Ranking the Runners: 2025 Running Back Prospects (Part 1)

by John Laub · Featured
Dynasty draft rookie rankings

PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Here John Laub breaks down his dynasty draft rookie rankings and analysis for running back prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ranking the Runners: 2025 Running Back Prospects (part I)

As a historian and Draftnik, I do not like to be hyperbolic when discussing prospects. Yet, this is the deepest group of running backs who I have graded in twelve seasons. Dynasty owners are salivating over the depth and talent in the 2025 RB Class.

Three years ago, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, James Cook, Rachaad White and Kyren Williams were all selected and have made significant impacts on the field and fantasy rosters. In the 2017 Class, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt and James Conner have all produced high-end fantasy campaigns and numerous 1,000-yard seasons.

NFL Draft Interest

Pleasantly for NFL organizations and Dynasty diehards, the current prospects look even better in my model and film analysis than the aforementioned two classes. The ball carriers are much bigger and stronger than in recent years. The vast majority of runners are all over 200 pounds, and many exceed a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.

Every NFL team in search of backfield assistance can surely uncover a runner who fits the skills and traits that the coaching staff and scouting department values depending on the offensive scheme. The Draft offers pile-driving bull-dozers, elite pass-catchers, explosive space eaters and committee runners. There is every type of ball carrier that an organization seeks.

Three prospects earned first-round grades and another three backs garnered second-round scores according to my grading. Astute Dynasty managers must seek value and acquire three runners among their top five picks to fortify rosters for the next two years. Enjoy my fellow PlayerProflier teammates.

Scholar’s Running Back Rankings, RB Model and Statistical Benchmarks

2025 Scholar’s RB Rankings

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Prospect Resume

Over the past two decades, Boise State has produced some good running back prospects: Doug Martin, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy McNichols and Alexander Mattison. I scouted three of the four Broncos and followed all their NFL careers. Without any reservation, Ashton Jeanty is the preeminent prospect that the program has recruited and nurtured in Boise, Idaho. A dynamic playmaker, the junior produced prodigious numbers while on campus. He has a resume as extensive and impressive as any runner over the past decade.

In 2024, Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Doak Walker Award winner, Unanimous All-American and First Team All-Mountain West. He toted the pigskin a whopping 374 times for 2,601 yards—trailing only Barry Sanders for the single-season mark—and scored 29 touchdowns. He added 23 catches for 138 yards and a score.

Two years ago, the sophomore scampered for 1,347 yards on 220 carries and crossed the finish line 14 times. He recorded a career-best 43 catches for 569 yards and five additional scores. He also was named First Team All-America (ESPN and USA Today), Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Mountain West.

As a true freshman in 2022, Jeanty gained 821 rushing yards, averaged 5.3 yards per carry (ypc). and scored seven touchdowns. To conclude the campaign, he was named to the Freshman All-Bowl Team (CFN) after sprinting for 178 yards and a touchdown versus North Texas. He exits Boise State as the program’s career record-holder in rushing yards (4,769), yards per carry (6.36), yards per game (119.2), 200-yard rushing games (8), 100-yard rushing games (22), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (14) and 200-yard all-purpose games (11).

In high school, he earned four stars as a recruit and was ranked as the No. 27 running back in the nation. He played both sides of the ball (RB, WR, DE, OLB and S) and was also a three-sport star in football, basketball and track-and-field. Jeanty has excelled throughout his life and kicks off his professional career with a resume second to none.

Film Breakdown and Skills

Jeanty has a compact and thick frame at 5-9 and 215 pounds. He is a decisive runner, who excels with heavy workloads. A three-down feature back with instinctiveness, he darts through lanes with great vision and impressive lateral quickness. He bounces off defenders with exceptional contact balance. Difficult to tackle in one-on-one matchups, he effortlessly shreds would-be tacklers and leaves defenders grasping at air.

With inordinate leg drive, incredible equilibrium and elusiveness to gain yards after contact, Jeanty has stupendous strength—he squatted 605 pounds and power-cleaned 340 pounds on campus. The former Bronco employs an amalgamation of anticipation and patience to showcase rare burst, blasting through holes with ease. A natural-hands catcher, he is also an outstanding receiver, who hits home runs once he is in the open field and is a willing pass protector.

Some minor questions after watching the tape: What is Jeanty’s top-end speed? Can he get to the corner regularly on outside runs as a professional? He did not run a complex route tree at Boise State and needs to be coached up. While a capable pass blocker, he does not always identify the correct blitzer. Despite a few weaknesses, Jeanty is an offensive transformer for a team in need of production on the ground. Clearly, he is the best back in the 2025 Class and the clear-cut No. 1 selection in Dynasty rookie drafts.

Scholar’s Grade: A

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Prospect Resume

In the past two seasons, Omarion Hampton has been the premier power runner with back-to-back 1,500-yard campaigns. The junior entered last year as the lone returning playmaker on the North Carolina offense after an exodus of Tarheels went to the NFL, essentially, the last man standing in Chapel Hill.

In 2024, Hampton answered the challenge and placed the North Carolina offense on his back, producing a career-best 1,660 rushing yards. He bulldozed his way to All-American status, First Team All-ACC and named a Doak Walker Award semifinalist for the second year in a row. In addition, he secured 38 passes for 373 yards and recorded 17 total touchdowns, including three games with over three scores. He rushed for more than 100 yards ten times and surpassed 200 yards twice while averaging 5.9 ypc.

As a sophomore two years ago, he took over the backfield chores and scampered for 1,504 yards and fifteen touchdowns. He added 29 receptions for 222 yards and a score. He collected First Team All-ACC, Second Team All-American and Doak Walker semifinalist. As a true freshman in 2022, he carried the ball 88 times for 401 yards and six scores. The junior leaves campus ninth in rushing yards (2,911) and sixth in rushing touchdowns (30) at UNC.

In high school, he was named North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year and earned a four-star grade as a prospect. He also played basketball and ran track and field. Afterward, he decided to stay close to home, enrolling at North Carolina. Without reservation, Hampton’s resume ranks among the best over the past decade.

Film Breakdown and Skills

Hampton is an explosive north-south runner with power and speed at 6-0 and 220 pounds. A violent finisher, he has a stupendous frame and build and runs with a low-pad level. He combines great body control and contact balance to bounce off defenders—He logged 139 missed tackles during the past two seasons. He combines top-notch vision and patience to press the line of scrimmage and gets skinny through the hold with fancy and light footwork. With exceptional leg drive, he pushes the pile and falls forward after contact for additional yards.

A complete running back prospect, Hampton excels in a gap-blocking scheme and blasts through rushing lanes. He follows pulling lineman well and rapidly accelerates. He generates power from lower body and has very good lateral agility for a big man. Slippery and elusive, the junior is rarely tackled one-on-one in space, and he creates chunk runs leaving defenders grasping at air. As a receiver, he has sure and soft hands and comfortably catches the ball away from his body. He is also a trusted pass blocker, getting nasty against blitzers.

An upright runner, Hampton presents a big target for tacklers and absorbs too many huge hits. He is not an overly creative runner, and from time to time, gets corralled from behind downfield. The former Tar Heel does not change tempo easily and appears to lack elite long speed. As a pass-catcher, he had a limited route tree on tape with North Carolina. The NFL is often referred to as a copy-cat league. Big running backs are back in vogue as defenses go small. While the fantasy community waxes poetically about Jeanty, Hampton is not far behind. He also earned a first-round grade in my model and film study. Do not be surprised when Hampton is selected on Day 1 of the Draft in April.

Scholar’s Grade: A-

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Prospect Resume

When the 2024 season kicked off, Kaleb Johnson did not even stand atop the Iowa depth chart in the backfield. In the opening game, he came off the bench against Illinois State and surpassed the century mark on only 11 carries. The third-year back started the next week versus Iowa State and rambled for 187 yards on 25 carries, taking over the backfield duties for the remainder of the year.

At the end of the campaign, Johnson was named First Team All-America, First Team All-Big Ten, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year and Doak Walker Award semifinalist. He blasted ahead for 1,537 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, adding 188 receiving yards and a score on 22 catches. He scored a touchdown in every game, including seven games with at least two scores. The third-year back averaged 128 rushing yards per game and 6.4 ypc.

As a sophomore in 2023, Johnson played in ten games, starting five. He missed three contests due to an injury and toted the pigskin only 117 times for 463 yards and three scores. As a freshman in 2022, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after establishing a program record for freshmen with 779 rushing yards.

Leaving Iowa City, Johnson finished his tenure sixth all-time with 2,779 rushing yards, fifth with multiple 200-yard outings and logged 12 100-yard rushing games. With 30 rushing touchdowns, he finished fourth in school history and his 32 total touchdowns rank sixth. As a catcher, he logged 29 catches for 240 yards and two scores.

A three-star prospect in Ohio, Johnson traveled west to play in Iowa City. As a senior, he was named first-team all-state. He also played on the hardwood and competed in track and field. The former Hawkeye has a defined role in the NFL. Organizations will covet a power back who grinds down opponents in the fourth quarter.

Film Breakdown and Skills

At 6-0 and 225 pounds, Johnson profiles as a workhorse back with a well-portioned and muscular frame. An upright runner and long strider, he is a physically tough ball carrier with quick and light feet. He uses vision and patience to wait for blocks to develop. Johnson also blasts through the smallest of openings, smashing the hole with decisiveness and authority. The junior maneuvers well in a phone booth and is a fantastic finisher who falls forward for additional yards.

A two-down piledriver, Johnson has prodigious contact balance and is a stupendous short-yardage competitor. He is a savvy zone runner and fluid mover with a physical style. He presses the line of scrimmage, probing for an opening to exploit. With ease, he identifies rushing lanes and shatters arm tackles. For a power back, the former Hawkeye star changes direction well. Once he blasts beyond the front seven, he occasionally hits a second gear once the grass is greener. As a pass-catcher, he owns soft mitts and adjusts well to poorly thrown passes.

Johnson is not a twitchy athlete nor an elusive runner. On tape, he has modest breakaway speed and lateral quickness. At times, he hesitates in the backfield and is not shifty enough to escape. He absorbed a limited route tree in the Iowa offense, and he needs to anchor better on pass protection. Johnson has only one season of high-end production before leaving campus. The former Hawkeye is easily a Day 2 selection and garnered a second-round grade in my scouting. Johnson will come off the board on the second day of the Draft and impact Dynasty rosters for the foreseeable future in the right landing spot.

Scholar’s Grade: B+

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

Prospect Resume

Despite possibly being the top-rated runner in last April’s Draft, TreVeyon Henderson returned for a fourth season for the Buckeyes to pursue a National Championship. On a team loaded with offensive playmakers, the home run hitter provided breakaway speed out of the backfield. After an outstanding season and career, he is ranked among the position aristocracy in the 2025 Draft.

A five-star prospect coming out of high school, Henderson captured the Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year honors and was named USA Today’s Second Team offense as a junior in 2019. He did not play his senior year of high school because Virginia moved the season from the fall to the spring. In 2021, he was the No. 1 ranked running back in the nation.

Stepping into the huddle immediately in Columbus, OH, Henderson broke Archie Griffin’s single-game rushing record (270 yards versus Tulsa) in his third game as a freshman. When the year ended, he earned Freshman All-American honors and Second Team All-Big Ten after sprinting for 1,248 yards and 19 total touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2022, he suffered a broken bone and torn ligaments in his left foot and only carried the ball 107 times for 571 yards and six touchdowns.

In 2023, the Buckeyes’ playmaker rebounded and earned First Team All-Big Ten after scampering for 926 yards and 11 scores. He added 19 catches for 229 yards. As a senior last year, he recorded a second 1,000-yard campaign with 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging a robust 7.1 ypc. for the National Champions. He logged a career-best 27 catches for 284 yards and a touchdown. When the curtain closed at Ohio State, he finished fourth with 3,761 rushing yards and sixth in rushing touchdowns with 42.

Film Breakdown and Skills

An all-around competitor at 5-10 and 212 pounds, Henderson explodes with a swift first step and accelerates into the open field. He bounces off would-be tacklers and generates power with leverage and low-pad level. With vision and decisiveness, he makes sharp cuts on a dime and easily changes direction. The one-step speedster reaches the second level of the defense rapidly. He also uses tremendous spatial awareness and peripheral vision to eliminate angles by defenders.

Henderson is a first-rate, three-down back with flexibility to play in a gap or zone scheme. He has stupendous balance and lateral agility with fancy and quick feet. The former Buckeyes’ luminary utilizes effortless stop-start ability and kicks it into high gear rapidly. He is a natural pass catcher with good hands, gaining RAC yards with a ‘Spidey sense’ in open space. Also, he is an exceptional pass protector who stays on the field and provides quarterbacks with options. With 667 carries, Henderson never fumbled and is an intelligent player.

However, there are medical concerns from the past and exams at the Scouting Combine will determine final value by teams. Henderson broke a bone in his foot in 2022, playing in only eight games, and missed three games in 2023. Upon contact, he did not always remain on his feet. At times, he hesitates while seeking holes and gets trapped behind the line of scrimmage. He did not run a complex route tree at Ohio State and needs more experience. Still only 22 years old on Draft Day, Henderson might well sneak into the First Round, and surely, comes off the board early in the second at worst.

Scholar’s Grade: B

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

Prospect Resume

While watching Ohio State in the CFP playoffs, the great backfields in college football history came to mind. In 1982, the Pony Express with Eric Dickerson and Craig James at SMU governed the gridiron. Auburn’s dynamic duo of Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams dominated the SEC in 2004, and a decade later, Georgia trotted out Nick Chubb and Todd Gurley, who terrorized opponents. None of the backfield teammates accomplished the feat that TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins did last year—winning a National Championship.

At Mississippi, Judkins recorded consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards rushing, playing in all 26 games and starting 19 times. As a freshman in 2022, he established program single-season records for rushing yards (1,567), rushing touchdowns (16), rushing attempts (275), 100-yard rushing games (8), multi-touchdown games (6) and total touchdowns (17). As a sophomore, he bolted for 1,158 yards and 15 scores. He garnered First Team All-SEC both seasons on campus and tied Deuce McAllister’s program mark with 14 career 100-yard rushing games. He also ranks second in career rushing touchdowns (31) and total touchdowns (34) and third in rushing yards (2,725).

At Ohio State last year, Judkins logged a third consecutive 1,000-yard season despite sharing the ground game chores with Henderson. The former Rebels’ dignitary collected 194 carries for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding 33 catches for 161 yards and two scores. In the National Championship Game versus Notre Dame, he scored three times (2 rushing and 1 receiving) on 13 touches for 121 scrimmage yards. In the classroom, Judkins also shined in the classroom, churning out a 3.64 GPA in Human Development and Family Sciences and being named Second Team Academic All-American.

A consensus three-star recruit in 2021, Judkins was the No. 18 overall prospect in Alabama as a high school recruit. In 2021, he was an All-State honoree, Offensive Player of the Year and was selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game. The three-year performer has excelled throughout his football career and will continue to produce as a professional.

Film Breakdown and Skills

Only 21 years old, Judkins competed and stood out in the two toughest conferences in the nation—the SEC and Big Ten—and is a scheme-adverse playmaker, who excelled in different offensive systems at Mississippi and Ohio State. The former Buckeye has a thick-and-dense frame at 5-11 and 210 pounds and uses terrific vision and patience to find creases. A one-cut runner, he utilizes tempo before ripping ahead, zipping through holes to find daylight.

A versatile runner with quick feet, Judkins is a physically imposing back, who combines burst, power and balance. In one-on-one matchups, he is difficult to corral and bring to the ground. Once he sees an opening, he bursts through small holes and comfortably breaks arm tackles. A workhorse, his power, and brawn allow him to gain extra yards after contact. He shines blasting up the middle of the defense and scampering off tackle on outside runs. For a big back, he has very good lateral agility with a short and choppy stride. During his college career, nearly 15% of his carries produced over 10 yards.

Scouting Judkins on film, he appears to lack a home run gear. He does not reach a higher speed in the open field, and from time to time, gets tackled from behind on long runs. The three-year collegiate starter flashed as a receiver; yet, had limited reps as a pass catcher. He is a willing pass protector who welcomes contact but needs to improve his technique and remain engaged with pass rushers. He must also improve ball security or he might be sidelined. Judkins is a Day 2 selection in the Draft and an instant impact player as a professional.

Scholar’s Grade: B

Devin Neal, Kansas

Prospect Resume

Devin Neal dipped his toe into last year’s draft, but decided to return to campus for a final season in 2024. His decision, and production on the gridiron, propelled him among the best runners in the nation and one of the more dynamic prospects after logging a third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.

As a high schooler, Neal was the No. 1 recruit in Kansas and decided to stay near his home in Lawrence to play for the Jayhawks, remain close to family and play baseball in college. As a freshman, he started eight games and immediately made an impact, rushing for 707 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. He became the first Jayhawks’ freshman to collect Offensive Player of the Week honors against Texas with 143 yards and three scores.

As a sophomore in 2022, he recorded his first 1,000-yard season (1,090) and averaged 6.1 ypc. He also snatched 21 passes for 183 yards and a score and was named All-Big 12 honorable mention. The following season, he rushed for a career-best 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns, collecting Second Team All-Big 12.

In 2024, teammates chose Neal as Team Captain, and he gained 1,266 yards and 16 scores. He amassed All-Big 12 honorable mention in a conference (Big 12) loaded with tremendous ball carriers. The former Jayhawk concluded his tenure as Kansas’ all-time leading rusher (4,343). He also holds school records for rushing touchdowns (49), scrimmage touchdowns (53) and 100-yard rushing games (20).

Incorporating more schemes from the college game, NFL teams are seeking playmakers, who get to the edge and excel in space, and Neal fits the description. As a prospect, the four-year back is in a bucket with Alvin Kamara, Bucky Irving and Kareem Hunt and is poised to impact Dynasty rosters.

Film Breakdown and Skills

At 5-11 and 220 pounds, Neal has an inordinate frame with the skills and traits that intrigue teams. A one-cut runner, he is scheme-adverse, taking carries in both zone and gap plays at Kansas. He utilizes fantastic feet to plant and cut through traffic into open space. With outstanding vision, he bears down on the line of scrimmage and patiently waits for blocks to develop. He is shifty and finds lanes with decisiveness, burst and lower-body strength.

A quick accelerator, the former Jayhawk rapidly changes direction and makes something out of nothing. He also has great contact balance and runs with power. A smooth catcher with natural hands, Neal is a three-down ball carrier, who shines in the screen game. Sneaky elusive, he makes defenders whiff and smoothly breaks into the second level. He has stupendous speed in the open field and is excellent at navigating space. Very good ball security, he only fumbled four times on 760 career rushing attempts.

Sad to say, Neal does not move the pile in short yardage, fails to lower his shoulder to punch opponents and lacks top-level power to push defenders. At times, he dropped passes and did not run an extensive route tree in college. He was used mostly on screens and flat passes. He must improve as a pass protector or his liability will keep him on the sideline. Neal is an upright runner with a high center of gravity, and occasionally, goes down too easily upon contract. If Neal falls to Day 3 in the NFL Draft, an organization will get a substantial value pick. He has the resume, production and skills to succeed as a professional.

Scholar’s Grade: B

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