2025 Fantasy Football RB Rookie Rankings (Pre-NFL Draft) - Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, and more

April 21, 2025

RotoBaller's 2025 fantasy football RB rookie rankings by Matt Donnelly. These early RB rookie rankings are from before the NFL Draft on April 24.

While many consider both the wide receiver and quarterback prospects less than desirable in this draft, the running back position is as deep and talented as ever. We could see as many as three backs hear their name called on Day 1 for the first time since 2018 (Saquon Barkley, Rashaad Penny, and Sony Michel).

With that said, and the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaching, check out my top 10 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.

NFL Rookie Rankings for Fantasy Football (Pre-NFL Draft)

Rookie rankings are from before the NFL Scouting Combine and before the NFL Draft

Pre-NFL Draft Top 10 Fantasy Football RB Picks

10. Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State

After putting up 1,732 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns, and averaging 6.1 yards per carry in his sophomore season, anything Ollie Gordon II did in his senior campaign was going to pale in comparison. Despite a "down year," Gordon amassed 1,059 total yards and 14 total touchdowns.

Gordon is a typical power back who loves coming downhill. He has a proven track record of carrying the load and producing. 

.@CowboyFB @Ollie_Gordon2 is a big and powerful back with light feet. He was a monster in 2023. Big Back = Factor Back. #nfldraft #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/RFf55bqziR

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 21, 2025

Gordon is also a decent receiving option as he is one of just 10 backs since 2016 who are tipping the scales at 225 pounds or more and producing 0.100 receiving fantasy points per snap. In 2023, Gordon accounted for more than 1,500 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving, becoming one of five backs to do so since 2022.

9. Damien Martinez, Miami

Damien Martinez is another physical back who scored 10 touchdowns last season for Miami and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. In three seasons between Miami and Oregon State, Martinez has churned out 3,169 yards on the ground while finding the end zone on 26 occasions, adding to a solid production profile.

With the depth of the 2025 draft class at the running back position, Martinez may have to wait until Day 3 before hearing his name called, but that doesn't change the fact that he has all the makings of being an NFL starter and an immediate contributor.

8. RJ Harvey, UCF

Over the last two seasons, the ultra-twitchy RJ Harvey has run for 2,993 yards, 38 touchdowns, and nearly 3,500 yards in total offense. While Harvey isn't the biggest back, he proved he is more than capable of handling a workload, averaging 229 carries over his final two collegiate seasons.

Harvey is an explosive back in every sense. Between 2023 and 2024, Harvey's 58 runs gaining 15 or more yards were the most of any back in this draft. Analyst Jacob Gibbs pointed out that when looking at the combine data, Harvey hit a speed of 18.5 mph in the first 10 yards of his 40-yard dash. That was the fastest speed recorded among the running back position. 

7. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Dylan Sampson exploded onto the scene in 2024, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, and put together an impressive stat line that included 1,491 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns, and an 82.1 percent success rate inside the 10-yard line. Dynasty managers, you will like this: Sampson doesn't even turn 21 until September.

Dylan Sampson stays active with the feet again. Fights for first pic.twitter.com/dJenFD4P0Q

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 8, 2025

Sampson is a patient runner with quick feet who can get low and generate power to churn out additional yardage. While most talk about that success rate inside the 10-yard line, it should be noted that he also converted 33 of 36 short-yardage attempts that translated into first downs. If he can clean up some of the ball-security concerns, Sampson is going to be a steal. 

6. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Production matters. Kaleb Johnson finished the 2024 season with 21 rushing touchdowns and 1,537 rushing yards in just 12 contests. That success can be attributed to his ability to produce after conduct, where 1,060 of those rushing yards came from. Johnson also ranked second in breakaway yards with 861.

Johnson is not an explosive back and lacks the top gear that some of the other backs in this class possess, but he makes up for that with his vision, football IQ, and elite ability to set up his blocks. The best comparison I have seen for Johnson is James Conner. He is not flashy but very effective.

5. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

If a team is looking for an absolute wrecking ball, look no further than Arizona State's Cam Skattebo. Skattebo will get what he needs on every run through strength and willpower alone. Just rewatch that Arizona State versus Texas playoff game.

Skattebo's athletic profile isn't great. He lacks the burst of some or the top-end speed of some of the other backs in this class, but you can't ignore the 2,316 total yards of offense he generated with no other option available in that Sun Devil offense. 

Skattebo is more than just a runner. The guy forced 102 missed tackles. He also had 45 receptions for 605 yards, with 571 of those receiving yards coming after the catch. That number of yards after the catch was the sixth most among Power Conference pass-catchers a season ago.

4. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

TreVeyon Henderson was one of the most efficient backs last season, converting 144 rushing attempts into 1,016 yards, which worked out to a 7.1 yards per carry average. Henderson is explosive, versatile, and can pass protect, allowing him to be a three-down back at the next level. 

Henderson is a coach's dream. His only fumble came back in Week 3 of his freshman season (2021), 626 touches ago. JD Vance has fumbled the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy more times than Henderson has fumbled the football.

3. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

You could make a case to have Henderson over Quinshon Judkins, but I am choosing violence here, much like Judkins chose violence on his opposition with every touch. Judkins is the ideal size/burst combination you would like to see from the running back position. 

Quinshon Judkins will be a TRUE 3 Down RB

➖Size: 6’0, 221 lbs
➖Speed: 4.48 (81st Percentile)
➖Production: 1,221 Yards, 16 TD’s (2024)

He’s hit 1,200 Total Yards + 15 TDs in ALL 3 of his Collegiate Seasons..

42 Career Games:

➖50 TDs
➖4,227 Yards

That’s 100.6 YPG..

RB1 pic.twitter.com/G1d5Q0FezO

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) April 9, 2025

Not only did Judkins explode against SEC competition, racking up 2,725 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns in his freshman and sophomore seasons, but he followed that up upon transferring to Ohio State with another 14 touchdowns and 1,060 yards on the ground, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in the Big Ten. If you can average 100.6 yards per game playing in the two toughest conferences in college football, you might just make it after all.

2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Like Judkins, Omarion Hampton is a rare 220-pound athletic back comparable to a dancing bear. Hampton will carry the load. In the last 25 games, Hampton has carried the ball 534 times for 3,164 yards and caught 67 passes for an additional 595 yards. We are talking 44 percent of his team's total touches and 17 percent of the team's reception total. 

Of those 3,160 rushing yards since 2023, Hampton ranks second in yards after contact (2,294), third in explosive runs (79), and sixth in missed tackles forced with 140. Defensive players will make some business decisions once Hampton gets to the second and third levels. In any other draft class, Hampton is likely the RB1.

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Before scientists cloned the dire wolf, they may have found a way to splice Saquon Barkley's DNA with Jahmyr Gibbs' DNA to create Ashton Jeanty. It's the only reasonable explanation.

It's not often you get analytics, film, and fantasy football talking heads to agree on a prospect, but Jeanty is the player who unites us all. In 14 games last season, Jeanty touched the ball 397 times, creating 2,739 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns; enough said.

Just Missing: Tahj Brooks, Devin Neal, DJ Giddens, Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen, Jarquez Hunter

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