It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here. The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now rookie drafts are flying off the shelf. Before you dive headfirst into our fantasy football mock draft simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positional primers.
Check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings as you prepare for your leagues. Here is my dynasty rookie draft primer for running backs, including my stats, my scouting report, and player comp. Enjoy.
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Dynasty Rookie Running Back Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 1
Jeremiyah Love (RB – ARI)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 11th
- Breakaway rate: 4th
- PFF elusive rating: 13th
- Yards per route run: 17th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 11th
- Breakaway rate: 13th
- PFF elusive rating: 2nd
- Yards per route run: 36th
Scouting Report:
- Jeremiyah Love glides across the field. He has instant and easy elite acceleration. Love will momentarily pause after receiving a handoff with some runs before exploding upfield. He has the burst to get away with it. Love also has backbreaking home run speed with the ability to house any carry or screen.
- Love has an amazing combination of vision, patience, contact balance, and power with his frame. Love has no issues letting blocks set up in front of him before weaving through traffic. With his frame, Love flashes impressive finishing power with runs and interior rushing skill. He won’t be a player that is pulled at the goalline for a bruising power option.
- He can string together tackle-breaking moves without losing speed with impressive fluidity. Love is a spin move samurai, deploying the move to churn out a few extra yards. He’s made plenty of defenders look silly in the process. His creativity at the second-level can be jaw-dropping with jump cuts, spin moves, and some insane hurdles.
- Love should be a passing game weapon from Day 1 in the NFL. Since 2024, he has aligned in the slot or out wide with 10.6-16.6% of his snaps. He was tasked with wheels and angle routes in addition to the usual flats and dumpoffs. Love can also align in the slot or on the perimeter. His explosive short-area agility allows him to run routes like a true wide receiver.
- Love’s pass pro still needs some refinement. He has the play strength and base to be a trusted pass pro option from the jump in the NFL. With many reps, he’ll physically push a defender off course or out of the play path, but he also needs to work on anchoring down or latching onto a defender and driving them into the dirt. His technique will improve with more coaching in the NFL, but he has the skills to become one of the league’s best in this area. Since 2024, he has amassed 118 pass blocking snaps (per PFF), allowing zero sacks or quarterback hits and only four pressures.
Player Comp: Reggie Bush
Dynasty Outlook: Jeremiah Love is headed to Arizona to be their unquestioned bell cow back. Yes, I expect Tyler Allgeier and James Conner to play a role in this backfield. I also wouldn’t rule out a trade for James Conner prior to Week 1. Allgeier could be a thorn in Love’s side in his rookie season, which hurts his absolute ceiling (much like he did in Atlanta), but Love will still lead the way for the Cards’ backfield. Trey Benson hope was extinguished with the selection of Love, though. Don’t overthink this, people. Love remains the CLEAR 1.01 in every rookie draft format and a top-five dynasty back. Arizona will upgrade its quarterback situation at some point. With Love and the other skill players on this roster, that quarterback will be in a good spot to succeed.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 2
Jadarian Price (RB – SEA)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 25th
- Breakaway rate: 31st
- PFF elusive rating: 15th
- Yards per route run: 1.23* (only 7 targets)*
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 5th
- Breakaway rate: 3rd
- PFF elusive rating: 39th
- Yards per route run: 0.10* (only 6 targets)*
- Only 18 targets in his collegiate career (0.81 YPRR)
Scouting Report:
- Price has easy and immediate acceleration. He doesn’t have a truly elite home run gear, but I won’t be surprised if his runs in the low to mid 4.4s in the 40 with a strong 10-yard split. The strong acceleration makes him appear shot out of a cannon on many runs.
- He’s a scheme-agnostic runner. Price has the contact balance and lower body strength to handle runs up the A gap while displaying the speed to consistently win the edge with stretch zone plays. Price has an awesome feel for pressing the line and exploding upfield. He can create yards for himself and make defenders look silly when he looks dead to rights with his short-area agility, vision, and decisiveness.
- Price is an adventure as a pass protector. He has more than a few reps where he was late on blitz pickup. If you’re asking him to redirect incoming rushers or chip a defender, Price looks competent, but tasking him with holding his area of grass and standing up a rusher is more of a tall order.
- Price has a limited resume as a pass catcher in college with only 18 targets, but when he was asked to catch passes, he displayed soft, dependable hands (zero drops) and looked comfortable doing so. He transitions well from receiver to runner immediately.
Player Comp: Rico Dowdle
Dynasty Outlook: Well, it happened. Jadarian Price got first-round draft capital. Did I see that actually happening? Nope, but it did, and it’s wonderful. Price’s NFL projection requires some squint and seeing with a heavy dash of hope, but so did the projection for the back that he is replacing (Kenneth Walker). I expect Price to immediately fill the Walker role in the Seattle offense. Yes, that was disappointing last year, but Price will have the luxury of some extra runway with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL. Price has the rushing talent and the faith of the coaching staff and front office (first-round draft capital) to take on more of the backfield work than Walker saw in 2025. Price is a top 6-8 rookie draft pick in Superflex and 1QB formats.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 3
Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 54th
- Breakaway rate: 91st
- PFF elusive rating: 61st
- Yards per route run: 24th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 13th
- Breakaway rate: 86th
- PFF elusive rating: 6th
- Yards per route run: 75th
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 1st
- Breakaway rate: 8th
- PFF elusive rating: 4th
- Yards per route run: 22nd
Scouting Report:
- Coleman has underrated power for his stature. He has average burst and pin balls off incoming defenders. His strong lower half serves him well as an interior runner. Coleman has good vision with plus short-area agility as he weaves through the second level of a defense with solid finishing power.
- Coleman is a one-speed runner who gets up to top gear quickly, but he lacks a home run gear. He could easily be a solid chunk gain author in the NFL, but the 60-yard knockout punches likely won’t be there. His vision and agility in a phone booth are how he wins with the ball in his hands.
- Coleman has some WOW moments on film in pass pro. He can anchor well with a solid base and has picked up some defenders off the ground in pass pro. Coleman will be a quarterback’s best friend in the NFL with his pass-pro skills. Across 278 collegiate pass pro snaps, he allowed only three sacks (one in his final three seasons) and nine hurries.
- He’s a trusted receiving option in the passing game with only one drop in college. He finished top-24 in Yards per route run in two of his last three seasons (minimum 20 targets).
- Coleman was proficient with a diet of flat routes and swing passes. He could expand his route tree in the NFL and become more of a weapon through the air, but his long speed limitations will probably cap his ceiling.
Player Comp: Kareem Hunt
Dynasty Outlook: The Denver Broncos selected Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. J.K. Dobbins returned to Denver on a two-year deal, which is essentially a one-year deal that they can get out of after the 2026 season. The Coleman selection is horrible news for R.J. Harvey, though. Harvey had a disappointing rookie season outside of running hot with touchdowns and soaking up volume after Dobbins’ injury last year. Coleman could eat into Harvey’s workload in 2026 if he can establish himself in camp and takeover as an integral member of the backfield in 2027 if the team moves on from Dobbins. Coleman is a strong pass protector and has underrated receiving chops. I’ll be taking shots on Coleman in the second round of rookie drafts this year.
Mike Washington Jr. (RB – LV)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 33rd
- Breakaway rate: 17th
- PFF elusive rating: 84th
- Yards per route run: 79th
Scouting Report:
- Washington has a stout, muscular frame. He’s an upright runner with solid contact balance and above-average burst with the long speed to hit a crease and take it to the house. In 2025, he was 12th in runs of 15 yards or more and 17th in breakaway rate. Washington has a starter/three-down skill set.
- Washington has solid but not outstanding lateral agility. He can make people miss and take advantage of cut-back opportunities with his nimble feet, but his hips are tight, which can limit him at times. Washington runs with power and can lower his shoulder when needed.
- Washington is a better pass catcher than his Yards per route run would suggest. He has a soft set of hands that led to only one drop in his final collegiate season. While he might never be a player that is “featured” in the passing game, he has the necessary skills to operate as a three-down back. Washington is already a solid pass protector. He has the play strength to hold his ground and the foot quickness to adjust to incoming rushers. Over the last two seasons (140 pass blocking snaps), he allowed only one sack and six hurries.
Player Comp: Chris Ivory
Dynasty Outlook: I hate hate hate the landing spot for Mike Washington Jr. I love his talent and the fact that he got fourth round draft capital (I wish he had gotten Day 2 capital, but it’s ok), but getting drafted to the Raiders that already have Ashton Jeanty on the depth chart is wretched. Washington Jr. should be considered the automatic RB2 on the depth chart and a high-end handcuff worth drafting in rookie drafts, especially if you already roster Ashton Jeanty. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get 100+ carries and some goalline work in his rookie season.
Emmett Johnson (RB – KC)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 125th
- MTF: 6th
- Breakaway rate: 117th
- PFF elusive rating: 52nd
- Yards per route run: 52nd
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 88th
- Breakaway rate: 118th
- PFF elusive rating: 61st
- Yards per route run: 33rd
Scouting Report:
- Johnson runs with an infectious energy on every carry. He gets up to top speed quickly with immediate acceleration, but he isn’t a burner. Johnson can author chunk plays, but I doubt he’ll have many 70-yard home runs in the NFL. He wins with vision, acceleration, and lateral agility.
- Johnson has displayed the ability to handle volume and be a workhorse. During his final collegiate season, in 83% of his games, he had at least 19 touches.
- Johnson’s superpower is his footwork and short-area agility. He’s a short area assassin with the ability to change directions on a dime and the feet to create yards on his own. Johnson runs like he chugs 12 Monsters and cheeks four Zyns weekly pregame. He can juke defenders out of their shoes while also having the contact balance to pinball off would-be tacklers.
- Johnson HAS TO improve his pass blocking to be trusted on passing downs. His lower body strength and ability to anchor are a problem. He’ll get blown out of his cleats at times by rushers. With 125 collegiate pass blocking snaps, he allowed 15 pressures. He can redirect rushers on occasion and chip them, but at this stage, it’s asking too much of him to hold his ground or bury a guy in the dirt.
- Johnson is a pass game weapon. He lined up in the slot or out wide on 18% of his snaps in 2025. He was deployed in 2025 with a smattering of screens, angle routes, and wheel routes with success. His short-area abilities translate well to his route running.
Player Comp: Austin Ekeler
Dynasty Outlook: One of my favorite backs in this class heads to Kansas City to fight for the RB2 position on the depth chart with Emari Demercado, Brashard Smith, and Jaydn Ott. Johnson is electricity in a bottle. I won’t be shocked if he wins that battle quickly in camp, but with his fifth-round draft capital and Kenneth Walker signed to a big deal this offseason, he’s only a handcuff worth stashing. He’ll have the most value in dynasty rookie drafts to the team that is rostering Kenneth Walker.
Kaelon Black (RB – SF)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 72nd
- Breakaway rate: 49th
- PFF elusive rating: 109th
- Yards per route run: 0.31* (*only seven targets)
Scouting Report:
- Black is a runway back that wins with speed, acceleration, and vision. He isn’t a powerful back capable of pushing the pile or stiff-arming defenders into the dirt. Black has the raw speed to hit a crease and take it the distance.
- He can get into trouble quickly in the backfield if contacted early in a play. Black isn’t a contact balance champ. He can be brought down with sufficient tackling technique. He’s a linear runner without a ton of wiggle. Black can make defenders pay in the second-level, though, with a full head of steam as he’ll run through some weak wraps or poor angles.
- Black was used sparingly as a receiver at Indiana, with only 12 targets in two seasons (48 receiving yards). He was decent (at best) in pass pro. He had only 64 pass blocking snaps over the last two years, in which he allowed three pressures and a sack.
Player Comp: Ty Chandler
Dynasty Outlook: We have been down this road with Kyle Shanahan too much to have a ton of faith. Shanahan’s track record with backs selected in the draft in round 3 or later since 2017 is HORRIBLE. Since 2017, he has helped the 49ers select Joe Williams, Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Tyrion Davis-Price, Isaac Guerendo, and Jordan James. Black is a runway back with the ability to break off some long plays. He’s a limited player, though, as a linear runner and unproven receiver. Black is a decent player to take a shot on in rookie drafts, but I WILL NOT overdraft him or steam him up because of the landing spot. This is a trap that we have fallen for way too many times as a dynasty community. It’s time to learn from past mistakes. Last year, Black didn’t even manage to make it into the top 40 FBS running backs in Yards after contact per attempt or breakaway rate.
Kaytron Allen (RB – WAS)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 36th
- Breakaway rate: 53rd
- PFF elusive rating: 32nd
- Yards per route run: 131st
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 94th
- Breakaway rate: 134th
- PFF elusive rating: 110th
- Yards per route run: 85th
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 78th
- Breakaway rate: 112th
- PFF elusive rating: 82nd
- Yards per route run: 105th
- 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 89th
- Breakaway rate: 119th
- PFF elusive rating: 55th
- Yards per route run: 66th
Scouting Report:
- Allen is built like a bowling ball. He has a low center of gravity, which helps him make a difficult wrap for defenders at times. He’s able to keep his legs churning and run through half-hearted tackling attempts. Allen is a patient back that allows his blockers to clear the road before he charges down it.
- Allen’s burst and raw speed are below-average. He’s at his best when getting downhill immediately and getting a head of steam built up. His lateral agility is lacking at times, so asking him to operate in a stretch zone-based scheme wouldn’t be ideal.
- With his limited athletic profile, Allen is a capped passing game option, but he can still operate as a valuable checkdown option. His route deployment will be limited, but he has soft hands with only one drop in his final season.
- His stature helps him in pass protection with a solid anchor. He can hold his own with incoming rushers bearing down, but speed rushers can give him issues. With his limited lateral agility, speed options can easily bypass him as they barrel toward the quarterback.
- Allen isn’t a make-you-miss type of back, but he can deploy a well-timed jump cut at times to get the job done. He’ll be heavily dependent upon his offensive line at the next level because he won’t be creating a ton of yards on his own (especially near the line of scrimmage).
Player Comp: Tony Jones
Dynasty Outlook: Kaytron Allen was selected by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. This backfield is a wide-open competition between Allen, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Jerome Ford. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them is named Week 1 starter when it’s all said and done. Ford and White are also on one-year deals, so the team could opt to run with Croskey-Merritt and Allen as the leaders of this backfield with multiple years of runway for them with the franchise. Allen is a decent dart throw at a possible Week 1 starting back.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 4
Nicholas Singleton (RB – TEN)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 152nd
- Breakaway rate: 143rd
- PFF elusive rating: 132nd
- Yards per route run: 39th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 56th
- Breakaway rate: 44th
- PFF elusive rating: 117th
- Yards per route run: 22nd
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 125th
- Breakaway rate: 140th
- PFF elusive rating: 150th
- Yards per route run: 15th
- 2022 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 3rd
- Breakaway rate: 1st
- PFF elusive rating: 33rd
- Yards per route run: 0.60* (only 17 targets*)
Scouting Report:
- Singleton can be tentative at the line at times. He’ll operate in a gap scheme more efficiently with clear running lanes with the play design (53% gap runs over his final two collegiate seasons). His vision isn’t horrible down-to-down, but it’s an area that could use some cleaning up.
- Singleton is a linear player who isn’t a violent or explosive mover when changing directions. His steps can get choppy at times as he loses speed in the process. Singleton isn’t a player who will juke you out of your socks. He’s a runner that isn’t going to create a ton of yards on his own.
- Singleton is a high-cut runner with the necessary upper-body strength to break loose wraps and tacklers that attack him high. The other side of the coin is also true, though. Singleton can be chopped down by tacklers aiming at his waist and below.
- Singleton has solid pass-pro skills. He works with a strong base. Singleton has plenty of reps where he stands up incoming rushers or redirects them out of the quarterback’s wheelhouse. With 173 collegiate pass blocking snaps, he allowed only three sacks and ten hurries.
- Singleton is an adequate check-down option in the passing game. He finished top 24 in Yards per route run among backs in two of his final three collegiate seasons. He lacks the change of direction ability and explosive short area agility to become a true pass game weapon with a varied route tree, but he should easily be a trusted option with swings and flat routes. Singleton cleaned up drops in his final season with only one after posting a 7.1% or higher drop rate in each of the previous three seasons.
Player Comp: C.J. Prosise
Dynasty Outlook: Nicholas Singleton arrives with the Titans via the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Singleton will start the process as the RB4 on the depth chart, but it wouldn’t shock me if he were Tony Pollard’s backup by Week 1. Pollard and Tyjae Spears are unrestricted free agents after the 2026 season. I know the odds are slim for a fifth-round pick to walk into the next season as the unquestioned starter for an NFL team, but Singleton could have that run out if everything breaks right for him in 2026. I’m lower on him as a talent, but he’s a decent upside bet that could be made cheaply in dynasty rookie drafts.
Seth McGowan (RB – IND)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 147th
- Breakaway rate: 159th
- PFF elusive rating: 127th
- Yards per route run: 113th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 40th
- Breakaway rate: 102nd
- PFF elusive rating: 23rd
- Yards per route run: 15th
Scouting Report:
- Downhill physical runner. McGowan runs like he’s mad at the ground. McGowan has no issues running through someone. He’s a linear, one-cut runner. Solid feel for how to press the line and access cut-back lanes. McGowan does offer some second-level creativity with his lateral agility and the ability to create more yards in space.
- McGowan isn’t a burner, but he does have enough raw speed to gain the edge with stretch zone plays consistently. He’s not a home run hitter with only 24 runs of at least 15 yards in his collegiate career (378 carries).
- I usually don’t discuss off-field issues unless they are extremely noteworthy here, which is the case for McGowan. He was dismissed from Oklahoma after being found guilty of larceny (one year probation).
- McGowan is a feisty pass protector. His technique needs work to become a solid option in this department in the NFL, but the effort is there. There are numerous reps where he holds his ground and regains his footing against an incoming defender with a strong second effort. He’ll drop his eyes and lunge at defenders at times.
- McGowan is a decent check-down option in the passing game with 1.56 collegiate Yards per route run. Despite his five drops in his final season, he offers a dependable set of soft hands out of the backfield.
Player Comp: Isiah Pacheco
Dynasty Outlook: Seth McGowan is truly trying to pull off his best Isiah Pacheco impression as a seventh-round selection in the NFL Draft (Colts). Yes, Jonathan Taylor is the bellcow for Indy, and I don’t see that changing, but the RB2 spot is up for grabs in Indy. I loved DJ Giddens as a prospect, but he was a ghost last year and not a shoo-in to be Taylor’s handcuff. McGowan is a free lottery ticket handcuff pick in dynasty rookie drafts. McGowan is an easy late-round rookie pick selection that you can stash on a taxi squad, and if he doesn’t get substantial work in year one, you can cut him loose. He’s 25 years old, so if he doesn’t fire out the gate in the NFL, it’s probably a situation where you’re cutting bait after year one.
Eli Heidenreich (RB – PIT)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS/FCS RBs, minimum 70 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 253rd
- Breakaway rate: 266th
- PFF elusive rating: 171st
- Yards per route run:1st
Scouting Report:
- Heidenreich was a Swiss army knife weapon for Navy. He finishes his collegiate career with 1,157 rushing yards (no more than 77 carries or 499 rushing yards in any season). In 2025, he also had 79 targets, 18.5 yards per reception, and 941 receiving yards.
- In 2025, Heidenreich spent 44.3% of his snaps in the backfield, 14.7% of them in the slot, and 32.9% as a perimeter wide receiver. His eventual home in the NFL is likely as a slot receiver. When utilized as a backfield/rushing option, it was as a motion player or getting him to the perimeter with toss plays. He didn’t operate with a heavy dose of traditional running back usage in the rushing department.
- As a receiver, he has legit route-running chops, and he can win from the perimeter. He has a serviceable release package, but he’ll need to continue to add to that tool belt and refine his footwork to work on the boundary. As a slot option, Heidenreich can already win against zone. He has a decent understanding of pacing against zone coverage and leverage.
Player Comp: Julian Edelman
Dynasty Outlook: The Navy standout and Pittsburgh native was selected by his hometown team in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Heidenreich has the raw athletic upside and versatility to squint and see a potential starting NFL slot receiver a few years down the road if everything works out in his favor. The chances of it coming to fruition are slim, so don’t overspend in any rookie draft. He’s a third or fourth round dart throw/taxi squad option only.
Demond Claiborne (RB – MIN)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 122nd
- Breakaway rate: 40th
- PFF elusive rating: 95th
- Yards per route run: 117th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 94th
- Breakaway rate: 130th
- PFF elusive rating: 93rd
- Yards per route run: 27th
Scouting Report:
- The backbone of Claiborne’s game is his raw speed (4.37 40 time). He’s a linear runner that can stomp the gas and manage explosive runs with this speed. Claiborne isn’t a twitchy player, though. Especially for a smaller back, he struggles with change of direction and has to utilize choppy steps to do so.
- Claiborne’s vision isn’t great. He lacks the patience at times to allow running lanes and blocks to develop in front of him. He routinely misses cutback lanes. He should be tasked with gap runs in the NFL that give him a well-defined running lane and allow him to get upfield quickly.
- He was just utilized as a checkdown option in college. He was mainly tasked with dump-offs and flat routes. He doesn’t have a trusty set of hands. In his final collegiate season, he had five fumbles and six drops.
- Claiborne struggles as a blocker. In pass pro, Claiborne’s size and lack of play strength show up. He’s unable to anchor or move incoming rushers out of the pocket. If he’s on the field in the NFL in passing down situations, he’ll be best deployed by running routes. Last year, with 42 pass blocking snaps, he allowed four hurries and four pressures.
Player Comp: Jason Huntley
Dynasty Outlook: The slender speedster was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Vikings. He enters a depth chart led by Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones. Jones hasn’t been the picture of health over the last few years in the NFL, so it’s possible at some point that Claiborne could be operating as Mason’s complement at some point in the 2026 NFL season. I’m not high on Claiborne as a player. The speed is real, but he’s not an illustrious tackle breaker, and the size will limit his volume even if he is active and garnering touches at some point this season. He’s a fourth-round/final-round selection in rookie drafts that can be easily stashed on a taxi squad.
Adam Randall (RB – BAL)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 113th
- Breakaway rate: 126th
- PFF elusive rating: 103rd
- Yards per route run: 85th (11.7% of snaps slot/out wide)
Scouting Report:
- Randall is a former collegiate wide receiver who converted to running back for his final college season. His wide receiver background shows up immediately with his nimble feet for his size and route-running ability. Clemson didn’t really utilize his receiving skills as he was mostly just a checkdown option in the passing game, but he did flash with the occasional slot slant or wheel route. His hands are also questionable, which is concerning, considering his background. He had six drops in his final college season (49 targets).
- He has average burst as a linear and upright runner. His upright running style can lead to him crumbling like a house of cards at times, especially when he is contacted low. He can break tackles and run through the opposition when he has a head of steam built up in the second level on occasion. Randall isn’t a dynamic player in space.
- Randall doesn’t convert his size and strength to power in the run game. He runs like a 5’9″ back at times. His tweener skill set makes him a hard player to project at the next level. I could easily see him functioning as an H back in the NFL, but his play strength will need to improve to fill that role. He’s not a pile moving back despite his large frame.
- He’s more comfortable in space on toss plays or outside zone plays, where he does have a decent feel of flowing laterally before bursting upfield. Randall can be tentative at the line at times, but he was more decisive as a runner later in the 2025 season.
Player Comp: Jaylen Samuels
Dynasty Outlook: The former collegiate wide receiver was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Randall got some buzz in the predraft process for his former wide receiver designation, but I’m fading that. He runs like a former wide receiver, which isn’t a good thing. The athleticism doesn’t translate to production on the field at this point, and I don’t foresee that changing in the NFL. He’ll have to compete with Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali for the RB2 job for Baltimore behind Derrick Henry. Hill is a free agent after this season, so it’s possible that Randall will be the RB2 entering 2027 if Baltimore doesn’t add more bodies to the backfield next year. I’ll let others chase the Randall hype and avoid him in most drafts.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 5
Dean Connors (RB – LAR)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 99th
- Breakaway rate: 87th
- PFF elusive rating: 119th
- Yards per route run: 60th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 61st
- Breakaway rate: 61st
- PFF elusive rating: 87th
- Yards per route run: 24th
Scouting Report:
- Connors is a solid all-around back who should settle in as an RB2/passing down back for an NFL team. He finishes runs well with plus leg drive as he grinds out extra yards. He’s not an explosive runner, but he can pick up tough yards. He did test quite well with a 9.7 RAS score, a 4.45 40-yard dash, a 96th percentile vertical jump (39.5”), and an 82nd percentile broad jump (10’2”).
- Connors has average contact balance and burst. He doesn’t have stellar long speed and gets caught from behind with runs, but he plays with max effort and has no issues lowering his shoulder to make defenders pay.
- Conners is solid in pass pro. He can quickly diagnose his assignment and attacks incoming defenders with a solid base. Connors can anchor and hold his own while displaying good lateral agility to maneuver into position to meet defenders head-on.
- Connors is a trusted check-down option in the passing game. He finishes with an overall 14.4% collegiate target share and 1.43 Yards per route run or higher in two of his final three collegiate seasons. He had only one drop in his final season.
Player Comp: Bilal Powell
Dynasty Outlook: Connors joins a stacked Rams backfield as a UDFA. He’ll have to beat out Ronnie Rivers to earn a job with the Rams as their RB4. It’s possible, but not probable. I’ll pick Connors up off waivers after rookie drafts and stash him on taxi squads where I can because I’m a fan of the talent. If he doesn’t stick with the Rams, I easily could see him latching on with another team.
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 80 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 5th
- Breakaway rate: 88th
- PFF elusive rating: 1st
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 22nd
- Breakaway rate: 19th
- PFF elusive rating: 5th
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 2nd
- Breakaway rate: 2nd
- PFF elusive rating: 1st
- Collegiate career: 13 targets (0.40 YPRR)
Scouting report:
- Stewart is a dense, bowling-ball back. He’s rocked up and built like a mini fridge. He doesn’t have plus long speed (4.56 40-yard dash), but he gets up to top speed in the blink of an eye (99th percentile 10-yard split). He is a chunk play author who lacks a true home run gear. Stewart’s speed and twitch looked decreased in 2025 on film. This could be related to a left foot/ankle injury he sustained early in the year (was spotted in a boot in August). He also dealt with a right leg/foot injury in 2023 (missed the final four games).
- Stewart has solid vision as a tenacious downhill runner with good contact balance. In 2025, there were times when he paused at the line before bursting forward if the intended gap was clogged. This is just a wrinkle in his game and not a consistent trend across his film. Last year, Stewart wasn’t as quick to attempt to bounce runs outside as he had been in previous seasons.
- Once he gets into the second level of a defense, he displays patience and the willingness to create off-angle tackle attempts for defenders with subtle jump cuts and directional changes. He pinballs off defenders. Stewart has the occasional spin move or stiff arm that he’ll deploy to add a few more yards to the end of a run. He is a savvy runner, but he’s not dynamically twitchy.
- Stewart’s passing game usage and resume as a pass blocker are extremely limited. He finishes college with only 13 targets and a paltry 0.40 Yards per route run. He was a checkdown option only in college. With his pass-blocking reps, Stewart is a work in progress. Stewart is late in diagnosing rushers at times. He has solid lower-body strength but will drop his eyes at times, swing and miss against free rushers, and doesn’t sustain his blocks or hit them with a strong punch consistently.
Player Comp: Kyle Monangai
Dynasty Outlook: Stewart is headed to Kansas City as a UDFA. His tackle-breaking metrics make him an interesting taxi squad stash after rookie drafts. At best, if he breaks camp with the team, he would be their RB3 or RB4 on the depth chart behind Kenneth Walker, Emari Demercado, and Emmett Johnson. Stash him where you can, but if you don’t have the room, it’s fine to leave him on the wire.
Robert Henry Jr. (RB – WAS)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 13th
- Breakaway rate: 2nd
- PFF elusive rating: 44th
- Yards per route run: 126th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 75th
- Breakaway rate: 20th
- PFF elusive rating: 58th
- Yards per route run: 64th
Scouting Report:
- Henry Jr. profiles as an RB2/3 or change-of-pace option at the NFL level. He has average burst at best (24th percentile 10-yard split) and decent short-area agility. He’ll toss in a nice juke move occasionally. Henry is a build-up speed runway back that does his best work with subtle jump cuts and vision in the second-level. He lacks the home run hitting, long speed, and palpable second gear.
- Henry is a liability in pass protection. He is late to the party at times as he’s a tick late to diagnose his assignment. Henry will lunge at defenders and find himself out of position at times. His lateral agility limitations show up here as he’ll get burned by speed rushers off the edge, as they easily get around him.
- He’s a serviceable checkdown option in the passing game with dependable hands. Henry had only three drops in college (70 targets).
Player Comp: Jaret Patterson
Dynasty Outlook: Henry Jr. was signed to a UDFA deal with Washington. The Commanders also selected Kaytron Allen in the NFL Draft to add to their gaggle of cast-off running backs. I doubt Henry Jr. sticks with the team out of camp, considering the mountain of players he’ll have to hop to make the team, but crazier things have happened. Stash him on taxi squads in deeper leagues where you can. His tackle-breaking metrics in college make him an intriguing lottery ticket.
Jaydn Ott (RB – KC)
Stats:
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 64th
- Breakaway rate: 67th
- PFF elusive rating: 75th
- Yards per route run: 78th
*In 2025, Ott had only 21 carries as a backup at Oklahoma. He also sustained a shoulder injury in 2025. His last extensive usage was with Cal from 2022-2024. In 2024, his season was derailed by a Grade 3 ankle sprain and Grade 1 knee sprain. 2023 was his last fully healthy campaign.*
Scouting Report:
- Ott is a linear runner. He’s equipped with average burst and an ok second-gear. He’s a slasher back with smooth lateral agility.
- Ott wins with solid footwork, lateral agility, and plus vision. He doesn’t have the raw speed to consistently gain the edge with wide zone runs, but he can operate with inside zone and gap runs at a high level. His speed is more of the build-up variety.
- He can hold his own in pass protection, but he still will attempt to lunge at defenders at times and drop his head. This won’t work in the NFL, but he balances those rough reps with some strong ones where he anchors decently and redirects incoming rushers.
Player Comp: Myles Gaskin
Dynasty Outlook: Ott was also a UDFA signing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Out of all the backs on this roster, Ott is one of the ones I think has a slim shot to stick on the roster when it’s all said and done. I’ll let others chase him as a taxi squad add. There are other backs that I prefer over him in this class.
J’Mari Taylor (RB – JAC)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 81st
- Breakaway rate: 89th
- PFF elusive rating: 49th
- Yards per route run: 86th
Scouting Report:
- Taylor is a dense, bowling ball back. His low center of gravity allows him to bob and weave through defenders. Taylor has average burst and build-up speed back with a decent second gear in the second-level.
- Taylor has solid lateral agility, but he loses speed when attempting to string tackle-breaking moves together. He wins with vision and short-area footwork. He’s not a powerback.
- Taylor is a trusted back in pass pro with only one sack and five hurries allowed in college (160 pass blocking snaps). With his stature and strong base, he can stand up an incoming defender or, at the very least, redirect them from his quarterback.
- Taylor was a decent checkdown option in the passing game. He amassed 43 receptions (54 targets) in his only season with Virginia, but he only churned out 0.91 Yards per route run with a 0.2 aDOT. He did have a 10.4% drop rate, which is concerning. If he can earn passing down reps with his blocking chops, he could be an outlet option for a quarterback, but he’ll likely never be a “pass game weapon”.
Player Comp: Jordan James
Dynasty Outlook: Taylor signed a UDFA deal with the Jaguars. Jacksonville has a stacked running back room, and it’s unlikely that he breaks camp with the team. It’s possible that he could beat out DeeJay Dallas in camp for the RB4 spot if Jacksonville carries four backs on the active roster into the season. Taylor is deep league taxi squad material only.
Roman Hemby (RB – LV)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 18 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 83rd
- Breakaway rate: 114th
- PFF elusive rating: 100th
- Yards per route run: 94th
Scouting Report:
- Hemby should help to fill out an NFL depth chart as an early down compliment. He’s a long-striding, upright runner with build up speed. Hemby gets downhill quickly and displays solid vision.
- Hemby is a solid runner who should excel with gap runs and inside zone concepts in the NFL. He doesn’t have the raw speed to consistently win the edge, but he is a strong one-cut runner who can operate in stretch zone schemes if the offensive line does its job.
- Hemby could develop into a solid pass protector in the NFL. There are some lateral agility limitations here, but he flashes solid lower body strength and the ability to hold his patch of grass.
- Hemby will never be a passing game “weapon”, but he isn’t a zero here. He was tasked with checkdowns, flat routes, and some wheels in college. He had only three drops in college (147 targets).
Player Comp: Jeff Wilson
Dynasty Outlook: Hemby was a UDFA signing by the Raiders, who already have Ashton Jeanty and newly drafted Mike Washington Jr. leading the way for their backfield for the next few seasons. Hemby is an early down grinder with little passing game upside. Leave him on the waiver wire after the rookie draft.
Noah Whittington (RB – HOU)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 65th
- Breakaway rate: 35th
- PFF elusive rating: 97th
- Yards per route run: 107th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 131st
- Breakaway rate: 40th
- PFF elusive rating: 98th
- Yards per route run: 92nd
Scouting Report:
- Whittington has a compact, muscular frame. He has little wasted motion as a decisive downhill runner with quick acceleration. He quickly gets up to top speed but lacks an elite home run gear. Whittington can pull away from some defenders in the open field. He’s not a twitchy yards creator in the second-level.
- Whittington does have some route-running chops as Oregon aligned him in the slot or outside 21.2-23.6% of his snaps in his final two collegiate seasons. He can easily operate as a check-down option in a passing game, but he has the upside with some solid route nuance with out routes and the occasional slant.
Player Comp: DeAndre Washington
Dynasty Outlook: Whittington signed a UDFA deal with the Houston Texans. Their depth chart already has David Montgomery, Woody Marks, and Jawhar Jordan sitting atop it. I doubt Whittington will beat out British Brooks for the RB4 spot on the depth chart. Leave Whittington on the waiver wire.
Le’Veon Moss (RB – MIA)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 75 carries)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 93rd
- Breakaway rate: 179th
- PFF elusive rating: 123rd
- Yards per route run: 0.05* (only four targets)
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 10th
- Breakaway rate: 55th
- PFF elusive rating: 46th
- Yards per route run: 1.56* (only 17 targets)
Scouting Report:
- Moss is a one-speed, no-nonsense downhill runner. Moss has a strong lower half that allows him to barrel through loose wraps and shoelace tackles. He keeps his legs churning through the final whistle every play.
- Moss is a chunk play runner that lacks a home run gear. He can get chased down in the open field. Out of his 321 collegiate carries, only 44 were for at least ten yards, and only 21 went for 15 or more yards.
- Moss could be a decent early-down complement for an NFL backfield, but he isn’t offering much in the passing game. With his running style, strength, and decisiveness, he could be a solid goalline option.
- He’s willing to stick his nose in there on pass protection situations. He has to clean up his pass pro technique, but he has the willingness and fight which can be half the battle for some backs. Moss allowed ten pressures with his 52 collegiate pass pro snaps. He’s nothing more than a checkdown option in the passing game.
Player Comp: Master Teague
Dynasty Outlook: Moss is an oft-injured early down grinder headed to Miami on a UDFA deal. With De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Ollie Gordon on the roster already, I doubt that Moss will break camp with the team. Leave him on the waiver wire in your dynasty league.
Jamarion Miller (RB – NE)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 161st
- Breakaway rate: 150th
- PFF elusive rating: 157th
- Yards per route run: 106th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 150th
- Breakaway rate: 133rd
- PFF elusive rating: 148th
- Yards per route run: 79th
Scouting Report:
- Miller profiles as an early down back-up option in the NFL. Miller is a downhill one-speed runner. He lacks a high-end second gear or the juice to win the edge in the NFL consistently. Miller has solid vision and patience, but because of his burst limitations, he’s best in a gap scheme run game. Miller’s speed is more of the build-up variety.
- Miller won’t juke you out of your shoes. He will attempt to throw off defenders with some head fakes in the open field or the occasional spin move or jump cut, but he’s a linear runner. He won’t create a ton of yards for himself. If he’s contacted in the backfield, he doesn’t have that extra layer of juice or wiggle to make many people miss.
- He’s a liability in pass protection. Miller will lunge at or chip defenders, but he rarely locks into incoming rushers with his hands and holds his ground. Last year, with 49 pass blocking snaps (per PFF), he allowed seven pressures, four hurries, and three sacks. His below-average pass protection skills will limit his passing down usage in the NFL unless he corrects them.
- The former Alabama back is a checkdown option only in the passing game. He wasn’t tasked with running an in-depth route tree, usually leaking out of the backfield, or running a flat route. His hands are a liability with five drops over the last two seasons (43 targets).
Player Comp: Emanuel Wilson
Dynasty Outlook: Miller isn’t a flashy back by any means, but he was the last running back selected in the NFL Draft in the seventh round by the Patriots. With his Alabama pedigree and the Patriots’ affinity for gap scheme grinders, I could see him sticking on the roster and beating out Terrell Jennings for the RB3 spot when it’s all said and done. If you have the room, he’s worth a taxi squad add.
Jamal Haynes (RB – CIN)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 140th
- Breakaway rate: 116th
- PFF elusive rating: 142nd
- Yards per route run: 42nd
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 80th
- Breakaway rate: 14th
- PFF elusive rating: 88th
- Yards per route run: 102nd
Scouting Report:
- Haynes is an undersized speed back that runs to his build. He doesn’t possess the lower-half strength to break a ton of tackles or punish defenders in short-yardage situations. He’ll be a change-of-pace option in the NFL.
- Haynes has easy and immediate burst with the lateral agility to juke some defenders out of their cleats. He wins with speed, lateral agility, and vision.
Player Comp: Tyler Goodson
Dynasty Outlook: Haynes is headed to Cincy with a UDFA deal. With Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks, and Gary Brightwell already on the roster, I doubt the undersized Haynes breaks camp with the team. Leave him on the waiver wire.
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 60 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 227th
- Breakaway rate: 106th
- PFF elusive rating: 181st
- Yards per route run: 6th
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 138th
- Breakaway rate: 58th
- PFF elusive rating: 71st
- Yards per route run: 17th
Scouting report:
- Reid has below-average burst and average build-up speed. He’s caught behind plenty on his film. His low center of gravity helps him wiggle out of loose wraps and run through some weak tackling attempts.
- He’ll deploy the occasional jab step in space, but for the most part, he’s a linear runner without the special twitch sauce that a smaller back needs for the NFL. He’s not a dynamic player in space.
- Reid isn’t a big play author with only 47 runs (9.4%) in college going for at least 15 yards. In three of his four collegiate seasons, he couldn’t eclipse a 40% breakaway rate.
- Reid is a decent passing game option. Over the last two seasons, he had 17.8-26% of his snaps as a slot or perimeter receiving option. He wasn’t tasked with an expansive route tree in college despite the hopeful alignment usage. He was fed a steady diet of screens, flats, and the occasional slant or angle route from a stacked formation.
- Reid’s size shows up in pass pro. With 114 collegiate pass pro snaps, he allowed 13 pressures. He had only one season with a pass blocking grade above 38.0. He can get knocked off his feet and ragdolled in pass pro. There are some snaps where he displays enough functional strength and the lower center of gravity to redirect an incoming rusher, but I wouldn’t trust him to keep a quarterback clean repeatedly during a season.
Player Comp: LaRod Stephens-Howling
Dynasty Outlook: Reid is headed to Buffalo on a UDFA deal. With James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, and Frank Gore Jr. entrenched atop the depth chart, I doubt that we will see Reid make the final roster. Leave him on the waiver wire.
Chip Trayanum (RB – NYJ)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 117th
- Breakaway rate: 27th
- PFF elusive rating: 148th
- Yards per route run: 66th
Scouting Report:
- Trayanum is a thick, early down bruiser. He doesn’t have amazing raw or long speed, but his burst is serviceable, and he displays efficient footwork. He has “enough” juice to get by. Trayanum can negotiate tight quarters with his footwork, but the lacking burst prevents him from springing big runs. Trayanum is a smart back. He displays solid vision, pace, and can access cutback lanes.
- He’s a willing pass protector. He quickly diagnoses his assignment and has the play strength to deal with free blitzers off the edge.
Player Comp: Peyton Barber
Dynasty Outlook: Trayanum signed a UDFA deal with the Jets. Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and Kene Nwangwu headline their running back room. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for the former early down bruiser for Toledo to make the roster. Leave him on the waiver wire.
CJ Donaldson (RB – NO)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 90 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 186th
- Breakaway rate: 186th
- PFF elusive rating: 186th
- Yards per route run: 0.89* (only 17 targets)
Scouting Report:
- Donaldson is an early down thumper and should be an early down committee option for an NFL team. He has modest burst and acceleration. He has the frame to handle the early down and interior running beating.
- Donaldson won’t be a home run hitter in the NFL or make many highlight reels, but he can deploy the occasional juke move and catch defenders napping. He’s a downhill, power back with the ability to get what is blocked and sometimes more.
Player Comp: Qadree Ollison
Dynasty Outlook: Donaldson signed a UDFA deal with the Saints. Unfortunately, they are stacked at running back with Travie Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Ty Chandler, and Kendre Miller already on the roster. I don’t see Donaldson breaking camp with the team. Leave him on the waiver wire.
Rahsul Faison (UDFA)
Stats:
- 2025 (minimum 90 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 80th
- Breakaway rate: 90th
- PFF elusive rating: 62nd
- Yards per route run: 116th
Scouting Report
- Faison is consistently churning out extra yardage at the end of runs. He keeps his legs churning and gets the most out of his opportunities. Faison is an angry, linear runner. He’s at his best when he hits the hole and gets downhill quickly.
- Faison is a competent checkdown option in the passing game, but he’s likely best suited as an early down/goal line option in the NFL. With his vision, play strength, and demeanor, he is a solid interior rusher that can pick up tough yards.
Player Comp: Alex Collins
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