Fantasy Football 2025: Top 75 Running Back Rankings & Draft Strategy

If you’ve played fantasy football for more than a minute, you know running backs still drive a ton of championships—even if modern leagues lean heavier toward wide receivers. The position can make or break your roster, and with three starting RB slots in a lot of leagues, you can’t afford to ignore it.

That said, my overall draft philosophy still leans toward grabbing elite wide receivers early when possible. But here’s the reality: you’re going to need trustworthy running backs at some point, and landing the right ones at the right time is where leagues are won.

For 2025, I’ve broken my Top 75 fantasy RB rankings into five easy-to-digest tiers:

• 🏆 Hall of Fame (elite first-round cornerstones)

• ⭐ All-Pro (high-upside RB1s)

• 🌟 Pro Bowl (rock-solid weekly starters)

• 😴 Just Napping (value picks, RB2/flex targets)

• 🌙 Deep Sleepers (mid-to-late-round lottery tickets)

Before we dive into the rankings themselves, let’s talk about the factors that really move the needle.

What to Consider When Drafting Running Backs

• Strength of schedule: Which defenses they face, especially in the fantasy playoffs.

• Injury history: Availability is everything.

• Projected workload: Will they be a workhorse or stuck in a committee?

• Offensive line play: A weak line can wreck even the most talented back.

• Red zone usage: Goal-line carries = fantasy gold.

With that in mind, let’s get into the good stuff.

🏆 Hall of Fame Tier (RB1 locks you can build your team around)

1. Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons

Robinson is at the top of my list heading into 2025, and for good reason. He finished third in fantasy points per game among RBs last year and racked up nearly 1,900 scrimmage yards.

What really sets him apart is his schedule: the Falcons face six opponents that ranked inside the Top 10 most fantasy-friendly defenses vs RBs in 2024. Four of those matchups come against bottom-five run defenses. Translation? Lots of weeks where Robinson could just flat-out feast.

Add in the fact that Atlanta is rolling with rookie Michael Penix Jr. at QB full time—meaning Robinson might get leaned on even more—and it’s not hard to imagine him smashing career-high numbers.

2. Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley is no consolation prize. He’s fresh off an Offensive Player of the Year season, piling up over 2,200 scrimmage yards and 15 TDs.

The only reason he’s No. 2 and not No. 1? Schedule. Philly draws one of the toughest RB slates in 2025, with multiple games against stingy run defenses. Barkley will still be elite—he’s too talented not to be—but it’ll be hard for him to fully replicate last year’s historic production.

Verdict: If you’re picking in the Top 2, you can’t really go wrong with Robinson or Barkley. Robinson has the higher ceiling, Barkley has the safer floor.

⭐ All-Pro Tier (First-round RB1s who can swing leagues)

3. Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions

If you’re hunting upside, Gibbs might be the guy. He finished second only to Barkley in fantasy PPG last season and racked up nearly 1,930 scrimmage yards.

Detroit does have a brutal stretch to open the season (six of their first 10 games are against top-10 run defenses), but Gibbs’ role as both a runner and a pass-catcher makes him matchup-proof. In PPR formats, he’s as safe as it gets.

4. Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers

Remember when CMC was the undisputed 1.01 in every league? Injuries and new blood have changed the hierarchy, but don’t sleep—he’s still capable of being the No. 1 RB overall if things break right.

San Francisco has a favorable schedule, including three cupcake matchups right out of the gate. With Deebo Samuel gone and the WR room banged up, McCaffrey could see even more touches than usual.

5. Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens

The King is still alive and kicking. Now in Baltimore, Henry should benefit from defenses being forced to respect Lamar Jackson. That dual-threat dynamic will open lanes for Henry, especially in the red zone. He’s not the 30-carry monster he used to be, but double-digit TDs feel almost guaranteed.

🌟 Pro Bowl Tier (Weekly starters with big upside)

6. Ashton Jeanty – Las Vegas Raiders

7. Kyren Williams – Los Angeles Rams

8. De’Von Achane – Miami Dolphins

9. Josh Jacobs – Green Bay Packers

If you miss out on the big five, this is the sweet spot for value.

• Kyren Williams might be the most underrated RB in drafts. He’s been insanely consistent (over 100 scrimmage yards or a TD in 13 of 16 games last year) and just landed a big extension. His schedule also sets him up for a strong start.

• Achane remains a home-run hitter—when healthy. He’s the definition of boom-or-bust, but in Miami’s offense, even 10 touches can equal 20 points.

• Josh Jacobs has landed in Green Bay, and while the Packers aren’t as run-heavy as the Raiders were, Jacobs should thrive as their bell cow.

😴 Just Napping Tier (Solid RB2/flex options)

This is where draft-day steals often live.

• Alvin Kamara (No. 16) – Once a fantasy stud, he’s now more of a matchup-based RB2. But here’s the kicker: New Orleans has one of the most RB-friendly schedules in the league, especially in the first half of the year. That makes Kamara a sneaky pick if you load up on WRs early.

• James Conner (No. 18) – Perennially underrated. He’s topped 1,200 scrimmage yards in back-to-back years and gets another favorable schedule. As a low-end RB1/high RB2, he’s one of my favorite mid-round values.

• Chuba Hubbard (No. 17) – Not flashy, but he should see steady touches in Carolina.

🌙 Deep Sleepers Tier (Late-round stashes who could pop)

This is where champions are made.

• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (No. 23) – A breakout rookie for the Giants last season, Tracy could take an even bigger leap if Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers elevate New York’s offense.

• R.J. Harvey (No. 25) – Don’t overlook Denver’s new backfield option. He has the explosiveness to carve out a bigger role as the season progresses.

If you’re swinging late, these are the kinds of guys worth stashing.

Full Top 75 Running Back Rankings (2025)

Here’s the full list for your draft prep:

1. Bijan Robinson – ATL (Bye 5)

2. Saquon Barkley – PHI (Bye 9)

3. Jahmyr Gibbs – DET (Bye 8)

4. Christian McCaffrey – SF (Bye 14)

5. Derrick Henry – BAL (Bye 7)

6. Ashton Jeanty – LV (Bye 8)

7. Kyren Williams – LAR (Bye 8)

8. De’Von Achane – MIA (Bye 12)

9. Josh Jacobs – GB (Bye 5)

10. Chase Brown – CIN (Bye 10)
    ... (continues all the way to 75, as above)

Final Thoughts: How to Approach RBs in 2025

The big question in drafts this year is whether you should grab an RB early or lean into the WR depth. My take?

• If you’re sitting at Pick 1 or 2, don’t overthink it: grab Bijan or Barkley.

• In the mid-to-late first round, targeting Gibbs, McCaffrey, or Henry gives you both safety and upside.

• From there, focus on depth. Running back injuries are inevitable—so having guys like Conner, Kamara, or a sleeper like Tracy waiting on your bench could be season-saving.

The 2025 fantasy season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years. Schedules are tougher for some studs, new blood is entering the mix, and we may see more committee backfields than ever. That just means doing your homework now (hey, like reading this list) is more important than ever.