We can now see the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon. It’s officially April, which means it’s draft month. Before you know it, dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts will be underway—some already are. With the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency now in the rearview mirror, it’s a great time to check in on the latest 2025 dynasty rookie running back rankings.
Top Rookie Running Backs To Draft in Dynasty Leagues
1) Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Those saying Ashton Jeanty should have won the Heisman have a strong argument. What he did this season was nothing short of incredible.
The Boise State star carried the ball 374 times for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. He led the nation in both attempts and rushing yards for the second straight year.
No running backs were selected in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft, but Jeanty is a near-lock for first-round capital in 2025. He’ll likely land with an RB-needy team that installs him as the starter. He’s the safest bet in this class.
2) Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The stats are almost identical if you look at Omarion Hampton’s sophomore and junior seasons. He averaged exactly 5.9 yards per carry and scored 15 rushing touchdowns in both years.
Hampton led the ACC in rushing yards two years in a row, totaling 1,504 and 1,660. He’s also a capable receiver, putting up 595 yards on 67 catches across those seasons. With 20-plus carries in seven games, he’s proven he can handle a full workload.
The biggest change in recent weeks is Hampton’s rise. Previously ranked No. 7, he’s now firmly behind Jeanty. He may not be quite as much of a lock, but he’s close.
At 6-foot, 221 pounds, Hampton has ideal size for a lead back. His 4.46 40-yard dash gives him a 93rd percentile speed score. I’m all in.
3) Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Kaleb Johnson didn’t have Jeanty’s numbers, but he also played in a far less explosive Iowa offense. He still ran for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns — both tops in the Big Ten. Keep in mind, this is the same Big Ten that included two Ohio State backs who could be Day 2 picks.
Johnson fits the mold of a classic two-down grinder. But he showed clear growth as a receiver in his junior year, hauling in 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. His fantasy ceiling rises if he keeps developing that part of his game.
His 4.57 40-time at the Combine caused his stock to dip, but I’m not too worried. For a back his size, anything above 4.65 would be more of a red flag. If anything, the time might make him a value pick. If you’re drafting around this range, consider trading down a few spots — you might still get him.
4) TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson was a breakout star as a freshman, rushing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns. Unfortunately, that was also his most productive season.
Henderson could’ve entered the NFL last year. Some argue he should have, especially since he ended up splitting the Ohio State backfield with Quinshon Judkins in 2024, which hurt his final-year numbers.
Despite a shared workload, Henderson remained efficient, averaging a Big Ten-best 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught 27 passes for 284 yards, proving his value as a receiver.
His 4.43 40-yard dash gives him an 80th percentile speed score. Henderson could make an impact early, even in a change-of-pace or satellite role.
You could honestly flip Henderson and Judkins in these rankings — I’ve done it myself more than once. It’s always tricky when two NFL-caliber backs simultaneously come out of the same school.
5) Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Quinshon Judkins came in hot as a freshman, leading the SEC in carries (274), rushing yards (1,567), and touchdowns (16). His sophomore season saw similar usage, but his yards per carry dropped from 5.7 to 4.3.
As a junior, he transferred to Ohio State and split the workload with Henderson. He bounced back to 5.5 yards per carry but only had 194 rushing attempts.
Judkins has shown reliable hands with 59 receptions for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 42 college games.
The concern? His production came largely against lower-tier opponents like Western Michigan and Marshall. That’s not the matchup he’ll get in the NFL, and it might cause him to slip in the draft.
Still, at this stage in rookie drafts, there’s no such thing as a sure thing. Judkins has real upside.
He’s built for workhorse duty at 6-foot, 221 pounds and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash, good for a 91st percentile speed score. His fantasy value will come down to how much receiving work he gets at the next level. He’s a classic case of “landing spot matters.”
6–16) The Rest of the Rankings
6) Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
7) Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
8) DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
9) Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
10) Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
11) RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
12) Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
13) Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas
14) Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
15) Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
16) Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn