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Sell these 5 aging fantasy football running backs in 2025 dynasty leagues before their trade value drops: Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, James Connor, and Alvin Kamara
When it comes to dynasty fantasy football leagues, veteran players are often overlooked. Managers can be too quick to move off older players and sometimes fail to see their value.
While veterans can help put a dynasty team over the top, there are also times when it’s better to cut your losses and move on from a player. You never want to be stuck “holding the bag” with an aging asset. This is particularly true when it comes to running backs.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five aging running backs you should sell in your dynasty fantasy football league.
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Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Mixon eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the fifth time in his career during his first season with the Texans. 12 total touchdowns helped him finish 2024 as the PPR RB17.
MIXON. 45-YARD TD.
📺: #HOUvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Z3C33tMXWN— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2024
Despite the success, some of his advanced metrics were not very good. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Mixon finished 35th in PFF Elusive Rating, 38th in Fantasy Points Data Suite's Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (MTF/ATT), and 29th in yards after contact per attempt (YACO/ATT).
Selling Mixon is all about getting ahead of a potential drop in value. He turns 29 this summer and is approaching an age where running backs can fall off a cliff at any moment. He was not particularly efficient again in 2024 and has eclipsed 4.1 yards per carry just once in his eight-year career. Houston can also move on from Mixon after the 2025 season and incur only a $2 million dead cap hit.
Gamers should strongly consider moving on from Mixon in exchange for rookie draft capital. The age cliff is fast approaching, and you don’t want to be stuck with him on your roster when the bottom falls out.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
Pollard is coming off his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season in 2024.
Tony Pollard the Titan!
📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gFFLVKU9pG— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
However, he averaged less than 4.5 yards per carry for the second straight year and did not score well in several advanced metrics. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Pollard finished 37th in PFF’s Elusive Rating and 33rd in MTF/ATT.
Tennessee also has an out in Pollard’s contract following the 2025 season. It can cut him and only incur a $2 million dead cap hit. The Titans still have Tyjae Spears in the mix and started to use him more toward the end of 2024. He could eat into Pollard’s workload in 2025 if he stays fully healthy. There’s also the possibility that Tennessee will add another back in the NFL Draft.
Pollard’s been a nice piece for dynasty gamers the last few seasons, but the reality is that his production won’t be that hard to replace. Gamers should consider selling him now before his value takes a hit. KeepTradeCut estimates his current trade value is about a mid-2025 second-round pick. It might be worth making this move to take a flyer on a player with more upside.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Conner enjoyed another strong season in 2024. He set a career-high in rushing yards, posted his second straight 1,000-yard season, and finished as the PPR RB11.
45-yard catch and run by James Conner for the score!
📺: #NYJvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/lJzAiHSDjV— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
He does turn 30 years old in May, and this is concerning for a player who’s been injured multiple times during his career. Conner did stay healthy for the large majority of 2024, but at such an older age, it remains to be seen if his body holds up.
Statistically speaking, there aren’t many areas to point out as weaknesses. This is more of a play against an aging back coming off one of the best years of his career. If you don’t think your team is a serious contender, then you should make trading Conner one of your top priorities this offseason.
Arizona can cut him after 2025 and incur only a $2.25 million dead cap hit. It seems like the team has positioned itself to move on when the time comes. Dynasty gamers should do the same.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Despite having declining metrics entering 2024, Kamara posted another fine season. Kamara finished as the PPR RB9 despite missing New Orleans’ final three games. This was in large part thanks to his work as a receiver. He caught 68 receptions for 543 receiving yards to go along with 950 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns.
ALVIN KAMARA GOES 57 YARDS FOR ANOTHER TD!!! 😱
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/C5ZlBKe1R7
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 15, 2024
It’s a good thing volume was on his side again in 2024 because Kamara’s advanced metrics continue to reek. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Kamara finished 38th in Next Gen Stats' Rush Yards Over Expected (RYOE), 36th in rush yards over expected per attempt (RYOE/ATT), 38th in PFF Elusive Rating, 32nd in MTF/ATT, and 36th in YACO/ATT.
He enters his age-30 season in 2025, and it’s fair to wonder how much juice he has left. Thanks to a contract extension last year, the Saints are tied to Kamara through the 2026 season. However, he’s averaged less than 4.5 yards per carry each of the last four seasons and hasn’t been very efficient, either. At some point, the wheels are going to fall off.
He may also have less upside as a pass-catcher in new head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. Moore was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. He had one of the best pass-catching backs in the league, Austin Ekeler, at his disposal.
For some reason, though, Moore did not feature Ekeler in this role quite as much, and Ekeler only caught 51 passes, which marked his lowest total since 2018. Don’t expect to see Kamara’s receiving work completely evaporate, but this could be a sneaky good reason to fade him this year.
Kamara has been a fantasy stalwart for years, but there comes a time to move on from every player. We’re at that point with Kamara. It’s time for gamers to bite the bullet and move on from a player who probably helped them win a dynasty title or two.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is coming off a career year in 2024. He scored 15 total touchdowns and became the ninth player in history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
SAQUON ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/26534Ls9Mx— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
It was an incredible first season in Philadelphia capped off by a Super Bowl victory.
FLY, EAGLES FLY 🦅
The Eagles are Super Bowl LIX champions‼️🏆 pic.twitter.com/un3cqmrbnI
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 10, 2025
Barkley’s dynasty value is about as high as it could get for a 28-year-old running back. That makes him an ideal sell-high candidate in a notoriously fickle position. The key here is to make sure you are selling high. Yes, Barkley is older for a running back, but he proved he has a lot left in the tank and remains in a great situation.
However, if you can move Barkley in a deal that nets you multiple first-round picks, it’s worth considering. He is one major injury away from his value taking a massive hit. Should that happen, you will have missed your chance to sell for a huge return. See Christian McCaffrey as proof of that statement.
Of course, you are always allowed to keep Barkley and ride the wave until it fizzles out. But if you’re looking to cash out, now is the ideal time to sell.
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