- The 2025 Quarterback Rankings 2.0 | Polarizing Prospects You Need to Know
- The 2025 Running Back Rankings 2.0 | A Brand New Era
- The 2025 Wide Receiver Rankings 2.0 | The Top 24 Prospects You Need to Know
- The 2025 Tight End Rankings 2.0 | A New Hope Arises
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again… This 2025 running back draft class is shaping up to be one of the best in several years. While there is still gas left in the tank for some of the incredible 2017 class, the running back landscape is about to see a seismic shift. If your dynasty team is in need of running back help, the wait is nearly over. My 2025 Running Back Rankings aim to provide you with early insight as the college football regular season draws to a close.
There aren’t many years where I’d be happy to take the 8th or 9th running back in my 2025 Running Back Rankings at the end of the 2nd Round of rookie drafts, but that’s the way this class is looking. For reference, the top RBs in the 2024 class would slot into my Tier 3 RBs if they were in this class. They obviously won’t all become stars, but there’s a lot more depth to this class than recent years as well as the potential for top-tier assets. There’s still time for surprises with players deciding to return for another season, but this list is based off of what we know now.
NOTE: These rankings are a living thing. They have changed since the start of the season and will eb and flow all the way up to the 2025 season.
QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
Top 20 Running Back Rankings | The 2025 NFL Draft Class
TIER 1 | 2025 Running Back Rankings
RB1 | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | 5’9” | 215 lbs. | Previously RB1
Not much has changed since my first set of rankings for the top handful of running backs. If anything, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has separated himself even further from the rest of the running backs in the 2025 class. He may not end up setting the record for rushing yards in a single season, but Jeanty has elevated his game to an elite level and the top of this draft class. He runs with a dynamic combination of short-area quickness and top-end speed. Jeanty is able to read the defense, set up his blocks, explode through the hole, and break away from the pack, making him a home run threat on every play.
But Ashton Jeanty is more than just his speed. He rarely goes down on the first hit as he runs with impressive contact balance, breaking tackles with ease. The biggest knock you will hear from his detractors is that he faces a lower level of competition leading to his big production numbers. However, when given the opportunity to face off against Oregon, he still produced.
If that wasn’t enough, Jeanty is also a weapon catching the ball out of the backfield, and is a willing and capable pass protector. It’s not often that we see a running back drafted in the 1st Round of an NFL Draft, but Ashton Jeanty might be the next. He should be the first player off the board in 1QB rookie drafts. You could even make an argument for him to be the same in Superflex leagues.
TIER 2 | 2025 Running Back Rankings
RB2 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio State | 5’10” | 212 lbs. | Previously RB2
It looks like I will end up being higher on TreVeyon Henderson than many other people, but that’s ok with me. What’s important to know here is that my Tier 2 running backs are all very closely ranked. I have Henderson as the top RB in Tier 2, but would be happy to draft any of them in the same range. I believe that TreVeyon Henderson’s skillset aligns very well with what the NFL currently looks for in a running back, so he gets the edge for me.
Henderson is a dual-threat weapon. He has the ability to catch a pass out of the backfield and turn it into six points in a flash. His athleticism is routinely on display. Whether he is hurdling defenders, juking out defenders with lateral agility, or making one cut and running away from defenders, Henderson is a big play waiting to happen. I expect his athleticism to be on display throughout the pre-draft process, and think he’ll be drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
RB3 | Omarion Hampton | North Carolina | 6’0” | 220 lbs. | Previously RB4
The more I watch Omarion Hampton the more I like him. Hampton is a powerful runner that has great short-area burst and power. While he does have a little bit of wiggle, he doesn’t possess elite elusiveness. However, what he lacks in evading defenders with misdirection, he makes up for by running through tackles with his power. Hampton is the most violent runner in the 2025 RB class.
Omarion Hampton can show good vision and patience to find the hole. He has plenty of burst to hit the hole as it opens. However, I do worry about his long-speed as he rarely runs away from defenders chasing him down. Top-end speed is not the most important skill for running backs so this may not be something that slows him down at the next level. He also is an above-average pass catcher, enabling him to stay on the field for three downs. I expect Hampton to be in the mix for the second running back drafted and if he runs well at the NFL Combine, he’ll likely get a nice pre-draft bump to his draft stock.
RB4 | Quinshon Judkins | Ohio State | 6’1” | 219 lbs. | Previously RB3
The next player, Quinshon Judkins, is another violent, punishing runner, who often looks like he is seeking contact. He may not be the best athlete on this list, but Quinshon Judkins might have the best short-area explosiveness in the entire class. Splitting time with the aforementioned TreVeyon Henderson this year, Judkins hasn’t quite performed the way we’ve seen in the past.
I have some questions about his top-end speed, but Judkins has a very fast first step and possesses great burst. He is a solid receiver of the ball, but not exceptional. Judkins is a beast to tackle who absorbs contact well and bounces off would-be tacklers. If he gets drafted by a team that covets a powerful style of running back, he could do great things.
RB5 | Nicholas Singleton | Penn State | 6’0” | 227 lbs. | Previously RB5
The next player in Tier 2, Nicholas Singleton, has been a bit of an enigma this year. After a good start, he’s struggled to find success running the ball during the back half of the year. Fortunately for Singleton, he’s been able to show off his skills as a receiving threat of late.
As a prospect, Singleton has quick feet, good vision, and gets up to speed quickly. The concerns for Singleton are that his elusiveness, especially in the open field, could improve. He will occasionally wait too long for blocks to develop or holes to open when in the backfield. However, Nicholas Singleton may be the most athletic running back on this list. I expect him to dominate during the pre-draft process and rise up draft boards.
TIER 3 | 2025 Running Back Rankings
RB6 | Devin Neal | Kansas | 5’11” | 215 lbs. | Previously RB6
Devin Neal is on fire right now. He hasn’t quite run his way into Tier 2, but the gap has closed significantly. Neal has quick feet, varies his speed to take away pursuit angles, and seems to elude at least one tackler on every play. Neal is a good receiver of the ball and can turn dump offs and screens into big plays. My biggest concern for Neal is his overall athleticism and how he’ll stack up at the NFL level.
RB7 | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa | 6’0” | 225 lbs. | Previously RB11
Having Kaleb Johnson at RB7 in my 2025 Running Back Rankings feels wrong, but it’s a testament to the depth of the class rather than any indication of deficiency in his game. Johnson has prototypical workhorse running back size and the game to match.
He has great vision, quickly hitting the hole with a deadly combination of speed and power. The biggest knock on him is a lack of long-speed. But, as we know, that’s not always problematic for running backs. If he runs faster than expected, Johnson could find his way into Tier 2.
RB8 | Dylan Sampson | Tennessee | 5’11” | 201 lbs. | Previously Not Ranked
The last player in Tier 3, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, has burst onto the scene this year and up my 2025 Running Back Rankings. Sampson is an explosive runner with excellent vision to set up his blocks and acceleration to hit the hole once it opens. However, his best skill is elite speed. If Sampson declares, he is my early bet for fastest running back at the NFL Combine. My major concern with Sampson is his size. He’s listed at 201 pounds but I would be surprised if he actually weighs that much.
TIER 4 | 2025 Running Back Rankings
RB9 | Kaytron Allen | Penn State | 5’11” | 229 lbs. | Previously RB8
Kaytron Allen excels when he’s asked to find a lane, make a cut, and run downhill. He’s able to utilize his size, power, and contact balance to keep the ball moving forward. My concern is that he doesn’t possess the top gear to run away from NFL defenders nor the agility to evade them. His speed times may be more important to me than other prospects.
RB10 | Jaydn Ott | California | 6’0” | 210 lbs. | Previously RB9
Jaydn Ott has been an enigma in 2024. He has been dealing with an ankle injury for most of the season. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if he comes back to school for another year. However, if he does declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, he could be a sleeper in rookie drafts.
RB11 | Tahj Brooks | Texas Tech | 5’10” | 230 lbs. | Previously RB15
Tahj Brooks is a very different style of running back. He has surprisingly smooth hands contact balance for a player of his size. If a team is looking for a throwback bruising-style of runner, he could be a solid fantasy asset.
RB12 | Ollie Gordon II | Oklahoma State | 6’2” | 225 lbs. | Previously RB10
The biggest question for Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II is if he’s more like the 2023 or 2024 version of himself. If we get the explosive back from 2023, this is way too low of a ranking. If we get the 2024 version, this feels too high.
TIER 5 | 2025 Running Back Rankings
RB13 | Jordan James | Oregon | 5’10” | 210 lbs. | Previously Not Ranked
RB14 | Trevor Etienne | Georgia | 5’9” | 205 lbs. | Previously RB12
RB15 | Woody Marks | USC | 5’10” | 208 lbs. | Previously Not Ranked
RB16 | Donovan Edwards | Michigan | 6’1” | 212 lbs. | Previously RB7
RB17 | Raheim Sanders | South Carolina | 6’0” | 230 lbs. | Previously RB13
RB18 | Jaydon Blue | Texas | 6’0” | 200 lbs. | Previously RB14
RB19 | RJ Harvey | UCF | 5’9” | 208 lbs. | Previously Not Ranked
RB20 | Damien Martinez | Miami | 6’0” | 232 lbs. | Previously RB16
The reality about the 2025 running back class is that there are a lot more than these 16 players that could wind up in my top 10 by the time you are ready to begin your rookie drafts in 2025. Players like Michigan’s Kalel Mullings, Arkansas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai, and plenty others could be in this list by the time the 2025 NFL Draft gets here. The players beyond Tier 2 are all within striking distance of one another.
The important thing to remember is that these 2025 Running Back Rankings are fluid. They have changed since the start of the season and will change again before the end. I will post another update to these (and other positional) rankings during the pre-draft process.
2025 NFL Draft Prospects 1.0 | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings by Tristan Cook
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