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Joey's running back breakouts and potential first-year Pro Bowlers for 2025 fantasy football. His four RB risers and sleepers to make the pro bowl in 2025.
There weren't many running backs who were first-time Pro Bowlers last season. As of matter of fact, Atlanta Falcons Bijan Robinson was the only running back to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2025. Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, Jonathan Taylor, and James Cook all made the Pro Bowl in the past.
With more young running backs starting to break out, though, we should expect more first-time Pro Bowlers at the running back position this upcoming season. This list will look at four running backs who have a great shot of making the Pro Bowl this season.
So, let's dive in and predict which four running backs will make their first Pro Bowl in 2025.
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De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane had a strong argument to make his first Pro Bowl last season. He ranked 10th in scrimmage yards (1,499), tied for eighth in total touchdowns (12), first in receiving yards (592), and first in receptions (78) among all running backs in 2024. Achane's all-around game was definitely on display in his sophomore campaign.
He rushed for 907 yards and six touchdowns and added 78 catches for 592 yards and six touchdowns through the air. Even though Achane was part of a solid receiving core that included Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Jonnu Smith, the running back was heavily featured in the passing game. The 23-year-old caught at least five passes in nine of 17 games in 2024.
Devon Achane’s footwork and contact balance=good pic.twitter.com/SkzjhHF5Dw
— Jake (@FinsCentral) May 13, 2025
However, Achane's Pro Bowl bid fell short last season after Cook was Henry's Pro Bowl replacement. With another year in this Dolphins offense, don't be surprised if the Texas A&M product earns his first Pro Bowl selection in 2025.
His speed plays a big role on offense, and getting him the ball in open space is almost a must. Achane ranked 10th in yards per touch (5.3), 13th in evaded tackles (57), and seventh in yards created per touch (4.25) last year. As a result, the third-year running back has the potential to take his game even further this season, especially since he should see most of the touches out of this backfield.
That should also make him a strong fantasy option once again. He just finished as the RB5 in PPR formats in 2024 while averaging 17.6 PPR fantasy points per game. His receiving upside will allow him to be a reliable RB1 play for fantasy managers this season. Therefore, he is a fantastic target early in fantasy drafts.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most people saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving's potential right away in the NFL. He rushed nine times for 62 yards in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders and then totaled 70 yards on nine carries in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos. The Buccaneers, though, weren't ready to give Irving a large workload early in the season.
That soon changed in Week 10, as this marked the start of Irving's takeover as the RB1. He averaged 100 rush yards over his final seven full games (excluding the Week 14 game against the Raiders, where he left early due to an injury) and averaged 20.4 touches per game during this span. That stretch helped the 22-year-old finish 1,514 scrimmage yards and eight total touchdowns.
Irving was truly spectacular in his rookie season. His 5.4 yards per carry ranked fourth among all qualified running backs in 2024, only behind Henry (5.9), Barkley (5.8), and Gibbs (5.6). The Oregon product also ranked fifth in yards per touch (6.0), third in juke rate (29.5%), fifth in evaded tackles (75), and seventh in breakaway runs (14).
.@buckyirving only started 3️⃣ games in 2024 😳
🏈 1122 rushing yards
🏈 392 receiving yards
🏈8 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/EeFjmvJPnD— NFL (@NFL) June 8, 2025
Given that Irving only saw a large workload in the second half of the season, a Pro Bowl selection is not out of the question for him in 2025. He will be Tampa Bay's RB1 and should dominate this backfield in both carries and touches. That should help him put together a strong sophomore campaign.
Fantasy managers should also like Irving's upside in the second round of fantasy drafts. He was one of the most explosive runners in the NFL last season, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him post even better numbers in his second year. The Buccaneers' playmaker averaged 20.5 PPR fantasy points in his last seven full games in 2024.
Breece Hall, New York Jets
It was no doubt a season to forget for New York Jets running back Breece Hall in 2024. He rushed for just 876 yards and five touchdowns and didn't make much of an impact on the ground. His 4.2 yards per carry was the worst of his career. However, Hall could be in for a bounce-back campaign in 2025.
Let's not forget what the young running back did in 2023, his first year back from a torn ACL. He rushed for 994 yards and five touchdowns while also being a major factor in the receiving game. He caught a career-high 76 passes for 591 yards that season. So, the potential is there for Hall to be a Pro Bowler this year.
Aaron Rodgers is no longer the starting quarterback, and new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn knows the importance of the run game. Glenn watched the Lions become a powerhouse on offense, with Gibbs and David Montgomery being a major factor in that success. So, we could expect the Jets to rely on the run in 2025.
RODGERS TO BREECE HALL. @nyjets take the lead!
📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9YO7lGki4Y— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
If Hall can return to being that 2023 rusher, a Pro Bowl selection could be in sight. The 24-year-old ranked first in receptions (76), first in receiving yards (591), first in evaded tackles (77), fifth in juke rate (25.8%), and first in dominator rating (42.4%) among all running backs in that 2023 season, all while battling back from a torn ACL.
That makes Hall a potential value pick in the third round of fantasy drafts. He has the upside to finish as a top-5 running back and could eclipse 300 touches this year. If the Jets are all in on letting the 24-year-old do his thing in this backfield, the sky is the limit for one of the most athletic running backs in the NFL.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
We don't usually see rookie running backs make the Pro Bowl, but it has happened several times since 2018. Barkley made the Pro Bowl in his first year after rushing for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns, Phillip Lindsay made it as a rookie in 2018, Najee Harris ran for 1,200 yards back in 2021, and Gibbs was the most recent rookie running back to make the Pro Bowl in 2023.
So, why can't Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty make it to the Pro Bowl in Year 1? He was just selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and is coming off one of the best rushing seasons in college football history. Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final college season at Boise State in 2024.
Now, he joins a backfield in Las Vegas with very little competition for touches. Raheem Mostert is entering his age-33 season, and Sincere McCormick is a former undrafted free agent from the 2022 class. Therefore, Jeanty should dominate this backfield in his rookie season. There's a chance he sees over 300 touches as a rookie, given head coach Pete Carroll's fascination with running the ball in his offense.
If that's the case, Jeanty could make the Pro Bowl this season. He has insane balance as a runner, and not many defenders can bring him down one-on-one. The 21-year-old can be a workhorse back in this Las Vegas offense right away.
As a result, Jeanty will be a nice pick early in the second round of drafts. With no competition for touches and a high draft capital, there aren't many running backs better suited than the rookie in 2025. He has the potential to finish as a top-5 fantasy running back in his first year in an up-and-coming Las Vegas offense.
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Walker III, Chase Brown
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