Running back is one of the most fluid positions in dynasty fantasy football. Injuries are plentiful, job security is murky at best and volume is unpredictable. These 2025 dynasty running back rankings will show where tier breaks occur, targets for rebuilders versus competitors, and analysis on key names in each tier.
* Indicates a rebuilding target who could rise in the rankings, but has risk associated. ^ Indicates a veteran who might not have a long shelf-life, but will be useful for competing teams.
2025 Dynasty Running Back Rankings – Rookies and Veterans to Target
Crown Jewels
Bijan Robinson
Jahmyr Gibbs
Robinson and Gibbs can be moved into whatever order people want. They’re both exceptional real life backs, and are getting enough touches to be fantasy relevant for years to come. Ashton Jeanty checks all the boxes we want in a prospect, and it might be too early to put him here, but the only way this doesn’t work out is a terrible landing spot.
Watch – Ashton Jeanty All-22 Film Study
RB1s
Breece Hall
DeVon Achane
Saquon Barkley^
Jonathan Taylor
Omarion Hampton
TreVeyon Henderson
Yes, three rookies in the top ten. That’s how good the class is, and why early firsts will be extremely valuable for RB-needy teams. 2025 dynasty running back rankings get weird after this tier, as each of these players has an argument to be a top-five running back in any given season. Barkley gets the veteran tag, but in no way is he a sell low. Breece Hall, DeVon Achane and Jonathon Taylor are stuck on rough offenses, but their individual talent will eventually shine through.
Little Giants, Exciting Youths and Aging Greats
Kenneth Walker
Bucky Irving
Kyren Williams
Kaleb Johnson*
Quinshon Judkins*
James Cook
Josh Jacobs
Derrick Henry^
It’s not 1990, tiny backs can succeed in the NFL. Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams continue to buck trends on size versus expected production. Kenneth Walker is expected to benefit from a different offensive coordinator in Seattle, and both of the rookies are early-down grinders with better pass-catching chops than they get credit for. Derrick Henry is one of those players that if you have him, he’s retiring on your roster. Maybe that’s next year, maybe in two years, but however long he’s stiff-arming guys he’ll be in our fantasy lineups.
Dusty Veterans and Risky Bets
Alvin Kamara^
James Conner^
Chase Brown*
Chuba Hubbard
Christian McCaffrey^
Joe Mixon
Was 2024 Chase Brown’s true breakout, or is he a one-year wonder? The Bengals have holes all over their roster, but it wouldn’t shock anyone if they added a thumper to complement what Chase Brown does. Kamara, Conner, McCaffrey and Mixon are all fantasy legends from the 2017 running back class, but how much do they have left in the tank? When healthy, Christian McCaffrey is the best of the bunch, but his surprise calf injury left a sour taste in dynasty managers’ mouths. Jonathon Brooks was supposed to be the top guy in Carolina, but we all know how that turned out.
2025 NFL Draft Impacts and David Montgomery
David Montgomery^
Travis Etienne*
Dylan Sampson
Tyrone Tracey
Brian Robinson
Damien Martinez
D’Andre Swift
Ollie Gordon
R.J. Harvey
Devin Neal
Tony Pollard
Tyjae Spears
Rhamondre Stevenson
Najee Harris
Zach Charbonnet
Trey Benson
Kyle Monangai
All of these rookies won’t get the draft capital and landing spots to be immediate contributors, but it’s the end of the tier where if they do, they’ll skyrocket up these 2025 dynasty running back rankings. Stevenson, Robinson and Tracey all need to survive free agency and the draft to have their 2024 roles. It’s a mess at this point, and we’ll have more clarity after free agency and the draft.
Honorable Mentions and Big Concerns
Bhayshul Tuten
D.J. Giddens
J.K. Dobbins
Woody Marks
Aaron Jones^
Rachaad White
Isiah Pacheco
Jordan James
Jaydon Blue
Brashard Smith
Main Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
