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Jp's 5 must-have running backs for 2025 fantasy football PPR leagues. His top studs and league-winners at RB, including De'Von Achane and more.
If you're lucky enough to have a top-4 pick in your 2025 Fantasy Football draft, congratulations. You're in a prime position to secure a top-tier player like Ja'Marr Chase or one of the elite running backs: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, or Saquon Barkley. These three are the cream of the crop, and any of them would be a fantastic anchor for your team.
After this elite trio, the water gets a bit murkier. The question on everyone's mind is whether this is the year Derrick Henry finally slows down. My answer is no, I can't just write off a superhuman like Henry, and I'm not a villain. If it wasn't for Barkley's all-time season, everyone would be talking about Henry after he rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. As of this very moment, I am slotting him in as my No. 4 running back in PPR and a boost into my top three in standard scoring leagues. I'll let you be the villain.
In this article, I will highlight five must-have PPR running backs to target after my top four of Robinson, Gibbs, Barkley, and Henry. This list spotlights players who offer league-winning value.
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Mr. Consistent: Alvin Kamara
Since 2017, this running back has finished outside the top 10 only once, coming in at 13th in 2022 while averaging 14 points per game. What's even more impressive is that he has finished in the top five or better in six of his eight total NFL seasons. Despite this consistent production, many experts are pointing to his age (30) and the lack of talent around him, particularly at quarterback and on the offensive line, to justify his 20th overall ranking in the RotoBaller Premium Draft Rankings.
In 2024, Alvin Kamara played in 14 games, rushing 228 times for a career-high 950 yards (an average of 4.2 YPC). He also caught 68 passes for 543 yards and scored a total of eight touchdowns. Kamara finished as the fifth-best PPR running back, averaging an impressive 19 points per game. His performance showed no reason to believe he is slowing down at the age of 30. His 228 rushing attempts were the second most of his career, and his 950 yards were a career-best, which may be shocking, but he has never rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season.
The Saints' offensive line, currently ranked 22nd by PFF, was a clear weakness last year. The team addressed this in the 2025 Draft, selecting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. out of the University of Texas with their first-round pick. With the addition of Banks, Kamara will be running behind a better offensive line than he did in 2024. In fact, the Saints could potentially be starting four former first-round selections on their offensive line. The individual skill is there; now they just need to put it all together.
Beyond the ground game, Kamara's true value lies in his elite receiving skills. While the quarterback battle in New Orleans this offseason, between returning second-year player Spencer Rattler and 25-year-old rookie Tyler Shough, is worth watching, it means little to Kamara's fantasy value. He is an elite talent, and the Saints will continue to find creative ways to get him the ball in space.
Whether it's Rattler or Shough under center, the Saints have upgraded their offensive line, and Kamara will, as he always has, be a primary feature both on the ground and in the air. If he can replicate his success on the ground from 2024 (where he averaged 4.2 yards per carry), with little to no competition behind him, I see him as one of the best values in this year's running back draft pool. Ranked as the 20th best player in RotoBallers' 2025 rankings, he has top-5 upside and is a must-draft player.
Follow the Points: Chase Brown
My fourth must-have running back is Chase Brown. The 23-year-old, third-year back out of the University of Illinois had a breakout season in 2024. Slotted behind Zack Moss to start the year, Brown soon flashed as a true three-down back, leaving the Cincinnati Bengals' coaching staff no choice but to give him the rock. In 16 games, Brown rushed 229 times for 990 yards (4.3 YPC), caught 54 passes for 360 yards, and scored a total of 11 touchdowns.
Now in his third year, Brown is undoubtedly the Bengals' lead back. With little competition behind him besides Samaje Perine spelling him on occasion, Brown has every opportunity to outperform his current ranking as the eighth-best running back on the RotoBaller draft board and could finish as a top-3 PPR back in 2025.
The Bengals' front office has made it clear this offseason that they care very little about upgrading their defense. Instead, they prioritized paying their top two wide receivers top-tier money, and as of today, refusing to pay last year's sack leader (17.5), their defensive leader, and four-time Pro Bowler, Trey Hendrickson. The team's offensive line, ranked 31st by PFF, was only slightly upgraded this offseason with the signing of veteran Lucas Patrick and the drafting of Dylan Fairchild in the third round. Both are expected to start at the guard positions in 2025.
While Brown would surely benefit from a major offensive line overhaul, he is helped by the attention that Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins demand from defensive linebackers and secondaries. Defenses are forced to go all-in on stopping Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati passing attack, which in turn benefits Brown and the running game.
The Bengals' defense will likely be terrible again in 2025, which means the team will need to put up points to compete. While this will rely heavily on Joe Burrow and the passing game, Brown has already shown he is a true three-down back. I want all the shares of this Bengals offense I can get on my fantasy team. Brown has a high floor due to the opportunities he's going to get as a three-down back in a dangerous offense. I see Brown finishing no lower than running back 10 and as high as RB3 in 2025. No matter how you slice it, he is a must-draft player.
The Perfect Fit: Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton, out of the University of North Carolina, is quickly gaining momentum in training camp. The 6-foot, 220-pound running back landed in the ideal spot after being selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers are committed to a run-heavy scheme designed to punish defenses for four quarters. This zone-run system is exactly what Hampton excelled in at North Carolina, so his transition to the playbook should be seamless.
The Chargers signed Najee Harris this offseason after he had four productive years in Pittsburgh, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his seasons. However, Harris lacks explosiveness, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. While he can punish defenders, he rarely breaks off the momentum-swinging runs that Hampton showcased in college, where he averaged 5.9 yards per rushing attempt.
On top of this, Harris has been sidelined since the Fourth of July due to a fireworks accident that caused damage to one of his eyes. Hampton has taken full advantage of this time, working solely with the first-team offense throughout camp. He has showcased his abilities as a rusher and a receiver, creating a significant gap between himself and Harris heading into the first preseason game.
You might think that training camp isn't crucial for a veteran player, but Harris is on a new team, in a new offense, with a new coaching staff. Missing this much time will undoubtedly set him back. In his absence, Hampton has excelled in minicamp, carving out what I believe will be a prominent role in the Chargers' 2025 plans and beyond. Currently ranked as the 15th running back, Hampton has the talent and the team to propel him into the top 10 if he can keep Harris off the field and act as a true three-down back.
A True Workhorse: Ashton Jeanty
With 2,601 rushing yards (seven YPC), 23 catches for 168 yards, and a total of 30 touchdowns in his junior season, Ashton Jeanty has proven to be one of the best college running backs of all time. The question is, will he live up to the hype after being selected with the sixth pick in the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders? A number of strategic moves by the Raiders should help Jeanty live up to the hype.
The Raiders' most significant move was bringing Pete Carroll out of retirement to be the new head coach. Carroll is a proven winner at both the College and NFL levels. The year before Carroll signed with the Seattle Seahawks, the team went 5-11. Just two years after his arrival, the Seahawks finished 11-5. Players love playing for Carroll, and even at the age of 73, he will ignite this Raiders team with his enthusiasm and love for the game.
To bolster the offense, Carroll went out and hired Chip Kelly to be the team's new offensive coordinator. In Kelly's four prior NFL seasons, his offenses never ranked lower than 11th in rushing attempts. In three of those four years, the running back target share never dipped below 17%, solidifying that Jeanty will be utilized as both a runner and a receiver.
Along with upgrading the coaching staff, the Raiders brought in Carroll's former quarterback, Geno Smith. Smith is a significant upgrade at the quarterback position after the team endured a season with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. The better play under center will help open up running lanes for Jeanty and make the entire offense more efficient.
While many people point to the offensive line as a major weakness for the Raiders, the unit is not as bad as some make it out to be. According to PFF, the Raiders' offensive line is actually above average, ranking as the 18th best in the NFL. If PFF is correct, the line should not be a major concern for Jeanty's production.
Ashton Jeanty will be featured early and often for the Raiders. The running back room for the Raiders drops off significantly after him, with Raheem Mostert set to be the primary backup. This makes Jeanty a true workhorse back in 2025. If you are lucky enough to snag a three-down back in today's NFL, you have a true anchor for your fantasy football team. Ranking as RotoBaller’s seventh-best running back, you should have no hesitation in selecting Jeanty at the middle to end of the first round in your fantasy football draft.
My Number 1 Must-Have: De'Von Achane
My number one must-have running back after Bijan, Gibbs, Barkley, and Henry in PPR leagues is De'Von Achane. The electrifying running back for the Miami Dolphins comes into 2025 with significant hype, but it is 100 percent warranted. Finishing as the fifth-best PPR running back in 2024 with 299.9 total points, Achane's outlook for 2025 is even brighter, assuming he can get past his preseason calf injury.
The entire Miami offense hit a roadblock when Tua Tagovailoa missed six games last season. In fact, Achane was a fantasy football RB1 in PPR formats with Tua under center. This is no coincidence: Tua loves looking deep to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and if defenses focus on taking that away, Tua has no problem dumping it down to Achane in space, where he can use his explosive speed and elusiveness to create big plays.
Couple that with the fact that the Dolphins traded their Jonnu Smith, their #1 tight end this offseason, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024, Smith caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. The departure of Smith should lead to more opportunities in the passing game for Achane in 2025. If you believe Tua can stay relatively healthy in 2025, there is no reason why Achane can't finish as a top-three PPR fantasy back.
Standing at 5'9" and weighing 190 pounds, Achane does have his limitations, particularly in short-yardage situations. In a recent interview, Tyreek Hill even expressed concerns about keeping Achane on the field for third-and-short plays. In 2025, I do expect Achane to be spelled by Jaylen Wright in these third and short situations. However, is that a bad thing? Keeping the wear and tear off a smaller, explosive back like Achane will keep him fresh and healthy, allowing for more explosive plays for the Miami offense throughout 2025.
I fully expect Achane's numbers to rise from 2024, where he ran for 907 yards, caught 78 passes for 592 yards, and had 12 total touchdowns. He has already proven his ability to be an elite fantasy asset, and the Dolphins' offensive scheme and weapons only serve to bolster his value. Do not hesitate to draft him in the middle to late first round, as he provides the kind of upside that can anchor a fantasy championship team.
Others to consider: Christian McCaffrey, Kyren Williams, Jonathan Taylor, Tony Pollard, TreVeyon Henderson, and Jordan Mason.
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