Ideal Landing Spots in the 2025 NFL Draft: Running Back

We are mere days (maybe even hours as you read this) away from the official kickoff of the 2025 NFL Draft. Whether you’re a dynasty degenerate, a best ball freak or a more casual redraft player — or all of the above, like me — the picks announced Thursday, Friday and Saturday are going to change the landscape of fantasy football for the next season and the next decade. Specifically, the landing spots for some of the class’s top prospects are going to have a major effect on their value and the expectations we set for them as incoming rookies.

This is arguably never more true than it is for running backs, whose potential in fantasy is so heavily tied to the scheme and success of their offense. And while our best guesses early in draft week are just that, guesses, they can help paint the picture for both the prospects and the teams that draft them. For the 2025 class in particular, the running back group is arguably the crown jewel, and we can likely expect the seven names below (and maybe a couple more) to be selected on days one and two of the draft, which gives them immediate impact potential in fantasy. Let’s tackle each prospect and try to pinpoint their somewhat realistic ideal landing spots heading into Thursday night. As a note, these aren’t predictions — just the best possible outcomes, within reason.

Ideal Landing Spots in the NFL Draft: Running Back

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Ideal Fit: Dallas Cowboys (trade up)

Even casual NFL fans and fantasy players have likely heard the name Ashton Jeanty. He’s often touted as the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley. His most common player comps are first-ballot Hall of Famers like LaDainian Tomlinson and Barry Sanders. Last season, he won or runner-upped (in the case of the Heisman) every relevant award and acknowledgment, thanks to legitimate video game numbers: 397 touches, 2,739 scrimmage yards, 30 scrimmage touchdowns. His missed-tackle and yards-after-contact numbers are even more comical. His tape is absolute cinema. Elite contact balance, elite vision, elite burst, shifty in space but powerful in traffic, the list goes on. And while you can knock his size — 5-foot-8, 211 pounds — there’s an argument to be made that his short, stocky frame simply makes him harder to tackle, in the vein of guys like Austin Ekeler and Kenneth Walker III.

Jeanty is almost certainly coming off the board somewhere in the top six picks … but not necessarily to a team already waiting there. My ideal landing spot: The Dallas Cowboys, with a big move into the top five early Thursday night. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is a 14-year offensive coordinator (who, incidentally, coached Tomlinson in 2010 with the Jets), owner/GM Jerry Jones has always loved investing in running backs, and the team is desperate for a star at the position (Cowboys-themed pun intended) after an abysmal 2024 season. Trading up would indicate deep faith in Jeanty and come with a massive “centerpiece of our offense” tag. And more than Vegas or Chicago (another trade-up candidate), the existing offensive pieces in Dallas — Dak Prescott at the helm, CeeDee Lamb on the outside — would keep opposing defenses from keying on Jeanty. They were a top-four scoring offense three straight years before the lack of a run game killed them last season. Jeanty fixes that problem and would ride the offensive surge to immediate high-end RB1 upside in fantasy.

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Ideal Fit: Denver Broncos (20th overall)

Most analysts consider Omarion Hampton to be the clear-cut No. 2 running back in this class, and he is the only back other than Jeanty who is commonly expected to go in the first round. Where Jeanty is the complete package, Hampton is more of a one-lane stud: he’s a size-speed demon with a punishing, downhill running style that makes him very hard to stop once he gets going. He ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at 221 pounds and I’ve compared him to Ezekiel Elliott and Rashaad Penny, if that gives you an idea of his style and athleticism. He also has exceptional contact balance, which means tackling him is somewhat akin to knocking a freight train off the tracks … if he has a chance to get on the tracks.

And therein lies the rub with Hampton. Perhaps more than any other back in the class, his upside is elevated most by an offense with a strong line that can open holes to accelerate his progression downfield. He doesn’t have that “something-out-of-nothing” evasion or backfield creativity. Therefore, while sending him to the Bears at 10th overall is tempting simply for the draft capital boost, Hampton’s ideal landing spot is also his most likely: the Broncos at 20th. Denver has what is widely considered one of the best starting O-lines in the league and next to no RB competition on their depth chart (Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime are no threat to a first-round pick). Hampton would be a huge addition for promising young QB Bo Nix and could quickly become the playmaking focal point of the offense.

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

Ideal Fit: Los Angeles Chargers (22nd overall)

I won’t bury the lede here: Yes, TreVeyon Henderson’s ideal landing spot is the Los Angeles team with a freshly signed Najee Harris. Hear me out. After Hampton, Henderson is the one other running back with decent odds of going on Day 1, which is a big deal for backs. He’s the incredibly explosive “Lightning” half of the Ohio State duo (see below for the “Thunder”), who will bring game-breaking big-play ability to an NFL offense. Henderson ran a 4.43 at the combine (on which he reached 23.38 miles per hour) and earned the highest Next Gen Stats “Athleticism Score” among the backs that attended. He’s a quick accelerator who will blow through holes and be on the second level before you can say “Jim Harbaugh,” but he also has good vision and lateral agility, and is an accomplished pass-catcher and superb pass-blocker. His biggest red flags are arguably size — 5-foot-10, 202 pounds — and durability, which make him an immediately intriguing candidate for a Jahmyr Gibbs–David Montgomery style backfield duo.

Now you see where I’m going with this. For at least this season, as Harris is on just a one-year deal, he and Henderson are a perfect pair. Harris is a dependable rock between the tackles and Henderson brings the juice Harris has never had. The rookie would give LA a dynamic element they don’t currently possess and allow Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman to mix and match weapons to their heart’s content (as long as they can set aside Wolverine-Buckeye rivalries). And if he proves himself (and stays healthy), chances are Henderson would get the reins in 2026 (a la Gibbs). It may not be ideal specifically for redraft in 2025, but the Chargers are Henderson’s best bet for a long-term fantasy (and NFL) career.

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

Ideal Fit: Chicago Bears (39th or 41st overall)

Here’s the aforementioned “Thunder” from the 2024 Buckeyes (and previously Ole Miss). Quinshon Judkins is the absolute physical prototype for a running back: 6-foot-even, 221 pounds, 4.4 speed and an 11-foot broad jump to boot. His size-athleticism profile puts him in a legitimate conversation with prospects like Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor. PlayerProfiler has him in the 91st percentile on Speed Score, the 94th percentile on Burst Score, and the 82nd percentile on the bench press, and their comp for him is Nick Chubb. Overall, I comp him closer to Chubb’s former teammate, Kareem Hunt, or to Joe Mixon. He’s a very well-rounded back, with the vision to find the hole and the explosiveness to capitalize on it, and both the agility to avoid tackles and the contact balance to survive them when they land. While his tape shows a solid pass-catcher, his production in that department isn’t flashy, so he may end up paired with a good third-down back (like he was last year at Ohio State).

While the Bears could be in the market for any of the three guys we’ve already mentioned, snagging Judkins with either of their early seconds (39th and 41st overall) might be the best value play. He’d be a superb complement to the smaller, more proven receiver in D’Andre Swift for 2025, and if Chicago takes their out on Swift’s contract next offseason, Judkins has the tools to be a bell-cow feature back behind an improved O-line and an (optimistically) improved Caleb Williams moving forward.

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Ideal Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall or trade up)

Landing spots aren’t always about plug-and-play transitions from one player to another, but in this particular case, the fit is amusingly suitable. Kaleb Johnson is arguably the most reliable runner in this class (outside of Jeanty, I suppose), with a patience and shiftiness behind the line that often draws visual comparisons to … Le’Veon Bell. His 1.9 yards before contact per attempt last year was better than Jeanty’s 1.7, and only Jeanty (5.3) outstripped Johnson’s 4.4 yards after contact per attempt (among backs with 200+ carries). At 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, he has prototypical size and possesses surprising quickness and agility, despite lacking in flashy long speed. Great vision and toughness through traffic make Johnson very hard to bring down behind the line, which is why “reliable” is such a fitting descriptor. I’ve comped him to James Conner or Brian Robinson Jr., but another name that’s gotten some traction is … Najee Harris.

After watching Harris walk in free agency, the Steelers are forced to consider whether Jaylen Warren can be a feature back. I don’t think he should be, and I doubt Mike Tomlin or Arthur Smith want him to be. Enter Johnson, who would be a perfect Harris replacement and could very realistically reproduce his yearly RB2 fantasy output — plus, he’d get to keep the black-and-gold(ish) from his Hawkeye days. The real win would be if Pittsburgh reached for Johnson at 21st overall, but if they don’t, they may be forced to trade up from 83rd, as they don’t own their second-round pick.

Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

Ideal Fit: Cleveland Browns (67th overall)

Cam Skattebo is one of the most unique prospects in this entire draft (if not the most), let alone the running back position. From a production standpoint, Skattebo’s 2024 at Arizona State was bonkers: 293 carries, 45 receptions, 2,316 scrimmage yards and 24 scrimmage touchdowns, earning him fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He’s one of just three prospects (along with Jay Ajayi and Larry Johnson) since 2000 to post a season with 250 carries, 40 catches, 2,300 yards and 20 touchdowns. On tape, he’s an absolute wrecking ball, sporting elite contact balance that has led some to name Alvin Kamara as one of his best comps. Daniel Jeremiah compared him to “the Plinko chip from The Price is Right,” and that might be the most accurate comp you’ll get for him this draft cycle. He spent three years at Sacramento State in the FCS, lacks top-end speed and is theoretically “small,” especially given his punishing running style, all of which have mock drafters sliding him down to day three. I disagree, disagree and disagree. He obliterated elite competition last year, including 242 scrimmage yards, two rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown, and the Peach Bowl Offensive MVP award in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Texas. He ran a 4.65 at his Pro Day, and even if that’s a little generous, players with similar speed like Kyren Williams and James Conner are more than capable of RB1 production. And he’s the exact same size as Josh Jacobs (with an arguably stockier build) … who is second only to Derrick Henry in scrimmage touches since he was drafted in 2019.

*Deep breath.* I know that was a lot. Skattebo requires it. As for his landing spot, I’m going with the Cleveland Browns — and no, for the love of Brownie the Elf, this has nothing to do with Peyton Hillis Cleveland is one of just five teams that brought in Skattebo for a draft visit, and he was one of just two backs they brought in (along with Judkins). They’re looking for a successor to Nick Chubb and will absolutely not enter the season with just Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. on the roster. In an ideal world, Skattebo would be the pick at 67th overall (I’m not foolish enough to think he goes 33rd) after Cleveland manages to snag both Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders earlier (a riveting series of moves that’s gaining momentum in recent weeks). Any way you slice it, I think he’d be the clear-cut No. 1 in that RB room and an exquisite fit for AFC North football.

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Ideal Fit: Houston Texans (79th or 89th overall)

At 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, Dylan Sampson is the smallest of the backs in this piece, and one of the smallest in the entire class. Fortunately, he also has elite vision and electric feet, which make him a difficult target to hit (especially at that size) — he forced 70 missed tackles at Tennessee last year, fourth-most among Power-Five backs. His dynamic running style and mental advantage might be enough to offset the size concerns, and his 22 touchdowns in 2024 (tied with RJ Harvey for most in the Power Five) are extremely encouraging in a sticky metric that often translates to NFL success. On the flip side, his lack of receiving production is notable at a size where pass-catching chops are often a critical asset in the league (and especially in fantasy).

My comps for Sampson were Tyjae Spears and Giovani Bernard, which would suggest he’s more likely to fit a “change of pace” role than be an RB1 (for his team or for fantasy). That might be most valuable for the Texans, where a soon-to-be-29-year-old Joe Mixon (former backfield mate to Bernard) could use more than a few snaps off, and where the entire offense could use a spark (especially without Tank Dell). Moreover, Houston has an out in Mixon’s contract after this year, and even if he sticks around, it could be in a reduced short-yardage role if Sampson earns increased touches (again, a la Jahmyr Gibbs). Despite their 2024 struggles, Houston has the makings of a great offense when healthy, and Sampson could be a valuable flex player with RB2 upside if they get back on track. If he snags third-round draft capital, I’ll be more intrigued than I currently am (which is a little lower than consensus).