (RB – DAL) | ADP: RB42
Blue is going outside of RB3 range at RB42, but this is too good of a situation to overlook.
Blue is on a running back depth chart alongside Javonte Williams, Phil Mafah, and Miles Sanders. Sorry, but I’m just not at all threatened by Williams when it comes to Blue’s potential role.
Blue was drafted in the fifth round out of Texas, where he was highly effective. In his final season, he ran 134 times for 730 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He also caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns.
He hasn’t really experienced a full workload, but he has pass-catching ability. He’s in the 20th percentile or less in height or weight, but was 95th percentile in speed, running a 4.38 40-yard dash.
Williams has been ineffective lately, averaging 3.7 yards per carry or less in each of the last two seasons.
If Blue gets some run, with his pass-catching ability, in this Cowboys offense, he could soar.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS) | ADP: RB56
The ADP for Croskey-Merritt is low now, but I expect this to climb quite quickly.
Why? Well, the Commanders are looking to trade Brian Robinson Jr.
When he’s gone, the team will have Austin Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, Kazmeir Allen, and Demetric Felton.
The only other player to be concerned with is Ekeler, but at this point in his career, he won’t get the bulk of the carries.
Croskey-Merritt played just one game of college football last season due to eligibility concerns, but he showed up at the East-West Shrine Bowl and won the MVP award for the game. In that game, he ran 11 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
He’s an explosive player, rushing 189 times for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023 with New Mexico. In the one game he played for Arizona last season, he ran 13 times for 106 yards and one touchdown.
He’s never been asked to catch passes, but this seventh-round pick is about to be in for a sizable workload if Robinson Jr. is dealt and the Commanders don’t add anyone at running back. Keep your eye on him. If he gets on the field in a meaningful way, we could see a massive season.
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