Everyone would love to snag a top-five fantasy option at running back, but the draft spot a gamer holds can often dictate who’s available. As a result, the following two must-have fantasy football running backs have an Underdog average draft position (ADP) outside of the top- 72 picks, making them available to anyone, regardless of their draft position.
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Fantasy Football Must-Have Running Backs
Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT): 76.4 Underdog ADP
Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell formed a stellar one-two duo for the Steelers in 2025, and the latter is now a free agent, while the former signed a contract extension through the 2027 season in September. Warren rewarded the Steelers for extending him.
According to the Fantasy Points data suite, among 74 running backs with at least 40 rush attempts in 2025, including the playoffs, Warren was…
- 21st in rushing yards per game (58.9)
- T-28th in yards per carry (4.49)
- 27th in explosive run rate (4.5%)
- 25th in success rate (52.9%)
- 26th in stuff rate (43.0%)
- T-9th in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.21)
- 25th in rushing touchdowns (six)
- 21st in half-PPR points per game (11.9)
- 21st in expected half-PPR points per game (12.3)
Despite the RB2 finish, even with Gainwell cutting into his opportunities, Warren is the RB26 in Underdog ADP. Moreover, if Gainwell signs elsewhere, Warren could see an uptick in receiving work, which would be a boost for his fantasy value, even if it’s at the expense of a few carries. Warren isn’t a slouch in the passing game.
Among 69 running backs with at least 75 routes in 2025, Warren was…
- 27th in target share (8.0%)
- T-9tj in targets per route run (0.25 TPRR)
- T-26th in targets per game (2.6)
- T-12th in receptions (41 at 2.4 per game)
- 16th in receiving yards per game (19.8)
- 5th in yards per route run (1.90 YPRR)
- T-14th in receiving touchdowns (two)
Warren demonstrated he can be effective and relatively efficient on a 200+ carry workload, and he’s an efficient receiver. He should be the favorite to lead Pittsburgh’s backfield off a career year, and he’s a bargain as an RB2 with an RB3 ADP.
Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX): 87.9 Underdog ADP
Bhayshul Tuten never overtook Travis Etienne on the depth chart for the Jaguars. Nevertheless, he had some eye-catching underlying stats in his opportunities, and Etienne is a free agent. Furthermore, Etienne’s efficiency, as it has throughout his career, dipped as the 2025 season wore on.
The Jaguars could re-sign Etienne, but Tuten could lead the backfield in 2026 if the Jaguars opt for a cheaper veteran alternative in free agency or another late-round pick to join Tuten and LeQuint Allen.
Among 74 running backs with at least 40 rush attempts in 2025, Tuten was third in success rate (59.8%), sixth in stuff rate (37.9%) and 19th in yards after contact per attempt (2.43). Tuten’s ability to avoid getting stuffed and gain yards after contact is ideal around the goal line, and Tuten punched in five rushing touchdowns in 16 games as a rookie.
Tuten also has a drool-inducing athletic profile.
Bhayshul Tuten was drafted in round 4 pick 104 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.55 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 95 out of 2106 RB from 1987 to 2025. https://t.co/8YPaqeP1Yp pic.twitter.com/NsdT22Og6Z
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 26, 2025
Tuten’s elite speed translated to only a 2.3% explosive run rate. Still, explosive runs require more than blazing speed from a running back, and run blocking is part of the equation. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the Jaguars were mid-pack in run blocking, ranking 15th.
There’s room for improvement for Jacksonville’s run blocking, and Tuten’s already demonstrated a superb ability to generate successful runs and gain positive yards. The next step is adding more explosive runs to the profile. Tuten taking a step forward in his sophomore year is a low-cost investment, and his RB29 ADP has plenty of room for him to provide excess value.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
