The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, with the first round set to kick off on April 24th. The draft is one of the biggest times of the year in the Dynasty Fantasy Football community, as prospects become NFL players, and soon will be drafted in our leagues. Reflecting on the rookie seasons of guys like Jayden Daniels, Brock Bowers, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas from just last year will give you perfect examples of what incoming rookies can do in their first year in the NFL. And more importantly, in the Fantasy Football world.
The 2025 NFL Draft Class has been tagged as “deep” at the running back position. This class can certainly be disruptive in the Fantasy Football world, and shift values around depending on where they end up landing. Below are my top six running backs from this class, in order from six down to one. Why six? Because I felt six guys deserved to be highlighted in this article. There are definitely more than six running backs to know from this draft class, but I felt these six are “must know” players. I highlight statistics, notes on their skill sets, and give you my favorite NFL comparison. Let me know what you think about the order of these guys and where you would like to see them land.
Skrip’s Top 6 RBs in the 2025 NFL Draft Class for Fantasy Football
6. Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
2023 (12 games):
- 164 rushing attempts for 783 rushing yards. Nine rushing touchdowns
- 24 receptions for 286 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
2024 (13 games):
- 293 rushing attempts for 1,711 rushing yards. 21 rushing touchdowns
- 45 receptions for 605 receiving yards. Three receiving touchdowns
Cam Skattebo’s dynamic abilities were on full display in this year’s Peach Bowl against #5 Texas. 30 carries for 143 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, eight receptions for 99 receiving yards, and a 42-yard passing touchdown. You read that correctly. Skattebo’s huge 2024 meant finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Skattebo was 1st-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-Big 12 in 2024.
Skattebo is a muscular and compact 5’9, 219 lbs. Skattebo is a master at breaking tackles and makes guys miss often. Skattebo adds a ton of yards after contact, leg drives for the extra yards, has great footwork, and has a quick burst. Skattebo may not be a future NFL workhorse but he brings bite and playmaking abilities to take on a consistent complement role wherever he lands.
NFL comps:
- Optimistic: Mark Ingram
- Realistic: Jaylen Warren
5. Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
2022 (13 games):
- 151 rushing attempts for 779 rushing yards. Six rushing touchdowns
- Four receptions for 27 receiving yards
2023 (10 games):
- 117 rushing attempts for 463 rushing yards. Three rushing touchdowns
- Three receptions for 25 receiving yards
2024 (12 games):
- 240 rushing attempts for 1,537 rushing yards. 21 rushing touchdowns
- 22 receptions for 188 receiving yards. Two receiving touchdowns
In Johnson’s breakout 2024 season, he finished 7th in rushing yards and tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns in College Football. Johnson was the Big-10 RB of the Year, 1st-team All-Big 10m and a Consensus All-American in 2024.
Johnson has combinations of patience, vision, decisiveness, and toughness. Johnson has finesse for his frame, has consistent temp with active feet, and explosive burst through the hole. Johnson gets the extra yards with his size and has the potential to be a red zone threat. Landing spot will be huge to see the volume Johnson will be able to fight for, but likely will need to win the early-down role for Fantasy Football relevance.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: James Conner
- Realistic: Tyler Allgeier
4. Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
2022 (13 games at Ole Miss):
- 274 rushing attempts for 1,567 rushing yards. 16 rushing touchdowns
- 15 receptions for 132 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
2023 (13 games at Ole Miss):
- 271 rushing attempts for 1,158 rushing yards. 15 rushing touchdowns
- 22 receptions for 149 receiving yards. Two receiving touchdowns
2024 (16 games at Ohio State):
- 194 rushing attempts for 1,060 rushing yards. 14 rushing touchdowns
- 22 receptions for 161 receiving yards. Two receiving touchdowns
Ohio State won the 2024 National Championship, and a huge reason was Quinshon Judkins’ 121 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns in that final. Judkins was the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year and was a 1st-Team All-Conference player in both the SEC (2022) and Big 10 (2024).
Judkins has NFL-ready physicality, which is evident by his contact aggression, size, how he absorbs hits, his power running, and the way he breaks tackles. Judkins has a great initial burst and acceleration, along with quick feet for sharp cuts. Judkins displays the combination of patience and efficiency in space, with great ball security. Judkins has a compact build at 6’0 – 219 lbs, which adds to his great contact balance. Judkins has clear rushing touchdown upside and was highly productive in each of his college seasons. Even with TreVeyon Henderson as a teammate in 2024.
NFL Comps: Joe Mixon and Kareem Hunt
3. TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
2021 (13 games):
- 183 rushing attempts for 1,248 rushing yards. 15 rushing touchdowns
- 27 receptions for 312 receiving yards. Four receiving touchdowns
2022 (eight games):
- 107 rushing attempts for 571 rushing yards. Six rushing touchdowns
- Four receptions for 28 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
2023 (10 games):
- 156 rushing attempts for 926 rushing yards. 11 rushing touchdowns
- 19 receptions for 229 receiving yards
2024 (16 games):
- 144 rushing attempts for 1,016 rushing yards. 10 rushing touchdowns
- 27 receptions for 284 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
TreVeyon Henderson has been a factor at Ohio State since he was a freshman, turned National Champion in his final college season. Henderson was named Second-Team All-Big 10 in 2021, 1st-Team in 2022, and 3rd-Team in 2023.
Henderson is an explosive runner with excellent burst and acceleration. Hendo makes the big plays and can hit the “homerun”. Henederson is shifty, has lateral quickness, light feet, and changes direction at ease. Henderson has great vision and reads all levels while taking care of the football. Henderson checks the boxes of a third-down role with his plus pass-protection and being a reliable pass-catcher. The route-running potential is definitely there. Henderson has consistent production across three seasons in the yardage and touchdown departments. Henderson’s dual-threat abilities should translate well to Fantasy Football upside, especially in PPR Leagues (points per reception).
NFL Comp: Aaron Jones
2. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
2022 (13 games):
- 88 rushing attempts for 401 rushing yards. Six rushing touchdowns
- Six receptions for 40 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
2023 (13 games):
- 253 rushing attempts for 1,504 rushing yards. 15 rushing touchdowns
- 29 receptions for 222 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
2024 (12 games):
- 281 rushing attempts for 1,660 rushing yards. 15 rushing touchdowns
- 38 receptions for 373 receiving yards. Two receiving touchdowns
Omarion Hampton finished #3 in rushing yards in 2024 and #5 in 2023 for College Football. Hampton was 1st-Team All-ACC in both 2024 and 2023 along and also had All-American honors in both years.
Hampton has a fierce combination of size, strength, and running aggression. Hampton has great contact balance and power paired with vision and patience. Hampton absorbs contact well, stacks on the yards after contact, and fights for the extra yards at his 6’0 – 220 lb frame. Hampton has elite burst, explodes on drives, has capable pass-catching abilities, and has proven to be able to handle a heavy workload. Hampton could sneak into the first, and step in as a team’s RB1 as a rookie.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: Jonathan Taylor
- Realistic: David Montgomery
1. Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
2022 (14 games):
- 156 rushing attempts for 821 rushing yards. Seven rushing touchdowns
- 14 receptions for 155 receiving yards
2023 (12 games):
- 220 rushing attempts for 1,347 rushing yards. 14 rushing touchdowns
- 43 receptions for 569 receiving yards. Five receiving touchdowns
2024 (14 games):
- 374 rushing attempts for 2,601 rushing yards. 29 rushing touchdowns
- 23 receptions for 138 receiving yards. One receiving touchdown
Ashton Jeanty rushed for 890 more yards in 2024 than any other running back, and his 2,601 rushing yards was the second most of all-time in College Football. Jeanty finished second in Heisman voting in 2024 but did win the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Awards as well as was named a Unanimous All-American.
Jeanty has elite contact balance due to the combination of fast feet and having a compact, muscular build. Jeanty is workhorse, workload ready for the NFL. Jeanty creates yards without depending on his offensive line, has great vision, sound balance, elusiveness, power, and speed combinations. Jeanty makes guys miss and has plenty of tools in his bag as an elite talent. Jeanty had 50+ rushing yard plays in 9/14 games in 2024 and will create play-action upside for his future NFL quarterback. Jeanty is likely a top-10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and has the DNA of a Fantasy Football superstar.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: LaDainian Tomlinson
- Realistic: Marshawn Lynch
