For the first time in league history, all the players in the NFL are in the best shape of their lives. Okay, all players except maybe Deebo Samuel. I’m joking, but based on the amount of hype circulating, it doesn’t seem far off. Even with all the noise, we need to focus on who the fantasy football community is still sleeping on. If you can find one of these sleeper RBs that pans out, these are the players that win championships and make a good roster into a great one.
Sleepers have many different definitions depending on who you ask. When discussing running backs, I primarily try to identify players in ambiguous situations. More often than not, these are the RB2s on their team to start the season. So, without further ado, here are running back sleepers for 2025.
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Fantasy Football Draft Advice: Running Back Sleepers
The only “starting” back on this list is second-year back Tyrone Tracy Jr. The converted receiver was selected in the fifth round of last year’s draft. From Week 5 on (12 games), Tracy managed to have seven top 20 weeks at the position. Considering the Giants averaged the second-fewest points per game (16.1 points/game) and third-fewest yards per game (294.8 yards/game), that’s pretty impressive.
Converting from the receiver position, it’s no surprise that Tracy flourishes in the receiving game and can make plays in the open field. This season, they drafted fan-favorite Cam Skattebo in the fourth round. Skattebo, known for his angry running and silky hands, is currently sitting out with a hamstring injury. Despite early buzz indicating he could be the thunder to Tracy’s lightning, Skattebo is a liability in pass protection. Consistently, one of the most common reasons for rookie RBs to be benched is failing at pass protection. As a result, I think Tracy is the clear lead back, and his RB29 average draft position (ADP) is still pulled down by the team drafting Skattebo.
A pass-catching back on a team that doesn’t project to win a lot of games, makes Tyrone Tracy a sneaky RB2 candidate. However, I also want to mention Devin Singletary, who has been a solid veteran back for years and has the trust of the coaching staff. Although the path to fantasy relevance is clouded, I think he will be the Thunder over Skattebo.
This selection isn’t your normal kind of sleeper. In fact, the dream for Tuten was alive and well until Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne knocked it out cold. So now we are in this unconscious sleep, where I’m going to remind you to hold onto hope.
Tuten was the second pick of the fourth round in this year’s draft. Coming from Virginia Tech, Tuten is 5’9″, 206lbs, and runs a 4.32 40-yard dash. Known for his explosive speed and physical running, Tuten possesses a lot of the key traits to succeed in the NFL. The issue is that he struggles with ball security. We all know fumbles are a one-way ticket into the Head Coach’s dog house.
So far, Tuten has missed part of training camp with a hamstring issue, but was able to return for the first preseason game. This game showed that he is firmly behind both Tank Bigbsy and Travis Etienne. Surprisingly, he was the fourth back to get snaps, behind pass-catching rookie LeQuint Allen, who had one snap in the first half. In this game, Tuten still managed to be productive, rushing six times for 24 yards and a score, as well as catching both of his targets for 16 yards.
I do not believe Tuten is worth drafting in most leagues. If he is drafted, the manager will likely be impatient and drop him after a few weeks. I believe Tuten’s value will come over the second half of the season. Whether a result of Etienne or Bigbsy missing time, or creating explosive plays when he does receive touches. If he can manage to get consistent touches down the stretch, the path is there for him to become this year’s playoff Jonathan Taylor or Bucky Irving.
Wright is one of my favorite players to draft in Best Ball formats. The third-round selection from 2024 is competing for the secondary role behind De’Von Achane. His first look at the role in the preseason game had mixed results. Unfortunately, it was highlighted by his inability to convert on the goalline three times in a row. Yikes.
Why am I interested in the thunder role to Achane’s lightning? How quickly we forget what Raheem Mostert was able to do in a complementary role. In 2023, he finished as the RB2 overall, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. That wasn’t too long ago. This role is now primed for the taking, and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Wright is a mirror image of Mostert. Mostert entered the league at 5’10”, 212lbs, and ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash. Wright, 5’10”, 210lbs, and ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. They might as well be the same person.
Since that incredible season with Mostert and Achane, the Dolphins have begun to crumble. As a result, I’m not calling for Wright to have 18 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Alexander Mattison has suffered a neck injury that will end his season. Wishing a speedy recovery to Mattison, his injury makes Wright a steal at his RB56 ADP. Wright could be in line for weekly touches and could easily become a weekly flex play if this offense starts humming.
Rutgers alumnus Kyle Monangai has been gaining traction in the fantasy community. All reports out of camp have been positive, with the belief that he has surpassed Roschon Johnson as the second back on the depth chart. Johnson is dealing with a minor injury and missed their first preseason game, so there wasn’t much to take away on where the two backs are relative to each other. However, in his limited action, Monangai had six carries for 30 yards, including a powerful first-down pickup deep in the red zone.
Outside of rookies, all of the starters sat for the first preseason game. This included D’Andre Swift being listed as the starter on this team to open the season. All reports are that the veteran rusher has earned the top role and will split touches with whoever the second back is. This isn’t the first time that Head Coach Ben Johnson has worked with Swift, originally working with him in Detroit as recently as 2023. Much like the offseason in 2023, Johnson has sung Swift’s praises, often referring to his big-play ability and explosiveness. Back in 2023, Swift and David Montgomery shared the backfield. Montgomery led the team in carries inside the five, scoring on eight of his 17 attempts. Swift also saw substantial work inside the five, but only converting four of 14 attempts. In 2024, his redzone efficiency was abysmal, scoring on two of nine attempts for a total of -2 yards. In comparison, Roschon scored on six of his nine attempts.
The reason I wanted to discuss Swift’s historical inefficiency on the goal-line is that’s where Monangai should immediately find his biggest impact on the field. If he continues to hold off on Johnson, he will have this role. We have also heard Ben Johnson come out and praise Monangai’s versatility, saying he is a guy they can trust come the fall. This wouldn’t be the first time a seventh-round Rutgers back can break onto the fantasy scene. It may take an injury to Swift to replicate Isiah Pacheco‘s success, but Monagai is poised to gain the trust of the team and be the main downhill runner. That’s some tantalizing upside for a guy going as the RB59 in current ADP.
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