The NFL draft is rapidly approaching, and all anyone can talk about is this running back class. It has the rare combination of elite prospects, solid day-two options, and intriguing late-round fliers that allow it to be compared to the legendary 2017 class. These RBs also enter the league at an important time because many of the best backs are starting to get long in the tooth as NFL general managers and dynasty fantasy managers search for the next great crop of rushers.
With all the new talent set to enter the league soon, let’s look at the NFL’s current depth charts and assess the current backfields in danger of being usurped by younger talent in this year’s draft class and assess some value for the future.
A team unlikely to draft a running back means their current starter would rank low on this “danger scale,” while a team almost certain to draft a running back means their current back is very dangerous to own right now. We’ll go in reverse order, meaning these are some of the “safer” backs to own in dynasty leagues. Remember, this is not a ranking of the value of these backs, only their danger level. In short, the earlier you see a player’s name on this list, the less likely they are to lose value at the end of this month.
If you drafted Bucky Irving in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts last year, you’re incredibly happy with how his rookie season played out. He finished the year with 1,122 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 47 receptions for 392 yards.
He completely usurped Rachaad White by the end of the year as the lead back in this offense, and that should continue in 2025. The presence of White and UDFA Sean Tucker on the roster alongside Irving makes it extremely unlikely that the Buccaneers will add another running back in this draft class. The only reason that I have Irving in this tier and not the previous one is the fact that Tampa Bay has a new offensive coordinator. Maybe he doesn’t like White and Tucker and wants to get his own guys in the building.
If you survived the Jonathan Taylor endzone fumble in week 15, then he blessed you in the final two weeks of the season by scoring 39.8 and 25.6 fantasy points in the semis and championship weeks. JT struggled during the middle of the season with an ankle injury, but he still finished with 1431 yards and 11 touchdowns, which was good enough for the RB5 on a PPG basis.
Taylor has been one of the best running backs in the league since he was drafted in 2020, but this past season, the offense was miserable without him on the field, and I’m sure the coaching staff would prefer for him not to have 320 touches again this season. Indianapolis seems like a team that will take a running back on day three to help lessen the load Taylor must shoulder on a weekly basis. He isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job, but there will be someone added to this backfield.
