2025 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
Updated: Friday, August 29th
As we head into Labor Day weekend and the busiest part of fantasy football draft season, I have updated my positional rankings and overall top 200 fantasy football cheat sheet.
Note: These rankings are based on half-PPR scoring.
Embed from Getty ImagesMore rankings: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Top 200
Scroll down for rankings only (no comments) in table format.
1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Robinson (not Saquon Barkley) should be the RB1 in 2025 fantasy football drafts, especially considering Barkley's historic 2024 volume (most combined regular-season and playoff touches in a decade). The 23-year-old running back racked up 1,887 scrimmage yards and scored 15 total touchdowns on 365 touches including 61 receptions. From Week 6 on, Robinson averaged more fantasy points per game (21.1) than all other running backs. During that 12-game span, he averaged 19.8/97.6 rushing, 3.6/23.3 receiving and scored 14 total touchdowns.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Gibbs set or tied career highs across the board in rushing (250/1,412/16, 5.6 YPC) and receiving (52/517/4, 9.9 Y/R) in his second season. Gibbs was also top five among running backs with a minimum of 17 targets in yards per route run (1.67) and YAC per reception (11.5), per PFF. Gibbs was especially good when David Montgomery missed the final three regular-season games (RB1 overall), but he was also the RB3 (RB4 on a PPG basis) from Weeks 1 to 15 when Montgomery was also active.
3. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Joining the exclusive club of 2,000-yard rushers, Barkley racked up an additional 499 rushing yards in four playoff games. Yes, he set a career low in receptions (2.1) per game and Jalen Hurts had more rushing touchdowns (14) than Barkley (career-high 13). Including the postseason, Barkley had 482 touches — the most in a decade and third-most since the turn of the century. That said, he has an elite combination of speed and power, runs behind an elite offensive line and plays with talented wideouts, who keep opposing defenses honest.
More: Saquon Barkley 2025 Fantasy Football Outlook
4. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Father Time may be undefeated, but Henry carried the ball 325 times for 1,921 yards, the second-best (by far) of his career, and a league-high 16 touchdowns in his age-30 season. In addition, he averaged a career-best 5.9 YPC — a half-yard more than his previous high. Yes, his receiving volume was (and will continue to be) low, but Lamar Jackson limits opposing defenses from being able to stack the box to slow him down. Henry was top four across all scoring formats (including full PPR). Repeating his 2024 numbers may be unlikely (although he has some extra motivation for 2,000 rushing yards). Then again, it's possible that concerns about his age and a lack of work as a receiver could once again lead to a draft-day discount.
5. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Could McCaffrey finish as the RB1 in fantasy in 2025? Sure, as long as his health cooperates. CMC turned 29 earlier this summer and injuries have derailed three of his past five seasons. In those three seasons, he had six different stints of five-plus missed games. Through 31 games with the 49ers, he has racked up 3,581 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns. And so far, so good, heading into 2025 as The Athletic's Matt Marrows notes that if McCaffrey "not back to his 2023 form, he's pretty close to it."
6. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
In terms of potential workloads, Vegas was the ideal landing spot for Jeanty. His contact balance is elite, and he had an insane 1,970 yards after contact in 2024, per PFF. Utilized less in the passing game in 2024, Jeanty finished the previous season with 43 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. In other words, he's a do-everything talent who will become a true workhorse on Day 1.
7. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Achane's year-over-year carries nearly doubled (103 to 203), but the yardage total increased by only 107 yards from 2023. The rushing efficiency dropped even more than most had expected (from his unsustainable rookie levels), but his receiving role was elite as he paced the position with 78 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
8. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Like with Derrick Henry, a concern with Taylor is the lack of receiving volume, especially with Anthony Richardson (or Daniel Jones) under center. That said, he should get more targets (and fewer rushing touchdowns vultured) from Jones than Richardson. Taylor, who missed Weeks 5-7, had only 12/59/1 receiving on 21 targets over the final 10 games of the season. But his rushing numbers over that span were elite — 231 carries for 1,082 yards, both of which were second to only Saquon Barkley, and seven touchdowns. One additional concern with Taylor is that he has missed at least three games in three consecutive seasons.
9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
After Zack Moss was injured, Brown handled 189 touches (23.6/G) over his final eight games. During that eight-game stretch, Brown was top five in fantasy points (both overall and PPG). Bringing back Samaje Perine, who was a Bengal from 2019-2022, waiting until the sixth round to draft a running back (Tahj Brooks) and the recent release of Moss all bode well for Brown's grip of a workhorse role and outlook.
10. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Only the Eagles (55.86%) and Ravens (53.55%) ran the ball more often than the Packers (50.69%) in 2024, and those team's quarterbacks (Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson) ranked first and third, respectively, in quarterback rush attempts last season. Jacobs, who was one of six running backs to clear 300 carries in 2024, handled 67.49% of the team's running back carries. Jacobs set non-rookie lows in targets (43) and receptions per game (2.1).
11. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If you rostered Irving in 2024, you realize how good he was, especially over the second half of the season. Irving was the RB7 from Week 10 on when he averaged 15.5/87.9 rushing, 3/27.3 receiving and scored five total touchdowns.
12. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams used a third-round pick last year on Blake Corum, but Williams continued to dominate touches (21.9 per game). In fact, his 350 touches accounted for 78.8% of the team's running back touches in 2024. As long as Williams stays healthy, you should still expect him to command massive workloads with Corum (and fourth-round rookie Jarquez Hunter) handling a modest amount of touches to occasionally spell him.
13. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Perhaps his outlook is even rosier in dynasty leagues than redraft given the presence of Najee Harris, but Hampton should emerge as the team's lead back by season's end. Harris's "superficial eye injury" will almost certainly accelerate that shift. Currently, there is no update on when Harris will return although he's walking laps around the field as "part of his rehab process."
14. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Yes, Kamara turned 30 on July 25th and has missed multiple games in four consecutive seasons. And yes, an offense led by rookie Tyler Shough (or Spencer Rattler) could lead to more downs than ups for the offense as a whole. And yes, his days of off-the-charts production (5.0 YPC, 8.7 Y/R, minimum of 81 catches, and 58 TDs in 60 games) in his first four seasons are a thing of the past. That said, he has averaged 279.5 touches, 61.8 receptions, 1,344.3 yards and 6.8 touchdowns per season over the past four years despite missing 13 games. In 2024, Kamara finished as fantasy's RB10 overall (and as the RB6 on a per-game basis).
15. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
While his yards from scrimmage dropped by 300 yards from 2023 to 2024, Cook has now rushed for 1,000-plus yards in back-to-back seasons and he racked up 18 total touchdowns (16 rushing and two receiving) in 2024. That is three times his total (six) in 2023. Cook was previously a full participant in the team's mandatory minicamp in June and early in training camp, but he has since skipped practices due to "business and "was not willing to play" in the first preseason game.
16. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Walker has missed multiple games in each of his three NFL seasons including six missed games last year. While he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per touch, both career lows, his PFF elusive rating (113.5) was a career high and the third most among all running backs with at least 100 carries in 2024. Walker should benefit from the new coaching staff's heavy use of outside zone and there is plenty of upside if his health cooperates.
17. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Another year removed from his 2022 torn ACL, fantasy managers expected bigger and better things from Hall last year. Unfortunately, his production actually declined year over year as he finished the year as a mid-tier RB2 overall and on a per-game basis. Hall could present fantasy managers with a buy-low opportunity, but Aaron Glenn's comments about the backfield this offseason suggest less of a featured back role than he or fantasy managers may like in 2025.
18. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
As NFL.com's Lance Zierlein noted, Henderson "might be the best pass-protecting running back in this draft class." While running backs don't accumulate stats from pass protection, struggles (or lack of trust) in pass protection is a common reason why rookie running backs don't get as many snaps as expected. Perhaps Rhamondre Stevenson will handle a larger share of early-down carries, but Henderson will be the team's most valuable back with plenty of upside.
19. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Conner turned 30 in May and is entering his ninth NFL season. While he played 16 games last year, he has exceeded 13 games only three times in his career. That said, he's been highly productive in his four seasons in Arizona. During that four-year span, he has finished no worse than RB14 on a points-per-game basis (half-PPR scoring) and only three running backs have scored more touchdowns — Derrick Henry (53), Joe Mixon (49) and Austin Ekeler (48) — than Conner (44).
20. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard finished 2024 as the RB15 overall (RB12 on a PPG basis) in a career-best season — 250 carries for 1,195 yards, 43 catches for 171 yards and 11 total touchdowns. With Jonathan Brooks on PUP and out for another season, the Panthers added a more competent RB2 (Rico Dowdle) and used an early Day 3 pick on Trevor Etienne, but the team should continue to lean on Hubbard as its lead back.
21. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
After five years with the Dallas Cowboys, Pollard handled 301 touches for 1,317 yards and five touchdowns for the Titans in 2024. The Memphis native has now rushed for 1,000-plus yards and racked up 1,300-plus YFS in three consecutive seasons. In addition, he has 300-plus touches in back-to-back seasons. That said, head coach Brian Callahan has said that "[i]n a perfect world, it's a healthier division of labor [between Pollard and Spears]. ... I think we can do a better job of managing that load so they both play a little more evenly and allows us to maybe have a spot for a third back ..."
22. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
Heading into the draft, the Bears were one of the teams that many projected to take a running back early. Chicago drafted a running back but not until the seventh round (Kyle Monangai, 233rd overall). Barring any trades that shake up this backfield, there is plenty of potential value to unlock by rostering Swift or Roschon Johnson.
23. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Montgomery has averaged half a yard more per carry as a Lion (4.4) than he did previously as a Bear (3.9). Even though Gibbs has 26 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, Montgomery has 25 with a minimum of 12 per season. While he has missed three games in both of his seasons in Detroit, Montgomery's fantasy points per game will likely outperform his ADP. He has finished top 13 in fantasy PPG in each of the past two seasons.
24. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Following the 2025 NFL Draft, Harvey's draft pedigree (second round), landing spot, and existing competition made him a post-draft fantasy football winner. Only Boise State's Ashton Jeanty had more 10-yard runs (63, 16.8%) than Harvey (54, 23.4%) last season, and he should be considerably more involved as a receiver, especially given Sean Payton's historical ranking in running back targets. More competition was added to the mix after the draft with Denver's signing of J.K. Dobbins, who has averaged 5.2 YPC for his career and should earn a sizable workload, when healthy. Harvey is an upside RB2.
25. Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings
Playing a full 17-game slate in his first season as a Viking, Jones set a career high in rushing yards (1,138), attempts (255) and attempts per game (15.0). In addition, he exceeded 50 catches for the third time in the past four seasons and has averaged at least 2.7 receptions per game for six consecutive seasons. Given his age (turns 31 in December) and the addition of Jordan Mason, it's likely that the Vikings scale back his workload some, especially as a rusher, but he remains a solid RB2 in fantasy.
26. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
While Pacheco was clearly not himself after returning from injury last season, the Chiefs have signed Elijah Mitchell in free agency, brought back Kareem Hunt and drafted Brashard Smith in the seventh round. Kansas City was viewed as a potential destination for a first-round running back (especially TreVeyon Henderson). Given his ADP and the current depth chart, Pacheco could turn out to be a value.
27. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
Tracy took over as the starter last season and finished 2024 with 192 carries for 839 yards and five touchdowns with 38 catches for 284 yards and a touchdown. He had only 14 touches in his first four games, but he was fantasy's RB16 (tied for RB21 in PPG) from Weeks 5-18. With the team using an early Day 3 pick on Arizona State's Cam Skattebo, Tracy is better viewed as a flex/RB3 option than an RB2 for 2025.
28. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren has been efficient with his touches — career 4.8 YPC and 7.0 Y/R — and could see a year-over-year bump in workload with rookie Kaleb Johnson replacing Najee Harris. A talented receiving back, Warren's receiving work dipped in 2024 (3.1 targets and 2.5 catches per game) from 2023 (4.35 targets and 3.6 catches), but last year's quarterback duo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields ran 105 times combined. I'm not going out on a limb to say that Aaron Rodgers will run much less than that, and therefore Warren should be the recipient of more dumpoffs.
29. Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
With Christian McCaffrey sidelined, Mason eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark and finished as a top-eight fantasy running back in three of the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Going into the 2025 season, he'll "back up" Aaron Jones, but a (close to) 50-50 workload split is possible and Mason has standalone flex value with contingent upside in the event of an injury to Jones.
30. Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
As Steelers.com's Dale Lolley writes, Johnson is "a bruising one-cut runner who should fit perfectly as a zone-scheme runner" in Pittsburgh's offense. With Najee Harris departing for the Los Angeles Chargers, Johnson should fill a similar role/workload within Pittsburgh's offense. Although I have Johnson projected for a little less, Harris had more than 250 carries and 1,000 rushing yards in all four seasons with the Steelers. Johnson's struggles in pass protection could lead to less snaps than he'd otherwise get.
Here are my top 70 running backs (half-PPR scoring) for 2025: