2025 NFL Draft Rookie Fantasy Fallout: Running Backs (Part 2)
Running backs are what make the world go ’round! Fantasy managers love to talk about running backs because, as mentioned before, the position is always a great investment to make in fantasy football every single year, so in today’s discussion, we will be going over four more rookie running backs and breaking down their fantasy outlooks for 2025 and beyond.
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, most analysts expected RJ Harvey to go in the third or fourth round, so when the UCF running back went in the second round to the Denver Broncos, many were surprised, including myself. Draft capital tells us a lot about a player, and it is clear that the NFL, specifically Sean Payton, is very high on Harvey, so we should be paying attention to that as a fantasy community. In terms of Harvey’s 2025 fantasy outlook, I am very excited about it personally. We know that Sean Payton loves to utilize his backs in the receiving game out of the backfield, which Harvey can do. I am not saying that RJ Harvey is Alvin Kamara, but you can see the similarities between the two in terms of their role in Sean Payton’s offense. The Denver Broncos’ offense is also a very fantasy-friendly environment and ecosystem. Bo Nix is coming off a pretty good rookie season, and this team has a good core of weapons surrounding Harvey. The only “concern” I have with Harvey is the presence of Audric Estime, as he profiles more as a big, between-the-tackles runner so that he might get a bulk of the goal-line carries and opportunities in this offense next season. Despite that slight worry, RJ Harvey is set up for massive volume and success under Sean Payton in 2025 and beyond.
This might sound crazy, but I would consider taking RJ Harvey over Quinshon Judkins in dynasty rookie drafts over the next few weeks. If you are willing to wait a year or so to receive high-level production, go with Judkins. But if you need instant year 1 impact, go with Harvey. Harvey is more of the 2025 Redraft play, and Judkins is more of the long-term dynasty play, if you ask me.
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kaleb Johnson going to the Pittsburgh Steelers is a perfect fit for redraft and dynasty purposes. While Najee Harris was never the most explosive and efficient running back in the world, he always got a ton of volume in four years under Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. Once Tomlin locks in on a guy, he will give that player a ton of volume in this offense, and Kaleb Johnson profiles as a big, bruising back who can handle a ton of carries and opportunities. If Johnson is a more explosive version of Najee Harris in this offense, the talented young back is set up for massive success in 2025 and beyond. The only thing Johnson might not see in this offense is the receiving work, which will likely go to Jaylen Warren. Warren is a nice, fun change of pace receiving back, but he is nowhere near a volume player. He has never been, and probably never will be, as much as fans might want him to be.
I am willing to be relatively aggressive on Kaleb Johnson in 2025 redraft leagues based on sheer volume alone. Plus, this Steelers offense does not have a quarterback right now, so the team will be leaning on Johnson to move the ball down the field and punch it into the endzone when they get down there, even if those opportunities are limited. Regarding Kaleb Johnson’s dynasty outlook, I am willing to be aggressive on this player and take him in the late first round of rookie drafts solely because of the fit and projected workload alone. This is a dream scenario for both redraft and dynasty.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten is a bit overvalued right now if you ask me. The speedy running back is currently going squarely in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts, sometimes as early as the second round, and I just do not get it. Yes, I understand that Tuten is speedy and explosive, but I question his role and fit in this Jaguars offense personally, especially in year 1. New Jaguars GM James Gladstone took Tuten when the team did not need a running back, but Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are still around in this backfield as experienced players in this system. So Tuten will have a lot of work to do to pass even one of those guys in the pecking order, let alone both. Fantasy managers should be hoping that one of Etienne or Bigsby is traded this summer before week one rolls around, but at this point, that is highly unlikely.
From a redraft perspective, this Jacksonville backfield will be a mess in 2025, as it looks like all three backs will get work. This backfield will be an ugly committee this season, and it seems like neither Etienne, Bigsby, nor Tuten will be a rosterable fantasy asset this year. I would stay away from the Jacksonville Jaguars backfield as a whole in drafts this summer because it will be a mess.
I am not all that high on Bhayshul Tuten for dynasty purposes, either. Travis Etienne is a free agent after this season, so fantasy managers expect the veteran running back to leave Jacksonville, but what if that does not happen? What if Liam Coen wants to resign Etienne to keep a veteran in the room to continue to mentor Tuten? If that is the case, this backfield will again be an ugly split between Etienne and Tuten beyond just 2025. If Bhayshul Tuten somehow falls to the fourth round in your rookie draft, then absolutely take him, just for the ceiling and explosiveness alone. But if he starts to get pushed up to the second or third round, pass and let someone else deal with this messy Jacksonville backfield.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Cam Skattebo went a little later than expected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but that does not mean that his fantasy value should be suddenly diminished because of it. On paper, it might look like this backfield will be an annoying split between Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo. But if you ask me, Tyrone Tracy is on shaky ground heading into this season. The young running back showed some nice flashes as a rookie last year, but ultimately, he has a lot going against him in the NFL. Tracy is still relatively new to the running back position, has volume concerns, and has major ball security issues. Tyrone Tracy had four fumbles last year, which is a lot for an NFL starting running back. Brian Daboll did not waste any time replacing Tracy, as he inserted Devin Singletary into the lineup once Tracy started having these fumbling issues. Cam Skattebo, on the other hand, does not have any of these concerns, as the fourth-round running back showed in college that he can handle a ton of volume, and he rarely fumbled the ball throughout his college career, either. I expect Cam Skattebo to take over this New York Giants’ backfield pretty quickly this season, as soon as week one. That is how much I love Cam Skattebo’s talent and fit in this offense. I am 100% fading Tyrone Tracy in redraft leagues in 2025, and I will not be drafting him anywhere this summer, no matter how far he may fall. Instead, I will happily take a high-upside rookie in Cam Skattebo, who could be a league winner this year if everything breaks right.
For Cam Skattebo’s dynasty value, I am even more excited about his outlook in this format going forward. It seems that, once again, the New York Giants will be one of the worst teams in the league in 2025, so the team will turn to Jaxson Dart, their first-round pick from this year, in 2026. This is great for Cam Skattebo because a high-level first-round quarterback means a better offensive ecosystem for everyone involved, and more touchdown opportunity for Skattebo, I am willing to be very aggressive on Cam Skattebo in rookie drafts right now, as I will be taking him in the early part of the second round. That might seem high for the rookie running back, but I am very high on Cam Skattebo for both 2025 redraft leagues and dynasty leagues beyond that.