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Joey Sheiner identifies five running backs to target in fantasy football PPR scoring leagues. His top PPR targets but standard-league fades for 2025 fantasy football.
In fantasy football, scoring is everything -- the success or failure of a fantasy football season is based on how many points a team can score. Each week is an opportunity to face one opponent head-on and outscore them to earn a victory.
There are countless ways to construct a strong team for fantasy football. However, one factor that must always be taken into consideration for fantasy managers is the scoring system in which they participate. The difference between points-per-reception (PPR) scoring systems and standard scoring systems, for example, is significant and must be accounted for.
These five running backs are all players with decent to good value in PPR leagues. However, in standard leagues, you would be wise to knock them down a peg or two in the ranks.
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Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne's once-firm grip on the Jacksonville backfield began to slip away in 2024. For the second straight year, the running back averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry, and Etienne posted career lows in carries (150), rushing yards (558), and rushing touchdowns (two).
Etienne's regression is partially due to the Jaguars offense as a whole -- the offensive line was a big issue, and QB Trevor Lawrence struggled at times.
However, he was also outplayed by backup Tank Bigsby, a younger back with less tread on his tires. Bigsby ran for 766 yards and seven TDs on 168 carries, averaging a healthy 4.6 YPC.
And if you thought 2024 featured a lot of competition for Etienne, wait until 2025. Fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten was a big-play threat at Virginia Tech and will likely carve out a role for himself as a change-of-pace back.
With Tuten and Bigsby mixing in on early downs, Etienne's rushing workload will probably not be that of an RB1, just like in 2024.
However, one thing we can expect from Etienne is an uptick in receptions. New head coach Liam Coen comes from Tampa Bay, where running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving combined for 98 catches last season.
Etienne has proved himself as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 58 balls in 2023. Although Etienne won't receive a significant rushing workload, the 26-year-old could ride his strengths and opportunities as a pass-catcher to an RB2 finish in 2025.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White is in a similar situation to Etienne: he's a former lead back who has been surpassed in rushing efficiency by his teammate, but still excels as a receiver.
Bucky Irving was a revelation in his first year in the NFL, totaling 1,122 rushing yards on just 207 carries -- a whopping average of 5.4 yards per carry. And while the Buccaneers offensive line is exceptional -- Pro Football Network ranked the unit third best in the league in 2024 -- White was unable to replicate Irving's success on the ground.
According to PFF, Irving was sixth among all running backs in missed tackles forced, something White is not quite as good at. Interestingly enough, White has more straight-line speed than Irving, but is far less impactful as a runner due to his lack of wiggle.
While White sticks to his blocks and follows them to a tee, Irving is a much better improvisational runner, leading to more missed tackles and more big plays as a result.
But it isn't all doom and gloom for White in 2025. His average of 4.3 yards per carry in 2024 was the best of his career, and he has caught at least 50 passes in all three career seasons.
While Irving is also a good enough receiver to earn third-down work (he caught 47 passes in 2024), White will still outsnap him on third downs, making him a valuable RB2 asset in PPR formats.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
While Warren played in 15 of 17 games in 2024, he was never really at full strength. As a result, he finished the season with 4.3 yards per carry, the lowest in his career.
However, there is reason to believe that he will return to his previous efficiency on the ground while continuing to contribute as a receiver. Minor issues in his hamstring, knee, and ankle added up in 2024 and were the primary culprits for his reduced productivity.
Compare that with 2023: as a change-of-pace back to Najee Harris, Warren was nothing short of outstanding. Averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 149 attempts while hauling in 61 passes, Warren proved that he was just as dynamic as he was physical.
While Harris left for the Chargers in free agency this offseason, he was replaced by rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson. Like Harris, Johnson is a big-bodied rusher who was very productive in college. Johnson measures at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, and ran for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final season at Iowa.
While Johnson will likely take over on early downs in 2025, expect Warren to earn more carries than he did last season. And, of course, he will continue to thrive as a pass-catcher.
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
At 30 years of age, Ekeler is in the twilight of his career. A world-beater with the Chargers just three years ago, injuries and a change in team have resulted in Ekeler settling into the role of a third-down back.
However, catching passes is what Ekeler has always been best at, and he's doing it for Washington, one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL. Last season, with rookie QB Jayden Daniels at the helm, the Commanders offense exploded, averaging 28.5 points per game, fifth best in the league.
Ekeler is no longer the primary rusher on his team -- in fact, both Daniels and Brian Robinson Jr. will have more carries. But with the touches he does get, Ekeler is far more efficient than when he was a workhorse. Despite missing a month of the season with a concussion, Ekeler averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and a career-best 10.5 yards per catch.
While he may not clear 100 carries in 2025, he will continue to play virtually all third-down snaps. This makes him a good option as a backup in fantasy. And, of course, should his targets increase, Ekeler will become a solid flex play that can be relied on more each week.
AUSTIN EKELER! His first receiving TD of the year 🙌
📺: #CHIvsLAC on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/afiiMv70VD pic.twitter.com/e2Dsx2Kwck— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2023
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
A 2023 third-round pick out of Tulane, Spears spent his second season as the clear RB2 in Tennessee behind free-agent acquisition Tony Pollard. And while Pollard enjoyed a return to form after a mediocre final season in Dallas, Spears regressed from a very good rookie season.
He ran for 312 yards on 84 carries in 2024, an average of just 3.7 yards per carry. However, Spears did catch 30 passes on just 35 targets, meaning that he should produce more if he's given more opportunity. We saw this in 2023, when Spears caught 52 of 70 targets and proved himself more than capable as a third-down back.
With No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in town to lead the offense, the Titans' passing game could take a turn for the better.
The team also invested in the offensive line in the offseason, signing veteran tackle Dan Moore Jr. and guard Kevin Zeitler. They will be joining impressive youngsters Peter Skoronski and JC Latham to make up what appears to be a much-improved unit.
This will give Spears a solid chance to return to his rookie year efficiency, when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 100 attempts. While he's still behind Pollard on the depth chart, Spears' potential in PPR leagues is clear and could become realized with a greater workload.
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