The 2025 NFL season is right around the corner, and it’s time to prepare for your upcoming fantasy football drafts. In this article, we’ll discuss the top rookie RBs in fantasy football 2025. Ashton Jeanty headlines the best rookie running backs fantasy rankings, but there are other notable RB draft picks 2025 to know. Plus, we’ll dive into the top dynasty rookie running backs to target for the future. 

 

 

 

Why Rookie Running Backs Matter In Fantasy

The top overall rookie RBs for fantasy football 2025 are pretty well-known. Everyone would love to have Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson, or Jahmyr Gibbs on their rosters. Well, coincidentally, each of those guys was previously impactful and very relevant as a rookie. Let’s discuss why it’s important to know about the top rookie RBs in fantasy football 2025. 

Drafting rookie running backs isn’t a preferred strategy for most. It’s admittedly safer to draft the RBs that we already know have proven NFL production or a locked-in role/workload with their current teams. Yet, taking a shot on rookies can pay off in a big way. 

Just look at last year. There were zero running backs taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and only one in the second round (Jonathan Brooks). Yet, we had a few rookie running backs who emerged as fantasy football assets. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving was a league winner for those who drafted him in the later rounds. He was going off the board as the 50th running back or so, and ended up being an RB1 by season’s end. Then there’s Tyrone Tracy, the New York Giants’ tailback who also proved to be a late-round steal. 

Irving and Tracy are perfect examples of rookie running backs who didn’t cost a lot to draft in fantasy football, but then returned more than enough value. Both entered NFL backfields with incumbent backs before carving out larger roles. Irving overtook Rachaad White in Tampa, while Tracy was more productive than veteran Devin Singletary in New York. 

This is the key with rookie RBs in fantasy football 2025. They don’t usually have big preseason expectations for fantasy or real life, besides the first or second-round NFL Draft picks. That provides some ADP value because they either enter crowded backfields and/or begin the season as the backup. 

Yet, as Irving and Tracy proved last year, some of these rookie running backs are worth taking a flier on in later rounds of fantasy football drafts. Injuries or underperformance from an incumbent back can open the door for the younger, fresher legs of a rookie. Some rookie RBs may not be impactful in Week 1 or Week 2, but they can emerge as a viable fantasy starter down the road. 

Besides Ashton Jeanty, there aren’t many rookie RBs in fantasy football 2025 who are locked into guaranteed roles or workloads right away. You have to exercise patience with these rookie backs. There’s a decent chance that one or two of the names below, in addition to Jeanty, emerge as a short-term fantasy rental or a full-time starter due to injury or late-season opportunities. 

 

 


 

Top Rookie RB Fantasy Football Rankings For 2025

Here is the top rookie RBs fantasy football 2025 list. These are just the best four RB draft picks of 2025. Honorable mentions go out to Kaleb Johnson and Cam Skattebo, who could both be valuable fantasy assets this season or as dynasty rookie running backs. 

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders 

Ashton Jeanty tops the rookie RBs fantasy football 2025 rankings after being one of the best RB draft prospects in recent years. The Raiders selected the Boise State standout with the 6th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He instantly became a first-round value in fantasy football drafts and the top overall choice in dynasty rookie rankings. Jeanty should step into a bell-cow workload in the Raiders’ offense and will surely be one of the best rookie RBs in fantasy football in 2025. 

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

The arrow has been pointing up for Omarion Hampton ever since the Chargers took him in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. The UNC product will benefit from playing in Jim Harbaugh’s run-focused, ground-and-pound offense. Plus, the Chargers could be without Najee Harris to begin this season (more on that later). Hampton is being taken as the 16th running back in fantasy drafts, but he could easily outperform that ADP if he takes advantage of the favorable situation. 

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

The Patriots spent a second-round pick on TreVeyon Henderson in this year’s NFL Draft. That draft capital alone is enough to be optimistic about the former Ohio State running back. Rhamondre Stevenson still exists in the Patriots’ backfield, but he’s underperformed at times and battled injuries in recent years. Plus, Henderson has turned heads in Training Camp practices. He’ll be valuable for fantasy at some point this season. 

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey was yet another second-round pick in the NFL Draft. The Broncos drafted him to help fix a backfield that underwhelmed last year. Denver also signed J.K. Dobbins, which muddles the water. On the one hand, Dobbins ran for 905 yards last year and has veteran experience. Yet, he’s coming off an MCL sprain that cut his 2024 season short. Meanwhile, Harvey brings in a ton of upside to begin the season as the Broncos’ starting RB. 

 

 

 

Workload Expectations And Offensive Fit

Let’s now examine the workload expectations and offensive fits for the names atop the rookie RBs fantasy football 2025 rankings. These RB draft picks 2025 may be in different scenarios, but each has a path to being valuable for fantasy. 

  • Ashton Jeanty: Will be the Raiders’ lead back right away with a bell-cow workload. Should get 20+ touches per game with a three-down role. Offense likely revolves around him with a run-first attack. 
  • Omarion Hampton: Likely the Chargers’ starting RB until Najee Harris returns. Can have RB1 upside as the lead back in Harbaugh’s offense. Harris and Hampton probably enter into a 1A/1B situation when the former returns. 
  • TreVeyon Henderson: The Patriots have Rhamondre Stevenson as the incumbent starter, making things murky. Henderson may start the season as the backup or third-down RB, but he could emerge as the lead back before long. At least the Pats likely lean on the run this year to take pressure off second-year QB Drake Maye. 
  • RJ Harvey: Even with J.K. Dobbins in town, Harvey has been taking starting reps with the Denver offense in camp. This will likely be a split backfield situation unless Harvey proves he can handle a full workload. We know Sean Payton’s offense has been favorable to running backs in the past, especially in the passing game. Well, Harvey was a productive pass-catching back in college. Could he be Payton’s next Alvin Kamara?

 

 

 

Redraft vs. Dynasty Rookie RB Value

The strategy for picking rookie RBs in fantasy football 2025 differs whether you’re in a redraft or dynasty league. Let’s take a look at the top dynasty rookie running backs as you get ready for the season. 

  • Ashton Jeanty: He’ll be valuable right away as a rookie as the Raiders’ bell-cow. He’s being drafted as a top-5 running back in redraft leagues. As for dynasty, Jeanty is the top overall rookie pick, even in SuperFlex formats. He’s been compared to Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson as the next great RB who will be an elite fantasy RB for years to come. 
  • Omarion Hampton: If Najee Harris is sidelined to begin the season, which seems likely, then Hampton can live up to his redraft value early on. His role may diminish as the season progresses, assuming Harris returns in some capacity. Hampton is also viewed as the second-best rookie RB in dynasty drafts. 
  • TreVeyon Henderson: This is the prime example of drafting a rookie RB who may have more value later in the season than in Week 1. You may need to be patient and play the long game with Henderson. He’ll likely split work with Stevenson to start, but Henderson’s talent and production could win out. He also has more upside in dynasty leagues. 
  • RJ Harvey: Those drafting Harvey this year are hoping for a rookie breakout. It’s an upside play that could pay off big time at his ADP. However, he’s more valuable in dynasty formats once he establishes himself as the lead back heading into Year 2 or Year 3 in Sean Payton’s offense. 

 

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