Veteran Fantasy Running Backs: All Eyes on 2025 NFL Draft

by Samwise · Dynasty Leagues
2025 NFL Draft RB

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Veteran Running Backs on Pins and Needles Watching the 2025 NFL Draft

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 are about to learn if they’ll 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 kick it off with the Eastern divisions. Buckle up.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills | James Cook

A lot of eyebrows went up and were accompanied by hushed murmurs when Buffalo GM Brandon Beane said they were shelving talks of an extension with James Cook. The running back is reportedly seeking an extension that will pay him $15 million per year. That’s above what the running back franchise tag is currently worth.

Cook will turn 26 years old during the first month of the NFL season. A lot can be said for his production last year (1,267 yards from scrimmage, 18 total touchdowns), but it’s fair to ask how much that has to do with quarterback Josh Allen. Without the dynamic QB under center, Cook would not have had nearly as many opportunities to dine in the endzone. Allen is likely to have that effect on any potential replacement should the Bills choose not to re-sign Cook. Considering the contract “demand,” it’s safe to say the Bills might do a little window shopping. Current backfield mate Ray Davis is entering just his sophomore season in the NFL and is on a more favorable contract.

Davis will also turn 26 in the coming season, and the 5-foot-8, 220-pound bruiser is ready for his close-up. He could pair well with any sort of legitimate third-down pass-catching back going forward for Bills Mafia. It appears as though the writing is on the wall already for Cook after 2025. The question is, will we see a “changing of the guard” during the season?

New York Jets | Breece Hall

This should be an easy one. By now, most NFL fans have heard the rumblings about a committee backfield and the chances of Breece Hall being traded.

Rich Cimini covers the New York Jets of New Jersey (Central Park adjacent) for ESPN Nation. In this instance, however, there seems to be a little more “I’m hearing…” and “It sounds like…” for fans’ tastes. No direct quotes and a lot of “sources say” coming into play here, which should temper expectations of the story.

Breece Hall remains one of the premier fantasy backs in the NFL, regardless of the head coach or quarterback. Braelon Allen, who just turned 21 in January, has a bright future, and Isaiah Davis is a strong runner. The Jets are in an optimal situation with this backfield, and Hall will remain the focal point. The likelihood of this becoming any sort of Hydra-style backfield is somewhere between slim and none, and slim’s already left town. The Jets hold the No. 7 pick in the upcoming draft, so what’s to stop them from throwing up as many smoke screens as possible? This is standard operating procedure for a team not wanting to show its hand, and Gang Green has bigger fish to fry.

Miami Dolphins | Jaylen Wright

Speaking of fish, Jaylen Wright wowed scouts at last year’s combine. The 5″10″, 210-pound strongman whipped off a 4.38-second 40-yard dash time, and that was enough for head coach Mike McDaniel. Coach McDaniel has long been known to covet speed from his skill positions. Thanks to some questionable injury history from backfield mate De’Von Achane, many fans in South Beach thought they’d be seeing the birth of the fastest-ever two-headed monster in 2024. It didn’t come to pass, however. Achane staved off injuries throughout the season, and when stalwart runner Raheem Mostert was inactive for four games and missed parts of two more, Wright was largely forgotten.

Whether this was because of being unconvincing in weekly practice or in-game opportunities, fantasy managers and fans were quick to give up on Wright, as he would cede far more carries to Achane. Mostert was given an “atta boy” on his way out of Miami and quickly signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. The conundrum remains: Not much has changed for McDaniel. He prefers a committee approach led by Achane, but it’s unlikely they’ll sit on their proverbial hands during the draft. Did Wright, with just 68 carries and a lackluster 3.7 yards per attempt (YPA) disappoint the coaching staff? Will he move further down the totem pole in favor of an electric rookie emerging onto the scene? Or does Wright finally get a full look? Dynasty managers with shares of the Tennessee product are crossing their fingers.

New England Patriots | Rhamondre Stevenson & Antonio Gibson

Rhamondre Stevenson was given a contract extension last off-season totaling an additional four years and $36 million. Antonio Gibson still has two years left on his deal, although there is a team “out” right now. The Patriots could conceivably send him packing with just over $3 million of dead cap. The two running backs are a combined 53 years old and don’t exactly fit the “youth movement” that the Patriots are set to deploy alongside quarterback Drake Maye. And then, we’d be remiss not to mention the fumbles:

That’s right. After seven fumbles in his previous three seasons, Stevenson put the ball on the ground seven more times in 2024. The only running back with fewer attempts per fumble is… Antonio Gibson. A franchise struggling to right the ship and keep its head above water cannot afford to cater to two backs that have combined for 28 cases of fumbleitis in their short careers. It’s well-documented that the Patriots are likely to be in play for a big-name wide receiver in this class. You can nearly set your watch to the idea that they’ll also bring new blood at fantasy running back to Foxborough from this deep draft.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles

Not all running backs are losing sleep over this upcoming NFL draft. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) Saquan Barkley has visions of sugarplums and dollar bills dancing in his head. The Super Bowl champions are particularly deep at running back, with no less than five backups behind their stud leader. Newly signed A.J. Dillon and second-year battering ram Will Shipley are the immediate relief on the depth chart. This should make up for the loss of Kenneth Gainwell, who traversed the Keystone State to play for Mike Tomlin.

Barkley’s performance during the 2024-25 season set a new rushing record for total yards (including playoffs) and brought some breathtaking highlights. Given Philly’s roster depth, even a deep running back class shouldn’t steal the focus from other positions of need as they begin their quest to defend their title in 2025-26.

Washington Commanders | Brian Robinson Jr. & Austin Ekeler

The Commanders are an interesting case study. They found (and drafted) their new dynamo in Jayden Daniels at the quarterback position with the second overall pick in last year’s draft. However, their aging core at the remaining skill positions significantly limits their window. In free agency this offseason, the most aggressive move the team made was giving wide receiver Terry McLaurin a running mate in former 49er Deebo Samuel. The combined age of the two is set to be a whopping 60 years old during the 2025 season. On top of that, still featured is 800-yard-old Zach Ertz listed on the depth chart above second-year tight end Ben Sinnott. Sinnott will likely overtake Ertz and his mobile oxygen tank soon enough, but there’s little target competition for the wideouts.

Ah, but we’re here for fantasy running backs…

That leaves us with the running backs. While Brian Robinson (age 26) can still produce, his statistics have been largely pedestrian— catching 36 passes in 2023 being the only meaningful number. “B Rob” has also yet to play a full season; he maxed out with 15 appearances in ’23 and had 13 and 12 active games in ’24 and ’22, respectively. Austin Ekeler will turn 30 in the coming season and has demonstrated susceptibility to injury in the last pair of seasons. Washington could choose to eat a $1.5 million dead-cap total in favor of pairing an electric rookie in the backfield with Daniels. This would result in the veteran Robinson almost assuredly returning to a third-down featured role (one that he is most suited for) and allow Eckler to ride off into the sunset.

Adding a fiery back like Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) could be a match made in heaven. They’ll need to snatch him up before Pittsburgh can, however. After making the playoffs last season, Washington is on the rise. They’ll need to add youth to remain relevant, which is why their skill position core will be sweating bullets watching the team’s limited (five) picks in the 2025 draft. They’ll be looking to make a big splash on each one.

Dallas Cowboys | Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn

Jerry Jones is so keen on hitting it big at the position in this draft that he let the one reliable piece he had to walk away. Once given a fair shake and removed from the sloth-like shadow of an aging Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle displayed his ability both on the ground and through the air. He finished the season with 1,328 scrimmage yards with over 1,000 rushing. Ironically, he signed with Carolina during free agency while Dallas completed the unintentional RB swap by bringing in Miles Sanders from the Panthers.

The Cowboys own the No. 12 pick at the end of the month. The biggest splash “Jerry World” could make would be hopping up the board (likely ahead of Las Vegas) to select Ashton Jeanty as the premier running back who has been turning heads since his arrival at Boise St. in 2022. Whoever they select is set to be the unquestioned starter. Sanders has been bordering on useless since his departure from Philadelphia in 2023. Deuce Vaughn is about as accomplished (and sized) as an end table. Newly signed Javonte Williams still has something to prove and could be an extremely valuable third-down asset.

Two things are for sure: Dallas will go after a running back who is guaranteed to put up the numbers they felt were lacking last season. Also, Ashton Jeanty or not, fantasy football managers (whether dynasty or redraft) will be falling all over each other to secure the backfield future of the Cowboys from this draft.

New York Giants | Tyrone Tracy & Devin Singletary

After a strong showing to close out 2023 with the Houston Texans, Devin Singletary agreed to a deal with the Giants during the legal tampering period of 2024 free agency. Surprisingly, the New York Giants of New Jersey (at the Meadowland Sports Complex) gave Singletary $16.5 million over three years to “replace” the departed Barkley. They didn’t know it at the time, but a converted college-wideout-turned-running back would have some say in the matter.

The Giants took Tyrone Tracy during the fifth round of the 2024 draft. This was even though he was set to turn 25 in November after spending six seasons in college. For those math majors out there, that means he’ll be 26 during the 2025 season. Singletary is staring down 28. It’s ideal timing for the Giants to invade a deep running back class and secure some future at the position.

Tyrone Tracy is playing for chump change as a fifth-round pick, and the G-Men have an out clause for Singletary after the 2025 season. It would not be surprising at all for New York to go fishing in the rookie pool for new relevant running back names that will affect fantasy managers in the draft. It could relegate Singletary to a third-down threat at best and Tracy to a kick returner and gadget player. Come at me, Jersey residents. I can handle it.

Fantasy Running Backs A-Plenty in The Draft

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 divisions of each conference. Let’s continue through two-a-days with the south divisions tomorrow. 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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