The 2025 NFL Draft Rankings for the running backs are shaping up nicely. This class aims to be one of the best in several years. After an underwhelming class in 2024 and a top-heavy class in 2023, this projected class looks to have both high-level talent and tremendous depth. The RB landscape in the NFL is aging as perennial stars like Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Nick Chubb, and Derrick Henry are approaching the dreaded 30-year old mark. Thankfully, the 2025 running back class is filled with potential stars for your dynasty rosters.
I think there are 10-12 guys that could be solid dynasty assets, or better. They obviously won’t all become studs, but there’s a lot more depth to this class than recent years, plus the potential for top-tier assets. Each year players will surprise us by returning to college for another seasn, but this list is based off of what we know now. Finally, my rankings are likely different from other ones you’ll see. They will fluctuate throughout the season and all the way through the 2025 NFL Draft. My QB and TE Rankings are available now and my 2025 WR Rankings will be released this week.
Player height and weight measurements are taken from ESPN.com until official numbers are released this offseason.
Running Backs | 2025 NFL Draft Rankings
TIER 1 RBs | 2025 NFL Draft Rankings
RB1 | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | 5’9” | 215 lbs.
Before the season, the top of the 2025 NFL Draft rankings was a bit uncertain. There were a handful of players vying for the title, but after the first few weeks of the season, a clear leader emerged. Not only has Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty separated himself from the rest of the running backs in the 2025 class, but he’s in the midst of separating himself from every running back in the history of college football.
Whether Jeanty sets the record for rushing yards in a single season or not, he has elevated his game to an elite level and the top of this draft class. To say that Ashton Jeanty does everything well doesn’t do him justice. 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.
However, 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 showed up:
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 and has a strong argument in Superflex leagues.
TIER 2 RBs | 2025 NFL Draft Rankings
RB2 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio State | 5’10” | 212 lbs.
The biggest controversy in my rankings is going to be TreVeyon Henderson as my RB2 in the class. What’s important to know here is that my Tier 2 running backs are all very closely ranked. The margin between RB2 and RB5 is razor thin. There will be plenty of people that think RB5 would still be too high for Henderson, and that’s all right. I believe that TreVeyon Henderson’s skillset aligns very well with what the NFL currently looks for in a running back.
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 a defender…
…evading defenses with his lateral agility, or making one cut and running away from opponents, 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 | Quinshon Judkins | Ohio State | 6’1” | 219 lbs.
We don’t have to look far to find the next player in my 2025 NFL Draft rankings. The only thing that Quinshon Judkins and the aforementioned TreVeyon Henderson have in common is the jerseys they wear. Judkins is a violent, punishing runner, who often looks like he is seeking contact.
I have some questions about his top-end speed, but Judkins has a lightning-fast first step and possesses great short-area quickness. He is a solid receiver of the ball, but not exceptional. Judkins is a beast to bring down as he 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.
RB4 | Omarion Hampton | North Carolina | 6’0” | 220 lbs.
The more I watch Omarion Hampton, the more I like him. Like Judkins above him, Hampton is a powerful runner that has great short-area burst and power. He does have a little bit of wiggle, but he doesn’t possess elite elusiveness. However, what he lacks in evading tacklers with misdirection, he makes up for by running through tacklers with power. Hampton is the most violent runner in the 2025 RB class.
Omarion Hampton shows good vision and patience when finding the hole. He has plenty of power to burst through when it opens. However, I do worry about his long-speed as he rarely runs away from defenders tracking 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 is also 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. If he runs well at the NFL Combine, he’ll likely get a nice pre-draft bump to his overall outlook.
RB5 | Nicholas Singleton | Penn State | 6’0” | 227 lbs.
The last player in Tier 2, Nicholas Singleton, has had a solid, but unspectacular year so far in 2024. As a former five-star recruit, the expectations have been sky high since he stepped on the field for Penn State. After a breakout freshman season in 2022, Singleton took a step back in 2023. He’s off to a solid start in 2024, despite sharing a backfield with another draft hopeful, Kaytron Allen.
As a prospect, Singleton has quick feet, good vision, and gets up to speed quickly. He’s a capable pass catcher, who has shown improvement throughout college. 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 RBs | 2025 NFL Draft Rankings
RB6 | Devin Neal | Kansas | 5’11” | 215 lbs.
My next tier of running backs are all players that I like, but I have at least one sizable area of concern. This doesn’t mean they can’t become valuable for our fantasy teams. It merely means I think they will be drafted in Round 3 or beyond in the 2025 NFL Draft. The first to fit the bill is Kansas Jayhawk Devin Neal. He has quick feet, varies his speed to take away pursuit angles, and seems to elude at least one tackler on every play.
Neal is an above-average 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. If he tests well, he could move up into Tier 2.
RB7 | Donovan Edwards | Michigan | 6’1” | 212 lbs.
Donovan Edwards has slowly been sliding his way down my 2025 NFL Draft rankings all year. He entered the season with aspirations of vaulting himself into the discussion of the top handful of running backs. However, after struggling to excel in a featured role, he’s steadily dropping. His hallmark is his ability as a receiver, and I do believe that he is a weapon catching passes.
Unfortunately, I am not as confident in his skills as a runner. Edwards’ vision can be questionable, so he can struggle to get to the second level of defenses and beyond. He may end up dropping way down this list by the time the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.
RB8 | Kaytron Allen | Penn State | 5’11” | 229 lbs.
Next is the other Penn State running back, Kaytron Allen. He chose to join Nicholas Singleton in the 2021 recruiting class and has steadily improved each season. Allen’s success at the NFL level is largely going to depend on the scheme he goes to. He excels when he’s asked to find a lane, make a cut, and run downhill.
Allen is 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 numbers are more important to me than other prospects.
RB9 | Jaydn Ott | California | 6’0” | 210 lbs.
One player that shouldn’t have any questions about his long-speed is California’s Jaydn Ott. He’s dealt with some injuries throughout the year, but when healthy is one of the more explosive running backs in this class.
Ott’s speed—both top-end and acceleration—are exceptional. He is a home run hitter that can hit a small crease and take the ball to the house. The knock on Ott is that he lacks good contact balance, often going down on first impact.
I am eager to see him run at the NFL Combine, because if he posts a fast time it will be O-T-T T-O G-O all the way up draft boards.
RB10 | Ollie Gordon II | Oklahoma State | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
The last player in this tier, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, is hanging on to a top-10 spot in my 2025 NFL Draft Rankings by a thread. Entering this season, I thought there was a better chance that Ollie Gordon II would be my RB1 than outside my top 10, but here we are.
After putting up massive rushing numbers in 2023 (1,732 yards and 21 TDs), he has been massively disappointing in 2024. Due to the lackluster start, it’s possible Gordon will return to Stillwater, OK for his senior season. In 2023, Gordon looked like an elite talent. In 2024, he looks like he forgot how to play.
TIER 4 RBs | 2025 NFL Draft Rankings
RB11 | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa | 6’0” | 225 lbs.
RB12 | Raheim Sanders | South Carolina | 6’0” | 230 lbs.
RB13 | Trevor Etienne | Georgia | 5’9” | 205 lbs.
RB14 | Jaydon Blue | Texas | 6’0” | 200 lbs.
RB15 | Tahj Brooks | Texas Tech | 5’10” | 230 lbs.
RB16 | Damien Martinez | Miami | 6’0” | 232 lbs.
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 Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, Michigan’s Kalel Mullings, Arkansas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson, and plenty others could be in Tier 4 or above. The players beyond Tier 2 are all within striking distance of one another.
The important thing to remember is that these 2025 NFL Draft 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 rankings near the end of the college football season.
Note: My Quarterback and Tight End Rankings are now live. The weekly College Prospects to Watch article will reflect my 2025 NFL Draft Rankings changes between now and my post-season update. Additionally, my wide receiver rankings will be released later this week.
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