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Top 3 dynasty RB trade targets for 2025. Buy low on breakout stars and sell high on overvalued running backs: Tank Bigsby, Jaylen Wright, and Keaton Mitchell.
The running back position is the most "revolving door" group in both the NFL and dynasty fantasy football. Their careers can often be meteoric, with massive seasons being followed by huge fall-offs. Sometimes, those backs fall off the face of the earth.
This can leave fantasy managers going from believing they're set at the position for multiple years to desperately trying to buy more RBs after that year ends. Thus, it's better to be as forward-thinking as possible with this position, and it's important to identify breakout candidates before they break out.
That's easier said than done, but that's also why you're here and reading this article. Be sure to keep in mind that all of these players have skepticism around them. You have to capitalize on that. You may have reservations about them and think that they can't become great players, but the doubt helps you get them for great value. Let's dive in.
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Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
A rising tide lifts all boats. When that tide is new Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen and the boat is Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby, you should try to add him to your fleet. Bigsby was impressive when his team's offense hadn't completely collapsed due to poor offensive line play, poor coaching, and injuries.
Tank Bigsby ... DOG pic.twitter.com/rbuUZEJabi
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 12, 2024
Players with fantastic efficiency in certain areas of their game -- in this case, yards after contact per rush -- are those you should keep an eye on and try to pick up. The big improvement in his situation is a screeching green flag that you should buy him at his depressed price. Both he and his backfield mate, Travis Etienne Jr., are underpriced heading into 2025.
Coen made RB Rachaad White look serviceable and Bucky Irving look like a superstar. And while Irving's exploits in the NFL are largely his doing as well, Coen's schemes were elite for the run game and resulted in the Bucs having the best rushing production of any RB room in the NFL in 2024.
Tank Bigsby.
That's it. That's the tweet. https://t.co/RTU0LzzN78 pic.twitter.com/Mui8BogV9B
— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) October 9, 2024
The massive outliers on charts like these with much-improved situations are some of the most obvious buy targets you should pursue. Before the entire offense became a flaming dumpster fire, through no fault of Bigsby's, he was looking like a waiver wire league winner.
TANK BIGSBY STIFF ARMS HIS WAY TO A 65-YARD TD.
📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/oVugPI0X5s— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
He has a ton of untapped potential. A good run-blocking scheme will help cover for some of the deficiencies of the offensive line. Tampa Bay's OL far outperformed its talent level in 2024, so we know that Coen knows how to make the line outplay its draft capital and skill. So, even if it is in the bottom half of the league talent-wise, it shouldn't be a big hindrance.
Buy Bigsby whenever you can.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
One of the primary factors driving Wright's presence here is the team's release of 32-year-old RB Raheem Mostert. While Wright didn't get much usage in Year 1, and those touches he did see were largely uninspiring, he languished as the RB3 on the team while it continued to try to force-feed Mostert. It didn't work very well.
The Dolphins are making the right move, and the sentiment that Wright was Mostert's eventual replacement ended up being correct. Now, he'll serve as the RB2 behind RB De'Von Achane. If the team addresses its interior offensive line and beefs it up, things should go better for Wright in 2025.
Jaylen Wright 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/kWO0mti3fq
— Kerry Williams (@kerrywilliams_) October 1, 2024
And now, the guy who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at 209 pounds is essentially completely forgotten in dynasty. If the Dolphins can resurrect their run-game efficiency and improve their run-blocking overall in 2025, there's massive value waiting to be had. It wasn't great overall in 2024.
Part of the reason Achane averaged only 4.5 yards per carry is likely the loss of both Connor Williams and Robert Hunt, two elite run-blocking offensive linemen, after 2023. Newly retooled offensive line groups tend to take time to gel together. That was a problem in 2024.
TOUCHDOWN que va a significar una victoria para varios… De’Von Achane #NFLFantasyEsp
— NFL Fantasy en Español (@NFLFantasyEsp) December 23, 2024
We don't intend to discredit Achane, as he's a fantastic RB. But head coach Mike McDaniel likely wants to pull back on his workload to reduce his chances of injury. Additionally, the undersized back isn't ideal for goal-line scenarios, as he lacks the power to drive through big defenders. That's where Wright can come in.
For the price you can get him, he's worth it even as just a handcuff in case of an Achane injury. He's extremely cheap, and cheap, young players should be your bread and butter when trying to build a roster for long-term success.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens
After an explosive rookie season that saw Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell average over 8.0 yards per carry was cut short by a season-ending knee injury, and the signing of RB Derrick Henry, one of the most explosive and quickest backs in the NFL has been largely forgotten in fantasy football. Yet, his price presents a nice opportunity to buy, as he still possesses the talent he did in his first season.
Henry is also 31 years old, and while he didn't show signs of slowing down in 2024, a decline in efficiency and production is likely coming again soon. And Henry allowed Mitchell to rest up and not risk further harm to his knee. We'll probably see Mitchell get significantly more touches in 2025 as a result.
Still thinking about Keaton Mitchell..hope he’s doing okay in recovery 🥹 pic.twitter.com/cOhwd0j7lx
— Allison Waite (@nosilla38) June 7, 2024
He seems like a perfect complement to Henry in the backfield. While the future Hall of Famer has plenty of speed, he can't match Mitchell's league-best acceleration and top-speed combo. Mitchell should be used more on gadget plays and get a non-insignificant number of carries and targets at some point.
The presence of RB Justice Hill is a thorn in the side of Mitchell's value, to be sure. A two-way committee behind Henry isn't the best situation to be in. But stashing Mitchell through 2025 and being ready for him to contribute more in 2026 is a reality you'll just have to accept.
If you have Henry, you should make sure you have Mitchell on your roster as a handcuff as well. The upside in case of an injury to the King is huge.
Can we please at least get Keaton Mitchell a couple screen passes on Sunday🙏🏼 @Ravens
Gotta find ways to get this type of explosiveness on the field pic.twitter.com/SOQ1qbpCed
— Øwehs Burner (@OwehsBurner) January 16, 2025
Hill is a fine player, but you have to think Mitchell has much more potential in the receiving game, as he's able to create massive chunk gains when he gets any kind of open space. Hill is signed with the Ravens through 2026, but the team has an out after the 2025 season and Hill's salary jumps noticeably in 2026, so that seems a likely option.
That would make Mitchell a fantastic option for the 2026 season when Henry would be 32. But if you wait until that rolls around and Mitchell breaks off a few more long touchdowns in 2025, you'll have to pay even more to pick him up. Better to do it for cheap now.
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