Carolina’s backfield is branded for an old-school ground game, with Hubbard and Dowdle shaping a reliable 1-2 punch that fantasy managers will chase in 2025. In Seattle, Kenneth Walker III faces a tough bounce-back arc as Zach Charbonnet looms as a legitimate workhorse-in-waiting. Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs is pegged for a historic, multi-thousand-yard year from scrimmage, while Isiah Pacheco projects to top 1,000 rushing yards even if the Chiefs’ offense evolves by 2026. The Jaguars’ RBs look set for a crowded, pass-first attack, with Etienne, Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten all carrying upside.

ESPN’s 12-team fantasy mock draft (PPR) muscles through the final week of NFL preaseason with a flurry of bold calls, most notably Stephania Bell grabbing Las Vegas rookie Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 overall in a bid to reverse-engineer late-round upside. The board still anchors on Barkley, McCaffrey, Jefferson and Chase, but several rooks and pass-catchers push into the mix as immediate-week 1 favorites or high-upside darts. The exercise also stacks top targets like McCaffrey, Lamb and Nabers behind strong offenses, while a handful of veteranRBs and WRs who carry multi-team appeal pepper the later rounds. The draft leans into big-play potential, with contending teams like the Raiders, Bengals, Vikings, and Lions placing emphasis on dynamic backfields and pass-catching corps. In sum, this mock underscores the ongoing value of combining established stars with risers who could deliver spike weeks in Week 1 and beyond, while also highlighting the risk-reward calculus of rookie and mid-round targets in a 12-team, PPR setting.

Across the table, the lesson for fantasy managers is clear: anticipate role clarity early and roster versatility late. A few players—Nacua, Achane, Gibbs, London and Nabers—emerge as potential league-winners if opportunities align, while others carry day-one uncertainty, especially in volatile backfields. The mock reinforces the importance of zero-RB flexibility, mid-round handcuffs, and the discipline to pivot when preseason chatter shifts before Week 1.

Chase stands as the safest top pick at wide receiver for fantasy in 2025, driven by a stable Bengals offense and Burrow’s ceiling. He led all WRs in fantasy points and points per game last season, and Cincinnati’s coaching and personnel remain unchanged, reducing regression risk despite the usual year-over-year drop-off for a first overall scorer. Bijan Robinson slices through the RB landscape with remarkable consistency, flashing over 70% of Falcons snaps and 17 carries in nearly every game across the back half of 2024, hinting at sustained value even if some regression is possible.

Jahmyr Gibbs sits among the most intriguing 1-2 RB targets, having finished with elite per-carry metrics in the Lions’ backfield and the prospect of a larger role with offensive tweaks in Detroit. Justin Jefferson continues to be a linchpin for the Vikings, his production bolstered by a high-end receiving grade and strong yards-per-route metrics, though his fantasy finish hinges on development around him. Barkley posted the highest RB fantasy points in 2024 but carries more volatility; Kirk Cousins’ connection with Jefferson compounds the Vikings’ upside as the offense stabilizes into 2025. Nathan Jahnke’s rankings accompany profiles that translate directly to smart draft-day moves for redraft, dynasty, and DFS alike.

RotoBaller rolls out updated 2025 fantasy football PPR RB rankings for redraft leagues, led by Barkley, Robinson, Gibbs, and McCaffrey at the very top. The updated tiering blends proven workhorses with pass-catching backs poised for heavy volume, while backfields lean toward committees that could reshape weekly touches. Eyes stay on the back of the Falcons, Chiefs, Jaguars, and Patriots as ADPs shift with off-season moves and depth-chart tweaks.

Bijan Robinson's ceiling remains sky-high, the Isiah Pacheco workload question looms after 2024 injuries and signings, and Etienne's Jacksonville group could fragment early-down work. TreVeyon Henderson shows PPR upside in New England, Bhayshul Tuten levels the Jaguars' backfield, and a deeper corps—think Williams, White, and fellow pass-catchers—gives fantasy managers more late-round pivots and risk-adjusted week-to-week planning. Expect ongoing updates as rosters evolve.