The Fantasy Football Running Back Carousel - Najee Harris, Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason, and more

April 12, 2025

Dan Stephens fantasy football outlooks for running backs who have changed teams so far during the 2025 NFL offseason. Did they land in favorable or unfavorable fantasy football situations?

The NFL offseason is a period of great change. Its main event is the NFL Draft, when each team in the league stakes its future on the best players it can find in the college ranks. While the draft is heralded as a watershed moment, there are many more transactions taking place in the preceding weeks that alter the makeup of a team.

Try as I might to stay on top of all the news, it is hard for me to follow player movement. I confess that at this time of year, my attention is turned to fantasy baseball, so I quickly lose track of the trades and free-agent signings that take place during the spring. Once training camps open up, I can be heard repeatedly shouting, “He’s playing WHERE?!” while tuned into "NFL Live" or the like.

This offseason, I’m going to be a better NFL fan. This offseason, I’m going to pay attention starting NOW. To save me the annual exasperation of discovering who signed with which team while I wasn’t looking, I’m getting a head start and tracking which of the NFL’s top running backs have changed teams this spring and what it might mean for their fantasy value in the 2025 season.

Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

One thing about this offseason that differs from the last is the substantial lack of star power. After seeing the likes of Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry change teams in 2024, this year’s crop of running backs feels a bit underwhelming.

The most significant mover this year is Najee Harris, who signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Harris burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, rushing for 1,200 yards and catching 74 passes for 467 receiving yards. While he never lived up to the potential established in that rookie year, he managed to grind out 1,000 yards on the ground in each of the last three seasons.

Harris’ consistent year-end results as a Steeler came despite Pittsburgh’s routine involvement of Jaylen Warren out of the backfield. With the move to Los Angeles, he once again is the unquestioned No. 1 running back on his team’s depth chart.

The 27-year-old’s change of scenery includes the added benefit of running behind a better offensive line than he had in Pittsburgh. Harris did well for himself in signing with the Chargers, and fantasy managers can look forward to a strong showing from him in 2025.

Najee Harris

At least 284 touches and 1,200 yards all 4 NFL seasons ✅
1st round pedigree 🥇

Could see the Chargers drafting a RB on Day 2, but Najee is probably the reliable guy in 2025

Great QB who targets RBs ✅
Solid OLine ✅
Run-heavy offensive system ✅

A “Round 4…

— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) March 14, 2025

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Filling the void left by the departure of Najee Harris is Kenneth Gainwell, who signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on March 11. Jaylen Warren will likely see the bulk of the carries, but Gainwell’s abilities as a blocker and pass-catcher will keep him in the mix.

Routinely blocked on the depth chart by objectively superior talent since being drafted by the Eagles in 2021, Gainwell will have a real shot at increased (and more regular) production, though it will be as a member of a split backfield. The move is beneficial for Gainwell and might turn him into a playable RB3/flex option in 2025.

AJ Dillon, Philadelphia Eagles

Harris is replaced by Gainwell in Pittsburgh, who in turn is replaced by AJ Dillon in Philadelphia. Formerly of the Packers, Dillon missed the entire 2024 season due to a neck injury and joins the Eagles on a one-year, $1.3 million deal.

He will have to vie with Will Shipley and whoever else the team brings in to fill out the depth chart for positioning behind Saquon Barkley. Given the priority placed on Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts in the team’s offense, little can be expected of Dillon in 2025.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

In 2024, Rico Dowdle broke out as the Cowboys’ top running back, rushing for 1,079 yards on 235 carries. Dowdle then took off and signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth up to $6.25 million after incentives. Dowdle joins Chuba Hubbard, himself a 1,000-yard rusher in 2024, in the Panthers backfield.

With Carolina committed to Hubbard after signing him to a four-year, $33.2 million extension last November, Dowdle is likely to step into a complementary role rather than challenge for the top spot on the depth chart. Unless the Panthers find a way to turn the pairing into the next Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, Dowdle is due for significant regression in 2025.

#Panthers GM Dan Morgan on Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle:

“We’re excited about both those guys, kind of a 1-2 punch. They both can catch the ball out of the backfield, they can both pass protect, and they’re both obviously really good runners that we’re excited about.” pic.twitter.com/w1he1dNN1I

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) March 26, 2025

Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys lost Dowdle but gained Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who share similar paths to Dallas.

Williams showed promise as a rookie in 2021, racking up 1,219 scrimmage yards for the Broncos. He was limited to just four games due to an injury in 2022, and the Broncos did not see fit to use him as a workhorse in the years since. Sanders parlayed a 1,269-yard, 11-touchdown season with the Eagles in 2022 into a four-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers but quickly fell out of favor there.

Had the Cowboys simply signed one or the other, then I could talk myself into seeing either as a viable candidate for a bounce-back season. But the presence of both precludes either from entering 2025 as the team’s clear-cut RB1.

Dallas is also expected to add to its running back ranks via the upcoming NFL Draft. Underwhelming performances in recent seasons and a murky depth chart put both Williams and Sanders at a disadvantage.

Raheem Mostert, Las Vegas Raiders

Raheem Mostert recently signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders and immediately went to the top of their depth chart. It’s only a matter of time before he is bumped down, however. Las Vegas is likely to add more help via the draft (they are rumored to have an eye on Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) or free agency.

In any case, Mostert is headed toward a timeshare at best. Given his age and injury history, working as his team’s No. 2 option might be for the best. A Mostert who is kept fresh and healthy could do damage in fits and starts but there’s little reason to believe he will be worth selecting on draft day.

#Raiders RB Raheem Mostert on his role

"I talked to those guys, Pete (Carroll), Chip (Kelly)... My role is whatever I can create it to be. Obviously there's opportunity there. I'm going to come in the building ready to work."

Mostert enters his age 33 season. He scored 21 total… pic.twitter.com/O0qEyZc9Ru

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) March 19, 2025

Alexander Mattison, Miami Dolphins

Trading places with Mostert is Alexander Mattison, who joins the Dolphins on a one-year deal worth $1.3 million and change. Miami famously has De'Von Achane operating as its lead back, so we know Mattison isn’t stepping into a starting role with the move.

Anyone hoping for a pairing that will work out like Achane and Mostert in 2023 should check their optimism. Second-year man Jaylen Wright is already waiting in the wings, and the team will be more likely to give him a bigger piece of the pie in 2025 than to let Mattison step in as a complement to Achane.

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

The immediate beneficiary of Christian McCaffrey’s lost season in 2024 was Jordan Mason. Unfortunately, the third-year back’s breakout season was derailed by injuries of his own. Mason is moving on to the NFC North, linking up with the Minnesota Vikings on a two-year, $10.5 million deal.

Minnesota already has Aaron Jones sitting atop the depth chart, but Mason, who will be in his age-26 season, will give the team a talented alternative that will allow Jones to stay fresh. Jones is no stranger to the injury bug himself, so Mason is among the more valuable handcuffs to track in fantasy drafts in 2025. He may see enough use to serve as a flex option.

#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell on “1b” Jordan Mason:

“I do think Jordan’s gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team.” pic.twitter.com/sOrk2XwDOE

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 1, 2025

Elijah Mitchell, Kansas City Chiefs

Another former 49er who has found new digs is Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell came on strong in the back half of his rookie year, gaining over 1,000 scrimmage yards in 11 games in 2021. The acquisition of Christian McCaffrey knocked him down the depth chart, and frequent injuries robbed him of playing time, including the entire 2024 season.

Mitchell joins the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt already in the mix, it will take some doing for Mitchell to carve out a role. Until he does, he won’t have much fantasy value.

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals

Samaje Perine returns to Cincinnati for his third stint with the Bengals after spending the last two seasons in Denver and Kansas City. Perine was with the Bengals from 2020 to 2022 and also spent part of the 2019 season with the team.

Perine has been a competent backup in years past but was never allowed to serve as a team’s RB1. That won’t change in 2025. Chase Brown’s 2024 breakout makes him the favorite to start the season at the top of Cincinnati’s depth chart. Zack Moss will return from the neck injury that cut his 2024 short and serve as Brown’s direct backup.

Khalil Herbert, Indianapolis Colts

Like so many of the players on this list, Khalil Herbert goes into a situation where the best-case scenario is to serve as the understudy to the existing starter. Herbert signed on with the Colts on a one-year deal.

With Indianapolis already employing Jonathan Taylor as one of the league’s few true workhorse backs, Herbert stands little chance of seeing regular playing time. In deep leagues, Herbert makes sense as a bench stash in case Taylor goes down but otherwise holds little potential to make an impact in fantasy football in 2025.

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