5 Fantasy Football Workhorse RB Candidates: Sneaky Bell Cow Draft Targets (2025)

August 25, 2025

Hayden's fantasy football workhorse running back sleepers and potential bell cow candidates for 2025. His draft targets include D'Andre Swift, Tony Pollard, and more.

The workhorse running back is an endangered species in the modern NFL. Many teams have chosen to employ a committee approach with their backfields rather than feature just one star. However, in 2024, we saw a bit of a bounce back for the workhorse. For the first time since 2012, we saw at least 12 running backs reach 250 carries; adjusting for the expansion to a 17-game schedule, it was the first such season since 2019.

A number of running backs are expected to see large volume again in 2025. Barring injuries, studs like Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Kyren Williams, Bijan Robinson, and more should all dominate their respective backfields. Another big name is Ashton Jeanty, who should immediately walk into a massive role with the Las Vegas Raiders after being selected with the sixth pick in this year's draft.

Of course, all of these players are going very highly in fantasy drafts. There are some sleeper running backs who could reach a similar status, though, and they are available later. While the difficulty of reaching a featured role varies for each of these players, there is a definite path that exists for all of them. Let's get into five sneaky workhorse candidates for the upcoming fantasy football season.

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots spent the offseason overhauling their offense to support young quarterback Drake Maye. Along with the additions at receiver like Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams, New England took running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the draft.

The former Ohio State Buckeye enters a backfield already housing Rhamondre Stevenson, the primary back with whom he is competing for touches. However, there is a lot to like about Henderson's chances for a big role this season.

The first key point is that Stevenson has been lackluster the past two seasons. His true yards per carry marks have been below 4.0 in each of the past two seasons, and his yards per touch have dropped as well. While the offensive line was responsible for some of this decline, it was not to blame for Stevenson's seven fumbles in 2024. Stevenson's play got him benched for the final two games of the season. Although the Patriots do have a new coaching staff, it is still clear that Henderson has an opportunity to thoroughly supplant Stevenson.

Moreover, Henderson himself has a great profile. The speedy runner (4.43-second 40-yard dash) rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 TDs a year ago while splitting touches with fellow second-rounder Quinshon Judkins. Henderson has also been praised for his pass-blocking ability, which will keep him on the field, and he has reportedly been used often as a receiver as well in training camp.

Although he is just 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds, Henderson has the skill set to be a workhorse for New England. This makes him an appealing potential value pick in fantasy drafts.

TREVEYON HENDERSON TOOK IT 66 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🏠

BUCKEYES UP 31-0 👀 pic.twitter.com/Vv0qMxUQ7i

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025

D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

No running back is both available later in fantasy drafts and projected to have a greater opportunity share than D'Andre Swift. In 2024, Swift had an opportunity share of 75.9% (seventh among NFL RBs) and a snap share of 66.9% (10th) for the Bears.

Additionally, the only notable changes Chicago made to its backfield this offseason were losing Khalil Herbert and drafting Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. Another season of steady work for Swift is in the cards.

SWIFT TO THE HOUSE!

📺: #CHIvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/4mcKeNEIY2

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

Another interesting component of Swift's 2025 outlook is the introduction of a new coaching staff in Chicago. Ben Johnson takes over as head coach; Johnson was the offensive coordinator in Detroit, including in 2022, while Swift was there.

That season, Swift had the best efficiency of his career. He averaged 1.13 fantasy points per opportunity, the third-best mark among all qualifying RBs that season. Swift also averaged 6.3 yards per touch that year, the second-highest figure at his position.

In PPR formats, Swift was the RB19 last season and the RB21 on a per-game basis. This year, the offense should have more juice, especially with Johnson at the helm and quarterback Caleb Williams more experienced.

Considering Swift is also set to replicate his strong volume from a year ago, he is an intriguing option at his ADP of RB25. While Swift likely will be unable to return to his 2022 efficiency, that will not be necessary for him to return value.

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

A lot about Tennessee's offense changed this offseason, but the running back room remained essentially static. Tony Pollard will sit atop the depth chart for a second consecutive season.

Since being drafted by Dallas in 2019, Pollard's opportunity share has risen each year. In 2024, he had 260 carries (eighth in the NFL) and a 73.0% opportunity share (ninth). He finished as the RB21 in PPR formats and the RB22 on a per-game basis.

Run play on 3rd & 19???@Titans catch Indy sleeping on a 23-yarder by Tony Pollard 😤 pic.twitter.com/BbsSEkd72e

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 13, 2024

Tyjae Spears will once again be the primary competition for Pollard, and he just suffered a high-ankle sprain. Sixth-round rookie Kalel Mullings is merely competing with returnee Julius Chestnut for the RB3 role.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan has reiterated several times that the team is hoping to have more balance between Pollard and Spears this season than in 2024. This suggestion of a possible decline in work has contributed to Pollard's ADP being down at RB26.

However, Pollard was able to take command of the backfield last season, and until shown otherwise, that remains a strong possibility for 2025. Moreover, the Titans added some offensive line help this season with the free-agent acquisitions of Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler.

With the first overall pick, Cam Ward, taking over at QB, the offense may be more successful as a whole as well. Should Pollard fend off an encroaching Spears, he would be on track to exceed the expected production for his ADP.

Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. had a fair season a year ago, rushing for 799 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. He returns for his fourth year with the team in 2025, and he will serve as Washington's RB1 again.

Austin Ekeler also returns and will eat into Robinson's receiving work, but he is 30 years old, missed five games with injuries a year ago, and has had fumbling issues. The only new back the Commanders brought in was seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will run a fair amount himself, and receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will probably get some work on the ground, too. Still, Robinson should garner a large share of the RB carries. Moreover, before Ekeler's arrival, Robinson had some more promising receiving numbers; he had a 37.7% route participation in 2023 compared to 23.0% last year. He also led all qualifying RBs in 2023 with 10.2 yards per reception. If Ekeler falters, that aspect of Robinson's game could reopen.

Finally, the Commanders offense has leaped with Daniels at the helm. The scoring opportunities for Robinson expanded, and they may rise further with the new offensive line help. Both Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. got added up front for 2025. With all of this in mind, Robinson is a good target in fantasy drafts at his ADP of RB29. Expect him to outperform that position this season.

Brian Robinson Jr. goes 39 yards for the TD!

📺: #TENvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/JND4tTb6ka

— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

The most unpredictable player on this list is the final one. Tank Bigsby had a brutal rookie season with the Jaguars in 2023, with just 132 yards and two TDs on 50 carries.

However, he stepped up his game last year, rushing for 766 yards and seven scores on 4.56 yards per carry. He also outplayed teammate Travis Etienne Jr. Bigsby averaged more true yards per carry (4.2 vs. 3.6) and yards per touch (4.7 vs. 4.3), and he also had a higher juke rate (2.86% vs. 18.0%), per PlayerProfiler.

Jacksonville did add a notable RB in the draft in Bhayshul Tuten. However, Tuten needs to work on his pass protection, according to head coach Liam Coen, and he also struggled significantly with fumbling at Virginia Tech. The competition for the RB1 gig is between Bigsby and Etienne. Reports are that Bigsby has been the better runner, which tracks with the numbers they produced a year ago.

More from @_John_Shipley:

“Tank Bigsby has been the team's most impressive downhill rusher, while Travis Etienne has been far and away the Jaguars' best and most-used running back in the passing game” https://t.co/ZYDnLO9T6U

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) July 31, 2025

Bigsby's limitations as a receiver are the issue, however. Through two seasons and 33 games, Bigsby has merely eight receptions. For him to become a true workhorse, he will need to expand his receiving usage significantly. Etienne will pose a significant obstacle in that regard. Still, at his ADP of RB44, Bigsby is the favorite to be the primary runner for his team. That makes him a tantalizing option in fantasy drafts.

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