Fantasy Football Rookie RB Rankings (Post NFL Draft) - Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, RJ Harvey, Quinshon Judkins, Cam Skattebo, and more

May 4, 2025

RotoBaller's 2025 fantasy football RB rookie rankings by Matt Donnelly. These RB rookie rankings are from after the 2025 NFL Draft

With fantasy football drafts officially underway and the depth of this year's running back class, ranking the top 10 running backs would not suffice. 

Let's dig deeper and give a couple of extra backs who fantasy managers should have on their radars with the RotoBaller top 12 rookie running backs for 2025.

But first, for a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, rankings, and trade tactics, you can check out our complete Dynasty Fantasy Football Guide.

Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings

12. Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints

Devin Neal gained a slight advantage over the likes of Ollie Gordon II, Dylan Sampson, and Jaydon Blue when siphoning through landing spots and opportunities. The others may have more talent in a sense, but Neal has a clearer path to fantasy relevancy than his peers.

Neal will have to be patient in New Orleans as Alvin Kamara is still the lead back in the Bayou, but he is also turning 30 in July. Meanwhile, Kendre Miller has flashed at times but has never really given the Saints brass the impression that he can be the back of the future.

Neal was productive at Kansas, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons and scoring 16 or more touchdowns in back-to-back seasons to close out his collegiate career. Neal is versatile and can play a role in the passing game, as he caught 70 passes for the Jayhawks dating back to the 2021 season, which kind of sounds like another back Saints fans are familiar with.

11. Trevor Etienne, Carolina Panthers

Carolina invested fourth-round draft capital in Trevor Etienne, but it also still has a productive Chuba Hubbard, whom it just extended, and Rico Dowdle, whom it recently signed. Both Hubbard and Dowdle are coming off 1,000-yard seasons, and you have to believe that Carolina still believes in Jonathon Brooks.

Etienne is likely insurance for Brooks, a return specialist who gives the Panthers depth at the running back position early on and is currently a stash for fantasy purposes. He is also the same back who had 609 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and 194 receiving yards on 32 receptions in 2024, showing off some PPR versatility.

10. Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals

Zack Moss and Samaje Perine are journeymen depth backs; it won't take long before we see Tahj Brooks ascend to the second back on the Bengals' depth chart behind Chase Brown. Brooks has a productive college profile after posting back-to-back seasons of 1,500 rushing yards and 285-plus carries to close out his Texas Tech tenure, not to mention 100 or more rushing yards in 19 of his final 24 contests.

If you are stats-based, only Brooks, Ashton Jeanty, and Omarion Hampton can claim to have rushed for more than 3,000 yards over the last two seasons. Brooks can hold his own in pass protection, which Joe Burrow and the coaching staff will undoubtedly appreciate.

9. Jarquez Hunter, Los Angeles Rams

One of the more interesting running back landing spots is the Los Angeles Rams, where Jarquez Hunter finds himself. To say Sean McVay has a type may be an understatement. Hunter, along with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, all present similar builds, but Hunter has the advantage regarding explosive run rate (23.8 percent) and overall speed score (105.0).

The battle for the backup spot in Los Angeles will be key, as Williams sometimes had some issues securing the ball. Hunter has more burst than both backs currently ahead of him on the depth chart, but looking at Hunter's numbers, it may not take long for the former Tiger to put Corum on notice. 

At Auburn, Hunter produced a 32 percent avoided tackle and 4.10 yards after contact per attempt, with 22.6 percent of his runs resulting in gains greater than 10 yards. He is everything that Williams is, with a little burst as the cherry topping.

8. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last season in Duval County, Travis Etienne Jr. found himself outperformed by Tank Bigsby. While Etienne had previously been a productive player for the Jaguars, the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and now Etienne must fend off both Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten. That's easier said than done.

In two seasons at Virginia Tech, Tuten accumulated 2,022 yards on the ground, averaging nearly 5.7 yards per carry and finishing with 25 rushing scores over that period. Tuten earned the distinct honor of the fastest running back at the combine, running a blistering 4.32 40-time, and that speed benefited the Hokies as he returned two kicks for touchdowns last season. Tuten will earn his opportunities on special teams while awaiting an opportunity for a larger role should Etienne falter again.

It is worth noting that Etienne is playing on his fifth-year option. Even if Tuten's role is minimal this season, there is a good chance it will be expanded upon in 2026.

7. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

If Tyrone Tracy Jr. is one of your starting backs on your fantasy roster, you'd better add Cam Skattebo to your fantasy drafts. Skattebo is a real problem for Tracy, and when the Giants get down on the goal line, those touches will be going to Skattebo.

Skatebo won't be confused with the elite speedsters of this class, and that's all right. We are looking at a back who ran for more than 1,700 yards last season and caught 45 passes for 605 yards. Skattebo recorded as many 85-plus receiving games last season as Matthew Golden.

6. Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Landing spots matter, and Kaleb Johnson is a great fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they replace Najee Harris. In previous seasons, Jaylen Warren was best when his load wasn't overbearing, creating a high efficiency/high production situation for fantasy managers.

Johnson played smashmouth football at Iowa, regularly facing eight-man boxes, and still led the Big Ten in rushing yards. Listening to Mike Tomlin talk about Johnson, he talks about Johnson's proven ability to be a high-volume back coming off a season where he produced 861 breakaway yards and 1,060 yards after contact.

5. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

When talent meets the perfect landing spot, fantasy managers rejoice. Last season, Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estime could not get the Broncos' ground game going. Williams is gone, and RJ Harvey looks to be the back Sean Payton will turn to in 2025.

Harvey comes into the league off three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at UCF. In 2023 and 2024, as a runner and pass-catcher, Harvey accounted for 3,488 yards of total offense. Harvey has plenty of juice, as only Jeanty had more than the 54 rushing attempts Harvey had that went for gains of greater than 10 yards. 

While the Broncos signed veteran J.K. Dobbins to a one-year contract worth $5.25 million on June 10, Harvey should remain the lead option in the backfield as a rookie and for the foreseeable future.

4. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

The duo of Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson did not produce as the Patriots had hoped they would in 2024. New England went into the 2025 draft with a plan to reinvent what this Drake Maye-led offense would look like. In TreVeyon Henderson, the Patriots add an explosive three-down back who is the best pass-pro back the draft had to offer. 

In 2024, Henderson averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Over his last two seasons at Ohio State, Henderson produced 21 rushing touchdowns on 300 rushing attempts, which works out to a touchdown on 7 percent of his carries.

Maye saw exponential growth between Weeks 6 and 17. With Henderson projected to be heavily involved, Maye and the Patriots offense can take that next step.

3. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

In recent years, the Browns have been committed to running the ball. Even after Nick Chubb was sidelined due to injury, the Browns continued to pound the ball and succeeded. Chubb remains unsigned, and Jerome Ford topped the depth chart before the draft. Post-draft, there is a new top dog in Cleveland, and it's Quinshon Judkins. 

Judkins broke out at Ole Miss, amassing 1,567 rushing yards as a freshman, then followed that up with two more 1,000-yard performances to close out his collegiate career. Judkins will step in on Day 1 and fill the void left behind by Chubb, while Ford can battle with Dylan Sampson for touches and the backup role.

2. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Well, the Najee Harris love in fantasy dies quickly. Harris' deal is a one-year deal, meaning Omarion Hampton is coming sooner rather than later. Harris, for all his accolades, averages just 3.9 yards per carry throughout his career, while Hampton averaged 5.9 yards per attempt last season on 281 attempts.

Jim Harbaugh has long wanted to pound the rock with his backs. Los Angeles thought it had its guy last season in former Raven Gus Edwards, but the production failed to materialize. Hampton has produced, as in the previous two seasons, the North Carolina product ran for 3,164 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also caught 67 passes over that period for 595 yards. 

Last season, the combination of J.K. Dobbins (153), Kimani Vidal (62), Hassan Haskins (49), and Edwards (six) had just 270 receiving yards between them. Hampton, in contrast, had 373 receiving yards on 38 receptions over 12 contests, averaging 9.8 yards per reception.

1. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

Not only is Ashton Jeanty atop the rookie running back rankings, but he is also a top-5 fantasy football selection in redraft and dynasty formats. Jeanty's 1,970 rushing yards after contact were 258 more rushing yards than Cam Skattebo's total rushing yards last season. Skattebo was second in the FBS in rushing yards.

Pete Carroll has long been known to be a ground-and-pound coach, and Jeanty has proved that he is more than capable of handling whatever workload Carroll and company send his way while coming off a 398-touch 2024 campaign.

Just Missing: Ollie Gordon II (Miami), Dylan Sampson (Cleveland), Damien Martinez (Seattle), DJ Giddens (Indianapolis), Jaydon Blue (Dallas), Jordan James (San Francisco)

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