Fantasy Football Breakouts: Isiah Pacheco, Christian McCaffrey, TreVeyon Henderson

Finding the right fantasy football RB sleepers and breakout running backs can be the key to dominating your draft and winning your league. That’s why our collection of Featured Pros experts has put together this list of undervalued backs and potential league-winners for the 2025 season. From late-round steals who could deliver RB2 production to breakout running backs ready to become every-week starters, these expert picks are based on in-depth analysis of training camp buzz, preseason performance, and advanced stats. Whether you’re searching for fantasy football sleepers at RB, hunting for upside, or looking to lock in the next big breakout star, this list will give you the edge you need to build a championship roster.

Running Back Sleepers & Breakouts in 2025

Which one player inside the top 35 of our half-PPR consensus RB rankings has the greatest return on investment potential in 2025??

Isiah Pacheco (KC)

“I am expecting a rebound season from Isiah Pacheco. We have to look at the signals from the Kansas City front office. They didn’t bring in any major or notable competition for him at RB, which indicates that they have a lot of confidence that a healthy Pacheco can bounce back in 2025.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)

Christian McCaffrey (SF)

“He’s no sleeper, but it has to be Christian McCaffrey, right? We’re getting an injury discount, and he could easily finish as the overall RB1 if he stays healthy. Since coming to San Francisco in a midseason deal in 2022, McCaffrey has averaged 19.8 touches, 115.5 yards from scrimmage and 1.0 touchdowns per game with the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan’s system is extremely RB-friendly, and Shanny loves feeding CMC the ball. This isn’t necessarily an endorsement, however. McCaffrey is 29 now, and the injury risk is undeniable – he’s played fewer than eight games in three of the last five years.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

TreVeyon Henderson (NE)

“I’ll go to TreVeyon Henderson as a bit of a price shot to work to a split equity and eventually become the No. 1 over Stevenson in NE. Ball security issues plagued Stevenson last year (seven fumbles). The contract that he signed won’t save his reps with Vrabel calling the shots.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)