Finding the right running backs can make or break your fantasy football season, and in 2025, the margin for error is smaller than ever. Whether you’re drafting early-round studs or searching for mid-to-late-round gems, identifying the running backs who can truly swing a league is the key to building a championship roster. To help you make those crucial decisions, we’ve gathered insights from our collection of Featured Pros experts, who have analyzed every angle — from offensive schemes and depth charts to advanced metrics and historical trends.
Below, you’ll find the running backs our experts believe have the upside, opportunity, and talent to become true league-winners in 2025. These are the players who could outperform their average draft position (ADP) cost and carry your fantasy football team to the title.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football League-Winning RBs to Target
What one running back outside the top 20 in our consensus half-PPR RB ADP has the most league-winning upside?
RJ Harvey (DEN)
“Ignoring injury-contingent upside, I’m going to go with another rookie in RJ Harvey. The Broncos’ backfield ranked 12th in the NFL in expected half-PPR points last season, and their offense should only be better in year two for Bo Nix. Veteran J.K. Dobbins will probably be involved, but it’s not outside the range of outcomes that the 60th overall pick consolidates the vast majority of the valuable work in Sean Payton’s offense. We don’t know Harvey’s true talent level yet, but we do know that he is an explosive athlete and a capable pass-catcher, two keys to an elite upside season.”
– Ted Chmyz (Fantasy SP)
“Tough call, but I’ll cast a vote for RJ Harvey. Historically, running backs in Sean Payton’s offenses have generated immense fantasy value, even though it’s often a two-way backfield. Harvey could cede some work to J.K. Dobbins and still smash. He’s a good pass-catcher, he’ll be operating behind one of the better offensive lines in the league, and the Broncos should have no trouble scoring touchdowns this year.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“If we are strictly talking league-winning upside, it is tough to beat what RJ Harvey could be in fantasy this year, particularly in the second half of the season. Generally speaking, to be a league-winning back, you need to catch passes, something Sean Payton has provided his backs throughout his career. I expect Harvey to have a slower start to the season, splitting time with J.K. Dobbins. Following the bye week, however, we often see rookies get more involved, which would put Harvey in a prime position heading into the fantasy playoffs. Additionally, Dobbins has an extensive injury history. Should he go down, Harvey would be expected to immediately handle a heavy workload.”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
“Let’s not make this difficult. The answer here has been and remains RJ Harvey. Harvey is set to explode in his rookie season. The runway is clear for take-off. 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 Pro Football Focus (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. Harvey could finish as a top-shelf RB1 this season.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Kaleb Johnson (PIT)
“Kaleb Johnson seems very cheap with his current ADP at RB 27. He’s got size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and plays faster than his 4.57 40 time suggests. Despite the possibility that Kaleb might not be a big factor in the passing game, he’s still very talented. Maturity issues caused him to slip to Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s considered a first-round talent by many scouts. Johnson reminds me of former Chiefs All-Pro back Larry Johnson.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“The Steelers are a dream fit for rookie running back Kaleb Johnson to deliver league-winning upside. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound back 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 touchdowns and 6.4 yards per carry (YPC) in 2024 (and zero fumbles). The former Iowa Hawkeye running back is an ideal 1-2 punch with incumbent Jaylen Warren.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Isiah Pacheco (KC)
“Beyond the unique situation of Quinshon Judkins (with obvious upside if he gets on the field), I’m collecting lots of Isiah Pacheco. The fourth-year Chief was less than a full season into controlling backfield work when he broke a leg in Week 2 last year. I’m ignoring the post-injury production because Andy Reid already told us Pacheco returned too early. Instead, I’ll look back at Pacheco’s RB15 finish in points per game in 2023— the last time he was healthy. And I’ll look at how the Chiefs added only Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith this offseason, indicating they believe that Pacheco is back. Yes, I know he has shared first-team work with Kareem Hunt. But come on. Hunt delivered the fifth-worst rush yards over expectation per attempt last year, ranking right between Gus Edwards and Alexander Mattison. Hunt makes sense as a security blanket. But I’m happy to bet Pacheco pulls ahead during the season. Finally, the Chiefs look poised for a scoring rebound. The team finished seven out of the past eight years among the top nine in yards, but enters this year off two straight No. 15 ranks in scoring. A stronger, healthier wide receiver corps — plus Pacheco’s return — raises the ceiling for the whole unit.”
– Matt Schauf (Draft Sharks)
Travis Etienne (JAC) | Tank Bigsby (JAC)
“It’s the Jaguars’ backs, both Travis Etienne (RB33) and Tank Bigsby (RB41). I’m not sure which one will be more valuable, but both have insane upside at their current ADP. On one hand, Etienne could reprise his workhorse-like role from two years ago and volume his way to a high-end RB2 finish. At the very least, his passing game usage should help him significantly surpass his ADP. On the other hand, the hype train for Bigsby is out of control. His ADP is sure to rise, but it’s unlikely to rise beyond his perceived value, which is a dark horse RB1 candidate. Regardless, I’m betting on both of these backs this season. One could crush with contingent upside in play if the other were to go down, but both should be at least serviceable and flirt with RB2 production if they remain healthy and work together in an improved Jacksonville offense.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
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