Fantasy football 2025: Top 10 RB values

Average draft position: Round 13 (RB46)

You’re going to want a piece of the 49ers run game. Christian McCaffrey could still end up being one of the best RBs in fantasy, but last season -- when McCaffrey missed 12 games due to injury -- there were four contests in which Guerendo played more than 50 percent of the snaps. He averaged 17.9 fantasy points in those games and scored 11-plus fantasy points in each. That is a safe floor and high ceiling. There could be some untapped upside, too, as Guerendo led all running backs in the 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, with a time of 4.33 seconds. For years we have seen 49ers backup RBs become strong fantasy options if the starter misses time. And as great as CMC is, he has missed a lot of games due to injuries in his career and is now 29 years old. Guerendo becomes a strong RB2, with RB1 upside if McCaffrey misses time.

Average draft position: Round 10 (RB36)

Skattebo entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a ton of hype. That has faded a bit this summer, but I’m here to bring it back! Skattebo is a bowling ball type of runner with elite contact balance. He can be used as a receiver out the backfield or the slot, too, and he has the chops to win downfield at times. I’m expecting him to be the Giants’ goal-line back, but I also think he will steal the lead gig away from Tyrone Tracy Jr. Tracy proved to be a quality back last year, but he was at or below league average in most running and receiving metrics that I consider for exercises like this one. Skattebo could blossom into a weekly fantasy starter in a Giants offense that should feature plenty of passes to running backs.

Average draft position: Round 3 (RB13)

Williams produces every year, yet for some reason, the fantasy community is always doubting him. It has led to him being drafted late in the third round, and sometimes even early in the fourth round. All he has done is put up at least 1,350 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in each of the last two years. Last season, he led all backs in team share of snaps, touches, carries, rushing yards and scrimmage touchdowns. He is tied to Sean McVay, who loves to feed his lead back, and a very strong Rams offense. Let the doubters doubt. It just leads to getting an RB1 for the price of an RB2.

Average draft position: Round 4 (RB15)

I have Cook in the same tier as Chase Brown, Breece Hall and Kyren Williams, but those guys are all going in Round 3, while Cook falls to Round 4. Keep in mind Cook is coming off an 18-touchdown, RB1 season. Now, I’m not expecting 18 scores from him again. However, there is room for improvement in the touch department, as Cook had fewer carries and targets in 2024 than he did in 2023. Still, Cook averaged the second-most fantasy points per touch and was hit behind the line of scrimmage at the second-lowest rate in the NFL. He can make up for a decrease in touchdowns if he just gets more volume. Cook is a home run-hitting back and is tied to one of the best offenses in football. Plus, he is in a contract year, so the range of outcomes this year includes the Bills allowing him to run wild. Also, there is a notable drop at RB after Cook in ADP.

Average draft position: Round 3 (RB12)

Hall has been a first-round fantasy pick for pretty much his entire career. Maybe he slid into the second round at times. This year, you can consistently get him late in the third round or early in the fourth round of drafts. In 2024, Hall had the fifth-highest rate of snaps played among RBs, the third-highest goal-line carry share and was the third-most targeted back in the league. He also picked up an explosive run (10-plus yards) at the eighth-highest rate among RBs. New Jets OC Tanner Engstrand comes from the Lions, who have finished among the top two in RB goal-line carries and touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. They also featured running backs in the passing game at a high rate. Hall’s floor is a high-end RB2, and that is where he is being drafted. His ceiling is certainly higher with a dual-threat QB like Justin Fields at the controls. 

Average draft position: Round 6 (RB22)

You can make a case that many of this year’s rookie RBs are good fantasy values. My favorite of the non-Ashton Jeanty bunch, especially given the cost, is Henderson. I’ve been bullish on Henderson since before he was drafted. He does everything that you want in a fantasy back. He has breakaway speed and was a tremendous pass blocker in college with good hands. Long runs and passing-down volume are some of the best ways for a RB to rack up fantasy points. Plus, Mike Vrabel’s offenses finished among the top seven in rush attempts in three of his six seasons as Titans head coach. Henderson’s top competition for snaps, Rhamondre Stevenson, is a holdover from the old regime and was a backup the last time Patriots OC Josh McDaniels was in New England (2021). Henderson brings top-15 RB upside in what could be a run-heavy system. 

Average draft position: Round 2 (RB6)

It's hard to make the value case for a player when he’s being drafted in Round 2, but considering that Achane was going in the first round at this time a year ago, he feels like a fit for this list. Achane averaged 22.6 fantasy PPG in Tua Tagovailoa’s starts last year, which would have made him the top-scoring fantasy RB. No back had more fantasy points from receiving stats than Achane. Plus, he saw 70 percent of his team’s goal-line carries, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. Achane is an explosive back who will get a ton of passing-game work, and he’s the Dolphins’ top goal-line option. He could finish as the RB1 in fantasy this season if things break right for him.

Average draft position: Round 6 (RB20)

Conner has long been one of my favorite running back values, and the trend continues in 2025. He’s topped 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored at least eight touchdowns in each of his four seasons with the Cardinals. In fact, he’s coming off the best two-year fantasy stretch of his career, both of which came under OC Drew Petzing. Conner is 30 years old, which might scare some fantasy managers, but last year he posted career highs in carries, missed tackles forced and explosive runs. He posted his second-most yards before and after contact, success rate, receptions and receiving yards. He has shown no signs of decline, but the age concerns help keep his ADP down. 

Average draft position: Round 7 (RB26)

A year ago, I was pounding the table for Pacheco as a potential top-five fantasy running back. He was off to a great start before an injury derailed things. It was only a two-game sample size, but prior to the injury, he was on pace to post 1,600 total yards, 60 catches and nine touchdowns. Ah, what could have been! Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula, which is an injury that can sap explosiveness when a player initially returns. That is exactly what happened to Pacheco, who clearly was not himself when he made a comeback in late November. Remember when Tony Pollard initially returned from this injury at the start of last season? Pollard struggled at first as well, but he eventually returned to form. Plus, Pacheco said he was not in his usual playing shape upon returning. Due to the injury and performance down the stretch, Pacheco is going in the seventh round of fantasy drafts. That is minimal risk considering his upside as the Chiefs’ clear RB1 heading into the season. 

Average draft position: Round 6 (RB24)

Swift is too underappreciated for a back who has averaged 1,304 scrimmage yards the last two seasons. The floor is safe, but the ceiling is higher than ever. The Bears not only rebuilt the interior of their offensive line, but they brought in Ben Johnson, who has been a fantasy RB kingmaker in recent years. The Lions ranked among the top two in running back goal-line carries and rushing touchdowns in each of Johnson’s three seasons as offensive coordinator. Also, Detroit ranked among the top 10 in running back targets in two of those three seasons and had over 100 targets for RBs each year. Swift, who played in Johnson’s offense with the Lions in 2022, is the clear-cut top back for the Bears. I have him ranked as my RB15, yet he goes well outside the top 20. The sixth round is a huge value for Swift.