2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Running Backs

Running games made a resurgence across the NFL last year. Three of the top five scoring offenses in 2024 were league leaders in run-game efficiency. The 2025 draft class is loaded with running back talent. Check out the top-10 below with projected picks. 

Ashton Jeanty- Boise State- 5’9”/ 215 lbs

Ashton Jeanty is undeniably the top running back prospect of 2025. He managed 375 rushing attempts last season while leading the FBS in yards after contact (1,970). His total attempts were 80 clear of Cam Skattebo, who was second in the category. Jeanty finished with a jarring 2,595 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. His evasiveness in one-on-one scenarios alongside his top-end speed are the separators. Jeanty led the country in designed runs over 15 yards (36) and tallied over half of his rushing total (1,366) in breakaway situations. He averaged 6.4 yards per attempt over his three seasons in the FBS- Jeanty has been ready for Sundays. 

Primary Pick: Chicago Bears- Round 1, Pick 10
Secondary Pick: New York Giants- Round 1, Pick 3

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Omarion Hampton- North Carolina- 6’1”/ 220 lbs

Omarion Hampton has two trademarks of big-time NFL talent- size and explosiveness. At well over 200 pounds, he impressed at the NFL combine clocking a 4.46 40-yard-dash with a 38-inch vertical. Hampton’s ball security is jet-set; he fumbled a total of six times over three seasons in the ACC with 2,500 yards after contact. He is a competent receiver hauling in 72 of 80 career targets. His career FBS reception percentage (90.0%) is more than five points higher than that of Ashton Jeanty. Hampton must improve on gap-designed plays and running outside to become a staple in the NFL. He has big-play potential with 43.9% of his yardage coming on long runs last season.

Primary Pick: New York Giants- Round 2, Pick 34
Secondary Pick: Las Vegas Raiders- Round 2, Pick 37

Cam Skattebo- Arizona State- 5’11”/ 215 lbs

Cam Skattebo is a dual-threat back with an attitude. Fantasy managers- beware of this kid in the right system. Skattebo logged 1,712 rushing yards for the Sun Devils last year and was their most consequential asset in a championship-caliber season. He scored 21 touchdowns on the ground and added three scores through the air to go with 543 receiving yards. Skattebo grades out well on both zone and gap runs. He’s proved he can do both with 129 zone attempts and 166 gap attempts last year. Skattebo’s swiss-army-knife makeup is low-hanging fruit for a creative offensive coordinator. 

Primary Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars- Round 3, Pick 70
Secondary Pick: Green Bay Packers- Round 3, Pick 87

Kaleb Johnson- Iowa- 6’0”/ 225 lbs

Kaleb Johnson is another big-bodied running back with notable upside. He was third among FBS running backs last year in breakaway runs with 28. At his size and weight this is impressive, and a scary pairing with his nose for the end zone. Johnson’s 21 touchdowns last season cracked the top five at running back and he did not fumble, once. Only a quarter of Johnson’s career carries at Iowa were gap-style runs. He will need to study his film and diversify his game to adapt to mid-drive defensive shifts in the NFL.  

Primary Pick: Denver Broncos- Round 3, Pick 85
Secondary Pick: Los Angeles Chargers- Round 3, Pick 86

TreVeyon Henderson- Ohio State- 5’10”/ 208 lbs

TreVeyon Henderson just wrapped a stellar four-year career at Ohio State. He averaged 6.4 yards per attempt in his time in Columbus- this included a 7.0 mark last season. Barring injuries in 2022 and 2023, Henderson would have exceeded 4,000 yards to go with 42 rushing touchdowns in the FBS. He was seventh in yards after contact per attempt (4.43) among running backs last season with at least 100 carries. Henderson has the core elements of a playmaker- vision, good hands and top-end speed. 

Primary Pick: Miami Dolphins- Round 3, Pick 98
Secondary Pick: Cleveland Browns- Round 4, Pick 104

Dylan Sampson- Tennessee- 5’11”/ 201lbs

Dylan Sampson improved in all three years he played in the SEC- the best football conference in America. Last season he earned 258 carries on 287 total snaps. With a smaller frame Sampson is easily knocked for durability, but getting the ball at a 89.9% clip proves he has a workhorse ceiling if used properly. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry with 22 touchdowns in 2024. Sampson is unlikely to be a three-down back based on pass protection alone, but his ability to change directions will help him pop gains at the next level. He wont turn 21 until week one. The accelerated clock at his position is on his side, for now. 

Primary Pick: New Orleans Saints- Round 4, Pick 112
Secondary Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers- Round 4, Pick 123

RJ Harvey- UCF- 5’9”/ 208 lbs

RJ Harvey is already a savvy vet heading into his NFL draft. A former high school quarterback, Harvey changed spots in the backfield in college while overcoming a torn ACL he suffered in 2021. Yes, these injuries are cause for concern, but Harvey bounced back to the tune of 2,995 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He is a plus receiver for a running back- Harvey finished his FBS career in the 97th percentile in missed tackles forced on receptions. 

Primary Pick: Washington Commanders- Round 4, Pick 128
Secondary Pick: Seattle Seahawks- Round 4, Pick 137

Quinshon Judkins- Ohio State- 6’0”/218 lbs

Quinshon Judkins has late-round sleeper in his DNA. He has size and sneaky speed. Judkins ran a 4.48 40-yard-dash at 218 pounds at the combine. He also averaged over five yards per carry out on the edges last year at Ohio State. With his height, Judkins is a stout pass blocker and has potential to play three downs because of it. He does not make tacklers miss, but breaks their attempts to bring him down. Only time will tell if he can run over linebackers and safeties at the next level, which he will need to do lacking receiving skills. 

Primary Pick: Tennessee Titans- Round 5, Pick 141
Secondary Pick: Philadelphia Eagles- Round 5, Pick 165

DJ Giddens- Kansas State- 6’1”/ 212 lbs

DJ Giddens is a different iteration of the size and speed back in this range of the draft. Similar to Omarion Hampton, he has ability as a receiver and is more elusive than expected using his vision and footwork. Giddens does not break tackles as well as scouts would like, but he is willing to let his blockers set him up for the right path down field. If his decisiveness improves after reading his blocks, Giddens has the versatility to be effective in the NFL. In 2024 his two largest yardage totals came in the A-Gaps (417) and out wide (385). 

Primary Pick: San Francisco 49ers- Round 5, Pick 160
Secondary Pick: Houston Texans- Round 5, Pick 166

Damien Martinez- Miami (FL)- 5’11”/ 226 lbs

The power and speed trend continues with Damien Martinez. With a track background, Martinez can burst in straight lines and run away from defenders. Volume and changing direction are his drawbacks. Martinez averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per attempt over three seasons at Oregon State and Miami. He did not, however, eclipse 1,200 yards in any of them. The efficiency is there, but anchoring a backfield requires more usage than he has shown. Nonetheless, at nearly 230 pounds with 4.51 speed, get out of the way. 

Primary Pick:  Las Vegas Raiders- Round 6, Pick 213
Secondary Pick: Kansas City Chiefs- Round 7, Pick 226

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