Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Sneaky Running Backs with Workhorse Potential (2025)

March 8, 2025

Top 3 undervalued workhorse running backs (RBs) to target and buy low in dynasty fantasy football trades for 2025: Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, and RJ Harvey.

Volume is the primary driver of running back scoring in fantasy football. There are a handful of RBs who can be highly efficient and, thus, score plenty of fantasy points, like the Miami Dolphins' De'Von Achane in 2023. But the majority of elite RB scorers get a ton of touches.

Thus, predicting the backs who will get an uptick in volume is crucial to helping you sniff out value in places where most don't expect there much to be. For example, Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown burst onto the scene as an elite fantasy option in 2024, but it was largely due to a massive increase in volume, which itself was partly due to an injury to fellow RB Zack Moss.

These things simply aren't easy to predict sometimes. But in some cases, as with Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving, there are clear indicators that the volume in the backfield will shift toward one player. Bucs RB Rachaad White was the workhorse in 2023 but showed us clear signs that things could change. Let's try to sniff out some upcoming changes for 2025.

First Things First: The Definition Of Workhorse Has Changed

In today's NFL, as opposed to that of many years past, many backfields are two-way committees featuring two running backs getting significant volume. This shouldn't be ignored in fantasy football, as there have been plenty of cases where two RBs are fantasy-relevant on the same team.

A good example of last year was the aforementioned Bucs. Both White and Irving were productive enough to be fantasy-relevant for large portions of the year, and though White fell off toward the end, Irving became an elite option even though he still split snaps and touches with White.

Run-heavy offensive systems with good offensive coordinators or head coaches, like former Bucs OC and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, have enough firepower for two RBs to be startable in fantasy. So, for this post, we'll include backs who have a solid chance of much-increased volume in dual backfields.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of the devil, new Jaguars head coach Liam Coen should bring a much more efficient and productive run game with his new schemes than previously existed. In terms of probable production over current value, Bigsby stands out. He could see a big uptick in volume and not simply be used when games are within reach like he was last season.

Even if he is, Coen's offense will be much improved over the terrible system former OC Press Taylor had in place last season. Coen was the architect of the NFL's most productive backfield in 2024, and both White and Irving put up multiple huge games in fantasy football. It's hard not to think this will happen with Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. as well.

Tank Bigsby vs. Travis Etienne last year pic.twitter.com/Cj1RBHRjm9

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) February 4, 2025

Bigsby isn't a developed pass-catcher, so it will be interesting to see how the receiving work is split between the two backs. But it seems that history has a chance of repeating itself here, with Irving getting a lot more volume than White to end the season. The scenarios aren't identical, though, as Etienne struggled through injury. Since he's the better receiving back, his PPR floor should be higher.

Still, it's hard to look at Bigsby's efficiency on a bad offense with a bad OC and a bad offensive line and think that he'll be mediocre in 2025 if Coen's able to design a good running game once again. And the tape from 2024 shows us he implemented very successful schemes.

The Genius of Liam Coen offense 🎥

This is from 3 straight weeks.

•Knowing the defense have scouted this TE cheat motion.

•Makes it look identical, but runs 3 totally different unique plays to confuse the defense.

•3 Touchdowns.

Jax has missed this type of creativity ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jI7aVge8pg

— N F L (@DTWD904) January 30, 2025

He's a highly creative mind, so you should get Bigsby.

RJ Harvey, RB, NFL Rookie

It's never easy to predict running backs who aren't elite prospects becoming workhorses in their first season, but UCF Knights RB RJ Harvey is a prime candidate to get plenty of volume by the back half of the season at the latest. For starters, one of the clearest leading indicators of getting plenty of touches is excellent efficiency.

And Harvey consistently was great in this department. He averaged 6.3 or more yards per rush in each of his final three seasons in college and scored 38 rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns in his last two seasons. Those are seriously impressive numbers. And it shows just how elite he is as a prospect. He's massively underrated right now.

All-American RJ Harvey 2024 Highlights pic.twitter.com/0QY29H5mhy

— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) December 16, 2024

Harvey was one of the best players in college football in 2024, but he went to a school that doesn't get as much attention as powerhouses like Ohio State or Alabama. The same player (him) on those teams would likely be valued much higher in drafts. The above highlight video is long, but there are plenty of examples of another trait that makes him such an attractive option -- his ability as a receiver.

It's overlooked as well, but he's one of the best receiving back prospects in recent memory. He has excellent hands, and while he was seriously underutilized in the passing game in college, he should immediately be able to make an impact as a receiver.

IF HES NOT RUNNING HES CATCHING #UCF TD KJ TO RJ HARVEY 75 yard run and catch!!! He put on the afterburners. 7-7 #UCF vs #Colorado with 3:38 left in the first quarter. What a statement play. pic.twitter.com/PMrcxtprw3

— Andrew Cherico (@Andrew_Cherico) September 28, 2024

He also has the short-area quickness and explosiveness to gain hidden yards on checkdowns and screen passes. Speaking of the passing game, he's also a willing and capable blocker. Speaking of the running game again, he's highly elusive and a great tackle-breaker. There isn't much to dislike about his game. He's a complete back.

Of course, most people would rather have Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson, who is worse than Harvey at absolutely everything. But that's fine. You can take Harvey and laugh all the way to the bank in your money leagues. The situation he lands in will be important, so keep an eye on it. But in many backfields, he'll be the best option from Day 1.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, NFL Rookie

I am once again asking you to believe in another massively underrated rookie. Virginia Tech Hokies RB Bhayshul Tuten hasn't landed on a team yet, as he's still a rookie, but if he gets drafted by a team with a mediocre RB1, he could end up taking the majority of the workload by season's end.

It would be easier to say that Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton, two other rookies in this class, are "sneaky" options, but they're obvious candidates. Because this is such a stacked class, some great options will slip through the cracks.

That's partly because there's an implicit idea that those who aren't in the top five of consensus positional rankings are always "sneaky," though Tuten's tape and metrics suggest otherwise.

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten has easy speed: rare acceleration ability and a top gear that even NFL DBs will have difficulty matching.

Zone-centric teams looking for a change of pace back that can change the game with one touch should be all over him on day three. pic.twitter.com/Gzb8ckoGgT

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) February 18, 2025

Tuten can outrun defensive backs, has ideal size and excellent strength, can shake off huge hits and remain upright, has great lateral agility, and is highly elusive. The above X post suggests that he's suited to be a "change of pace" back, though that's his absolute floor on a team that has no idea what it is doing.

Much like Chase Brown, Tuten could end up on a team where he's better than the guy ahead of him. That can be frustrating early on, but you need to hold onto him through any production woes he might have that are due to low volume.

And if he's not injured, he should be efficient enough to warrant a big increase in volume if he starts with just single-digit touches.

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