The Pillars of Rookie RB Success was written by John Hammersmith. This is John’s first contribution to Dynasty Nerds, so reach out (@Luxembourgh) and share your feedback on his fantasy traits that translate. We’re excited to have John join the Nerds team!
Not every rookie hits the ground running—but when they do, it’s rarely a mystery. While size, speed, and Combine numbers draw headlines, they don’t tell the whole story. The running backs who break out early in the NFL share a core set of fantasy traits that translate more than measurables. From my perspective, three traits consistently separate early-impact rookies from the rest: Vision & Processing, Pass Protection & Receiving, and Opportunity.
These aren’t flashy, but they’re functional—historically, they’ve proven to be the most reliable predictors of early success. Let’s explain why they matter, which past rookies embodied them, and which 2025 prospects are trending in the right direction.
Vision & Processing | Seeing the Game Before It Happens
At the NFL level, chaos is constant, and defenders not only diagnose plays faster—they close even quicker. That’s why a rookie back’s ability to process movement, anticipate gaps, and adjust mid-play is the foundation for fantasy production. A strong understanding of the system allows for improved processing as they know when and where all the blocks will occur.
Tyler Allgeier’s rookie breakout wasn’t handed to him—it was earned, one no-nonsense carry at a time. He didn’t open the season as the guy, but while others failed, Allgeier kept showing up and doing the dirty work. No wasted motion, no wild bounce attempts—just patience, purpose, and downhill runs that made coaches nod from the sideline. He took what was there, squeezed out a little extra, and kept the offense ahead of the sticks. By the time the dust settled, he’d bulldozed his way to over 1,000 yards, showing his team, I’m not filling in—I’m holding it down.
Vision | Fantasy Traits that Translate
Omarion Hampton | North Carolina
Hampton’s a smooth, decisive runner who patiently presses the line and doesn’t waste movement. There’s a maturity to his game—he’s not out there guessing, he’s processing. And when he makes his cut, it’s downhill with purpose. He’s built for volume, built for structure, and built to punish defenses that overcommit. Smart, efficient, and quietly ruthless.
Dylan Sampson | Tennessee
Lightning-quick processor with sudden cuts. Sampson thrives when chaos erupts, consistently slipping through tight lanes before defenders can adjust. His field awareness is exceptional for his size and role—showcasing fantasy traits that translate.
Devin Neal | Kansas
Neal plays with quiet discipline and sharp intelligence. He’s not flashy—instead, his game stands out through consistency, rooted in his ability to take the optimal path every time. It’s a blend of vision and anticipation. You rarely see him lose yards or make ill-advised bounces to the outside—and that kind of reliability is something coaches value deeply.
Bhayshul Tuten | Virginia Tech
Tuten’s got that natural feel you can’t teach. His vision pops on film—sees it, trusts it, hits it. No dancing, no hesitation. He’s a natural fit in zone schemes or any system built on timing—like he’s already logged a full season in the playbook. Smooth and efficient—a plug-and-play kind of back who just makes everything look easy.
Pass Protection & Receiving | On the Field for 3rd Down
You can’t help your team if you’re on the sideline. Rookie running backs must earn trust in the passing game—both as blockers and receivers—if they want to stay involved in high-leverage situations. Coaches won’t hesitate to pull a rookie off the field if they’re a liability on passing downs.
Look back to Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara in 2017. Both carved out massive roles early—not just because they could catch—but because they could protect their quarterback, run routes like receivers, and always be where they were needed for protection or the reception. Trust is critical for a QB and earning that trust will heavily determine a rookie’s involvement early on.
Pass Protection & Receiving | Fantasy Traits that Translate
Cameron Skattebo | Arizona State
Tough as nails, but sneakily versatile, Cam Skattebo has soft hands and real receiving production over multiple seasons. Arizona State used him creatively, and his physicality translates in pass pro—he’s not afraid to meet linebackers in the hole.
Trevor Etienne | Florida
Trevor Etienne’s growth as a receiver has been noticeable. He’s effective on swing passes and flare routes and flashes the potential to be more. Combine that with his compact, low-to-the-ground frame, and he projects well in blitz pickup.
LeQuint Allen | Syracuse
Arguably the top pure pass-catching back in the class, LeQuint Allen led all NCAA running backs with 64 receptions and looked more like a slot receiver than a traditional dump-off guy. He’s polished, smooth, and has reliable hands. He’s also shown solid awareness in protection, giving him a realistic shot at early 3rd down usage.
Woody Marks | USC
Woody Marks isn’t just good in the passing game—he’s been that dude since day one. He racked up 60 catches as a freshman in Mike Leach’s Air Raid and never looked uncomfortable doing it. He runs routes with smooth precision, catches with soft hands, and has enough wiggle to make linebackers miss in space. Pair that with years of pass-pro reps, and he’s already built for 3rd down work—maybe more.
Opportunity | The Path to Touches
Let’s be real, talent only takes you so far if the opportunity isn’t there. Rookies can turn heads all offseason, but if they’re buried behind a proven starter, that breakout moment may be unpredictable. This is why landing spot, draft capital, and team needs are just as important as raw skillset when projecting early success.
We’ve seen this play out before. When the Seahawks spent a 2nd Round pick on Zach Charbonnet despite having Kenneth Walker III firmly in place–expectations for immediate production had to be tempered. The same thing happened in 2016 when Tennessee drafted Heisman winner Derrick Henry behind DeMarco Murray—it took time.
On the flip side, James Robinson went undrafted in 2020 but exploded for over 1,400 total yards simply because there was no one else on the depth chart. Thus, the power of opportunity. For Day 2 backs especially, landing in a backfield without a clear starter can fast track their path to relevance, regardless of where they sit in the rankings.
Opportunity | Fantasy Traits that Translate
TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio State
Henderson may not project as a traditional 20+ touch-per-game workhorse, but his archetype is increasingly valuable in today’s NFL. He brings elite athleticism, home-run speed, and explosive playmaking ability—traits that offensive coordinators covet. With a strong chance of being selected within the top 50 picks, Henderson’s draft capital and skillset all but guarantee a meaningful role early on. In the right system, that makes him a high-upside fantasy asset from day one.
Kaleb Johnson | Iowa
This is a back who looks the part. Johnson is built like an NFL starter and runs with purpose. If a team invests Day 2 capital in him, it likely signals a shot at lead-back duties. He has the size and no-nonsense running style to carry a load right away—a rarity in this class outside of the top tier.
Damien Martinez | Miami
Martinez runs with a bruising, downhill style that’s tailor-made for early-down work in the NFL. At 6’0’’, 230 lbs., he brings a physical presence that teams can lean on to wear down defenses and control the tempo. There’s already buzz that some teams view him as a potential Day 2 pick, and if that holds, he could land in a backfield with a clear path to early touches.
Jarquez Hunter | Auburn
Hunter doesn’t freelance—he sticks to the plan and gets downhill in a hurry. He stays on track, follows his blocks, and rarely puts the offense in a bad spot. There’s a calmness to how he attacks the line—controlled burst, sharp footwork, and juice to break one when things open up. He’s not out here to be creative—he’s executing. And that’s what makes him valuable. No drama, just a back who does his job and does it well.
Final Thoughts | Fantasy Traits that Translate
While the NFL Draft will inevitably shine a spotlight on the fastest 40 times and the biggest vertical jumps, history tells us that these three traits—vision, passing-down utility, and opportunity—matter more than raw athleticism for rookie RBs trying to make an early impact. Focusing on these pillars can help cut through the noise. And if the right rookie lands in the right situation with these fantasy traits that matter, you might just find the next star RB before the rest of your leaguemates catch on.
