The 2025 running back draft class is the deepest class we have seen in several years. The historic 2017 RB class might have some company for the most fantasy relevant backs in a single draft. There aren’t many years where I’d be happy to take the 8th or 9th running back in my 2025 RB Rankings at the end of the 2nd Round of rookie drafts, but that’s the way this class is looking.
For reference, the top RBs in the 2024 class would slot into my Tier 3 RBs if they were in this class. They obviously won’t all become stars, but there’s a lot more depth to this class than recent years as well as the potential for top-tier assets. The NFL Combine will have some impact on my RB rankings but this is largely what it will look like until after the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s take a close look at the top 20 RBs in the 2025 class.
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Height Measurements: Read the first three digits as a traditional height and the last digit as eighths of an inch. If a player does not have an official height measurement, it will include an asterisk (*).
Ex. A player that measures 6’1’’ and 3 eighths of an inch tall will be listed as 6013. A player who is 5’11.5” would be listed at 5114 for 11 inches and 4/8 of an inch.
2025 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
TIER 1 | RB Rankings
This tier is Ashton Jeanty. There’s not much more that needs to be said. He’s supremely talented and is likely to be the only RB drafted in the 1st Round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
RB1 | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | 5’9”* | 215 lbs
Previously Ranked 1
The top of my 2025 RB Rankings 3.0 has been the same for a long time. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is in a tier of his own after one of the best collegiate seasons in recent history. This year we saw Jeanty rush for nearly 1,000 yards more than the No. 2 player in the country. My analysis of his game hasn’t changed. He runs with both short-area quickness and top-end speed, has incredible contact balance when encountering defenders, and enough power to run over unexpecting tacklers.
However, because Boise State force-fed Jeanty 374 carries this year, one area of his game that we didn’t see as much of was his receiving ability. It’s not to say that he isn’t capable as a receiver, we just didn’t see him utilized that way. I expect Ashton Jeanty to get drafted in the 1st Round of the 2025 NFL Draft and likely as the 1st overall pick in all dynasty formats.
TIER 2 | RB Rankings
What’s important to know here is that my Tier 2 running backs are all very closely ranked. While I have them listed in the order that I would take them in rookie drafts, I have them very close. I’d be happy to take any of these players in the middle-to-late 1st Round of rookie drafts.
RB2 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio State | 5’10”* | 212 lbs
Previously Ranked 2
I have TreVeyon Henderson as the top RB in Tier 2, because I believe that Henderson’s skillset aligns very well with what the NFL currently looks for in a running back, so he gets the edge for me. After a couple underwhelming seasons in 2022 and 2023, Henderson returned to form this season. His explosiveness might be the best in the class.
Henderson is a dual-threat weapon. He has the ability to catch a pass out of the backfield or hit a hole on a run play and turn it into a touchdown in a hurry. His athleticism is routinely on display and will be highlighted throughout the pre-draft process. I think he’ll be drafted as potentially the second RB off the board, likely on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Sign me up as the president of the “TreVeyon Henderson is the RB2” fan club.
RB3 | Quinshon Judkins | Ohio State | 6’1”* | 219 lbs
Previously Ranked 4
The next two backs, Quinshon Judkins and Omarion Hampton, have flip-flopped for me all year. They both have similar skill sets. Judkins is a violent runner, who often seeks contact to break through tackles rather than avoid them. He may not be the best athlete on this list, but Quinshon Judkins might have the best short-area explosiveness in the entire class.
I have some questions about his top-end speed, but Judkins has a very fast first step and possesses great burst. He is a solid receiver of the ball, but not exceptional. Judkins is a beast to tackle. He routinely absorbs contact and bounces off would-be tacklers. If he gets drafted by a team that utilizes a power running back, it would be a perfect match.
RB4 | Omarion Hampton | North Carolina | 6’0”* | 220 lbs
Previously Ranked 3
Omarion Hampton is also a powerful runner that has great short-area burst. While he does have a little bit of wiggle, he doesn’t possess elite elusiveness. However, that hasn’t hurt him much as he tends to run through defenders rather than around them. Hampton is the most violent runner in the 2025 RB class. It’s easy to see the comparisons to another former Tar Heel, Javonte Williams, when Hampton runs.
Omarion Hampton shows good vision and patience and has plenty of burst to hit the hole as it opens. However, like many of the backs in this class, I worry about his long speed as he rarely runs away from defenders chasing him down. As we know, long speed is not the most important trait for a running back to have. As long as his explosion testing metrics match what he’s put on tape, he should be a lock to go on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
TIER 3 | RB Rankings
The backs in this range are all players that would likely be Day 2 NFL Draft picks in most years. However, because of the depth of this class, some might fall into the early portion of Day 3. These players are the ones that I think will provide the most value in rookie drafts.
RB5 | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa | 6’0”* | 225 lbs
Previously Ranked 7
One of the biggest risers in my RB rankings is Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. He has prototypical workhorse running back size and the game to match. He has great vision and patience as he operated Iowa’s one-cut scheme to near perfection this year. The biggest knock on him is a lack of long speed. But, as we know, that’s not always problematic for running backs. If he runs faster than expected, Johnson could find his way into Tier 2.
RB6 | Devin Neal | Kansas | 5106 | 220 lbs
Previously Ranked 6
Devin Neal is another player that hasn’t quite run his way into Tier 2 (pun intended), but he’s just outside the door. Neal has quick feet, varies his speed well, and seems to elude at least one tackler on every play. Neal is a more-than-capable receiver of the ball. My biggest concern for Neal is his lack of a standout trait. He’s not overly athletic, so it wouldn’t surprise me if his draft stock slides a bit after the NFL Combine. However, I think that could end up creating value.
RB7 | Trevor Etienne | Georgia | 5084 | 202 lbs
Previously Ranked 14
Trevor Etienne is one of the toughest backs to gauge in this year’s class. He has sufficient acceleration and power, and is a more-than-capable receiver out of the backfield. Unfortunately for him, he isn’t overly elusive, nor does he have top-end speed. I think Etienne is likely to fall into the early Day 3 range. Fortunately for dynasty players, it means you can get him at a value.
RB8 | Ollie Gordon II | Oklahoma State | 6011 | 233 lbs
Previously Ranked 12
There’s really only one question for Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II. Is he more like the 2023 or 2024 version of himself? If we get the explosive back from 2023, he’ll be one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. If we get the 2024 version, he’s probably going to struggle. I’m very interested to see how Gordon runs after weighing in at 233 pounds at the Senior Bowl. For a back of this size, Gordon is incredibly elusive. His range of outcomes is among the biggest in the class.
RB9 | Dylan Sampson | Tennessee | 5’11” | 201 lbs
Previously Ranked 8
Dylan Sampson burst onto the scene this year and shot up my 2025 RB Rankings and NFL Draft boards. Sampson is explosive with excellent vision to set up his blocks and has a quick first step to hit the hole once it opens. However, his best skill is his elite speed. He could be the fastest running back at the NFL Combine. But with all that speed comes one major concern: size. He’s listed at 201 pounds, but I would be surprised if he actually weighs in over 200.
TIER 4 | RB Rankings
My Tier 4 RBs profile more as role players of one kind or another to start their careers. It’s possible that any one of them could blossom into a bigger role and fantasy relevance, so I’ll be taking some swings in the mid-to-late rounds of rookie drafts on these guys.
RB10 | Jordan James | Oregon | 5’10” | 210 lbs
Previously Ranked 13
I have consistently been lower on Jordan James than many people. He does a lot of things well but doesn’t do anything at an exceptional level. He has good vision and quickness but once again, long-speed is a question.
RB11 | Jaydon Blue | Texas | 6’0”* | 200 lbs
Previously Ranked 18
Jaydon Blue is one of the best receiving backs in this draft class. He has top-tier speed out of the backfield and demonstrated the ability to make plays down the field. He could see early work as a third-down or PPR back.
RB12 | Kyle Monangai | Rutgers | 5’9”* | 209 lbs
Previously Not Ranked
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… Kyle Monangai lacks elite top-end speed. However, he makes up for it with power and short-area quickness. He has very good vision behind the line and sets up his blocks nicely.
RB13 | DJ Giddens | Kansas State | 6’1” | 212 lbs
Previously Not Ranked
DJ Giddens has the requisite size to be a workhorse back at the NFL level. While he may not be a household name, he has some of the traits you desire in a dynasty RB. Giddens has very good vision, patience, and contact balance as a runner. He’s a capable, but not spectacular, receiver out of the backfield.
RB14 | LeQuint Allen | Syracuse | 6’0” | 201 lbs
Previously Not Ranked
Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen is quickly rising up draft boards as a three-down prospect that broke out in 2024 for the Orange. He demonstrated great ability to catch passes out of the backfield, tallying 64 receptions 521 yards and 4 TDs on the year. If he runs well, he could shoot even higher up draft boards.
RB15 | Cam Skattebo | ASU | 5’11’8 | 215 lbs
Previously Not Ranked
If I’m one of the founding members of the “TreVeyon Henderson is RB 2” fan club, then I should also be starting the “Cam Skattebo is overrated” club. I have seen more and more buzz about Cam Skattebo over the last few months, and I just don’t see it. He’s a fantastic collegiate running back. Until I see him post athletic testing numbers that suggest he can compete athletically with NFL defenders, I’m not buying into the hype.
TIER 5 | RB Rankings
The rest of these names are players that are going to need to do something at the NFL Combine to jump into serious consideration for anything other than late-round flyers. The gap between RB20 and RB15 isn’t very big, so a strong showing in Indy and/or a positive draft landing spot could shake things up.
RB16 | Donovan Edwards | Michigan | 6’1” | 212 lbs
Previously Ranked 16
RB17 | Tahj Brooks | Texas Tech | 5’10” | 230 lbs
Previously Ranked 11
RB18 | Woody Marks | USC | 5’10” | 208 lbs
Previously Ranked 15
RB19 | RJ Harvey | UCF | 5’9” | 208 lbs
Previously Ranked 19
RB20 | Damien Martinez | Miami | 6’0” | 232 lbs
Previously Ranked 20
There are so many quality running backs in the 2025 RB class that cutting the list off at 20 seems less than ideal. Players like Michigan’s Kalel Mullings, Arkansas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson, Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten, SMU’s Brashard Smith, and plenty others could be in this list by the time the 2025 NFL Draft is through. The players beyond Tier 2 are all within striking distance of one another.
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- 2025 Rookie QB Rankings 3.0 | Tristan Cook
- 2025 Rookie RB Rankings 3.0 | Tristan Cook
- 2025 Rookie WR Rankings 3.0 | Tristan Cook
- 2025 Rookie TE Rankings 3.0 | Tristan Cook
