We break down the top of this year's outstanding running back crop.
We discuss some dynasty running back values.
Who might be available in the mid second round this year and who are some past examples?
Eric Hardter looks ahead to next year's free agent running backs.
We look at your rookie draft options with a late third-round pick.
We examine the upcoming bye weeks and identify good options to fill in for players who are unavailable.
We discuss some young players - both in the NFL and college football.
Ryan McDowell shares his biggest takeaways from week five.
We pick out some deeper names to keep on your radar and at the end of your rosters.
We grade this year's rookie running back class now we know those landing spots.
We begin our annual look at the most dangerous running backs to have in dynasty leagues.
John Di Bari breaks down a recent dynasty startup mock draft with rookies included.
We break down the signing of Kirk Cousins in Atlanta.
A comprehensive review of how the recent coaching change could impact players on both sides of the ball in dynasty fantasy football.
Addison Hayes picks out some of his favorite players to buy in dynasty leagues right now.
What should your plan be with your early third-round rookie draft picks this year?
We break down the off-season running back landscape.
We provide some insight into various player usage around the league.
Ryan McDowell shares his takeaways from the week, and dynasty thoughts for your eyes only.
We break down some of the interesting target share stats you need to know.
We pick out some moves to make to improve your rosters this week.
We offer up some moves to make this week to improve your dynasty rosters.
We break down all the latest usage data from around the league. Which players should you focus on?
After another week of injuries, we break down some waiver wire options.
We roundup the top fantasy performances in week three by position.
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We roundup the top fantasy performances in week two by position.
We cover some trends and false narratives from week one.
We break down some top performances by young players in college football and the NFL.
We roundup the top fantasy performances in week one by position.
Ryan McDowell shares his game notes from week one, along with dynasty strategy and how to navigate the waiver wire.
We break down the week that was.
We begin a new weekly series designed to break down the biggest stories of the week.
We pick out some players from the NFC West to buy, sell or hold.
We look at a font that should be outlawed as we run down a few gut checks.
We pick out some potential value movers in the NFC South.
We move on to the Atlanta Falcons and pick some players in the spotlight this season.
We look at the outlook for the NFC South, including some dynasty predictions.
We cover the aftermath of training camps.
We look at some running backs to consider making moves for or away from.
We focus on each rookie's situation, talent, opportunity, risk, and market to provide post-draft analysis for dynasty managers.
We focus on each rookie's situation, talent, opportunity, risk, and market to provide post-draft analysis for dynasty managers.
We focus on each rookie's situation, talent, opportunity, risk, and market to provide post-draft analysis for dynasty managers.
Which veterans were most affected by the rookie influx during the 2023 NFL Draft?
We examine the veteran winners and losers from the NFC North after the 2023 NFL Draft.
Which veterans (or rookies) won or lost in the NFC South during the NFL Draft?
We bring you an immediate reaction superflex, tight end premium, rookie mock draft.
We bring you the top twelve Dynasty Fantasy Football rookies for 2023.
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.
We open up the mailbag and answer your questions as we approach the 2023 NFL Draft.
We take a look at the options from the 2nd spot in 2023 rookie drafts.
We take a look at the options from the 3rd spot in 2023 rookie drafts.
We break down which second-year backs will thrive or fall off in 2023.
Which landing spots are the most attractive for dynasty managers?
A behind the scene look at ranking methodology and individual rankings vs the consensus.
As we enter the third round of rookie drafts this year, what will your options look like?
We use Draft Countdown's current NFL Mock Draft to examine the top dynasty prospects' potential landing spots.
How did the rookie running backs fare this year? We break down a group of them.
We break down the latest values from our Dynasty Trade Analyzer.
Which players are due to find the end zone this week?
We look back on one man's 2022 dynasty rookie rankings and evaluate how they look now.
We bring you a 2022 rookie mock draft do-over with the knowledge we have midway through the season.
We examine two rookies who are getting more involved. Is either a good long-term investment?
What were the biggest dynasty-relevant injuries last week? Who should you be monitoring?
After six weeks, keep your chin up.
After five weeks, some things aren't just big.
We provide some possible waiver wire options for your rosters this week.
What are some of the intriguing dynasty story lines heading into week five?
We don't have a gas crisis, but there's still a lot to worry about.
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.
We run down all the important happenings from week two.
We take a look at week one of the preseason.
Tyler Justin Karp answers some of the latest questions on the Ask DLF weekly YouTube show.
John DiBari fires up DLF's mock draft simulator to conduct a rookie mock with analysis.
We look at this year's handcuffs and assess who could help you win your league.
Tyler Justin Karp provides answers to your dynasty questions from this week's Ask DLF show.
Does a wide-open backfield mean early opportunities for Tyler Allgeier?
We look at little further down the draft at some players who could make a significant dynasty impact early on.
We expand on some questions from this week's Ask DLF show.
Desperate for a running back this year? We outline your potential rookie draft options.
We review the winners and losers from day three.
We bring you one of our first mock drafts of the off-season.
We review the intriguing prospects from the draft's final day.
Mike Havens offers his view of this year's running back class by dishing out post-draft grades.
We bring you a quick look at the players still left on the big board.
We check back in with some unanswered questions from this week's show.
As we near draft day, we hit our top four.
We put together the best in the business for a pre-draft mock.
We're getting closer to the top as we take a look at 1.07.
We take a look at our options from 1.08.
We take a look at the options from the nine-hole.
Mike Havens continues his look at the running backs in this year's class.
What should we make of BYU's Tyler Allgeier? Is he worth selecting in rookie drafts?
We break down one man's view on the rookie class.
For the last time before the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, we examine what the top of rookie drafts might look like.
We offer up another mock draft, imagining rookies in their landing spots.
We examine the intriguing back from BYU.
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We examine some fluctuating devy player values this week.
Who were some of the Group of Five's top performers in 2020? Who should we keep our eyes on moving forward?
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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