A quartet of rookie running backs battles for fantasy relevance in 2025, and the path to weekly touches looks distinctly clear for Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, RJ Harvey, and Kaleb Johnson. Jeanty lands with Las Vegas, stepping into a Raiders backfield that could lean heavily on a dynamic rookie if training-camp chatter proves true. Hampton lands in Los Angeles with the Chargers, where a multi-faceted backfield could still offer a high-end RB2 ceiling. Harvey lands in Denver with the Broncos, where he’ll compete for touches in a familiar land of high-volume rushing when the offense clicks. Johnson lands in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers’ run game could lean on a bruiser who can punch in goal-line opportunities. Even with floor-raising competition, each rookie carries a plausible route to meaningful fantasy production in 2025.

Across the board, the rookies are positioned to maximize upside in flexible formats, with Jeanty highlighted as a potential year-one feature back in a run-focused Raiders attack; Hampton as a high-upside RB2 in a Chargers system that blends explosiveness and receiving aptitude; Harvey as a credible RB2 with receiving upside in a Broncos scheme that has shown patience with backs who can catch; and Johnson as a 850+ yard, eight-TD type talent who could push for lead-back duties in Pittsburgh’s short-yardage role. Draft whispers and camp chatter align with a broader fantasy trend: rookies who land in flexible, high-volume offenses can become league-winners even if early-season workload is capped.

Rookies aren’t a guaranteed path to RB1 glory, but the 2024 season’s breakout classmates—Thomas Jr., Bowers, and Daniels—set a blueprint: frequent touches, a role that expands as the year progresses, and a receiving game component that can anchor a fantasy manager’s floor. Jeanty, Hampton, Harvey, and Johnson each offer distinct avenues to top-5 or top-12 fantasy output in 2025, making late-round targets with real upside appealing for managers aiming to unlock a surprise breakout during the season.

Ashton Jeanty looms as a breakout back for the 2025 fantasy season, with the Las Vegas Raiders poised to lean on his unique blend of burst and contact balance for early-down work. Raheem Mostert is projected to handle some third-down duties to start the year, creating a plausible two-man mix that could maximize Jeanty’s touches without overtaxing the veteran.

Projected 2025 stats place Jeanty at 261 rushing attempts for 1,176 yards (4.5 per carry) with 11 rushing TDs, plus 39 receptions on 58 targets for 354 yards and a receiving TD, totaling around 12 scores. The combination of solid rushing volume and receiving involvement makes him a high-upside sleeper in redraft and dynasty formats.

In short, Jeanty is being viewed as the lead early-down option for Las Vegas, with a clear path to meaningful fantasy production if the backfield role solidifies early in the season. His ADP is described as lofty for the summer, but the workload projections support a strong fantasy appeal in multiple formats.

Coach Mike McDaniel and General Manager Chris Grier are implementing significant changes to the Miami Dolphins' roster after three seasons of struggles. The team has bid farewell to players who were not aligned with their vision, including Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, and Raheem Mostert. This offseason has focused on rejuvenating the oldest roster in the league by bringing in younger talent and shedding unproductive contracts. As training camps approach, there's a palpable mix of hope and skepticism among fans regarding whether this revamped approach will bear fruit.

In 2025, the Miami Dolphins have reshaped their running back lineup. De’Von Achane will continue to be the team's primary running back, while the offseason saw the departure of veterans Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert. The Dolphins are looking towards a promising future with second-year player Jaylen Wright stepping into a more significant role. With a focus on youth, the Dolphins are likely to emphasize the speed and versatility of Achane along with the fresh energy that Wright brings to the backfield.