2025 RB Rankings Analysis & Drafting Tips

by Michael Nazarek/John Holler

Editor's Note: Below you will find a portion of our Fantasy Football Runningback Rankings Analysis  & Drafting Tips for 2025.  If you'd like to read all RB rankings analysis, please click HERE to order our 2025 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

POSITION OVERVIEW - The running back position has always been an anomaly in fantasy football. As the passing game has become far more dominant, the value of elite running backs has continued to rise. If you're going to win a league title, having a bell cow running back is a must. The problem is that too many of the top-end players have significant injury histories, including Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, and Jonathan Taylor. With young players emerging and older backs still playing at 30+ years old, this could be one of the most interesting running back draft classes in years, as owners roll their dice to try to hit the jackpot.

RB Draft Tips - Found exclusively in the Guide.

THE MASTERMIND'S BEST BET: Found exclusively in the Guide.

The following rankings are based upon PPR (point-per-reception) leagues!

1ST TIER (THE ELITE STUD RBs)

 

1) Saquon Barkley, PHI - Barkley was a faceplate player with the Giants for six seasons, but when New York allowed him to leave via free agency, he made them pay by signing with division rival Philadelphia. In 16 games in his first season with the Eagles, Barkley rushed 345 times for 2,005 yards, caught 43 passes for 278 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. With an offense built around him, the only potential downside is losing out on short touchdown runs to Jalen Hurts and his injury history. If he stays healthy, he could be become the first back-to-back 2,000-yard rusher in league history. STAT FACT: Barkley was a weekly backbreaker in fantasy leagues. Not only did he have seven games with 146 or more rushing yards in 16 games, Barkley had six games with two or more touchdowns.

 

2) Bijan Robinson, ATL - As a rookie in 2023, the Falcons didn't push Robinson too hard. In 17 games, he rushed 214 times for 976 yards, caught 58 passes for 487 yards and scored eight touchdowns. His explosiveness was apparent, but the only complaint was that a player of his talent should see the ball more. That came last season when he rushed 304 times for 1,456 yards, caught 61 passes for 431 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Entering his third season, the Falcons will look to exploit Robinson's talents to the fullest, which could translate into improving on those numbers - which will make him the first pick in a lot of leagues. STAT FACT: The Falcons leaned on Robinson heavily. In the first 11 games of the season, Robinson had more than 20 carries just once. In his final six games, he had more than 20 carries five times, rushing 137 times in that stretch for 673 yards and eight touchdowns.

 

 

2ND TIER (VERY CLOSE TO ELITE STUD RB STATUS)

 

3) Jahmyr Gibbs, DET - In 15 games as a rookie, Gibbs had a very productive season, rushing 182 times for 945 yards, caught 52 passes for 316 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. If there was a complaint, it was that he lost too much production to David Montgomery. While the two shared time last season, Gibbs took over the offense and huge numbers followed - he rushed 250 times for 1,412 yards, caught 52 passes for 517 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. This is a baseline that will be hard to replicate, but Gibbs has all the earmarks of being a weekly fantasy killer who could legitimately be in the MVP conversation - especially if Montgomery misses time. STAT FACT: Touchdowns are the difference-maker in many weekly fantasy matchups and Gibbs has delivered as consistently as anyone in the league. In his last 22 games, he has scored at least one touchdown in 18 of them.

 

4) Derrick Henry, BAL - Few players in NFL history have been as consistently productive as Henry. In seven years as a full-time starter, Henry has topped 1,059 yards in six seasons - the only season he didn't was in 2021 when he ran for 937 yards in just eight games. Henry has been durable - playing 15 or more games in eight of nine seasons.When he came to Baltimore, big things were expected, but Henry exceeded expectations, rushing 325 times for 1,921 yards, catching 19 passes and scoring 18 touchdowns. While he isn't a big multi-dimensional threat, his rushing ability alone is reason enough to make him a strong RB1 who can be counted on. STAT FACT: Nobody has been as consistent a scorer as Henry. Over the last seven seasons, his touchdown totals have been 12-18-17-10-13-12-18 - an astonishing 100 touchdowns in 105 games.

 

5) Ashton Jeanty, LV ® - Jeanty was dominant at Boise STATe. In 40 games, he rushed for 4,769 yards, caught 80 passes and scored 52 touchdowns. He came out a year early after the most dominant rushing season in college football history. In 14 games, he rushed 374 times for 2,601 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. He was taken with the sixth overall pick and is going to be given every chance to compete for a rushing title as a rookie. The Raiders are going to lean heavily on Jeanty and he has such a high upside you can forget that he plays for Las Vegas.

 

 

3RD TIER (SOLID #1 FANTASY RBs)

 

6) De'VonAchane, MIA - Achane has made a huge impact despite not being given the opportunity to be a bell cow running back. In 2024, he rushed 203 times for 907 yards, caught 78 passes for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns. Achane has big-play ability any time he touches the ball and became a go-to option for TuaTagovailoa in the passing game. Despite his lack of being a 20-touch-a-game back, his breakaway ability is going to lead to home run weeks that will come often enough to make him an every-week starter. STAT FACT: In his last nine home games, Achane has scored nine touchdowns, with at least one TD in eight of those games.

 

7) Christian McCaffrey, SF - McCaffrey is a generational talent who had a mammoth first two seasons with the 49ers. In 27 games following a midseason trade in 2022, McCaffrey rushed 431 times for 2,205 yards, caught 119 passes for 1,028 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. It was no surprise he was the first pick in most drafts, but a lingering preseason injury resulted in him playing in just four games - rushing 50 times for 202 yards, catching 15 passes for 146 yards and scoring no touchdowns. He killed every roster he touched. Taking him this year will be a hunch play many fantasy owners won't be willing to take. STAT FACT: Missed time due to injuries is a huge concern with McCaffrey. Over the last five seasons, he has missed 37 games - an average of more than seven games a season.

 

8) Kyren Williams, LAR - Sean McVay has a history of committing to a single running back and, for the last two seasons, that player has been Williams. In 28 games, Williams has 544 carries for 2,443 yards, caught 66 passes for 388 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Williams has proved to be durable and able to carry a heavy workload. Last season in 16 games, Williams had 350 touches and 16 touchdowns. There were concerns last season that Blake Korum would cut into his time, but Williams maintained his job as the unquestioned RB1 in the Rams offense and nothing. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, there is every reason to believe Williams will get ridden hard and will produce - leaving the decision up to Rams to give him a new contract or leave for big money in free agency. STAT FACT: Few running backs have been as consistently used as Williams. In his last 23 games, he has 15 or more carries in 22 of them, including 20 or more carries in 13 of them.

 

9) Josh Jacobs, GB - Jacobs has been a workhorse running back throughout his career - five years with the Raiders and last season with the Packers. In his first season in Green Bay, Jacobs rushed 301 times for 1,329 yards, caught 36 passes for 342 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. The Packers are committed to Jacobs through 2027, expect to see consistent reliance on Jacobs to be the bell cow running back in a young offense that is likely to get better with time. STAT FACT: In his first nine games, Jacobs scored touchdowns in just three of them. In the final nine games of the season (including playoffs), Jacobs scored 13 touchdowns, including at least one touchdown in every game.

 

10) Chase Brown, CIN - Brown became a centerpiece of the Bengals rush offense after Joe Mixon was allowed to leave in free agency. In his second NFL season and first as a starter last year, in 16 games, Brown rushed 229 times for 990 yards, caught 54 passes for 360 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. With the re-signing of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the same day, the Bengals are going all-in on Joe Burrow's offense to bring them to the playoffs. As things currently stand, Brown could improve on his numbers as a dual threat in an offense capable of scoring 30 or more points on a regular basis. STAT FACT: In the eight games to start the season, Brown never had more than 15 carries in a time share with Zach Moss. In the eight games Brown played as the sole lead back, he had 20 or more carries four times.

 

11) Bucky Irving, TB - Irving spent most of the season in a timeshare with Rachaad White and earned the starting job in the second half of the season. The rookie rushed 207 times for 1,122 yards, caught 47 passes for 392 yards and scored eight touchdowns. White is still around to provide competition, but Irving has earned the right to be starter and potentially a three-down back when he starts a drive. His explosiveness and versatility will shine this year but draft him knowing that White is lurking over his shoulder looking to get his job back. STAT FACT: In the first 11 games of his rookie season, Irving never had a game with more than 14 carries and had 10 or fewer carries in nine of them. In the final six games of the season, Irving had 15 or more carries in five of them, including three 100-yard rushing games.

 

12) Jonathan Taylor, IND - If he could stay healthy, Taylor would be a top five fantasy running back.But that has been a problem. Over the last three seasons, Taylor has missed 16 games and never played in more than 14. However, in 2024 he came as close as he has to his career-best 2021 season that made him the consensus first pick in 2022 fantasy drafts. Since then, he's been a roll of the dice, but made a fantasy comeback last year. In 14 games, he rushed 303 times for 1,431 yards, caught 18 passes for 136 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He brings markedly reduced value as a receiver - he has posted fewer receptions per game every year since his rookie season - but is a workhorse that can be ridden until he drops (again). STAT FACT: Not only has Taylor rushed 20 or more times 12 times, topped 100 yards rushing nine times, but he was at his best during the fantasy playoffs. In Weeks 15-17 of 2024, Taylor rushed 83 times for 450 yards and five touchdowns - helping many fantasy owners win league championships.

 

 

4TH TIER (COULD BE A TOP #12 RB IF RIGHT BREAKS HAPPEN)

 

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If you'd like to read all RB rankings analysis, please click HERE to order our 2025 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

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