🏈 4 Sleeper RBs We Love

1. TreVeyon Henderson

Current ADP: RB24 (Round 6)

Walter’s Ranking (PPR): RB16

The Case: Clear best receiving back on a team with no elite receiving weapons.

The last time Josh McDaniels was the Offensive Coordinator in New England James White posted three straight seasons with over 17% target share. Henderson enters 2025 as the clear passing-down specialist in the backfield. The offense also significantly improved its offensive line this offseason. You can expect their run efficiency to take a big leap.

In terms of competition, Rhamondre Stevenson has seen his yards per carry drop every season since 2021 and fumbled seven times last year. The Patriots added Antonio Gibson for competition as well but he has had his share of ball security issues, and is a possible trade/cut candidate before training camp ends.

Henderson's athletic profile screams upside: 92nd percentile speed and 80th percentile size-adjusted speed score. He is also possibly the best pass protector in his draft class, meaning he has the potential to develop into a 3-down back.

2. Kaleb Johnson

ADP: RB29 (Round 7)

Walter’s Ranking (PPR): RB26

The Case: Rookie with multiple pathways to league-winning production.

There are three traits that define league-winning running backs: high red zone usage, significant rushing volume, and a pass catching role. Johnson has a path to achieving all three of these.

Johnson is likely to be the goal-line back from Week 1, bringing a significant size advantage over Jaylen Warren (6-foot-1, 224 pounds versus 5-foot-8, 215 pounds).

The path to rushing volume is there as well. Johnson is an ideal scheme fit. The Steelers posted the second-highest zone run rate (61.9%) and Johnson excelled in zone schemes at Iowa. And his talent may certainly call for a big workload. He finished top-5 in EPA per play and missed tackles, with an 85% receiving production grade.

Johnson is likely to have a passing role as well. With a thin wide receiver room outside DK Metcalf and Rodgers frequently checking down, running backs in Pittsburgh should be heavily involved in the receiving game.

3. D'Andre Swift

ADP: RB28 (Round 7)

Walter’s Ranking (PPR): RB22

The Case: Clear RB1 in an offense set to improve significantly.

The Bears made the biggest coaching upgrade in the NFL by hiring Ben Johnson. Johnson has produced two top-24 running backs every year as offensive coordinator with the Lions, and Swift is positioned to be the primary beneficiary.

The Bears offense struggled badly last year, ranking 28th in points per game and 32nd in total yards. Despite that, Swift still finished as a top-25 running back. He has never averaged less than 12.5 fantasy points per game and has never finished outside the top-24 running backs in his career.

Swift's receiving ability has always been a strength. In 2024, he ranked RB8 in routes run, RB6 in yards per reception, and RB14 in yards after catch. And while his rushing efficiency has been poor, the Bears offensive line received a major overhaul this offseason. Improved run blocking should result opportunities for a much greater rushing efficiency.

4. Jordan Mason

ADP: RB38 (Round 10)

Walter’s Ranking (PPR): RB37

The Case: Great bench stash with significant upside as a handcuff

Aaron Jones remains efficient and has never averaged less than 4.5 yards per carry, but age-related decline is looming. Running backs over 28 statistically decline in usage and explosiveness, and Jones showed concerning signs in 2024 with Minnesota.Jones was 55th in juke rate, 29th in evaded tackles, and 24th in breakaway rate.

The Vikings clearly value Mason, trading fifth and sixth-round picks for him and signing him to a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the 13th-most guaranteed money among running backs.

In games with 60% or higher snap share, Mason averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game and over 5.0 yards per carry. He ranked second in the NFL in explosive carry percentage at 7.8% while facing the second-most eight-man boxes and playing behind a poor offensive line.

Mason represents an elite bench stash with legitimate upside if Jones continues to slow down or misses time.