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Fantasy football running back (RB) sleepers, value picks for the middle rounds of 2025 drafts including Jaylen Warren, Jordan Mason, D'Andre Swift, Cam Skattebo, R.J. Harvey.
Welcome to our middle-round fantasy football running back (RB) sleepers and draft values for the 2025 season. Today we'll be taking a look at Jaylen Warren, Jordan Mason, D'Andre Swift, Cam Skattebo and R.J. Harvey.
The middle rounds of fantasy drafts are essential, as fantasy managers use the middle of the draft to build around their core players. During the middle rounds, managers can afford to take some risks on a variety of different players, including forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns. It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Here are some running backs for you to consider during the middle of the draft for this season.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2025 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2025 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2025 Draft Kit.
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D'Andre Swift, Bears, Fantasy Football Outlook
Chicago Bears D'Andre Swift's prospects of avoiding formidable competition for touches within Chicago's backfield rotation had appeared tenuous entering the offseason. However, Swift is primed to operate as the Bears' lead back after the team failed to make any impactful additions at running back during free agency or the NFL Draft.
Chicago made no changes to the backfield during free agency and did not address the position until they selected Kyle Monangai in Round 7 of April's NFL Draft (233rd overall).
Swift finished fourth among all backs in offensive snaps (703) during 2024, and was 10th with a career high 253 attempts (14.9 per game). He also accumulated a career best 632 yards after contact, and finished 18th in rushing yards (959/56.4 per game).
Swift registered a career-low 3.8 yards per attempt, and was 47th in rush yards over expected per attempt (-0.69) according to NextGenStats, but he was also fifth in routes run (351), and 14th in targets (52/3.1 per game), and receptions (42/2.5 per game).
Round 6: D’Andre Swift
- Value: smashing if available in 6th.
- 24’ Production: 1,345 tot yds | 6TDs.
- Volume: 295 touches in 24’.
- Improved o-line.
- Offensive scheme: Ben Johnson | successful RBs.
- Dual-threat skills: multiple 40+ reception seasons. pic.twitter.com/0DeJ2StYY5— Joshua Cho (@jbchoknows) August 15, 2025
Swift's lead back role should be preserved, as he is cemented atop a depth chart that contains Roschon Johnson and Monangai. The Bears' offense should perform more proficiently under Ben Johnson, while Swift will benefit from offseason improvements to the offensive line.
Those factors should propel Swift to production that surpasses the expectations of his ADPs in best ball leagues (87/RB30) and dynasty startup drafts (103/RB32).
Jordan Mason, Vikings, Fantasy Football Outlook
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason enjoyed a nice 2024 season. He ran for a career-best 789 rushing yards while filling in for an injured Christian McCaffrey.
Mason's advanced metrics were also quite good. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Mason finished third in Next Gen Stats rush yards over expected, 10th in PFF elusive rating, and 19th in PFF's rushing grade. Clearly, the Minnesota Vikings took notice and acquired him in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jordan Mason is one of the BEST mid-round RBs in fantasy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HjCuKxfYdC
— PFF Fantasy (@PFF_Fantasy) August 14, 2025
Minnesota also re-signed Aaron Jones to a two-year extension this offseason. However, it's worth noting that Mason finished higher than Jones in each of the above metrics. Minnesota has also made it clear that it wants to lighten Jones' workload this season.
Mason could be in line for a larger role than some think. At the very least, he is a great target later in drafts as a Jones handcuff. However, Mason might offer some standalone value as a potential flex play.
Mason's average Yahoo Fantasy ADP of 76 overall means managers won't have to pay a high premium to draft him. At this price, there's not much downside. Mason has the potential to wildly outperform his ADP if the cards break his way.
Jaylen Warren, Steelers, Fantasy Football Outlook
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has operated in a production-inhibiting timeshare with Najee Harris during Warren's first three seasons with Pittsburgh.
Warren averaged 7.2 attempts/34.9 rushing yards per game, and 4.8 yards per attempt from 2022-2024. His involvement as a receiving weapon launched him to seventh among all backs in receptions (99/3.1 per game), and 10th in targets (21/3.8 per game) since 2023.
Warren also paced Pittsburgh's backfield with a 48 percent snap share from Weeks 7-17 last season, while averaging 9.4 attempts/42.9 rushing yards per game, and rising to seventh in targets per route run (22.9 percent) and receiving yards (271/27.1 per game) during that 10-game span.
Harris's departure to Los Angeles created a temporary pathway for Warren to seize an expanded workload within the Steelers' reshaped backfield. However, that scenario dissipated three days after Warren signed his one-year restricted free agent tender, when Pittsburgh selected Kaleb Johnson during Round 3 of April's NFL Draft (83rd overall).
Highest rates of gaining a rushing first down with 10+ yards to go
[min. 80 attempts]
1. Jahmyr Gibbs - 15.8%
2. Derrick Henry - 15.4%
3. Chuba Hubbard - 14.6%
4. James Cook - 13.6%
5. Tank Bigsby - 13.3%
6. Jaylen Warren - 12.3% pic.twitter.com/r0PIYM0eho— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) July 20, 2025
Warren should retain his previous workload, while Johnson will ascend into the role that had previously been designated for Harris. Both backs will operate in a restructured offense that will be spearheaded by 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal with the Steelers.
Warren should supply RB3 output, which makes him a viable option at his Round 8 ADP in best ball drafts (89/RB32) and his Round 9 ADP in dynasty startups (104/RB32).
Cam Skattebo, Giants, Fantasy Football Outlook
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo had to wait until Round 4 to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. He will enter a backfield with another former Day 3 running back in Tyrone Tracy Jr., already in place as the starter.
Additionally, the Giants still have veteran running back Devin Singletary, who figures to work into the rotation. Skattebo is a much different player than Tracy or Singletary. He brings a hard-hitting style to the backfield that is a necessary complement to the speed already in place.
Since no running back in this offense has significantly set themselves apart, Skattebo has a chance to make a significant difference right away. Skattebo has thrived as an underdog throughout his entire football career, but he is nowhere near devoid of talent.
Skattebo is fresh off a 1,711-yard and 21-touchdown season with Arizona State. He has yet to prove himself on an NFL field, but the blueprint is right in front of him.
Before his hamstring injury, Cam Skattebo was on track to be the goal line and pass game back. Might be too late to get both roles immediately, but he has the profile to target in fantasy. He's their biggest RB and Tracy was just subbed out at the goal line. https://t.co/zYj3FQY23V
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) August 20, 2025
The fantasy community seems to think the same thing as RotoBaller currently has Skattebo ranked as the RB34, which is in line with his ADP as a low-end RB3 or flex. With an excellent opportunity ahead of him, Skattebo could be one of several rookie running backs with a chance to finish inside the top 24 at the position this season.
R.J. Harvey, Broncos, Fantasy Football Outlook
The Denver Broncos selected R.J. Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. It was a bit of a surprise as he was seen as an underrated prospect entering the NFL Draft and was not expected to get second-round draft capital.
However, Broncos head coach Sean Payton clearly saw something he liked. Harvey now joins Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram II, and Alvin Kamara as the only backs Payton has selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. This list certainly puts Harvey in good company.
all 4 RJ Harvey touches from this weekend
on 10 snaps pic.twitter.com/5KehEa9QCg
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 17, 2025
Ultimately, it doesn't guarantee anything as Harvey will need to produce with the touches he's given. Still, Denver has one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in the league and has been looking for a running back upgrade this offseason.
The team has seemingly pegged Harvey as their man. He has good burst, vision, and hardly goes down on first contact. Harvey has everything needed to be the next great fantasy running back in Payton's offense. Despite the team's addition of veteran J.K. Dobbins, gamers should feel comfortable using a mid-round pick to select Harvey in their drafts.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Looking for more draft values and sleepers? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who Should I Draft tool for 2025 drafts for D'Andre Swift, Jordan Mason, Jaylen Warren, Cam Skattebo, R.J. Harvey. Our free Who Should I Draft? tool will help make your fantasy football draft decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to draft... all free!
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