2025 NFL Draft Class by Position: Running Backs, Part Two
If you need a refresher on the context for the 2025 rookie running back class — and the evaluation of the top five prospects — hit up last week’s Part One article. Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kaleb Johnson set a high starting bar for this group, so the depth of the position, which we cover below, could help elevate this group to “one of the best in recent memory” territory.
We won’t break down every name with a chance to be drafted, but we’ll cover the important ones and shout out a few sleepers and dart-throw names to know as well.
Without further ado, let’s get to the goods.
Meet the Prospects
After the five rookie draft first-rounders we discussed last week — all of whom feel likely to go day one or early day two in the NFL draft — there is a significant drop to the next tier in this class. Which prospects compose that tier really depends on who you ask, but two names appear frequently enough to deserve a look in the late second round of rookie drafts.
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Pick Projection: Round 2 – Round 4
Comps: Jay Ajayi, David Montgomery w/ Burst
Scouting, comping, and projecting Skattebo is a difficult task. It’s why his pick projection is so wide and his comps are so wacky. (NFL Media draft expert Daniel Jeremiah compared him to the Plinko chip from “The Price is Right.”) He fits very few molds and has a very mixed profile. To make things easier, let’s start with the good. His 2024 senior production at Arizona State is through the roof: 293 carries, 45 receptions, 2,316 scrimmage yards, 24 scrimmage touchdowns. It earned him fifth place in the Heisman voting and day two consideration in this year’s draft.
Here’s some statistical context: since 2000, only two other prospects have posted a season with 250+ carries, 40+ catches, 2,300+ yards and 20+ touchdowns. One was Jay Ajayi (albeit against lesser competition), who only earned fifth-round draft capital in 2015 but still posted an RB1 season in 2016. The other was Larry Johnson, who was drafted 27th overall, had back-to-back top-three fantasy finishes, and still holds the single-season rush attempt record with 416 in 2006. On tape, Skattebo’s an untacklable wrecking ball with elite contact balance, who refuses to be stopped and will make defenders pay for trying. He’s also an effective and productive receiver and has surprising burst and explosiveness, as evidenced by his 39.5″ vertical jump at the combine.
As for the bad: it’s the lack of top-end speed. While Skattebo did not run a 40-yard dash this draft cycle — possibly on purpose — most projections have him somewhere in the 4.6 range. He quite clearly does not possess the straight-line top gear that RB1s like Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley do, and it has quite a few scouts and fantasy analysts concerned. A lack of big plays can cap your ceiling in fantasy, and Skattebo will likely face that obstacle at the next level. Personally, though, I think he can overcome it. Kyren Williams and James Conner both ran 4.65 in the 40-yard dash, and both finished as RB1s in 2024. Speed is one (easy) way to win at the running back position, but good vision, volume (especially in the red zone), grit, and being generally untackleable all matter as well. Skattebo may not be a threat for RB1 overall very often, but he could be an annual threat for RB1 territory if he gets good day two draft capital.
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Pick Projection: Round 3 – Round 4
Comps: Tyjae Spears, Giovani Bernard
Sampson is in many ways the yin to Cam Skattebo’s yang, and the choice between the two in both the NFL and dynasty rookie drafts might just come down to stylistic preference. At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Sampson is an inch shorter and 20 pounds lighter than Skattebo, which immediately raises question marks about an RB1 workload at the NFL level. Fortunately for Sampson, he has the right skill set to counteract his lack of size: elite vision, electric feet, and excellent speed. He’s a dynamic runner who can win with both mental acuity and athleticism, and who forced 70 missed tackles (fourth among Power Five backs) and scored 22 rushing touchdowns (tied with RJ Harvey for most in the Power Five) last year.
Many scouting profiles on Sampson will mention ball security issues (four fumbles on 258 carries in 2024), but I wouldn’t be too concerned — Chase Brown fumbled at the same rate at Illinois in 2022 and has just three fumbles on 341 NFL touches through two seasons. Likely the biggest factor in Sampson’s fantasy future will be pass-catching: he showed ability at Tennessee but totaled just 40 catches in 35 college games due to a lack of usage. If he earns day two capital, develops as a receiving threat, and can maintain a three-down workload on his frame, Sampson could be a steal… but in the (likely) event that at least one of those “ifs” fails to materalize, you can expect him to fill a complementary role more like the Spears/Bernard comps might suggest.
The rest of the class consists of prospects with low ceilings or low floors and should essentially be considered darts to throw some time after the second round of rookie drafts.
RJ Harvey, UCF: Harvey plays tougher than his size — 5-foot-8, 205 pounds — and posted great results at the combine to further improve his draft stock (4.40 speed, 38″ vertical). He also racked up 1,400+ rushing yards and 16+ rushing touchdowns in each of his last two seasons at UCF, and while his 39 receptions over that span weren’t ground-breaking, his 12.9 yards per reception were. Aspects of Harvey’s game call Chase Brown to mind, and he could be this class’s best bet at producing a top-15 dynasty back out of day three.
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech: If combine athleticism floats your boat, Tuten is worth an extended look as an upside flier. His 4.32 in the 40-yard dash was the fastest at the position this year and the second-fastest in the history of combine data by a back weighing more than 200 pounds (he also hit an elite 40.5″ on the vertical jump). He’s a feast-or-famine runner with traces of Isiah Pacheco, but will need to improve his vision, decisiveness, and ball-security to have a real shot at three-down volume.
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State: If teams were drafting Gordon off his 2023 sophomore season — 2,062 scrimmage yards, 22 touchdowns, Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB) — he likely would have made the previous article in this series. Unfortunately, his 2024 campaign featured massive drops in his raw production and efficiency metrics, and he’s fallen from first-round consideration to “somewhere in the day three pile.” He’s a big downhill runner — 6-foot-1, 226 pounds makes him the biggest fantasy-relevant prospect in the class — but 4.61 speed and a lack of agility might pigeon-hole Gordon into the “part-time bruiser” category. His upside is likely somewhere in the Brian Robinson Jr tier, if he lands in a good situation with decent capital.
DJ Giddens, Kansas State: At 6-foot, 212 pounds, Giddens is technically a “bigger back” but doesn’t have the BMI or “stockiness” I prefer to see in between-the-tackles runners. Fortunately, he brings 4.43 speed and top-tier explosiveness (second-best combine broad and vertical jumps in the class), along with good vision, patience, and elusiveness to offset the notable lack of finishing power. The lack of frame, toughness, and consistency as a receiver lower his chances at a consistent three-down role and might make him more of a Tony Pollard-type player who’s best suited for a committee.
Devin Neal, Kansas: Checks a lot of the boxes for “good pro running back” but misses a lot of the boxes for “great fantasy asset.” Good size — 5-foot-11, 213 pounds — though a bigger “bruiser” frame would be preferable after he ran a disappointing 4.58 at the combine. Wins with patience, instincts, and contact balance, but lacks creativity, noteworthy long speed, pass-catching production, and pass-protection chops. Feels very much like Zach Charbonnet, but is unlikely to get Charbonnet’s early-round-two draft capital, so “good backup with relevant stretches” feels like a fair assessment for the former Jayhawk.
Trevor Etienne, Georgia: Travis’ younger brother is an undersized multi-purpose back — 5-foot-8, 198 pounds — with solid burst and quickness. While the raw receiving production isn’t great (62 college receptions), the tape suggests he can fill that role, and he caught an absurd 32 of 33 targets (per Pro Football Focus) last season. Still, players of Etienne’s size simply do not stack up RB1 seasons at the NFL level — unless their name is Austin Ekeler. He’s much more likely to be a change-of-pace back with PPR value in the right scheme.
Damien Martinez, Miami: Among the low ceilings and low floors in this section of the column, Martinez is very clearly one of the low-ceiling guys, who should be a valuable NFL player but likely not a fantasy stud. He’s a bigger back who runs with real power — 4.5 yards after contact per attempt led Power Five backs last year — and surprising nimbleness, but whose average speed and lack of receiving production will likely keep him out of the every-down starter conversation. He could end up being the Isaiah Crowell to somebody’s Duke Johnson (dating myself with that one), but is unlikely to be a consistent fantasy asset.
Other Names to Know: Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), LeQuint Allen (Syracuse), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Brashard Smith (SMU), Jordan James (Oregon), Raheim Sanders (South Carolina)
What to Do in Drafts
In terms of rookie draft ADP, every name highlighted in this article is going somewhere between 15th overall (Cam Skattebo) and the back of the third round (plus a batch of fourth-rounders in the Other Names to Know). It’s very clear that the meat of the class belongs in the top five prospects we covered last week, but if you’re looking to replenish an iffy RB corps, taking a few shots on these mid-rounders feels like a worthy endeavor. As a reminder, Bucky Irving was a late third-round pick last year and Chase Brown went at the two-three turn back in 2023.
Arguably the biggest decision point will be Skattebo, as some analysts will have him as the clear-cut RB6, while others will consider him an overrated bust candidate. I think the NFL draft will heavily dictate where consensus falls. A day-two pick by a team in need of a workhorse — Bears, Steelers, Jaguars could all be interesting — would suggest he’d have every opportunity to make an early fantasy impact. If he slips to day three and goes somewhere with an established starter, hopes will not be as high.
All told, this running back class has both the upper echelon and the depth to be considered above average, maybe even great. If things go according to plan for just a few of the early-round options, we should see several multi-year fantasy starters, several more valuable RB4-type pieces … and at least one landscape-shifting superstar.
- 2025 NFL Draft Class by Position: Tight Ends - April 20, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts: A View from the 1.08 - April 14, 2025
- 2025 NFL Draft Class by Position: Wide Receivers, Part Two - April 12, 2025
If you need a refresher on the context for the 2025 rookie running back class — and the evaluation of the top five prospects — hit up last week’s Part One article. Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kaleb Johnson set a high starting bar for this group, so the depth of the position, which we cover below, could help elevate this group to “one of the best in recent memory” territory.
We won’t break down every name with a chance to be drafted, but we’ll cover the important ones and shout out a few sleepers and dart-throw names to know as well.
Without further ado, let’s get to the goods.
Meet the Prospects
After the five rookie draft first-rounders we discussed last week — all of whom feel likely to go day one or early day two in the NFL draft — there is a significant drop to the next tier in this class. Which prospects compose that tier really depends on who you ask, but two names appear frequently enough to deserve a look in the late second round of rookie drafts.
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Pick Projection: Round 2 – Round 4
Comps: Jay Ajayi, David Montgomery w/ Burst
Scouting, comping, and projecting Skattebo is a difficult task. It’s why his pick projection is so wide and his comps are so wacky. (NFL Media draft expert Daniel Jeremiah compared him to the Plinko chip from “The Price is Right.”) He fits very few molds and has a very mixed profile. To make things easier, let’s start with the good. His 2024 senior production at Arizona State is through the roof: 293 carries, 45 receptions, 2,316 scrimmage yards, 24 scrimmage touchdowns. It earned him fifth place in the Heisman voting and day two consideration in this year’s draft.
Here’s some statistical context: since 2000, only two other prospects have posted a season with 250+ carries, 40+ catches, 2,300+ yards and 20+ touchdowns. One was Jay Ajayi (albeit against lesser competition), who only earned fifth-round draft capital in 2015 but still posted an RB1 season in 2016. The other was Larry Johnson, who was drafted 27th overall, had back-to-back top-three fantasy finishes, and still holds the single-season rush attempt record with 416 in 2006. On tape, Skattebo’s an untacklable wrecking ball with elite contact balance, who refuses to be stopped and will make defenders pay for trying. He’s also an effective and productive receiver and has surprising burst and explosiveness, as evidenced by his 39.5″ vertical jump at the combine.
As for the bad: it’s the lack of top-end speed. While Skattebo did not run a 40-yard dash this draft cycle — possibly on purpose — most projections have him somewhere in the 4.6 range. He quite clearly does not possess the straight-line top gear that RB1s like Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley do, and it has quite a few scouts and fantasy analysts concerned. A lack of big plays can cap your ceiling in fantasy, and Skattebo will likely face that obstacle at the next level. Personally, though, I think he can overcome it. Kyren Williams and James Conner both ran 4.65 in the 40-yard dash, and both finished as RB1s in 2024. Speed is one (easy) way to win at the running back position, but good vision, volume (especially in the red zone), grit, and being generally untackleable all matter as well. Skattebo may not be a threat for RB1 overall very often, but he could be an annual threat for RB1 territory if he gets good day two draft capital.
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Pick Projection: Round 3 – Round 4
Comps: Tyjae Spears, Giovani Bernard
Sampson is in many ways the yin to Cam Skattebo’s yang, and the choice between the two in both the NFL and dynasty rookie drafts might just come down to stylistic preference. At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Sampson is an inch shorter and 20 pounds lighter than Skattebo, which immediately raises question marks about an RB1 workload at the NFL level. Fortunately for Sampson, he has the right skill set to counteract his lack of size: elite vision, electric feet, and excellent speed. He’s a dynamic runner who can win with both mental acuity and athleticism, and who forced 70 missed tackles (fourth among Power Five backs) and scored 22 rushing touchdowns (tied with RJ Harvey for most in the Power Five) last year.
Many scouting profiles on Sampson will mention ball security issues (four fumbles on 258 carries in 2024), but I wouldn’t be too concerned — Chase Brown fumbled at the same rate at Illinois in 2022 and has just three fumbles on 341 NFL touches through two seasons. Likely the biggest factor in Sampson’s fantasy future will be pass-catching: he showed ability at Tennessee but totaled just 40 catches in 35 college games due to a lack of usage. If he earns day two capital, develops as a receiving threat, and can maintain a three-down workload on his frame, Sampson could be a steal… but in the (likely) event that at least one of those “ifs” fails to materalize, you can expect him to fill a complementary role more like the Spears/Bernard comps might suggest.
The rest of the class consists of prospects with low ceilings or low floors and should essentially be considered darts to throw some time after the second round of rookie drafts.
RJ Harvey, UCF: Harvey plays tougher than his size — 5-foot-8, 205 pounds — and posted great results at the combine to further improve his draft stock (4.40 speed, 38″ vertical). He also racked up 1,400+ rushing yards and 16+ rushing touchdowns in each of his last two seasons at UCF, and while his 39 receptions over that span weren’t ground-breaking, his 12.9 yards per reception were. Aspects of Harvey’s game call Chase Brown to mind, and he could be this class’s best bet at producing a top-15 dynasty back out of day three.
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech: If combine athleticism floats your boat, Tuten is worth an extended look as an upside flier. His 4.32 in the 40-yard dash was the fastest at the position this year and the second-fastest in the history of combine data by a back weighing more than 200 pounds (he also hit an elite 40.5″ on the vertical jump). He’s a feast-or-famine runner with traces of Isiah Pacheco, but will need to improve his vision, decisiveness, and ball-security to have a real shot at three-down volume.
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State: If teams were drafting Gordon off his 2023 sophomore season — 2,062 scrimmage yards, 22 touchdowns, Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB) — he likely would have made the previous article in this series. Unfortunately, his 2024 campaign featured massive drops in his raw production and efficiency metrics, and he’s fallen from first-round consideration to “somewhere in the day three pile.” He’s a big downhill runner — 6-foot-1, 226 pounds makes him the biggest fantasy-relevant prospect in the class — but 4.61 speed and a lack of agility might pigeon-hole Gordon into the “part-time bruiser” category. His upside is likely somewhere in the Brian Robinson Jr tier, if he lands in a good situation with decent capital.
DJ Giddens, Kansas State: At 6-foot, 212 pounds, Giddens is technically a “bigger back” but doesn’t have the BMI or “stockiness” I prefer to see in between-the-tackles runners. Fortunately, he brings 4.43 speed and top-tier explosiveness (second-best combine broad and vertical jumps in the class), along with good vision, patience, and elusiveness to offset the notable lack of finishing power. The lack of frame, toughness, and consistency as a receiver lower his chances at a consistent three-down role and might make him more of a Tony Pollard-type player who’s best suited for a committee.
Devin Neal, Kansas: Checks a lot of the boxes for “good pro running back” but misses a lot of the boxes for “great fantasy asset.” Good size — 5-foot-11, 213 pounds — though a bigger “bruiser” frame would be preferable after he ran a disappointing 4.58 at the combine. Wins with patience, instincts, and contact balance, but lacks creativity, noteworthy long speed, pass-catching production, and pass-protection chops. Feels very much like Zach Charbonnet, but is unlikely to get Charbonnet’s early-round-two draft capital, so “good backup with relevant stretches” feels like a fair assessment for the former Jayhawk.
Trevor Etienne, Georgia: Travis’ younger brother is an undersized multi-purpose back — 5-foot-8, 198 pounds — with solid burst and quickness. While the raw receiving production isn’t great (62 college receptions), the tape suggests he can fill that role, and he caught an absurd 32 of 33 targets (per Pro Football Focus) last season. Still, players of Etienne’s size simply do not stack up RB1 seasons at the NFL level — unless their name is Austin Ekeler. He’s much more likely to be a change-of-pace back with PPR value in the right scheme.
Damien Martinez, Miami: Among the low ceilings and low floors in this section of the column, Martinez is very clearly one of the low-ceiling guys, who should be a valuable NFL player but likely not a fantasy stud. He’s a bigger back who runs with real power — 4.5 yards after contact per attempt led Power Five backs last year — and surprising nimbleness, but whose average speed and lack of receiving production will likely keep him out of the every-down starter conversation. He could end up being the Isaiah Crowell to somebody’s Duke Johnson (dating myself with that one), but is unlikely to be a consistent fantasy asset.
Other Names to Know: Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), LeQuint Allen (Syracuse), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Brashard Smith (SMU), Jordan James (Oregon), Raheim Sanders (South Carolina)
What to Do in Drafts
In terms of rookie draft ADP, every name highlighted in this article is going somewhere between 15th overall (Cam Skattebo) and the back of the third round (plus a batch of fourth-rounders in the Other Names to Know). It’s very clear that the meat of the class belongs in the top five prospects we covered last week, but if you’re looking to replenish an iffy RB corps, taking a few shots on these mid-rounders feels like a worthy endeavor. As a reminder, Bucky Irving was a late third-round pick last year and Chase Brown went at the two-three turn back in 2023.
Arguably the biggest decision point will be Skattebo, as some analysts will have him as the clear-cut RB6, while others will consider him an overrated bust candidate. I think the NFL draft will heavily dictate where consensus falls. A day-two pick by a team in need of a workhorse — Bears, Steelers, Jaguars could all be interesting — would suggest he’d have every opportunity to make an early fantasy impact. If he slips to day three and goes somewhere with an established starter, hopes will not be as high.
All told, this running back class has both the upper echelon and the depth to be considered above average, maybe even great. If things go according to plan for just a few of the early-round options, we should see several multi-year fantasy starters, several more valuable RB4-type pieces … and at least one landscape-shifting superstar.
- 2025 NFL Draft Class by Position: Tight Ends - April 20, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts: A View from the 1.08 - April 14, 2025
- 2025 NFL Draft Class by Position: Wide Receivers, Part Two - April 12, 2025
