Veteran Fantasy Running Backs: All Eyes on 2025 NFL Draft | South Divisions

by Samwise · Featured
running backs 2025 nfl draft

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Veteran Fantasy Running Backs “Watching Their Six” during the 2025 NFL Draft | South Divisions

The excitement is palpable as NFL players and fantasy football managers alike watch as the calendar grows closer to the 2025 draft. For the managers, an exciting bevy of capable running backs will learn their landing spots. For the current NFL crop of veteran running backs, it’s a “wait and see” approach. They will learn if they have backfield competition heading into the season.

Before the 2024 season, NFL general managers seemed to backtrack on the previously purported “age cliff” that backs fall into. As they discovered many of these veterans still had gas in the tank, several aging running backs received new contracts. Fantasy managers followed suit as the median age for “rock-toters” in 2024 had reached its highest point since 2020, a season limited by COVID-19 restrictions in the offseason. On one hand, maybe owners, GMs, and coaches did indeed notice the veteran running backs still had some juice left. On the other hand, perhaps it was all just a waiting game. All parties foresaw a deep crop of young rookie running backs entering the league this year.

As teams and fantasy managers wait with bated breath for the 2025 NFL Draft, many current starters are holding theirs. That’s not to say everyone is fearing for their job. However, with such an electric group entering the league, numerous backs from last season may be teetering on the edge of being usurped. Or, (at the very least) being forced into a timeshare. This week, I’ll run down the names of guys who might be hot under the shoulder pads as their teams go shopping in Green Bay, Wisc. beginning April 24.

Today, we continue with the South divisions. Let’s ride.

JUMP TO: East Divisions

AFC South

Houston Texans | Dameon Pierce & Joe Mixon

Houston will come away from the 2025 NFL draft with a good name to join the backfield with their two veteran running backs. Ranking near the bottom of the league in cap space remaining for 2025 ($8.9 million), they are unlikely to add another veteran anytime soon. What better way to alleviate some of that future hand-wringing than to get a new guy in on an affordable contract?

Joe Mixon will return to lead the charge again after being a key cog in the Texans’ offense in 2024. He’s as good as anyone at playing through nagging bumps and bruises but has near-perennial ankle and hip issues; he has only started a full season twice in his eight-year career. He’s a solid bet to miss two or more games in 2025, and the Texans would be wise to back him up with someone a little more explosive than Dameon Pierce.

Mixon has two years on his extension and will be 29 at the start of this season. When he is 30, he’s due $10.5 million, and that’s 10.5 million reasons for Houston to exercise their “out” clause, which would put $8.5 million back into their piggy bank (bull bank? steer bank?).

Speaking of Pierce, he’s gone nowhere but down since an impressive first season when he totaled 1,104 yards from scrimmage and five trips to paydirt. As the fantasy running back handcuff to Mixon, he mustered just 293 yards— 92 of which came on one gallop. Houston could save a million bucks by cutting Pierce, but $1 million isn’t much for an insurance policy while a rookie gets up to speed. He’ll probably land on his feet somewhere regardless of when he departs “Space City,” as he is only 25 years old.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts could be tempted by running backs that fall to them at just the right time, but it’s unlikely. Jonathan Taylor only just turned 26 and did not drag his feet in 2024 when he amassed over 1,400 yards on the ground with 11 entries to the promised land. He carried the ball over 300 times and had defenses keying on him every step of the way, while Indy’s quarterbacks couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn.

Indianapolis was active in free agency this offseason, including bringing in the heretofore untapped talent of Khalil Herbert, who likely waltzed right into the role of Taylor’s backup. The Colts still have Tyler Goodson and Salvon Ahmed on the roster for depth. This all adds up to the Colts being able to focus on other glaring issues with the roster and depth instead of their RB corps.

Jacksonville Jaguars | Travis Etienne

Travis Etienne‘s efficiency took a nosedive between 2022 and 2023, going from 5.1 yards per attempt (YPA) down to 3.8. It dropped a bit more last season, although the Clemson product dealt with an injury for most of the year. Consequently, he gave up most of the work to second-year player Tank Bigsby.

With only this season assured (the Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option), he’s likely to be testing the free-agent waters for a new home in 2026. The Jags don’t have an emergency on their hand, but in a class like this one, boots on the ground intimate that they’ll go in search of a running back in the third round or later to bring along slowly. The fact that the club got a long look at Bigsby in 2024 was a blessing; when Etienne’s efficiency tanked (no pun intended) in 2023, he was saved by 12 touchdowns to ease the hurt.

There will be plenty of running backs coming off the board on Day 3. Some fans hoped Jacksonville would take Travis’ brother, Trevor Etienne, as the perfect replacement for his big bro. Trevor is an ideal third-down back (as is Travis), and who better to learn the scheme from? Alas, he’ll likely be off the board once the Colts turn their attention to the crop. Nevertheless, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this should be the veteran Etienne’s farewell tour in Florida. He’ll spend it training his replacement.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are a mess but still lay claim to both Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard through the 2026 season. There is no dire need for them to reach for a running back. First, they’ll need to get their house in order, presumably starting with Cameron Ward at quarterback with the first-overall pick. They could also add an edge rusher, safety, and some offensive line help. While they’re at it, it would behoove them to tack wide receiver onto that list, so Ward has someone to throw to. No one will be trotting out Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks, and Van Jefferson to open the season.

The Titans could cut bait with Pollard after the 2025 season, but they currently sit at the fourth-most space in the league. It stands to reason they’ll continue with their current backfield makeup. In the future, should they desire a change, they would likely offer an extension to Spears (he’ll be just 24 in 2025) and take a look at some eligible backs in free agency next off-season to replace Pollard, who is 28 headed into this fall.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There’s not much to say about Tampa Bay. Or the running backs on their football team. The “elder statesman” of the squad is Rachaad White, and he’s only just turned 26 in January. Head coach Todd Bowles is very pleased to have three capable runners in Bucky Irving (who took control of the starting duties last season as a rookie), White, and Sean Tucker. Even Tucker is a luxury; he could easily be the No. 2 back on many NFL teams.

The Buccaneers will likely be looking to fill depth at positions of need, and running back is not one of them. However, with the second-youngest team in the NFL last season—25.59 years old (second only to the Packers) they can truly draft anywhere they like. They may take advantage of a late-falling quarterback and wide receiver in the draft. Don’t expect them to muddy the running back waters further.

Atlanta Falcons | Tyler Allgeier

It’s not so much a performance issue for Tyler Allgeier; he’s performed well in relief of Bijan Robinson. He’s also a cheap date; 2025 is a contract year, and his 26th birthday is in five days. He’d likely be coveted by any number of teams. If the Falcons know they’re taking a running back in the draft, they’ll probably be looking to upgrade the receiving game, as Allgeier has cinder blocks for hands. Long story short, he could command a few phone calls for a late-round pick during the draft.

My feelings on the Breece Hall trade nonsense can be found right here. The fact that an actual Denver Broncos-related publication is tweeting about trading for Allgeier is a bit telling. Either way, they’ll have to wait a day or two, because the Falcons won’t be willing to ship him off until they get their guy. That could come as early as the third round (Day 2).

Carolina Panthers | Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle was signed to Carolina, presumably as a one-year stop-gap. He had an underrated season in Dallas, featuring 4.6 YPC, also catching 39 passes en route to 1,328 all-purpose yards. He’s bound to get a lot of work this year spelling Chuba Hubbard, the unquestioned starter. Hubbard got an extension as a reward for the best season of his career; he’s now with the Panthers through the 2028 season.

Working against Dowdle are two factors. His age is one, as he’ll start the season at age 27. The second is the Panthers anticipate having Jonathon Brooks at some point. It likely will not be until 2026, however. Suppose we throw in a third factor? Carolina will need some form of insurance policy in case Brooks has issues rehabbing his torn right ACL (for the second time in as many years). Once again, the team doesn’t need to strike gold in the running back market as they can afford to bring a rookie along slowly for a season. For all intents and purposes, Dowdle was just swinging through. Grabbing a cup of coffee in the Carolinas after departing Dallas and “Dem Boyz.”

New Orleans Saints | Kendre Miller

You would think that in 2025, Alvin Kamara would find his name on this list. Instead, Kamara just keeps doing Kamara-ish things. The Saints have him under contract through the 2026 season. If he keeps performing, they might pick up an option on the soon-to-be 30-year-old and just right that wagon until the wheels fall off.

There’s a lot of this talk going around among Miller stans. The fact is, 1 in every 10 touches is a thing of beauty. That’s not saying much for a guy we expected could wrestle away the starting gig. But then, he was sick, then hurt. I have this vision of Miller and the Bengals’ Jermain Burton calling each other on a whim only to find they had each taken the day off. For quite a while, Miller owners had the excuse of head coach Dennis Allen not liking the running back. Miller seems to be under the weather for a guy already two years removed from his own draft.

New Orleans generally finds good value when taking the “best player available. ” The running backs of the 2025 NFL draft are plentiful, and once they have the right talent fall to them, it will look as though that was always ‘part of the plan.”

Drafting Ahead of the Curve

For veteran NFL running backs and managers of fantasy in all formats, these questions and more will be answered as the 2025 draft creeps ever closer. The players listed here are watching carefully what their teams do in Green Bay as it applies to their remaining relevance in the league. Not all will be bucked from their starting positions, but some will. Or they’ll be forced into a committee and watch from the sidelines as rookies slowly increase their snap counts.

In dynasty, this situation is particularly fluid; a veteran’s trade value immediately begins to diminish the moment a new fantasy running back is drafted. Now is the time to evaluate the players on dynasty rosters and be realistic about their role(s). Some of the players mentioned here only offer significant contributions to those set to contend for this year. For many, they may not lose their job immediately, but the clock is certainly ticking on their shelf life.

We’ve begun with the running backs in the eastern and southern divisions of each conference. Let’s continue through two-a-days with the AFC & NFC North divisions next! Same bat time, same bat channel. Who are the next fantasy running backs looking over their shoulders when the draft comes and a top-heavy group of running backs burst onto the scene?

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