RADIO
Dan Fornek's dynasty running back sleepers for fantasy football. His rookie and veteran RB targets in drafts and trades, including DJ Giddens, Roschon Johnson, and more.
We have officially hit the “calm before the storm” period of the NFL offseason. The major events (free agency and the NFL Draft) are in the rearview mirror, but training camps haven’t kicked off yet. Unfortunately, outside of a few clips of rookies playing in helmets and shorts, there isn’t much newsworthy information for NFL fans right now.
However, this is also when the fantasy part of the offseason starts to get fun. Best ball drafts are firing on all cylinders. Dynasty rookie drafts and startups are in full swing. Hype is starting to build for the 2025 fantasy season before hitting a fever pitch when training camps kick off.
The surplus of running backs (combined with weak classes at other positions) meant that a lot of talented players got pushed into the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft. That opens the door for a lot of talented running backs to function as sleepers. Check out some rookie and veteran sleepers to target in dynasty leagues in 2025 below.
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DJ Giddens, Indianapolis Colts
As a pure runner, Giddens might be one of the better running backs in this draft class. Over his final two seasons at Kansas State, Giddens racked up 428 carries for 2,569 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 17 rushing touchdowns. He also added 50 receptions for 581 yards and four scores.
Giddens is more elusive and agile than fast, but he did show that he possesses some straight-line speed that doesn’t necessarily show up consistently on film. The Kansas State product measured in at 6-foot and 212 pounds at the combine while running a 4.43 40-yard dash.
Reminder that Colts Rookie RB DJ Giddens is REALLY good.
In 2024 - Giddens had:
1,343 Rushing Yards
258 Receiving Yards
8 TouchdownsA PERFECT complement to Jonathan Taylor.
pic.twitter.com/gVRs0CfWHJ— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) May 26, 2025
The rookie had pass-catching volume but struggled with drops in his collegiate career. Even though he landed as a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft, he landed in a good spot with the Colts. Jonathan Taylor will handle the bulk of the backfield work in Indianapolis, but Giddens’ primary competition for touches behind him is Khalil Herbert.
Will Giddens have a major role in 2025? Probably not. But Taylor has struggled with injuries in recent years, and the Colts could effectively get out of his contract before the 2026 season and save $13 million in cap space by doing so.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
It is hard to blame most NFL (and even college fans) for not knowing the Commanders’ seventh-round pick, Croskey-Merritt. He played just one game during his final college season at Arizona in 2024 before being ruled ineligible. In that one game, he logged 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Before his time at Arizona, Croskey-Merritt spent one season at New Mexico (189 carries for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven receptions for 72 yards and a receiving score) and four seasons at Alabama State (357 touches for 1,496 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns).
Croskey-Merritt still found ways to pop during the predraft process. He made the most of his East-West Shrine Bowl invitation by winning the MVP Award after logging 11 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He also measured in at 5-foot-10, 206 pounds and ran a 4.52 (adjusted) 40-yard dash at the Big 12 pro day.
The #Commanders are getting a tremendous value in the explosive, creative, & unpredictable RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (@JacoryMerritt15)!
Crosky-Merritt displays nimble footwork, strong leg drive to finish, & breakaway speed!#NFLDraft #RaiseHail @raj_manjrekar pic.twitter.com/f8tyRXojqX
— Noah K.M. Chang (@NoahKMChang) April 26, 2025
Despite the lack of production, Croskey-Merritt was taken in the final round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. In terms of depth charts, it is one of the better landing spots he could have hoped for to have an opportunity at an NFL workload.
Both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler return to the backfield, but neither player offers the explosiveness of Croskey-Merritt. Ekeler has also struggled with injuries in his career, giving the rookie a chance to potentially carve out a role on passing downs.
Croskey-Merritt enters his rookie season as a 24-year-old with limited production at the highest level of college football, but he is an intriguing player worth taking a flier on at the end of rookie drafts.
At worst, he’s a taxi-squad stash that never gets a chance. But at best, he can find a way to provide fantasy value in a backfield with underwhelming or often injured talent ahead of him.
Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals
There was concern that the Bengals would use an early round draft pick to bolster their backfield to keep Chase Brown fresh. That didn’t happen.
However, the Bengals did add an interesting running back to their backfield in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with Texas Tech’s Brooks. Brooks spent five years at Texas Tech and was used as a rotational player in his first three seasons, accruing 303 carries for 1,514 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, and 45 receptions for 277 yards and an additional score.
However, his production exploded over his final two collegiate seasons as he dominated the backfield touches. Brooks operated as the focal point of the offense, logging 576 carries for 3,043 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns while adding 57 receptions for 271 yards and a receiving score.
Tahj Brooks is a hilariously strong runner, so many yards after contact and an uncanny ability to create something out of nothing.
Been an absolute pleasure to see him carry the rock all year for #TexasTech. pic.twitter.com/5EjK1HiUUi
— Justin Apodaca (@JustinApod) November 19, 2023
Brooks lacks long speed (4.52 40-yard dash), but is an efficient and powerful runner who has also shown the ability to earn targets in the passing attack. Brown’s role as the lead back won’t be threatened by him, but it shouldn’t take much effort to beat out Zack Moss or Samaje Perine for touches in his rookie season.
Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
A subpar combine performance cost Neal (5-foot-11, 213 pounds with a 4.58 40-yard dash) an opportunity to be selected on the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, he was still selected in the sixth round and landed on a depth chart that could maximize his rushing ability.
Neal was a workhorse during his time with Kansas. He logged 602 carries for 3,635 yards and 41 touchdowns during his final three seasons (38 games) with the Jayhawks. He also carved out a role in the passing game, catching 70 passes for 654 yards and three scores.
You might be too low on Devin Neal.
He’s starting to feel like this year’s version of Bucky Irving—a compact, efficient runner flying under the radar but built to make noise the moment opportunity knocks.
It’s hard not to see him carving out a role in the Saints’ backfield. New… pic.twitter.com/LDEvCBg3u1
— Kingdom Football (@Kingdom_FB) May 5, 2025
The Saints offense will certainly flow through Alvin Kamara once again, especially with second-round rookie Tyler Shough likely to start most of the games this season. But this offense needs to find a runner to take some stress off Kamara’s body as he gets older.
Neal will compete with Kendre Miller and Clyde Edwards-Helaire for touches in the Saints backfield as a rookie. Given their ineffectiveness at the NFL level in their careers, there is a good chance that Neal will have fantasy value as soon as his rookie season.
MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
The Packers selected Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping he could form a one-two punch with free agent Josh Jacobs. Instead, he lost most of his rookie year to a series of injuries. That allowed Jacobs to dominate touches in the backfield.
Many will have written off Lloyd due to his injury woes, but it is important to remember that Jacobs is no stranger to injury issues in his career as well. Jacobs handled 337 touches in 2024, the third time in his career he’s seen his workload surpass 300 touches. In his two prior instances, he logged 15 and 13 games the following year.
Lloyd entered the NFL after spending his collegiate career with South Carolina and Southern California. Over his final two seasons, he logged 227 carries for 1,393 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns with 31 receptions for 408 yards and two receiving scores in 20 games. He doesn't profile as a lead back, but he could find a consistent role as a change-of-pace back behind Jacobs' workhorse role.
I still believe in Marshawn Lloyd. Had a cursed rookie season in terms of injury but wouldn’t be hard for him to become RB2 behind Josh Jacobs. pic.twitter.com/GkorX7flQG
— Jacob (@NotionsOfJacob) April 28, 2025
Lloyd should have another opportunity to capture a share of Green Bay’s backfield in 2025 and could see lead-back carries if Jacobs is hampered by his massive 2024 workload.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Johnson was a hot name in fantasy drafts when he was drafted by the Bears in 2023. Instead, he has struggled to see the field due to injuries and the presence of D'Andre Swift.
From a production standpoint, Johnson was worse in his second season than as a rookie. He logged just 55 carries for 150 yards while catching 16 passes (on 20 targets) for 104 yards. However, he did carve out a role as a short-yardage back, scoring six touchdowns.
Is it officially Roschon Johnson szn? pic.twitter.com/OPD4doGdXW
— Joseph Herff (@JosephHerffNFL) April 28, 2025
Chicago’s new head coach, Ben Johnson, has a preference for splitting his backfield. He also had Swift in his offense with Detroit and chose to trade him and upgrade to Jahmyr Gibbs.
Swift isn’t going anywhere in 2025, but Roschon Johnson should see a larger workload as Ben Johnson works to optimize the offense. As of now, his only notable competition for touches behind Swift is a 2025 seventh-round pick (Kyle Monangai) and Travis Homer.
This could finally be the year that we see Johnson make an impact at the NFL level.
Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia’s backfield will be dominated by Saquon Barkley again in 2025. However, longtime backup running back Kenneth Gainwell is no longer with the team. The player most likely to replace his role is second-year running back Shipley.
If Will Shipley is on your waivers, scoop him up everywhere.
If not, I’m sending future 4th round picks for him.
One of the most valuable handcuffs you can own in dynasty.pic.twitter.com/PpfFNOVXAT
— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) May 6, 2025
The Eagles drafted Shipley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a prolific career at Clemson. The former top recruit handled 526 carries for 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns while adding 85 receptions for 602 yards and two receiving scores in his three-year career.
Gainwell’s role isn’t a stellar one (91 touches in 2024), but he did see some work in blowout games. Barkley is also coming off a career-high 378 touches, which is a massive workload for any running back in today’s NFL. Time will tell if that workload increases his likelihood of injury.
If Barkley misses time, Shipley would be poised to take over a lead-back role behind the NFL’s top offensive line. The only significant competition in his way is AJ Dillon, a player who has never made a significant impact at the NFL level.
Shipley is far more likely to be a taxi stash than a contributing member of your fantasy lineup in 2025. However, he has a chance to expand his role next season and has very little competition stopping him on the depth chart after Barkley. He’s an ideal trade target that shouldn’t be too expensive to acquire.
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