Rookie RBs to Draft, Fade & Stash

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Finding the right rookie running back in the later rounds can transform your entire season. Just look at the recent evidence: Bucky Irving emerged as a league winner in 2024, De'Von Achane exploded for 17.3 PPG in his 2023 rookie campaign, and Isiah Pacheco went undrafted in 2022 before delivering 12.4 PPG over the final eight weeks.

These late-round gems prove that rookie running back value often hides in plain sight. With that blueprint in mind, here are the 2025 rookie running backs you should target, avoid, and stash in your upcoming drafts.

Draft

Jaydon Blue (Dallas Cowboys)

The Cowboys backfield will look different in 2025. Rico Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and Dallas added four running backs this offseason (Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah).

Williams and Sanders were both signed to one-year deals in free agency, while Blue (fourth round) and Mafah (seventh round) were selected on Day 3 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Despite the crowded depth chart, Blue stands out as the most dynamic option in this group. His final season at Texas showcased strong production with 1,098 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns, and his 42 receptions for 368 yards and six scores highlight the receiving versatility that could earn him immediate touches.

Blue also brings speed to this Cowboys offense after running a 4.28 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in the spring. That speed should get him opportunities on the field, especially since both Williams and Sanders appear to be on the decline.

Williams has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry over the past two years, and Sanders has totaled only 637 rushing yards since the start of the 2024 season.

Blue is someone you should target at his 133.6 ADP on Sleeper. The talent and opportunity align for a significant role in Year 1 in Dallas.

Cam Skattebo (New York Giants):

Cam Skattebo's monster 2024 campaign at Arizona State nearly earned him Heisman consideration. He totaled 2,316 scrimmage yards and 24 total touchdowns in his final season with the Sun Devils.

While his fourth-round draft position suggests limited expectations, the Giants are an ideal landing spot for fantasy relevance. Skattebo has the chance to emerge as the top running back in this New York offense from the get-go.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumbled the ball five times last season and ranked fourth among all running backs in drops (four). If those issues persist for Tracy, we could see more chances for Skattebo.

Even if Tracy improves his ball security, Skattebo brings a skill set that should carve out a consistent role. His 45 catches for 605 yards and three touchdowns at Arizona State last year showcase the receiving ability that could make him invaluable in New York's offense.

Skattebo could turn out to be a value pick in the middle-to-late rounds of drafts. His receiving upside is hard to ignore, and quarterback Russell Wilson checked it down at an extremely high rate last season. That makes the rookie a target at his 103.9 ADP on Sleeper.

Avoid

Woody Marks (Houston Texans):

Fantasy managers were interested to see where USC running back Woody Marks would land in the 2025 NFL Draft. Marks was coming off a dominant college campaign in 2024 — rushing for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns — and the potential was there for him to be a Year 1 contributor in the NFL.

Unfortunately, Marks did not land in a great spot for his fantasy value after the Houston Texans selected him in the fourth round. The rookie will now have to compete for touches with a pair of veterans in Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb. Both running backs should be above Marks on the depth chart, meaning he might not get many shots to show his potential in 2025.

Marks supporters will need to exercise patience, as his fantasy breakout likely will not arrive until 2026 at the earliest. He is a long shot to get consistent touches, and belongs on your avoid list in 2025 fantasy football drafts.

RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos):

The Denver Broncos entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear need at running back. Javonte Williams left in the offseason, and the Broncos could not go into the season with Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime as their top two running backs.

So, when Denver selected Harvey with the 60th overall pick in the draft, he was set to be a popular pick early in fantasy drafts. He rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns at UCF this past season while catching 20 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

However, Harvey could underperform in his rookie year. Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been known to run a committee approach at running back in his coaching career, and the team just signed J.K. Dobbins to a one-year deal.

Denver did not sign Dobbins to ride the bench. The 26-year-old just ran for a career-high 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The addition of the veteran should scare fantasy managers away from selecting Harvey in drafts.

At his 61.9 ADP on Sleeper, the rookie is an avoid in most formats. Harvey will get opportunities, but the 50/50 split makes him a weekly headache rather than a reliable starter.

Stash

Bhayshul Tuten (Jacksonville Jaguars):

This whole Jaguars backfield is a mess. Travis Etienne Jr. faces persistent trade rumors, Tank Bigsby offers zero receiving upside, and now rookie Bhayshul Tuten adds another variable to an already volatile situation.

Tuten was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and brings some big-play ability to Jacksonville. After showcasing that explosiveness in his final college season at Virginia Tech by rushing for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns, he then ran an impressive 4.32 40-yard dash.

With so many uncertainties in this Jaguars backfield, Tuten is worth stashing in the double-digit rounds. There is a chance that Etienne Jr. is dealt at the trade deadline since he is in the final year of his rookie contract, and there is a path for the rookie to overtake that lead back spot toward the end of the year.

Now, the biggest concern for Tuten is going to be ball security. He turned over the ball nine times over the past two college seasons and even fumbled in his first rep at OTAs in May.

Still, the combination of elite speed, backfield chaos, and late-round cost makes Tuten a sneaky value pick at his 135.5 ADP on Sleeper. If he solves the fumbling issues, his explosiveness could solve Jacksonville’s backfield problems.

DJ Giddens (Indianapolis Colts)

Seeing new Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens on this list might be a surprise. Jonathan Taylor continues to be a workhorse back and just saw 300 carries for the second time in four years.

Nonetheless, do not sleep on the rookie in this Indianapolis offense in 2025. He totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards in back-to-back college seasons at Kansas State in 2023 and 2024. Giddens also caught 50 passes for 581 yards in those two years with the Wildcats.

That receiving creates an immediate pathway for Giddens to carve out a complementary role, potentially displacing Khalil Herbert as the second running back. His pass-catching ability could give him a role even if Taylor is healthy.

Additionally, Taylor has dealt with some injuries over the past few years. He has played in just 35 of 51 possible games since 2022 and failed to play more than 14 games in any of those seasons.

If the Taylor were to miss time again, Giddens would be a solid RB2 option for fantasy managers. He is worth stashing at his 221.5 ADP and is almost a must-draft if you take Taylor early.