Fantasy Football: Toughest Running Backs to Rank for 2025

DeAndre Swift's Ranking Dilemma

• 💡 DeAndre Swift remains a difficult player to rank due to his consistent performance history (never outside the top 24 per game) versus concerns about his role and touchdown potential.
• 🎯 Despite past concerns, Swift is seen as an excellent value in early drafts, with projections placing him as a top 20 running back.
• 🔑 A key concern is his goal-line work, which he has historically lacked, with Jaylen Hurts often handling that role in Philadelphia.

The Challenge of Aging Running Backs

• 👴 The "old guys" at the running back position present significant ranking challenges, including Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, James Conner, Alvin Kamara, and Aaron Jones.
• 📈 While these veteran backs have outperformed expectations in the past, they are all at an age where decline is expected, with concerns about efficiency and injury history.
• 📊 Despite concerns, Mixon, Kamara, and Conner are projected as top 20 running backs, though their age makes ranking them high a subjective decision.

Quinshon Judkins: Rookie Uncertainty

• ❓ Quinshon Judkins is a tough prospect to rank due to concerns about his college performance against weaker opponents and his struggles in the Big Ten.
• 🏈 While some analysts are hesitant, Judkins is expected to receive a significant volume of touches in the NFL, potentially catching many passes.
• 🚀 The debate around Judkins highlights how pre-draft evaluations can heavily influence rankings, even with a potentially good opportunity.

Other Ranking Conundrums

• 🧩 The Jacksonville Jaguars backfield is complex, with questions surrounding Travis Etienne (ETN), Tank Bigsby, and the potential impact of rookie Jalen Tauton.
• 🏈 The Dallas Cowboys running back situation is also murky, with potential competition between Jaden Blue and Javante Williams, and the role of Miles Sanders being a significant unknown.
• ⚠️ The uncertainty in these backfields makes it difficult to confidently rank any of the involved players.