We break down the top of this year's outstanding running back crop.
Which players could be breaking out or falling off this season?
Jeremy Schwob picks a few running backs buried in depth charts who he believes could have an impact.
We examine all your potential options at running back in this year's rookie drafts.
We break down the dynasty impact of Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia.
We pick out the teams that could have new-look backfields next season, and which players could be on the move.
We break down the week that was.
We break down the week that was.
We break down the week that was.
We break down the week that was.
We cover some of the dynasty talking points in the first week of the season.
We break down the week that was.
We answer your mailbag questions as the season approaches.
We pick out some buys, sells and holds from the NFC East.
Peter Howard compares July's running back DLF ADP to DLF rankings.
We examine the intriguing backfield situations around the NFL.
Which running backs rose and fell in dynasty ADP last month?
The landscape of running backs in dynasty leagues is constantly evolving, akin to the ever-changing weather around us. We witness young stars...
We break down the best of the NFC West.
We look at the outlook for the NFC East, including some dynasty predictions.
We focus on each rookie's situation, talent, opportunity, risk, and market to provide post-draft analysis for dynasty managers.
We look at the NFC East veterans who lost out or are looking good after the 2023 NFL Draft.
We cover the biggest dynasty winners and losers from day two.
We break down the trade of D'Andre Swift from a dynasty fantasy football perspective.
We review the winners and losers from day one.
What RBs are at risk of losing touches as we head into the NFL Draft?
We look at some risers and fallers in ADP, focusing this time on running backs.
Will Izzy's landing spot in the NFL Draft change his dynasty outlook?
We take a look at the options from the 4th spot in 2023 rookie drafts.
A behind the scene look at ranking methodology and individual rankings vs the consensus.
We take a look at the options from the 12th spot in 2023 rookie drafts.
A behind the scene look at ranking methodology and individual rankings vs the consensus.
We break down which second-year backs will thrive or fall off in 2023.
Which landing spots are the most attractive for dynasty managers?
Which players have gained the most in free agency so far? We explore the biggest movers in this mock draft.
We break down the signing of Miles Sanders in Carolina.
We break down the signing of Rashaad Penny with the Eagles.
We offer up some potential moves you can make with your late third-round picks this year: draft or trade?
We break down the running back free agent class and potential cap casualties.
We pick out some players you could think about acquiring now before they pick up value over the off-season.
Nobody is your friend right now.
Nobody is your friend right now.
Don't be so dramatic.
We can't change the future, we can only see it.
We bring you a 2022 rookie mock draft do-over with the knowledge we have midway through the season.
We vote for some mid-season awards and review the week that was.
We catch up with some of devy and dynasty's interesting young players.
Which young players are in the spotlight this week?
We break down all the biggest dynasty-relevant injuries from week five.
What are some of the top moves to make this week to improve your rosters?
We break down yet another injury to Rashaad Penny.
We examine the expected points data to see who is over or underperforming.
We round up the top players at each position so far this season and what to expect moving forward.
We trawl through the top dynasty waiver wire options this week.
We cover all the lineup fun, gut checks, MVPs, LVPs, and have some fun with numbers from week two.
Which players should you buy, sell or add after three weeks of the season?
We break down all the dynasty-relevant injuries after week one.
We run down all the important happenings from week two.
We take a look at week one of the preseason.
Hutchinson Brown shares some thoughts on the state of the Seattle backfield.
We cover some of the more interesting social media talking points this week.
We look at this year's handcuffs and assess who could help you win your league.
We begin our divisional rundowns with a stroll through the NFC West.
We bring you one of our first mock drafts of the off-season.
We bring you our initial dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings
We break down the veteran winners and losers from day two.
We break down the happenings of day two.
We check back in with some unanswered questions from this week's show.
As we near draft day, we hit our top four.
We break down the game of Rachaad White.
Our drafters pick their top free agency movers of the off-season based on their dynasty value.
Johnny Kinsley picks out some top free agent acquisitions for dynasty purposes.
We break down this year's group of free agents.
We outline five players affected by Russell Wilson's trade to the Denver Broncos.
What should we make of the dynasty assets on the Seattle Seahawks? We take a closer look.
We cover last week's questions from our Ask DLF show.
We review the rookies and the week that was.
We examine what could happen to the players set to hit the free agent market in 2023 in terms of dynasty value.
We take a quick look at the dynasty ramifications of the James Robinson injury.
What is the Twitter world talking about this week?
Welcome to DLF’s Dynasty Aftermath. This staple article is our longest running signature piece as we have a little fun after a tough...
We pick out the players on the waiver who could help you win that championship.
We look back on the weekend's action and players featured in the Sunday Six Pack.
Which players could help you deal with roster emergencies down the stretch?
We continue to update you on all the injuries around the NFL.
We pick out some top potentially-available targets on the waiver wire after week 11.
My name is Jeff Mueller, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Injury Analyst for DLF, and I am here to help guide you...
Which players were hurt in week one? And how should we react in our dynasty leagues?
We cover week one the way we know best.
We look at the unfolding running back situation in Baltimore.
We look at some veterans who have the chance to be fantasy-relevant despite question marks heading into the NFL Draft.
We consider the veteran fallout from the NFL Draft for members of the NFC West.
We examine this year's crop of free-agent running backs and which teams are on the search for one.
Last week, we kicked this series off with a look at the 2025 crop of quarterbacks. From prospect summaries to class comparisons to rookie draft projections, we laid out the landscape for what is arguably the most shallow and least exciting position in this year's NFL draft. Now we get to the good stuff.
This will be the second article in a six-part series covering the relevant names in the class, with one each on the quarterbacks and tight ends and two each on the running backs and wide receivers. Most specifically, we'll be painting this year's prospects in the context of previous classes — granting you a helpful point of reference for each position.
And while the quarterbacks were somewhere between average and uninspiring, the running back group is both star-studded at the top and deep enough to demand multiple articles in this series. We'll cover the names likely to go in the first round of rookie drafts here and the balance in the ensuing piece.
Before we dive into the names on 2025 draft boards, let's set the scene with a quick look at recent classes.
Class | Notable Players | Grade |
---|---|---|
2024 | Jonathon Brooks, Tyrone Tracy Jr, Trey Benson, Ray Davis, Isaac Guerendo, Blake Corum | F |
2023 | Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, De'Von Achane, Chase Brown, Tank Bigsby, Tyjae Spears, Zach Charbonnet | A+ |
2022 | Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Kyren Williams, James Cook, Rachaad White, Brian Robinson, Isiah Pacheco, Dameon Pierce, Tyler Allgeier, Zamir White, Ty Chandler | A |
2021 | Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Rhamondre Stevenson, Chuba Hubbard, Javonte Williams, Kenneth Gainwell, Elijah Mitchell | C+ |
2020 | Jonathan Taylor, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D'Andre Swift, Cam Akers, JK Dobbins, AJ Dillon, Antonio Gibson, Zack Moss | C- |
Coming off a dismal 2024, you may be tempted to avoid running backs in rookie drafts until the end of time. That would be a mistake. The class was predictably weak, with zero backs selected in the first round and just one — with a torn ACL — selected in round one (Jonathon Brooks). Still, it was a historically unproductive group: they combined for just 1,036 PPR fantasy points, fewest by any class in the last 15 years. And to make matters worse, not a single one is likely to have a strong hold on an RB1 role in 2025, with fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr being the closest (for now).
However, we only need to look back one year prior to remember just how good a rookie RB group can be. The 2023 class gave us Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, both round one locks in startup drafts today, along with De'Von Achane, who's squarely in the top five at the position as well. Plus, second-year breakout Chase Brown (RB15 in startup ADP) is an unexpected stud, and even Tank Bigsby, Tyjae Spears, and Zach Charbonnet have had valuable stretches. If Robinson, Gibbs, Achane, and Brown remain in their current value ranges for a few years, this could be remembered as one of the better classes of the (young) century.
Think that was a flash in the pan? Slide back one more year to the 2022 class. While none of these guys were selected on day one, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Kyren Williams, and James Cook are currently all top-12 startup picks at the position. Hall, Williams, and Cook have all already posted at least one top-eight PPR fantasy season — as has Rachaad White — while Walker, Isiah Pacheco, and Brian Robinson Jr. have all logged RB1 stretches of varying lengths. The class may not be quite as top-heavy as 2023, but it's still an excellent group that's given us several valuable assets.
Unfortunately, the couple of classes prior to 2023 were more disappointing than they were landscape-changing. We expected more out of Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Javonte Williams in 2021, and while Rhamondre Stevenson and Chuba Hubbard have been quite good over short stretches, no one in this class has cemented themselves as a multi-year RB1. As for 2020, Jonathan Taylor has done his best to carry the class, but Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a mega-bust at 32nd overall and none of the other Round 2 picks — D'Andre Swift, Cam Akers, JK Dobbins, and AJ Dillon — have garnered any consistent or lasting value. Both classes have given us enough to avoid the "F" grade that 2024 has earned (so far), but neither has shifted the state of the position in dynasty.
So where does the 2025 class stack up? We're going to have to dive in to find out.
The clear number one running back in this class is also the consensus 1.01 in rookie drafts, even in superflex formats, so this is the kind of player who changes a class and a positional landscape all on his own.
Pick Projection: Round 1 (Raiders, Cowboys, Steelers)
Comps: LaDainian Tomlinson, Alvin Kamara
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