10 Late-Round Fantasy Football Running Backs Sleepers With League-Winning Potential (2025)

Mike Fanelli presents his 10 late-round fantasy football running backs with league-winning potential for 2025. Top fantasy football draft targets include Zach Charbonnet, Travis Etienne Jr., Jaydon Blue, and more.

While the 2025 NFL season is still a few months away, now is the time for fantasy players to prepare for their redraft leagues.

Therefore, let’s look at 10 potential league-winning fantasy football running backs with an average draft position outside the top 100.

The ADP used for this article is courtesy of RotoBaller.

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks – ADP 101.4 | RB35

Many have been disappointed with Charbonnet’s career from a fantasy football perspective. Despite being a second-round NFL Draft pick a few years ago, the former UCLA star has never had over 575 rushing yards in a season. Yet, he should be at the top of every league-winners article because of Kenneth Walker III’s injury history.

Last year, Walker missed a career-high six games with multiple injuries. Meanwhile, Charbonnet ended the season as the RB25, averaging 9.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, he averaged a rushing touchdown and 17.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the six contests without Walker. The 17.6 average would have made him the RB5 on a points-per-game basis last year.

ZACH CHARBONNET 51-YARD TD!

📺: #SEAvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/P492n4pkXU

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars – ADP 101.7 | RB36

While many are ready to name Bhayshul Tuten the Jaguars’ new starting running back, don’t be so fast to kick Etienne to the curb. The rookie running back struggled with fumbles in college and so far in offseason practices with Jacksonville. Even though Etienne was a massive bust last year, he could bounce back this season.

The former first-round NFL Draft pick was a fantasy star in 2023. Etienne ended the year as the RB3, averaging 16.6 PPR fantasy points per game. The Jaguars improved their offensive line this offseason and hired Liam Coen as their new head coach. Don’t be surprised if Etienne has a bounce-back season in the final year of his rookie contract.

Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys – ADP 111.6 | RB39

Despite being a fifth-round pick, Blue will be one of my highest-rostered running backs in redraft leagues. He has league-winning upside, thanks to his pathway to significant snaps as a rookie. Dallas has an up-and-coming offensive line and two ineffective veteran running backs ahead of the rookie on the depth chart.

Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders ranked in the bottom 16 among 70 running backs with at least 55 rushing attempts in yards per attempt last season. Furthermore, both veterans averaged 2.51 or fewer yards per rushing attempt. Therefore, Blue could be this year’s Bucky Irving. He had nearly 1,100 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns last season, including six receiving scores.

Jaydon Blue was a BEAST through the air in his Junior year, catching 42 passes to go with 6 TDs🔥

Could Blue be a PPR monster in 2025? pic.twitter.com/eNxM7D4n7d

— FastDraft Fantasy (@fastdraftapp) April 29, 2025

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings – ADP 114.1 | RB40

Minnesota traded for Mason earlier this offseason, swapping Day 3 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft for the young running back. Last year, he finished as the RB37, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game as a part-time starter for the San Francisco 49ers.

However, Mason was productive as the starting running back. He averaged 22.8 rushing attempts and 17.9 fantasy points per game over the first four weeks, totaling 16.9 or more in all but one contest. While Aaron Jones re-signed with the Vikings, he is on the wrong side of 30 and has an injury history. Therefore, Mason has league-winning upside if Jones misses significant time with an injury.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers – ADP 132.5 | RB45

Hopefully, Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy in 2025 after missing 13 games last season, including the first eight with Achilles tendinitis. Furthermore, he has missed 44.1% of the games over the past five years. However, the superstar’s significant injury history makes Guerendo the top handcuff in fantasy football and a potential league winner.

Last season, Guerendo was outstanding when earning enough volume. He averaged 15 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the five contests with more than five rushing attempts. Furthermore, the former Louisville star had three rushing touchdowns late in the year after becoming the team’s starter. Guerendo showed enough as a rookie to be the team’s featured guy if McCaffrey misses time again in 2025.

.@49ers TD 🙌 Rookie @isaacguerendo takes it to the house!

📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S7l9fCO7P8

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills – ADP 142.4 | RB48

Buffalo led the NFL with 32 rushing touchdowns last season. James Cook led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns, while Josh Allen had 12 scores. However, Davis also had an impact on the ground, totaling three rushing touchdowns. More importantly, he shone when Cook missed time with an injury last year.

The former Kentucky star was outstanding in the one game Cook missed with an injury last year. Davis finished Week 6 as the RB14, totaling 23 touches for 152 scrimmage yards and 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points despite not scoring a touchdown. The second-year pro is a solid flex option with league-winning potential if Cook’s contract situation leads to a holdout.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons – ADP 151.2 | RB51

Allgeier had a productive rookie season in 2022, ending the year on fire. He averaged 19.8 rushing attempts for 107.8 yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 16.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the final four contests, ranking as the RB5 during that span. Unfortunately, the former BYU star has seen his role on offense shrink since the addition of Bijan Robinson.

Yet, Allgeier is one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football because he would have a featured role if Robinson missed significant time with an injury. Therefore, that makes him a potential league winner. Last year, Allgeier had three rushing touchdowns. However, the veteran could have double-digit scores in 2025 if given enough volume.

Teamwork makes the dream work@tylerallgeier25 😤

FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/q2IIPrBsJn

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 3, 2024

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears – ADP 158.6 | RB52

Many expected the Bears to use an early pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a running back. However, the team waited until the seventh round to select Kyle Monangai. Therefore, Johnson should be the favorite to fill the David Montgomery goal-line role in Ben Johnson’s offense, potentially scoring double-digit touchdowns.

Last year, Johnson tied D'Andre Swift for the team lead with six rushing scores. However, he had 198 fewer rushing attempts than the veteran (253 vs. 55). Reportedly, Chicago could sign J.K. Dobbins before the start of training camp. However, Johnson should be a popular last-round draft target with league-winning upside unless the Bears add a running back in free agency.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers – ADP 163.2 | RB53

Despite coming off the best season of his career in 2024, the Dallas Cowboys allowed Dowdle to walk in free agency. Last year, he finished as the RB22, averaging 11.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite totaling only two rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, the veteran had over 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.

dowdle drives it in 🏎️

📺: #NYGvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/1hgQ49dnIW

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 29, 2024

After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Cowboys, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this offseason. Jonathon Brooks is out for the year after re-tearing his ACL late last season, making Dowdle the unquestioned No. 2 running back on the depth chart. Still, he could earn co-starter snaps if Chuba Hubbard struggles coming off a career year.

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs – ADP 185.6 | RB62

Unfortunately, the Chiefs had to use a full-blown running-back-by-committee situation last season. Isiah Pacheco missed 10 games because of injury. More importantly, the former Rutgers star struggled once back in the lineup. After averaging 14.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game before getting hurt, Pacheco averaged 4.5 fantasy points per contest coming off the injury.

Even so, Kansas City waited until the seventh round of the NFL Draft to select a running back, picking Smith. He has only played running back for a full season once, totaling 1,332 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last year. While he is a seventh-round pick, Smith could earn the starting role sooner rather than later, like Pacheco did as a rookie in 2022.

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