Identifying late-round gems in fantasy football can be the difference between winning a fantasy championship. The foundation of a strong fantasy roster is built in the early rounds, but having the depth to navigate injuries and bye weeks is crucial to fantasy success. There’s still plenty of time before the 2025 season, but these are my early running back sleepers to remember as we get closer to kickoff.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Trey Benson was a trendy rookie sleeper in 2024 after being drafted in the third round. That hype fizzled out because James Conner stayed healthy, but still, we’re going back to the well.
Benson only logged 63 carries and six receptions as a rookie, but flashed when given chances, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 9.8 yards per catch.
Meanwhile, 2024 marked just the second time Conner played more than 14 games in eight seasons, and the only time he hit 16. He’s reliable when healthy, but backups often see work behind him.
Early offseason moves suggest the Arizona Cardinals believe in Benson’s future. They didn’t bring in any real competition via free agency or the draft, so expect Benson to carve out a complementary role in Year 2, with upside if Conner misses time.
Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
James Cook stole the spotlight in 2024 with an NFL-high 16 rushing touchdowns, but Ray Davis still had a quietly strong rookie year. The fourth-round pick totaled 113 carries for 442 yards and three scores. He also caught 17 passes on 19 targets for 189 yards and three more touchdowns.
Davis only topped a 50% snap share twice, but in those games, he racked up 35 carries for 161 yards and five catches for 56 yards and a score. That’s 16.3 fantasy points per game.
still a Ray Davis believer
compact, decisive, strong, balance
was a nightmare for many fill players and CBs. Broke plenty of arm tackles at the first and second levels pic.twitter.com/h2KaFI84jM
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) May 27, 2025
He’ll have a role again in 2025. More importantly, the team might want to see more. Cook is in a contract standoff, and Buffalo doesn’t seem eager to pay him. If he holds out or gets hurt, Davis could see a full workload in one of the NFL’s best offenses. He’s an ideal late-round running back with RB2 upside if his role expands.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Rico Dowdle finally got a shot to lead a backfield in 2024 and made the most of it.
He handled 235 carries for 1,079 yards and two rushing touchdowns, adding 39 catches for 249 yards and three scores. That landed him as RB24 in fantasy points per game (12.4), despite being on a bad Dallas Cowboys offense.
Now with the Carolina Panthers, Dowdle won’t dominate touches behind Chuba Hubbard, but he should still be a weekly factor. The Panthers boast one of the league’s best run-blocking units and know Hubbard’s 293-touch season isn’t repeatable. With 2024 second-rounder Jonathon Brooks ruled out for 2025, Dowdle steps into a clear RB2 role.
We’ve already seen Dowdle produce RB2 numbers in a worse situation. He’ll see less volume in 2025 but might be more efficient. He’s shown to handle three-down work, making him a strong late-round flier.
