Fantasy Football Running Back ADP Risers and Fallers From 2025 Free Agency

April 11, 2025

Phil Clark's running back fantasy football ADP risers and fallers from free agency. Which running backs had the best and worst landing spots in free agency this offseason?

This year’s collection of free-agent running backs did not elicit the same level of interest among NFL franchises that existed during 2024, when a group of high-profile veterans garnered favorable deals and flourished in their new environments. However, a collection of backs who entered the open market during free agency have secured new contracts.

That has unsurprisingly altered the fantasy landscape, while fueling significant rises and notable declines in the ADPs of some running backs. More changes in draft positions are destined to occur due to the looming impact of this year‘s NFL Draft.

However, veteran running backs will maintain a presence on the rosters that you assemble throughout draft season. That shifts the spotlight toward this breakdown of running backs with ADPs that have changed most significantly since the onset of free agency.

Fantasy Football Running Back ADP Risers 

Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers - ADP 67/RB25

Najee Harris has emerged atop the list of risers at the running back position after his one-year contract with Los Angeles ignited the ascent of his ADP from Round 7 (84/RB31) to Round 6 (67/RB25).

Harris should benefit from his infusion into the Chargers offense as he is currently positioned to operate as an unquestioned workhorse back. Harris played in 17 games during each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh. He is also second overall in carries (1,097/16.1 per game) and fifth in rushing yards (4,312/63.4 per game) since his 2021 rookie season.

Harris was also seventh in attempts (263/15.5 per game) during 2024 while finishing fifth in forced missed tackles (63) and eighth in explosive runs (30), according to PFF.

Najee Harris’ Fantasy Football ADP is hovering around the 7th round (platform dependent)

If #Chargers don’t add another notable RB, his price could settle in the 5th

✅ Durable
✅ 300+ touch upside
✅ Best offensive situation of career

Najee could have a career year in 2025 pic.twitter.com/oGBm0Bub2L

— Anthony Cervino (@therealNFLguru) March 31, 2025

Harris' role could be altered if Los Angeles selects a member of this year‘s exceptional rookie class during the NFL Draft. This could create formidable competition for touches that does not exist for Harris with Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins on the current depth chart. Any addition of an explosive presence into the backfield would also fuel a decline in Harris’s ADP.

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings - ADP 134/RB42

Jordan Mason's ADP has climbed from Round 14 (157/RB51) to Round 12 (134/RB42) following the mid-March trade that transported him from San Francisco to Minnesota. Mason has also secured a two-year contract with the Vikings, which positions him to operate in a rotation with 30-year-old Aaron Jones.

Jordan Mason To Factor Into Short-Yardage, Goal-Line Situations https://t.co/riCV299hfD

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) April 2, 2025

Mason launched into a lead-back role for the 49ers last season as injuries sidelined Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis/calf) and Elijah Mitchell (hamstring). Mason excelled with his expanded workload while rising to second in attempts (128/18.3 per game) and rushing yards (667/95.3 per game), and accumulating a league-best 390 yards after contact from Weeks 1-7.

The Jordan Mason touchdown managers were waiting for!

He has 93 yards and a TD so far! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lhubclHsVx

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) September 10, 2024

Mason suffered multiple injuries (shoulder/high ankle sprain) that restricted him to a 17 percent snap share from Weeks 8-18.

However, Mason should perform effectively within the framework of Minnesota’s rushing attack while functioning behind an offensive line that has been bolstered by the additions of guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly in free agency. Mason will also take on a mammoth workload if Jones is forced to the sideline for any reason. That makes him a viable target at his Round 12 ADP.

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins - ADP 142/RB45

Jaylen Wright's ADP has ascended from Round 13 (155/RB50) to Round 12 (142/RB45) since Raheem Mostert signed a one-year contract with Las Vegas. That sustains Wright’s place among the most significant risers after Mostert’s extraction from Miami’s roster created a path for Wright to operate as the Dolphins RB2 behind De'Von Achane.

Miami traded up to select Wright in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft, although he was limited to a 17 percent snap share, 68 attempts (4.5 per game), and 249 rushing yards (16.6 per game) during his rookie season.

The highest-graded RB in Week 5:

Jaylen Wright - 87.9 🐬 pic.twitter.com/YcpIxFIQGX

— PFF MIA Dolphins (@PFF_Dolphins) October 8, 2024

However, Wright thrived with an expanded workload in Week 5, when Achane suffered a concussion. Wright established season highs in rushing yards (86), attempts (13), and yards after contact (33), and averaged 6.6 yards per attempt. 63.8 percent of Wright’s yards were also accumulated after contact during 2024, while 31 percent of his yards were generated on explosive runs, according to Fantasy Points Data.

Another Explosive Run from Jaylen Wright #Dolphins https://t.co/pVwLq1TRGi pic.twitter.com/xhHxAGiCJY

— Doηmεgαh Mεdïα (@donmegah) October 6, 2024

Alexander Mattison has been added to Miami's restructured backfield. However, Wright’s opportunities to display his speed and athleticism should increase unless the Dolphins make a significant addition to the depth chart during the NFL Draft.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers - ADP 157/RB49

The aforementioned trade that sent Jordan Mason to Minnesota instantly elevated Isaac Guerendo directly below Christian McCaffrey on the 49ers’ reshaped depth chart. Guerendo’s newly attained status as San Francisco’s RB2 has also enticed fantasy managers to select him in Round 14 (157/RB49) after his ADP had been located in Round 15 (177/RB56) before Mason’s departure.

Issac Guerendo managers rn: pic.twitter.com/1rx4afAYxI

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 16, 2025

Guerendo performed proficiently in Kyle Shanahan’s offense when injuries to McCaffrey and Mason propelled him into expanded workloads during his 2024 rookie season.

ISAAC GUERENDO. 76-YARD RUN TO START THE DRIVE.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pt3BWP6JEF

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

Guerendo exploded for a season-best 99 yards on 10 carries in Week 6 and paced all backs in rush yards over expected (64), according to Next Gen Stats. Guerendo also erupted for 85 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 while rising to eighth in rush yards over expected per attempt (1.82).

Guerendo is positioned to operate with a massive workload if McCaffrey is unavailable at any point during the season. His stock could drop if San Francisco inserts a talented rookie into the equation, but he will function as a valuable handcuff if he sustains his current role.

Fantasy Football Running Back ADP Fallers

D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears - ADP 90/RB32 

This article would be remiss if D'Andre Swift's falling ADP was not examined, as his draft position has dropped 15 slots since March. The Bears re-signed Travis Homer but eschewed their opportunity to add a veteran back during the offseason.

This increases the likelihood that Chicago will address the position during the NFL Draft, as the team is unlikely to enter Week 1 with a backfield that is comprised of Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Homer.

That could present Swift with imposing competition for touches that did not exist during 2024, when he finished 10th with a career-high 253 attempts (14.9 per game).

D'Andre Swift tries diving for the touchdown. NOPE!pic.twitter.com/f1qJpVFtTP

— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) October 6, 2024

However, Swift was also 39th with a career-low 3.8 yards per attempt, 18th in rushing yards (959/56.4 per game), 21st in forced missed tackles (38), and 26th in explosive runs (18), according to PFF.

Swift’s prospects of replicating last season’s 66 percent snap share will decrease considerably if the Bears make an impactful addition to their running back room. It also supplies your incentive to avoid selecting him despite his diminished ADP.

J.K. Dobbins, Unsigned Free Agent - ADP 119/RB37

J.K. Dobbins secured a one-year contract with the Chargers in April 2024. That reunited him with Greg Roman, who operated as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator during Dobbins’ first three years with the Ravens (2020-22).

Dobbins functioned as the Chargers' lead back and reignited his relevance after being limited to nine contests from 2021-23. However, Dobbins currently remains unsigned despite the numbers that he assembled during 2024.

JK DOBBINS. GO-AHEAD TD WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT.

📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ou4r33q38K

— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024

Dobbins established career-bests in attempts (195/15.0 per game) and rushing yards (905/69.6 per game). He also tied his career high in touchdowns (nine) and rose to 10th in explosive yards (296), according to Fantasy Points Data.

The Chargers infused former Steeler Najee Harris into their backfield during free agency and could also add a rookie into the equation. Dobbins’ unsettled status has contributed to an ADP that has plunged from Round 8 (87/RB33) to Round 10 (119/RB37). Dobbins could remain unsigned for the foreseeable future, and there are more enticing options available during your upcoming drafts.

Nick Chubb, Unsigned Free Agent - ADP 188/RB59

Nick Chubb finished among the top 10 in rushing yards during each of his first five seasons (2018-22) and finished second with 1,210 yards (84.5 per game) during that span.

Chubb also finished as an RB1 in four straight seasons while his ADPs were contained in Rounds 1 and 2 from 2019-23. However, the four-time Pro Bowler has been sidelined during 24 of Cleveland’s last 34 matchups after encountering a significant knee injury and a broken foot.

Nick Chubb expected to be out for the season with significant knee injury. pic.twitter.com/LbHIFXkpKb

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2023

Uncertainty regarding Chubb’s status has fueled a substantial decline in his ADP, which has plummeted from Round 14 (161/RB52) to Round 16 (188/RB59) since running backs entered the open market.

Members of this year’s impressive rookie class are also primed to seize sizable roles in their new landing spots. That should impede Chubb from securing an extensive workload whenever he attains a new contract. It also provides your incentive to avoid drafting him before his current draft position.

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