Finding the right fantasy football RB sleepers and breakout running backs can be the key to dominating your draft and winning your league. That’s why our collection of Featured Pros experts has put together this list of undervalued backs and potential league-winners for the 2025 season. From late-round steals who could deliver RB2 production to breakout running backs ready to become every-week starters, these expert picks are based on in-depth analysis of training camp buzz, preseason performance, and advanced stats. Whether you’re searching for fantasy football sleepers at RB, hunting for upside, or looking to lock in the next big breakout star, this list will give you the edge you need to build a championship roster.
Running Back Sleepers & Breakouts in 2025
Which one player inside the top 35 of our half-PPR consensus RB rankings has the greatest return on investment potential in 2025??
Omarion Hampton (LAC)
“Omarion Hampton has RB1 upside inside the Chargers’ offense. While the presence of Najee Harris is notable, Harris’s eye injury and lack of efficiency during his NFL career make him vulnerable to a reduced role in Los Angeles. Hampton was arguably the most talented RB in the 2025 NFL Draft class and joins a team ranked in the top half of the NFL in rushing volume.”
– Jaime Eisner (The Draft Network)
“If it’s ROI you’re after, Omarion Hampton should be your draft day target. Not only is his direct competition in Najee Harris still recovering from a “superficial eye injury” that his team hopes will heal by Week 1, but he’s also a 1st round RB going as the RB18 overall. Hampton may not have the profile fellow rookie Ashton Jeanty does (few do), but he’s in a better offense behind one of the league’s best offensive lines in a scheme that wants to run the ball a ton. I was already banking on Hampton taking over the Chargers’ backfield by midseason. With Najee missing valuable camp time on a new squad, I’m smashing the draft button in the late 3rd at his current ADP. It’s likely we’re looking at a top-12 RB with upside for more.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“The Chargers spent a 1st round pick to select Omarion Hampton, the current RB18 in the ECR, and they plan to use him. Justin Herbert had the fewest passing yards in his career over the course of a 17-game season in 2024, and there are no signs that will change much. Also, consider that the Chargers are currently without Najee Harris, who is on the NFI List for the foreseeable future. Even with known RB-committee guru Greg Roman as the OC in LA, there is every shot that if Najee does not start on time, he comes back as a backup to Hampton. RB18 is an excellent price to pay for a player that could finish 2025 as a locked and loaded RB1.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Chase Brown (CIN)
“Chase Brown could offer fantasy players the greatest return on investment of any running back in the top 12. While the Bengals did their homework on the rookie running back draft class, they waited until the sixth round to draft Tahj Brooks. Therefore, Brown will have a featured role again in 2025. Last year, the former Illinois star was the RB6 from Week 4 through Week 17, averaging 20.3 touches for 94.4 scrimmage yards and 16.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game as the starter. Furthermore, Brown was a factor in the passing game, averaging 4.5 targets per game over his final 13 games, posting the same route participation rate (46.6%) as Jahmyr Gibbs and a higher target per route run rate (20% vs. 15%) than Saquon Barkley last season (per Fantasy Points Data). He has top-five upside. Yet, his ranking suggests fantasy players can draft him on the 2/3 turn.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Chase Brown is a player who could ultimately end up moving into round 2 in ADP over the next month. The Bengals didn’t add much depth at running back, only selecting Tahj Brooks in the sixth round. While Brooks was highly productive at Texas Tech-posting back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons-he’s still a late-round rookie. After a slow start in Weeks 1-3, Brown faced minimal competition for touches. From Week 4 onward, he ranked as the RB6 in points per game (half-PPR scoring). Currently being drafted as the RB11, Brown is priced closer to his floor (RB12 in PPG last year) than his ceiling, which I believe could be in the top-five RB range this season.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)
Kaleb Johnson (PIT)
“The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the best, if not the best-run organizations in sports. So, when they selected Kaleb Johnson in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft, fantasy owners turned their heads and noticed. He is replacing Najee Harris, who had over 1,000 (not too efficient) yards the last four years in Pittsburgh, and his only competition for carries will be Jaylen Warren, who was unable to unseat Harris the last few years. He is being drafted as an RB3 (RB#27/#69 overall). He will reward teams with the potential to be an RB1 due to his power and speed, which will be featured in Arthur Smith’s outside zone running scheme.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“For me, it’s Kaleb Johnson in Pittsburgh. His RB26 ranking is bonkers to me. Jaylen Warren is there, but I don’t think he poses that much of a threat to Johnson’s workload. Pittsburgh is a team in disarray, with Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf this year. They’re also a team that tends to lean on their running game, and with Head Coach Mike Tomlin potentially playing for his future, I expect Johnson to finish as a top-12 RB this season.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
RJ Harvey (DEN)
“R.J. Harvey at an RB2 price tag remains a buy for me in every format. Harvey is set to explode in his rookie season. The runway is clear for takeoff. Sean Payton just put second-round capital behind a back that enters a room with Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, and J.K. Dobbins. No, I’m not worried about Estime or McLaughlin when they couldn’t carve out consistent roles last year with only the ghost of Javonte Williams standing in their way. Dobbins will assist Harvey on early downs so Denver doesn’t run their talented rookie into the ground, but I don’t project him taking away passing down work or high-leverage opportunities. It’s hard not to love a player like Harvey, who has ranked inside the top 20 among FBS running backs in each of the last two seasons in breakaway percentage and elusive rating (per PFF). Add in Payton’s running back usage, and Harvey looks primed to smash. Over the last two years, Payton has ranked fifth and first in running back target share.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Breece Hall (NYJ)
“The only thing missing for Breece Hall is consistency. 133 receptions over the last 2 seasons. A Top 5 breakaway run rate in his first 2 seasons. 3+ yco/a throughout his 3-year career. We’ve seen the Jets make a massive commitment to improving their o-line; the unit is being called a strength for the first time in a decade, according to Justin Fried. Justin Fields led the league in check-down rate in 2024, according to Fantasy Points Data. Breece is being drafted at RB13. In his final season before seeking a new contract, Breece has an opportunity to put it all together, culminating in a Top 3 fantasy finish.”
– Seth Miller (Crossroads Fantasy Football)
James Conner (ARI)
“James Conner finished 2024 as RB11. He hasn’t finished lower than RB22 in his last five seasons, so you’re able to draft him at his floor and, barring health, guaranteed at the very least low-end RB2 production. Conner also comes with the added benefit of being able to draft his handcuff, Trey Benson, very late, making it easy to lock up the Arizona backfield.”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
Isiah Pacheco (KC)
“I am expecting a rebound season from Isiah Pacheco. We have to look at the signals from the Kansas City front office. They didn’t bring in any major or notable competition for him at RB, which indicates that they have a lot of confidence that a healthy Pacheco can bounce back in 2025.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)
Christian McCaffrey (SF)
“He’s no sleeper, but it has to be Christian McCaffrey, right? We’re getting an injury discount, and he could easily finish as the overall RB1 if he stays healthy. Since coming to San Francisco in a midseason deal in 2022, McCaffrey has averaged 19.8 touches, 115.5 yards from scrimmage and 1.0 touchdowns per game with the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan’s system is extremely RB-friendly, and Shanny loves feeding CMC the ball. This isn’t necessarily an endorsement, however. McCaffrey is 29 now, and the injury risk is undeniable – he’s played fewer than eight games in three of the last five years.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
TreVeyon Henderson (NE)
“I’ll go to TreVeyon Henderson as a bit of a price shot to work to a split equity and eventually become the No. 1 over Stevenson in NE. Ball security issues plagued Stevenson last year (seven fumbles). The contract that he signed won’t save his reps with Vrabel calling the shots.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
Which sleeper candidate outside the top 35 in our half-PPR consensus RB rankings has the most “upside” relative to his draft cost?
Rachaad White (TB)
“I have my eye on Rachaad White, who is currently flying under the radar following the emergence of Bucky Irving. White finished last season as the RB26 in average fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats, besting players ranked above him this summer like Brian Robinson Jr., Travis Etienne Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. “But what happened once Irving took over the majority of the backfield snaps?” Well, White was the RB26 in average points per game from Weeks 12-18 last season, too. He may not be a league-winner, but don’t be surprised if he finds his way into your weekly lineup often this season.”
– Jaime Eisner (The Draft Network)
Jordan Mason (MIN)
“Jordan Mason falls just outside the top 35 running backs in the consensus rankings, coming in at RB36. However, he is one of my favorite draft targets this season, especially when using a Hero-RB strategy because of his upside. Last year, Mason was the RB5 over the first month, averaging 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 16.9 or more in all but one contest. While the veteran struggled with injuries, Mason was outstanding when healthy. More importantly, he has a real chance to steal significant work from Aaron Jones in 2025. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mason had a better explosive run rate (7.8% vs. 3.5%) and missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22% vs. 11%) than Jones last season. Don’t be surprised if he starts as the No. 2 running back with a role at the goal line and quickly forces the Vikings to use a 50-50 split with Jones or possibly takes over as the starter.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Let’s go just outside the top 35 with Jordan Mason (RB36). When the Vikings traded for Mason in the offseason, they handed him a two-year deal that includes more than $7 million in guaranteed money. With Christian McCaffrey sidelined at the start of the 2024 season, Mason averaged 107.2 rushing yards for the 49ers over the first five games of the season (before getting hurt himself), 120.4 scrimmage yards per game, and 5.1 yards per carry. The Vikings upgraded their offensive line in free agency, and their running scheme uses a lot of outside zone, which is Mason’s bread and butter. It’s possible Mason splits work with Aaron Jones almost evenly, and Mason could smash if anything happened to the 30-year-old Jones, who hasn’t exactly been Mr. Durability.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“Jordan Mason. The former 49ers running back is going to split touches with Aaron Jones in 2025, while potentially seizing the goal-line/red-zone role behind a revamped interior offensive line. Mason was fantastic last season, filling in for Christian McCaffrey. He ranked 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards (667) before his injury in Week 8.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Dylan Sampson (CLE)
“You absolutely have to reach on Dylan Sampson at RB57 right now. Sampson was an excellent prospect coming out this season, but he landed in a seemingly bad spot behind fellow rookie and college RB standout Quinshon Judkins in Cleveland. Now, with Judkins facing legal issues that are currently holding up his contract with the Browns, it’s down to Sampson and incumbent Jerome Ford to fight for meaningful touches. I’m always gonna bet on the rookie in a wide-open backfield. Now, it’s seemingly Sampson’s job to lose… and he’s also free in the last round of your drafts.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Ray Davis (BUF)
“James Cook only missed one game last year, and Ray Davis had 23 touches and 152 yards in that outing. Davis had a relatively quiet rookie season in Cook’s shadow, but he has the skill set and offensive environment we love in fantasy football. If Cook has to miss any time, Davis has the build to be a three-down back. He can plow through defenders near the goal line and has shockingly soft hands in the open field. While his projectable volume for 2025 isn’t significant, the contingent upside in the event of a Cook injury makes him a priority late-round target.”
– Dave Kluge (Footballguys)
Tyjae Spears (TEN)
“Tyjae Spears. The third-year RB showed out in his solo start back in Week 17, rushing 20 times for 95 yards. He is more than capable of being a starting NFL running back, and is being overlooked as the 1B in the Titans’ 2025 backfield. Spears scored more red-zone TDs (5) than Tony Pollard (3) despite fewer than half the touches in the red zone (15 versus 33). Spears also ranked 4th in target rate (25%) among RBs. The Titans’ No. 2 RB is a strong pass catcher who’s had 82 receptions in his first two seasons. Titans head coach Brian Callahan has hinted at Spears playing a bigger role in 2025, something we would have seen last season had it not been for all the injuries. From Weeks 15-17, Spears was a top-5 fantasy RB to end the season for the Titans. With Pollard coming off so-so seasons of 300-plus touches (also, the third-worst-graded running back per PFF in the second half of the 2024 season), we could see Spears carve out major touches in Tennessee’s backfield.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Tyjae Spears, the third-year running back out of Tennessee, has shown flashes of his explosive upside over the past two seasons. With Tony Pollard now 28 years old, new head coach Brian Callahan mentioned that the team could do a better job of splitting the workload more evenly between Pollard and Spears earlier this offseason. Spears holds more value in PPR and half-PPR formats due to his receiving upside, and he flashed some big games toward the end of last season. In the 3 games where he saw 50%+ of the snaps last year, he was RB5 in PPR points per game (Weeks 15 through 17). Currently going as RB42, I believe Spears has the potential to crack the top 30 running backs this year.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)
J.K. Dobbins (DEN)
“J.K. Dobbins has had an arduous climb back to fantasy relevance after a string of brutal injuries. But now, in Denver, his blocking abilities give him an edge over the other running backs for the vaunted role as Sean Payton’s pass-catching back. Rookie RJ Harvey has speed and quickness that Dobbins does not. But his inefficiencies as a blocker could set Dobbins up for a lucrative role. Bo Nix hyper-targeted his running backs last year, and Dobbins is set for a career year through the air, making him very likely to outperform his ADP.”
– Dave Kluge (Footballguys)
“J.K. Dobbins burst back onto the fantasy scene last year after two injury-plagued seasons in Baltimore. He was asked to carry the load for the Chargers and did so to the tune of 195 carries for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. The knock on him is that he can’t handle a full-season load. That makes his signing in Denver perfect, where he will share the backfield with rookie R.J. Harvey in a committee that is run by Sean Payton, who has shown that he can make two running backs very fantasy-relevant. He is being drafted as RB43, making him a fringe FLEX start, and could ease into the discussion as an RB2 if Payton can reproduce some of his New Orleans RB Magic!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Cam Skattebo (NYG)
“The easy and correct answer here is Cam Skattebo. The Giants added Cam Skattebo to the backfield via the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He should be considered the early favorite to be the team’s workhorse after Tyrone Tracy’s inconsistent rookie season and the team shelving any thought of Devin Singletary as their leading back. Skattebo was a volume monster during his final season in college and a true three-down back. He ranked 21st in yards after contact per attempt and 11th in elusive rating while also sitting inside the top ten in receiving grade and yards per route run (per PFF). It could take some time for Skattebo to wrestle 70% of the snaps away from the other players in this backfield, but it does feel like the eventual reality. Skattebo is a strong RB3/flex who could easily vault into an every-week top 15 running back.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Tank Bigsby (JAC) | Bhayshul Tuten (JAC)
“Maybe this is cheating a bit, but Tank Bigsby AND Bhayshul Tuten seem like outstanding fliers. Both currently outside the top-40 in the ECR, taking a shot on one or both of these guys to emerge in the Jacksonville backfield could prove to be wise. Liam Coen made his mark in Tampa last year as the OC, utilizing two running backs, Rashaad White and Bucky Irving, and he arrives in Jacksonville with three to choose from. Some will call for a bounce-back campaign from Travis Etienne, but the upside on both Bigsby and Tuten is too good to ignore at cost.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Early word out of Jaguars camp is that new head coach Liam Coen is making Tank Bigsby the focal point of the rushing attack, giving him the bulk of the first team carries. Bigsby is coming off a solid Sophomore campaign that saw him rush for 766 yards and seven touchdowns. At his current ADP (RB42), Bigsby could be the steal of fantasy drafts, especially in half and non-PPR leagues.”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
Jerome Ford (CLE)
“Call me crazy, but there’s a world where Browns RB Jerome Ford is the running back you want to roster in Cleveland this year. His RB52 ranking means he’s free in later rounds of drafts, and you can grab him whenever you need to start filling your bench. He has RB1 upside if Quinshon Judkins misses time or stumbles out of the gate, so I’m fine paying his low price for his potential high reward.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Jarquez Hunter (LAR)
“The Rams’ backfield churns out Top 12 performances. We’ve been flattered by Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. Even Ronnie Rivers gave us a Top 24 week. Blake Corum has yet to get that McVay touch. Kyren has been remarkably durable for his size and the load he takes on. I’ll be looking to make the cheapest bet that he can’t continue at such a torrid pace, and that means drafting Jarquez Hunter 15 spots after Blake Corum.”
– Seth Miller (Crossroads Fantasy Football)
Braelon Allen (NYJ)
“Braelon Allen could begin the season stealing goal-line work from Breece Hall, and there is the potential he may start to progressively see a larger workload in 2025. There have already been rumors that Hall is not “the guy” for the Jets and could be eventually moved out of the picture. Allen is a power runner with true TD promise.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)
“Given the nebulous nature of information on Joe Mixon, former No. 1 candidate Nick Chubb seems the obvious response, complete with blinking letters. So, I’ll grab Braelon Allen in New York (54). Thunder/lightning or whatever term you want to put on it, he’ll supplement Hall’s work and likely see more RZ opportunities. The Jets will look to take the air out of the ball and grind games out. That means heavy run game.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
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