Veteran RBs Who Might Lose Their Jobs During the 2025 NFL Draft

Last season, just one running back was selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. It was Jonathon Brooks, who headlined a rather weak class at the position.

That is absolutely not happening this time around.

The 2025 rookie running back class is absolutely loaded, which is both great and nerve-wrecking for fantasy football purposes. We love these talented players landing in favorable spots and getting a ton of work early in their careers but at the same time, we are fearful of the veterans who could lose their jobs at some point.

The sweat is on.

RBs Who Could Lose Their Job in the 2025 NFL Draft

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

The 2024 season started with Zack Moss operating as Cincinnati’s lead running back. During the first four weeks of the season, Brown was only logging about 30% of the snaps, 37% of the team’s non-QB rushes and just nine touches per game. The next four weeks, Brown slowly got more involved but became an every-down player once Moss’ season ended early. From Week 9 on, Brown handled 85% of the snaps, 18.9 rush attempts, 5.5 targets, 4.8 receptions, 37.4 receiving yards, 23.6 touches and 20.9 PPR points per game. Only Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson averaged more touches per game during that stretch.

Fast forward to this offseason, and it is no secret the Bengals are looking to add to their backfield. The team hosted running backs such as TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Kaleb Johnson for visits. The team has a potential out with Moss this offseason, while he’s set to hit free agency regardless in 2026. While Brown was awesome for fantasy to end the season, we’re still talking about a 5-foot-10, 210-pound player who won’t come close to the same volume he saw. Efficiency wise, Brown ranked 29th in yards per carry (4.2), 24th in EPA/ATT (-0.063) and 47th in explosive rush rate (7.3%) from Week 9 on, per the FTN Fantasy Statshub. In dynasty leagues, I’d absolutely see if anyone is interested in trading for Brown before the draft.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Let’s stay in the AFC North, shall we? For a few years now, the fantasy community has salivated over the idea of Warren getting a starter’s workload. He’s flirted with fantasy greatness for a while now and it feels like every single time he touches the ball, he makes something happen. And with Najee Harris now in Los Angeles, there will be more opportunities for Warren to make things happen. Since 2022, Warren has recorded at least 12 touches in 19 games. In those contests, he’s averaging 10.8 rushing attempts, 56.5 rushing yards, 24.9 receiving yards and 13.3 PPR points per game. For reference, that would have been good for RB21 this past season. Harris, meanwhile, averaged just 16.6 PPR points per game in 17 games with 20-plus touches during that same span.

Harris hasn’t missed a game in his NFL career, so we haven’t had a chance to see Warren handle a full workload. He’s a very similar running back to Chase Brown, and I fully expect the Steelers to not just add a rookie in the draft, but a rookie who will take 40-50% of the work. They already have had visits with TreVeyon Henderson and RJ Harvey. Fortunately, Warren can still have a career year even if that happens. Pittsburgh posted the league’s fifth-highest neutral script rush rate in 2024 (47.8%), allowing multiple running backs to be fantasy relevant in this offense. Don’t expect 250 touches from Warren but also don’t panic when the Steelers draft a running back next week.

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

I was pretty surprised to see running backs linked to the Cardinals. Conner, though often banged up, continues to play at a high level, while the team just selected Trey Benson at the top of the third round last year. However, when you look at it more closely, the team has a potential out with Conner following this season, who will be entering his age-31 season. He’s missed at least 2-3 games every year he’s been in Arizona and if the Cardinals invest significant draft capital on a running back, it could foreshadow the end of Conner’s tenure in the desert. Arizona had a top-30 visit with Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo and there has been plenty of intrigue there.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

Last year’s rookie running back class was headlined by the great play of Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay and Tracy in New York. A converted wide receiver, Tracy impressed throughout camp and eventually took the starting job once Devin Singletary missed time. From Week 5 on, Tracy averaged 13.8 carries, 2.6 catches and 13.5 PPR points per game. Solid, but nothing spectacular. There’s no doubt that the selection of Tracy in the fifth round of last year’s draft can be deemed as a success. But he also didn’t necessarily do anything to keep the Giants from addressing the position this time around. New York has plenty of picks, including two in the third round, which could be prime running back territory.

Javonte Williams/Miles Sanders, Dallas Cowboys

Please. Please, Dallas. Go draft your starting running back. For whatever reason, the Cowboys were content with moving on from Rico Dowdle and bringing in Williams and Sanders. From Week 9 on last season, Dowdle had 833 rushing yards. Williams and Sanders, meanwhile, combined for 718 rushing yards all season long. Williams just hasn’t been the same since his ACL tear, while Sanders, after getting a hefty contract from the Panthers, almost immediately lost his job to Chuba Hubbard. We aren’t sure if Dallas will go running back early in the draft or possibly with one of their two fifth-rounders later on. But they’ll be adding someone. Omarion Hampton, please.

Other RBs at Risk

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears