2025 Rookie Running Backs By ADP: RBs 13+
As we prepare for the NFL Draft in the next couple weeks, we have had a chance to digest all the information from the Senior Bowl, East vs West Shrine game, the NFL Combine, and a Pro Day events, so what does the running back landscape look like in 2025? This has been talked about as a possible all-time great running back class. It will be years before we actually know if this class lives up to those incredibly high expectations. In the meantime, we are going to break down this class for all your fantasy football purposes.
There are some absolute studs at the top of this RB class. How many could possibly go in the first round or on day two of the draft? That’s a question I will tackle later in this series. But more than just the elite running backs at the top of this class, it is being talked about as a league changer because of the sheer depth of this class. I’m not sure I have seen an RB class this good and this deep in my 15+ years of playing dynasty fantasy football.
Draft capital and landing spots are always important, especially for running backs, but it might swing what order this class of RBs goes in fantasy drafts more than in any year I can remember. Outside of the top four or five RBs in this class, RB6-RB20 are all jumbled together at the moment. There are positives and negatives about all of the prospects. We have running backs of all shapes and sizes and a variety of skill sets.
There is a legitimate chance that this running back class will reshape the RB position in dynasty fantasy football for the next four-to-five years with players from this class taking over major fantasy roles as early as their rookie seasons.
I am going to run down my top RBs in the class as well as go through my favorite sleepers in this series. I will be using DLF’s March 2025 ADP to determine each player’s current ranking. From there, I will analyze and rank the rookie running backs in this year’s draft and decide where we should be looking to take them in your rookie drafts.
Why should you listen to me? What are my credentials you ask? Good question. Before writing for DLF, I had extensive experience as a sports journalist covering top-level high school football, Division 1 college football in the Big 10, Big 12, and SEC, and I also spent time covering the NFL. After that I spent seven years as a high school varsity running backs coach at my alma mater among other schools. I have learned what characteristics make elite running backs and what causes players to not reach their potential.
I have spent the last few years playing in CFF, C2C, and Devy leagues to get a better grasp of the players coming out of college before they come into the NFL. As is the case with any evaluator, I have my hits and misses. But I am confident in my assessment of these players and their possible success in the NFL.
Now, I would like to introduce you to my grading system for this year’s rankings. This will help you to see where I rank the rookie running backs compared to their ADP on DLF. Below is the ranking system I will be using as well as each grade’s definition.
Grading System:
- A = Elite – Early to late first-round NFL pick
- B = NFL starter – Day two selection, second or third-round pick
- C = RBBC, needs an opportunity – Day three selection, fourth or fifth-round pick
- D = Backup or Specialty back – Day three selection, sixth or seventh-round pick
- F = Longshot – Late pick or undrafted free agent
RBs 13+ Rookie ADP
Damien Martinez, RB Miami
Rookie ADP RB13
Damien Martinaz started his career at Oregon State. The bruising 6-0, 230 pound running back immediately made an impact in Corvalis. After compiling 355 carries for 2,167 yards rushing on 6.1 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez transferred to Miami for his junior season. He had 159 carries for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 17 passes for 204 yards for the Hurricanes.
Martinez split some carries in two of his three seasons in college, but he was still very productive averaging over 1,000 yards a season with 6.2 yards per carry and totally 26 touchdowns. Miami was a pass-first offense behind Heiman Trophy finalist and potential number one pick Cam Ward at quarterback. The offense was really impressive for the Hurricanes and Martinez was a big piece of that success.
Martinez dropped some weight in the pre-draft process. He weighed in at 217 pounds at the combine. This helped him to look a little more explosive, running the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds with a 1.56 10-yard split. His 35-inch vertical jump and 10-4 broad jump helped to show off his overall athleticism. My guess is his playing weight will be closer to 225 when the season starts, and I’m completely good with that.
Martinez is a bit of a throwback, big-bodied running back. He reminds me of a 1990’s to early 2000’s style running back. When I watch him play, I think of former San Diego Chargers RB Natrone Means.
I am quite a bit higher on Martinez than consensus. I watched him play a lot in college, and I think he can be a good NFL RB that pairs well with a smaller, quicker third down back. He most likely won’t get the lions’ share of carries for an offense, but he can be nice piece in a shared backfield where he sees a majority of goal-line carries. Martinez has above-average athleticism for a big, powerful runner. He has nimble feet on inside runs and has the ability to make defenders miss tackles or lower his shoulder pads and run them over like a Mack truck.
Because of the depth of this RB class, I don’t see an NFL team going out of its way to grab Martinez earlier than they have to. I think he is a likely fourth or fifth round pick. While that might have swayed me away from drafting him in fantasy rookie drafts in past years, I’m not as worried about the round some of these later RBs are getting drafted in. I think there will be a ton of guys going between the third and fifth rounds of the draft. I think Martinez has the ability of a third-round pick, even though he likely gets drafted later.
Martinez is currently going in the mid-to-late third round in rookie mock drafts. This feels like a good place to get him. I’m grabbing him in that range if I’m looking for an RB at that point in the draft.
GRADE: C+
Trevor Etienne, RB Georgia
Rookie ADP RB14
Trevor Etienne is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, who was a first-round selection in 2021. Like his brother, Trevor Etienne shows high-end athleticism and speed, but he is a bit undersized at 5-9, 198 pounds. Trevor Etienne ran a 4.42 40-yard dash with an impressive 1.51 10-second split with 35-inch vertical jump and a 10-4 broad jump. All very good numbers.
One of the biggest knocks against Etienne is his lack of production in college. He was never the team’s clear-cut top back in his three years in college. Etienne started his career at Florida, playing two seasons before transferring to SEC rival Georgia for the 2024 season.
Etienne never eclipsed 800 yards in a season. In fact, his 753 yards rushing as a sophomore at Florida was his best season. He did go over 700 yards as a freshman, which is impressive, but he only had 609 yards in 10 games last season for the Bulldogs after missing four games because of a suspension and a rib injury.
Etienne only had 371 total carries in college, so he is a low mileage back. He has above-average explosiveness with legitimate three-down versatility. His vision, elusiveness, and efficiency are his best traits. He could struggle to get the tough inside yards in the NFL, but on wide runs he sets up tacklers and gets in and out of cuts without losing speed.
Etienne has a solid receiving profile with 53 catches for 366 yards over the last two seasons. He also has 24 career touchdowns. Etienne has just one drop on 63 career targets. He naturally turns into a runner after making the catch. His hands are impressive. He is really good at understanding pass protections, doing a good job picking up blitzers and recognizing stunts. Both of these traits should help him to secure a third-down role early in his career, while trying to become a full-time featured back.
Etienne is projected as a mid-round pick. I see him as a fourth or fifth round selection, unless a team is absolutely in love with his pass catching abilities and pass protection, then I could see him possibly getting taken in the late third round. Etienne is going near the end of the third round or top of the fourth round in rookie mock drafts. He is a player that could rise in PPR formats if he is drafted to a team where he can immediately take over as the team’s third-down running back.
GRADE: C+
Raheim Sanders, RB South Carolina
Rookie ADP RB15
Raheim Sanders has a solid freshman season at Arkansas before bursting onto the national scene as a sophomore. After rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns as freshman, Sanders rushed for 1,443 yards with 10 touchdowns and led the SEC with 6.5 yards per carry. He also added 28 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
But things fell apart during his junior season. Sanders, who had previously played at 225 pounds, reportedly bulked up to over 240 pounds prior to the season. The extra weight hurt his explosiveness and caused him to deal with multiple injuries throughout the year. When it was all said and done, Sanders only played in six games with a paltry 62 carries for 209 yards, just 3.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
Sanders transferred to South Carolina for his senior season and showed signs of his former self. Sanders dropped weight and was able to stay relatively healthy. He rushed for 881 yards on 183 carries with 11 touchdowns and played in 12 games. He added 27 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
At the NFL combine, Sanders came in at 6-0, 217 pounds. Slimming down helped Sanders run an impressive 4.46 40-yard dash with a 1.55 10-yard split and a 36.5-inch vertical jump.
Raheim Sanders | Credit: Nelson Chenault
Sanders has a good feel for following blocks and hitting the gas when he sees an opening. He is good in tight spots, where he can make a sudden plant-and-cut. Sanders was very good in short-yardage and goal-line situations, where he had an impressive success rate. At times, he runs a bit too high and can be clunky when trying to make multiple moves. At times, he tries to make a homerun play instead of just getting the yards that are there for him. Sanders has also struggled with fumbles throughout his career, which could get him benched at the next level.
Sanders seems to be expected to get drafted in either the fifth or sixth round of the NFL Draft. He is a player with a very high ceiling. If he can become the 2022 version of himself again, someone is going to get an absolute steal. The overall talent and ability is that of a second-round pick, but that isn’t how he has necessarily performed the last two seasons. The risk is high as well. The injuries, fumble issues, and fluctuating weight are concerns. Sanders will also be 23 years old in June, making him an older prospect. Sanders is a player that has big-time flameout potential at the next level, but I think he is worth the risk.
Sanders is going at the top of the fourth round in rookie mock drafts. If you haven’t picked up an RB already or if you are taking as many RBs as you can in this draft, this is a nice spot to take a chance on Sanders and hope he hits his extremely high ceiling in the NFL. But if he doesn’t, then all you did was waste a fourth-round pick.
GRADE: C
Jordan James, RB Oregon
Rookie ADP RB16
Jordan James took over for Bucky Irving at Oregon after Irving moved onto the NFL and had a very successful rookie season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. James is a smaller running back, but still has decent size at 5-10, 205 pounds. He also runs bigger than his size.
In his first season as a starter, James rushed 233 times for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. As a sophomore backup he rushed 107 yards for 759 yards for a whopping 7.1 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. James also caught 41 passes for 341 yards his final two seasons in college.
James doesn’t have great high-end speed, he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but he has great burst and accelerates through the hole. He does a nice job of following his blocks before he sees the crease and explodes through it. James always seems to be falling forward on running plays. On film, he is constantly running over opposing players to finish off carries. He does a nice job of breaking arm tackles and getting positive yards even on negative running plays.
James is projected as a fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft. He is currently going in the early-to-mid fourth round in fantasy mock drafts.
GRADE: C
Best of the Rest
I don’t usually go all the way out to the 20th running back in this series, but I think it’s necessary this season. All of these players are going somewhere in the fourth round of Rookie Mock Drafts, but each of them could easily move up into somewhere in the third round with the right draft capital or landing spot, so that’s why I am mentioning a quick blurb about them.
Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech
Rookie ADP RB17
Taj Brooks is 5-9, 214 pounds and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the combine. Brooks was a stat monster for the Red Raiders. In his five seasons, he played in 56 games and amassed 4,557 yards on 879 carries with a 5.2 yards per carry average and 45 touchdowns. He also had 102 catches for 548 yards and two touchdowns.
He is a day three talent that makes up for average athletic traits with good instincts, physicality, and the ability to turn small gains into chunk plays with pure grit. He is a day three pick with a projection as a likely sixth-round pick.
GRADE: D+
LeQuint Allen, RB Syracuse
Rookie ADP RB18
LeQuint Allen is an interesting prospect who has some big-time admirers. Count me as one of those fully in Allen’s corner. He is being selected as RB18 currently at DLF, but he is inside my top 10 RBs in this class.
Allen is a clone of former Georgia and current Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Allen had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and had 20 combined touchdowns his junior season for the Orange. He also has one of the best receiving profiles in the class. Allen regularly lined up as a wide receiver on the outside and in the slot, showing fluid route-running ability. He finished his career with 119 catches for 848 yards with six touchdowns in three seasons.
Allen is someone who could go anywhere from round three to round five in the NFL draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all. Right now, he is insanely cheap in mock drafts, but I have a feeling he could move up quite a bit depending on the NFL Draft landing spot. I’m grabbing him in the fourth round now, but I might eventually need to spend a third-round pick in order to make sure I get him on my team.
GRADE: C+
Jaydon Blue, RB Texas
Rookie ADP RB19
Jaydon Blue is a speedster who could make it work in the NFL at the next level. He is 5-9, 196 pounds and ran a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine. He played behind some very productive running backs at Texas, so he didn’t see a lot of work in his career.
He had over 700 yards rushing and 350 yards receiving his junior year. Blue is extremely athletic player who has shown an impressive receiving profile. He struggled with fumble issues in college, which is one of the bigger knocks against him.
Blue is projected to be a third-round pick by some, but seems more like a fourth or fifth round selection in the NFL Draft to me. Third-round draft capital could boost him way up draft boards, but his limited production and fumble issues have me concerned. I’m lower on him than consensus. There are just too many other RBs I like in this class more than him. I would need for him to take a big drop to the end of the fourth round or into the fifth round for me to consider taking him.
GRADE: C-
Brashard Smith, RB Southern Methodist
Rookie ADP RB20
Brashard Smith is a former wide receiver, who started his career at Miami before transferring to SMU and converting to running back. At 5-10, 194 pounds, Smith is lightning quick. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine. His receiving skills and athletic ability have him as an intriguing prospect. He can also kick and punt return.
His RB20 ADP on DLF at the moment, seems to be low. Some prominent figures in the industry have Smith in their top 10. He is just outside my top 10, but he is definitely a player I’m keeping an eye on. The success of the New York Giants Tyrone Tracy last season as a rookie who converted from wide receiver to running back at Purdue will definitely be a positive for fantasy managers when it comes draft time.
Smith is looking to be a fourth or fifth round pick in the NFL Draft that could end up in a good landing spot that can utilize his special abilities. Smith is going near the end of the fourth round in rookie drafts, but he is definitely a candidate to rise in fantasy drafts.
GRADE: C
Stay tuned for my analysis of RBs with rookie ADP of 9-12 in a few days.
- How and Where to Pick Running Backs in 2025 Rookie Drafts - June 5, 2025
- 2025 Post-Draft OFF/IDP Combined Rookie Mock Draft: Part Two - May 21, 2025
- 2025 Post-Draft OFF/IDP Combined Rookie Mock Draft: Part One - May 19, 2025
As we prepare for the NFL Draft in the next couple weeks, we have had a chance to digest all the information from the Senior Bowl, East vs West Shrine game, the NFL Combine, and a Pro Day events, so what does the running back landscape look like in 2025? This has been talked about as a possible all-time great running back class. It will be years before we actually know if this class lives up to those incredibly high expectations. In the meantime, we are going to break down this class for all your fantasy football purposes.
There are some absolute studs at the top of this RB class. How many could possibly go in the first round or on day two of the draft? That’s a question I will tackle later in this series. But more than just the elite running backs at the top of this class, it is being talked about as a league changer because of the sheer depth of this class. I’m not sure I have seen an RB class this good and this deep in my 15+ years of playing dynasty fantasy football.
Draft capital and landing spots are always important, especially for running backs, but it might swing what order this class of RBs goes in fantasy drafts more than in any year I can remember. Outside of the top four or five RBs in this class, RB6-RB20 are all jumbled together at the moment. There are positives and negatives about all of the prospects. We have running backs of all shapes and sizes and a variety of skill sets.
There is a legitimate chance that this running back class will reshape the RB position in dynasty fantasy football for the next four-to-five years with players from this class taking over major fantasy roles as early as their rookie seasons.
I am going to run down my top RBs in the class as well as go through my favorite sleepers in this series. I will be using DLF’s March 2025 ADP to determine each player’s current ranking. From there, I will analyze and rank the rookie running backs in this year’s draft and decide where we should be looking to take them in your rookie drafts.
Why should you listen to me? What are my credentials you ask? Good question. Before writing for DLF, I had extensive experience as a sports journalist covering top-level high school football, Division 1 college football in the Big 10, Big 12, and SEC, and I also spent time covering the NFL. After that I spent seven years as a high school varsity running backs coach at my alma mater among other schools. I have learned what characteristics make elite running backs and what causes players to not reach their potential.
I have spent the last few years playing in CFF, C2C, and Devy leagues to get a better grasp of the players coming out of college before they come into the NFL. As is the case with any evaluator, I have my hits and misses. But I am confident in my assessment of these players and their possible success in the NFL.
Now, I would like to introduce you to my grading system for this year’s rankings. This will help you to see where I rank the rookie running backs compared to their ADP on DLF. Below is the ranking system I will be using as well as each grade’s definition.
Grading System:
- A = Elite – Early to late first-round NFL pick
- B = NFL starter – Day two selection, second or third-round pick
- C = RBBC, needs an opportunity – Day three selection, fourth or fifth-round pick
- D = Backup or Specialty back – Day three selection, sixth or seventh-round pick
- F = Longshot – Late pick or undrafted free agent
RBs 13+ Rookie ADP
Damien Martinez, RB Miami
Rookie ADP RB13
Damien Martinaz started his career at Oregon State. The bruising 6-0, 230 pound running back immediately made an impact in Corvalis. After compiling 355 carries for 2,167 yards rushing on 6.1 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez transferred to Miami for his junior season. He had 159 carries for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 17 passes for 204 yards for the Hurricanes.
Martinez split some carries in two of his three seasons in college, but he was still very productive averaging over 1,000 yards a season with 6.2 yards per carry and totally 26 touchdowns. Miami was a pass-first offense behind Heiman Trophy finalist and potential number one pick Cam Ward at quarterback. The offense was really impressive for the Hurricanes and Martinez was a big piece of that success.
Martinez dropped some weight in the pre-draft process. He weighed in at 217 pounds at the combine. This helped him to look a little more explosive, running the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds with a 1.56 10-yard split. His 35-inch vertical jump and 10-4 broad jump helped to show off his overall athleticism. My guess is his playing weight will be closer to 225 when the season starts, and I’m completely good with that.
Martinez is a bit of a throwback, big-bodied running back. He reminds me of a 1990’s to early 2000’s style running back. When I watch him play, I think of former San Diego Chargers RB Natrone Means.
I am quite a bit higher on Martinez than consensus. I watched him play a lot in college, and I think he can be a good NFL RB that pairs well with a smaller, quicker third down back. He most likely won’t get the lions’ share of carries for an offense, but he can be nice piece in a shared backfield where he sees a majority of goal-line carries. Martinez has above-average athleticism for a big, powerful runner. He has nimble feet on inside runs and has the ability to make defenders miss tackles or lower his shoulder pads and run them over like a Mack truck.
Because of the depth of this RB class, I don’t see an NFL team going out of its way to grab Martinez earlier than they have to. I think he is a likely fourth or fifth round pick. While that might have swayed me away from drafting him in fantasy rookie drafts in past years, I’m not as worried about the round some of these later RBs are getting drafted in. I think there will be a ton of guys going between the third and fifth rounds of the draft. I think Martinez has the ability of a third-round pick, even though he likely gets drafted later.
Martinez is currently going in the mid-to-late third round in rookie mock drafts. This feels like a good place to get him. I’m grabbing him in that range if I’m looking for an RB at that point in the draft.
GRADE: C+
Trevor Etienne, RB Georgia
Rookie ADP RB14
Trevor Etienne is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, who was a first-round selection in 2021. Like his brother, Trevor Etienne shows high-end athleticism and speed, but he is a bit undersized at 5-9, 198 pounds. Trevor Etienne ran a 4.42 40-yard dash with an impressive 1.51 10-second split with 35-inch vertical jump and a 10-4 broad jump. All very good numbers.
One of the biggest knocks against Etienne is his lack of production in college. He was never the team’s clear-cut top back in his three years in college. Etienne started his career at Florida, playing two seasons before transferring to SEC rival Georgia for the 2024 season.
Etienne never eclipsed 800 yards in a season. In fact, his 753 yards rushing as a sophomore at Florida was his best season. He did go over 700 yards as a freshman, which is impressive, but he only had 609 yards in 10 games last season for the Bulldogs after missing four games because of a suspension and a rib injury.
Etienne only had 371 total carries in college, so he is a low mileage back. He has above-average explosiveness with legitimate three-down versatility. His vision, elusiveness, and efficiency are his best traits. He could struggle to get the tough inside yards in the NFL, but on wide runs he sets up tacklers and gets in and out of cuts without losing speed.
Etienne has a solid receiving profile with 53 catches for 366 yards over the last two seasons. He also has 24 career touchdowns. Etienne has just one drop on 63 career targets. He naturally turns into a runner after making the catch. His hands are impressive. He is really good at understanding pass protections, doing a good job picking up blitzers and recognizing stunts. Both of these traits should help him to secure a third-down role early in his career, while trying to become a full-time featured back.
Etienne is projected as a mid-round pick. I see him as a fourth or fifth round selection, unless a team is absolutely in love with his pass catching abilities and pass protection, then I could see him possibly getting taken in the late third round. Etienne is going near the end of the third round or top of the fourth round in rookie mock drafts. He is a player that could rise in PPR formats if he is drafted to a team where he can immediately take over as the team’s third-down running back.
GRADE: C+
Raheim Sanders, RB South Carolina
Rookie ADP RB15
Raheim Sanders has a solid freshman season at Arkansas before bursting onto the national scene as a sophomore. After rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns as freshman, Sanders rushed for 1,443 yards with 10 touchdowns and led the SEC with 6.5 yards per carry. He also added 28 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
But things fell apart during his junior season. Sanders, who had previously played at 225 pounds, reportedly bulked up to over 240 pounds prior to the season. The extra weight hurt his explosiveness and caused him to deal with multiple injuries throughout the year. When it was all said and done, Sanders only played in six games with a paltry 62 carries for 209 yards, just 3.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
Sanders transferred to South Carolina for his senior season and showed signs of his former self. Sanders dropped weight and was able to stay relatively healthy. He rushed for 881 yards on 183 carries with 11 touchdowns and played in 12 games. He added 27 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
At the NFL combine, Sanders came in at 6-0, 217 pounds. Slimming down helped Sanders run an impressive 4.46 40-yard dash with a 1.55 10-yard split and a 36.5-inch vertical jump.
Raheim Sanders | Credit: Nelson Chenault
Sanders has a good feel for following blocks and hitting the gas when he sees an opening. He is good in tight spots, where he can make a sudden plant-and-cut. Sanders was very good in short-yardage and goal-line situations, where he had an impressive success rate. At times, he runs a bit too high and can be clunky when trying to make multiple moves. At times, he tries to make a homerun play instead of just getting the yards that are there for him. Sanders has also struggled with fumbles throughout his career, which could get him benched at the next level.
Sanders seems to be expected to get drafted in either the fifth or sixth round of the NFL Draft. He is a player with a very high ceiling. If he can become the 2022 version of himself again, someone is going to get an absolute steal. The overall talent and ability is that of a second-round pick, but that isn’t how he has necessarily performed the last two seasons. The risk is high as well. The injuries, fumble issues, and fluctuating weight are concerns. Sanders will also be 23 years old in June, making him an older prospect. Sanders is a player that has big-time flameout potential at the next level, but I think he is worth the risk.
Sanders is going at the top of the fourth round in rookie mock drafts. If you haven’t picked up an RB already or if you are taking as many RBs as you can in this draft, this is a nice spot to take a chance on Sanders and hope he hits his extremely high ceiling in the NFL. But if he doesn’t, then all you did was waste a fourth-round pick.
GRADE: C
Jordan James, RB Oregon
Rookie ADP RB16
Jordan James took over for Bucky Irving at Oregon after Irving moved onto the NFL and had a very successful rookie season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. James is a smaller running back, but still has decent size at 5-10, 205 pounds. He also runs bigger than his size.
In his first season as a starter, James rushed 233 times for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. As a sophomore backup he rushed 107 yards for 759 yards for a whopping 7.1 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. James also caught 41 passes for 341 yards his final two seasons in college.
James doesn’t have great high-end speed, he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but he has great burst and accelerates through the hole. He does a nice job of following his blocks before he sees the crease and explodes through it. James always seems to be falling forward on running plays. On film, he is constantly running over opposing players to finish off carries. He does a nice job of breaking arm tackles and getting positive yards even on negative running plays.
James is projected as a fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft. He is currently going in the early-to-mid fourth round in fantasy mock drafts.
GRADE: C
Best of the Rest
I don’t usually go all the way out to the 20th running back in this series, but I think it’s necessary this season. All of these players are going somewhere in the fourth round of Rookie Mock Drafts, but each of them could easily move up into somewhere in the third round with the right draft capital or landing spot, so that’s why I am mentioning a quick blurb about them.
Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech
Rookie ADP RB17
Taj Brooks is 5-9, 214 pounds and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the combine. Brooks was a stat monster for the Red Raiders. In his five seasons, he played in 56 games and amassed 4,557 yards on 879 carries with a 5.2 yards per carry average and 45 touchdowns. He also had 102 catches for 548 yards and two touchdowns.
He is a day three talent that makes up for average athletic traits with good instincts, physicality, and the ability to turn small gains into chunk plays with pure grit. He is a day three pick with a projection as a likely sixth-round pick.
GRADE: D+
LeQuint Allen, RB Syracuse
Rookie ADP RB18
LeQuint Allen is an interesting prospect who has some big-time admirers. Count me as one of those fully in Allen’s corner. He is being selected as RB18 currently at DLF, but he is inside my top 10 RBs in this class.
Allen is a clone of former Georgia and current Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Allen had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and had 20 combined touchdowns his junior season for the Orange. He also has one of the best receiving profiles in the class. Allen regularly lined up as a wide receiver on the outside and in the slot, showing fluid route-running ability. He finished his career with 119 catches for 848 yards with six touchdowns in three seasons.
Allen is someone who could go anywhere from round three to round five in the NFL draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all. Right now, he is insanely cheap in mock drafts, but I have a feeling he could move up quite a bit depending on the NFL Draft landing spot. I’m grabbing him in the fourth round now, but I might eventually need to spend a third-round pick in order to make sure I get him on my team.
GRADE: C+
Jaydon Blue, RB Texas
Rookie ADP RB19
Jaydon Blue is a speedster who could make it work in the NFL at the next level. He is 5-9, 196 pounds and ran a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine. He played behind some very productive running backs at Texas, so he didn’t see a lot of work in his career.
He had over 700 yards rushing and 350 yards receiving his junior year. Blue is extremely athletic player who has shown an impressive receiving profile. He struggled with fumble issues in college, which is one of the bigger knocks against him.
Blue is projected to be a third-round pick by some, but seems more like a fourth or fifth round selection in the NFL Draft to me. Third-round draft capital could boost him way up draft boards, but his limited production and fumble issues have me concerned. I’m lower on him than consensus. There are just too many other RBs I like in this class more than him. I would need for him to take a big drop to the end of the fourth round or into the fifth round for me to consider taking him.
GRADE: C-
Brashard Smith, RB Southern Methodist
Rookie ADP RB20
Brashard Smith is a former wide receiver, who started his career at Miami before transferring to SMU and converting to running back. At 5-10, 194 pounds, Smith is lightning quick. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine. His receiving skills and athletic ability have him as an intriguing prospect. He can also kick and punt return.
His RB20 ADP on DLF at the moment, seems to be low. Some prominent figures in the industry have Smith in their top 10. He is just outside my top 10, but he is definitely a player I’m keeping an eye on. The success of the New York Giants Tyrone Tracy last season as a rookie who converted from wide receiver to running back at Purdue will definitely be a positive for fantasy managers when it comes draft time.
Smith is looking to be a fourth or fifth round pick in the NFL Draft that could end up in a good landing spot that can utilize his special abilities. Smith is going near the end of the fourth round in rookie drafts, but he is definitely a candidate to rise in fantasy drafts.
GRADE: C
Stay tuned for my analysis of RBs with rookie ADP of 9-12 in a few days.
- How and Where to Pick Running Backs in 2025 Rookie Drafts - June 5, 2025
- 2025 Post-Draft OFF/IDP Combined Rookie Mock Draft: Part Two - May 21, 2025
- 2025 Post-Draft OFF/IDP Combined Rookie Mock Draft: Part One - May 19, 2025
