Who doesn’t want the top scorer at each position in fantasy football? Wouldn’t it be great if we knew who that would be ahead of time?
The PFSN Fantasy Football Team cannot predict the future, but we’re certainly going to try. Here are everyone’s thoughts on which quarterbacks will finish as the overall RB1 in 2025.
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Let’s skip Christian McCaffrey’s rookie year, as he was, well, a rookie. Since 2018, McCaffrey has admittedly been injured plenty. That is very much a risk in his profile. But he’s stayed healthy four times, playing at least 16 games. In those four seasons, he’s never finished lower than overall RB2, twice finishing as the overall RB1.
McCaffrey is once again coming off a lost season. He missed the first 2.5 months due to Achilles tendinitis. Then, his season ended after four games due to a sprained PCL.
I get the concerns. McCaffrey is 29 years old. He’s had a medley of injuries throughout his career and has burned fantasy managers three times. When healthy, though, he’s still the best running back in fantasy.
The last time the fantasy community doubted McCaffrey was in 2022. He was coming off back-to-back lost seasons. He posted 21.0 fantasy points per game.
CMC is unreal 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JbB8fjFfLO
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 29, 2025
This year, the 49ers have less touch competition with Deebo Samuel Sr. gone and Brandon Aiyuk set to miss half the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
McCaffrey could see Panthers-level volume on a top offense like the 49ers. The only thing standing between McCaffrey and a return to glory is health. I’m willing to gamble on a positive outcome.  — Jason Katz
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
If only we had past experience with a running back who entered the NFL with top-10 draft capital who showed dominant traits while handling elite volume in Year 2 — oh wait, we do.
I don’t use the name of the fantasy GOAT often, but LaDainian Tomlinson was featured from the jump and averaged 0.86 PPR points per touch in his second season, making it clear to anyone watching that he was close to unstoppable.
Well, Robinson’s rate last season was 0.93, not bad for a player who didn’t have a 20-yard run in September and only had one touchdown on his resume entering the middle of October.
There are two backs in his class when it comes to projections, but Robinson doesn’t come with the breakdown concerns of Saquon Barkley, and Tyler Allgeier isn’t the same threat to his ceiling as David Montgomery is to Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit.  — Kyle Soppe
Bijan Robinson already has an elite highlight reel pic.twitter.com/QGxWnItSex
— Rise Up Walker (@RiseUpReader) July 3, 2025
Robinson is projected to be the focal point of the Falcons’ offense, with Michael Penix Jr. starting as quarterback for his first full season in the NFL.
We saw signs of that down the stretch last season. From Weeks 6-18, Bijan averaged 19.8 rushing attempts and 4.4 targets per game. The Falcons’ third-year back is a bellcow who also makes a major impact in the passing game.
It’s also worth noting that Penix is a clear upgrade over the 2024 version of Kirk Cousins, who was clearly affected by his return from a torn Achilles. With Penix attacking opposing defenses downfield more often, the offense should be more efficient and explosive.
That bodes well for Bijan, who rushed for 14 touchdowns last year after finishing 2nd in the NFL in red-zone carries. Add in a stout offensive line, and you can see why the sky is the limit here.  — Frank Ammirante
We finally got to see Bijan Robinson unleashed in fantasy in 2024. Robinson was the RB4 in PPR points per game (18.3), carrying the ball 304 times for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 61 receptions (on 72 targets) for 431 yards and one touchdown. There was even more potential that could be unlocked in 2025.
From Weeks 1 to 8, Robinson was still stuck on the volume side of a timeshare with Tyler Allgeier. He still averaged 19.9 touches per game, but he was logging just a 70.5% snap share. Allgeier got injured in Week 9, giving Robinson the runway to take over the backfield.
From Weeks 9 to 18, Robinson averaged a 79.4% snap share and 25 touches per game. He was the RB3 during that stretch, averaging 22.4 PPG.
If Robinson can continue that role behind a good offensive line, he can easily finish as the RB1. He will also get plenty of opportunities as the focal point of Atlanta’s offense with Michael Penix Jr. under center. Robinson scored at least 24.0 points in his three starts to end 2024.  — Dan Fornek
Robinson didn’t have a great rookie season, but after a fantastic 2024 season, I think you could chalk that up to poor coaching. Last season, behind the Falcons’ great offensive line, Robinson had a huge season with 1,456 yards and 14 TDs on the ground from 304 attempts. When you then consider his involvement in the passing game, too, he falls into that top category of running back.
The Falcons were more than happy to load Robinson with work, too, with only one game all season where he had less than 10 carries (Week 4’s odd game against the Saints). The depth chart remains unchanged, and with a change to a rushing QB, that should keep defenses second-guessing. From my projections for the current season, it’s a tight group, but I have Robinson at the top of the pile with another big season on the ground and in the air. — Rich King
Bijan Robinson is set to be the RB1 in fantasy football this season, building on an impressive sophomore campaign where he finished as a top-five fantasy running back. After a slow start to his second year under a new coaching staff, Robinson’s usage skyrocketed from Week 6 onwards. He ranked as the RB1 in fantasy points per game. Robinson finished last season third in rush yards and receptions and fifth in rushing touchdowns and receiving yards among running backs.
Now entering his third season, Robinson will be the centerpiece of the Falcons offense under coordinator Zac Robinson. With a dual-threat profile, elite receiving skills, and a proven ability to handle a massive workload, Robinson has the all-encompassing role necessary to be a dominant fantasy force. His talent, combined with a projected high-volume role, makes him a prime candidate to lead all running backs in scoring. — Nate Hamilton
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
If Jahmyr Gibbs’ Week 18 demolition of the Minnesota Vikings counted for fantasy, perhaps he wouldn’t be so overlooked heading into this season. In a winner-takes-all matchup, Gibbs rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns, adding a further score through the air.
Bijan Robinson seems to be the favorite to take the running back crown in 2025, but his lack of explosive plays is concerning. Robinson’s longest carry in 2024 was just 37 yards, while he tallied only five rushes of 20 yards or more. Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry all recorded runs of at least 70 yards and no fewer than 13 rushes of 20-plus yards.
I feel the need, the need for speed. @jahmyr_gibbs1 #TENvsDET 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/3uBlQJaDL6
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 27, 2024
Gibbs was the RB2 in fantasy points per game over the 17 games last season, as Barkley produced a historic season in Philadelphia. Gibbs was so close behind, though, that just removing Week 1 last year sees Gibbs usurp his rival. If Barkley regresses at all, as one would expect, Gibbs should be the favorite for RB1.  — Cameron Sheath
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
I’m not scared of the rookie heading into this season. Running back isn’t a position that requires as much development at the NFL level, at least among the elite options. Ashton Jeanty may have spent plenty of time beating up on the Mountain West Conference, but his games against Oregon and Penn State showed why he was considered an elite prospect.
The Raiders are setting up for Jeanty’s fantasy success. HC Pete Carroll wants the offense to flow through the run game and wants a workhorse to lead it, while OC Chip Kelly runs a high-tempo system that will give him multiple looks. The quarterback is more than good enough to make sure this unit can move the ball, and the offensive line looks passable.
More so, I think there’s plenty to be unlocked in Jeanty’s receiving ability, something he showed earlier in his college career but wasn’t required much in his final year. In the NFL, he’ll have more chances to make plays out of the backfield, only raising his already incredible ceiling.  — Mason LeBeau
