5 Fantasy Football Backup Running Backs To Target

May 20, 2025

Andrews' backup running backs to target and draft in fantasy football. His top NFL stashes, sleepers, and draft values for 2025 redraft and best ball leagues.

Being a backup quarterback may be the best job in the NFL. The fans love them and call their name when the starter struggles. They don't take devastating sacks from fearsome edge rushers.

The backup running back is fantasy football's equivalent. Managers stash several players, waiting and hoping for the golden opportunity for the backup to take the job and elevate a fantasy football roster into a contender.

Below, we discuss five backup running backs to draft in 2025, while omitting the backfields in 50/50 or 60/40 projected timeshares or defined early-down and pass-catching roles (i.e., Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, New England, etc).

Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones turned 30 in December. He averaged 18 touches per game, the most in his career. The Vikings gave him 15 rushing attempts per game, the most in his career. With that usage and a lengthy history of injuries (missed games in five of eight seasons), it's a surprise his body held up. The coaches have indicated his playing time could be dialed back in 2025.

That's where Jordan Mason comes in. The Vikings handpicked the former 49er, giving up a fifth-round pick in a trade, and awarding Mason a two-year, $10.5M contract.

Mason rushed for a career-high 789 yards in 12 games last season and was among the league's leading rushers with 100 yards in three of his first four games. Admirably filling the shoes of Christian McCaffrey will earn you a job in the NFL.

Jordan Mason forced a missed tackle on a league-high 37.3% of his carries last season (min. 150 carries).

In Weeks 1-8 prior to Christian McCaffrey's return, Mason also led the NFL with 51 missed tackles forced.@Vikings | #SKOL https://t.co/Cx44OFvIIf pic.twitter.com/UlCc3FFd43

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 17, 2025

The Vikings have an elite offensive line and more than enough offensive weapons to draw attention away from the running game. Cam Akers had six games of at least eight touches once he began playing offensive snaps for the Vikings in Week 9. Mason is a clear upgrade.

Jones is still the superior pass-catcher, giving him the highest-value touches in the backfield. He'll also take the opening series every game. But don't be surprised if the pair alternate series or, at worst, it's a two-to-one split.

Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills

Contract negotiations are no fun. Asking for more money is an awkward conversation.

But if one player doesn't want to do the job, another is waiting in the wings. The Buffalo Bills and starting running back James Cook don't appear close to an extension. Cook reportedly wants $15M per year, a sizable increase from the $5.2M base salary he's slated to earn in 2025. Only three running backs average a $15M payday: Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and the recently extended Derrick Henry.

Congrats ! https://t.co/GlqttwFdFY

— James Cook (@thegreat__4) May 14, 2025

While Cook has logged back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) last season, he's not considered the same tier as the elites. Cook played 47% of Buffalo's offense snaps in 2024. 36 running backs had a higher snap percentage than Cook!

The Bills utilize all their offensive weapons: Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox share reps, wide receivers frequently rotate, and Ty Johnson and Ray Davis get their share of backfield touches. Johnson, in particular, claimed the important third-down role.

If you're general manager Brandon Beane, are you ponying up $15M of cap space for a part-time, albeit very good, player?

Davis can fill in if Cook holds in at training camp or refuses to play under his current contract. In Week 6, playing for an injured Cook, the then-rookie racked up 152 yards on 23 touches. Johnson will still play on third-downs and during two-minute situations, but Davis is an effective early-down runner and has sneaky pass-catching skills.

Players who sit out of training camp often start the season slow, and sometimes, don't find their footing. Davis is as intriguing as he may ever be.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The optimism about Trey Benson didn't pan out in his rookie season. Widely considered one of the best running back prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, Benson landed in what appeared to be a golden situation: an above-average offense with an aging, oft-injured starter.

James Conner enjoyed one of his healthiest seasons of his eight-year career: 15 straight weeks without an injury before a knee sprain in Week 16. That injury flared up again in Week 17, and he did not suit up in Week 18.

Unfortunately, Benson was also hurt for those final three weeks. The former second-round pick only started one game, a start he shared with Conner in Week 2.

But everything exciting about Benson in 2024 still applies to 2025! Conner is now in his 30s, offensive personnel is almost exactly the same, and he now has a year of NFL experience under his belt.

Year 2 breakout for #AZCardinals HB Trey Benson?

Last season Benson appeared in 12 games

🔴291 Rushing Yards
🔴227 Yards After Contact
🔴4.6 Yards Per Carry
🔴1 TD

📈 @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/q58s2TiOuL

— SleeperCardinals (@SleeperAZCards) April 16, 2025

Benson doesn't have the same allure for fantasy managers as last year because he's not a rookie anymore. There will be the temptation to draft rookies like Cam Skattebo, Bhayshul Tuten, or Jaydon Blue because of the potential. We haven't seen Benson's true potential yet, and managers may be able to get him at a cheaper cost than last offseason.

Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Do you remember the waiver-wire rush to acquire Patrick Taylor when all of the San Francisco running backs were on the injury report? The undrafted running back has 261 rushing yards in three years entering last season. But the fantasy community is acutely aware of how running backs thrive in a Kyle Shanahan offense.

Sure, Taylor didn't pan out in his Week 16 start, but he did top 100 yards in Week 18. Fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo averaged 16.18 PPR fantasy points in five games with double-digit touches. Jordan Mason was an early-season revelation (75+ rushing yards each of the first five games). It's a tried-and-true system.

Highest % of yards to come on explosive runs (of 15+ yards)

[2021-24 ROOKIE RBs, min. 50 carries]

1. De'Von Achane: 54.3%
2. James Cook: 48.7%
3. Ken Walker: 45.8%
4. Breece Hall: 43.0%
5. ISAAC GUERENDO: 40.7%
6. Jahmyr Gibbs: 38.6%
7. Bucky Irving: 35.7%@FantasyPtsData

— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) April 8, 2025

The 49ers dealt Mason to Minnesota earlier this offseason, moving Guerendo one spot up the depth chart, right behind starter Christian McCaffrey. He's the direct handcuff, arguably the most valuable one in the NFL. Rookie Jordan James should open the season as the third option.

McCaffrey led the NFL in touches in 2023 and spent most of 2024 on the sidelines. Achilles tendinitis cost him the first eight weeks. He suffered a PCL injury in his fourth game back, prematurely ending his season.

It was the same story in 2019 and 2020. 403 touches in 2019 took a toll on his body. He only appeared in three games the following season (he also had an injury-filled 2021 season).

Fantasy managers may draft Guerendo and sit on him for months. But if McCaffrey misses time again, Guerendo will pick up RB1 production, and you'll be happy you stashed him.

Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans traded a future third-round pick to select Woody Marks in the fourth round. That's not an insignificant asset to surrender for a backup running back.

29-year-old Joe Mixon remains the starter in H-Town, but the second slot on the depth chart is wide open. The Texans recently signed veteran Nick Chubb to a one-year contract, which could complicate things. However, Chubb has battled numerous injuries throughout his career and will likely be in the mix for the No. 2 role, not the starting job.

Dameon Pierce has manned the position since midway through the 2023 season as the Houston coaching staff turned to Devin Singletary. Pierce is entering the final year of his contract and isn't in Houston's future plans.

Special-teams ace and third-down back Dare Ogunbowale's roster spot seems safe after signing a new deal in the offseason. If the Texans activate the typical three running backs on game days, it's between Pierce and Marks.

Woody Marks is precisely what the Texans need.

Pass-catching RB that will help CJ Stroud and will provide some relief for Mixon. Check out the player comparison

Rushed for 1,133 yards in 2024 and had 9 TDs. 47 receptions for 321 receiving yards #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/5C9xRBPpoO

— Chris Nalls (@ChrisNallsNFL) May 11, 2025

Marks is a threat in the rushing and receiving departments. In his lone season at USC (previous four seasons at Mississippi State), Marks rushed for over 1,100 yards and added 321 more through the air.

Mixon has missed games in five of his eight NFL seasons and isn't getting any younger. Chubb played in just eight games last season and posted a career-worst 3.3 YPC.

The Houston role could be one of the more coveted second-string backs in the league, and Marks could be in the mix for this role sooner than expected.

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