Dynasty Running Backs Experts Avoid (Fantasy Football)

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

Dynasty Fantasy Football Advice: Running Backs to Avoid

David Montgomery (RB – DET)

David Montgomery could be hard-pressed to turn a profit on his low-end RB2 ADP. He shares work with Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the most talented RBs in the league. Montgomery has averaged 16.8 and 15.8 touches a game in Gibbs’ first two seasons. I’ll bet the under on 15.8 touches a game for Montgomery in 2025, as I expect an uptick in Gibbs’ usage. We could also see a dip in Montgomery’s TD total. He’s scored 13 and 12 touchdowns the last two years, as the Lions ranked first and fifth in scoring those two seasons. If the Lions scale back Montgomery’s usage to give Gibbs more snaps, or if the Detroit offense has hiccups after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears, Monty’s TD total could slip. He’s a quality running back, but I see Montgomery as more of an RB3 than an RB2.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)

Hall is young (24), talented and versatile, but new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn keeps talking about using multiple running backs this season. It’s also worth noting that Hall had trouble against good run defenses last year. He faced four run defenses that were top 10 in DVOA against the run last season and averaged 34.8 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry in those four contests. Hall has amassed nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage over the last two years, but he looks like a somewhat risky play for 2025.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Joe Mixon (RB – HOU)

Mixon volume-hogged his way to an RB8 finish last year. Last year, he ranked 14th in snap share, fifth in opportunity share, 17th in weighted opportunity, and sixth in red zone touches. The efficiency aspect hasn’t been there, and I doubt that it will change in 2025 with another year of touches hitting the body odometer. Last year, he ranked 22nd in explosive run rate, 38th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 29th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). The Texans added Nick Chubb and Woody Marks this offseason to help out on early downs and in the passing game. With Mixon continuing to deal with a foot injury that has him sidelined for an extended period of time right now, he’s a tough player to get excited about drafting. Mixon has tumbled into risky RB2/3 territory, and I’m avoiding him in most of my drafts this year.
– Derek Brown

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