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The running back landscape has certainly changed in recent years due to all the injuries at the position. After running backs dominated the first round of fantasy football drafts in the 2010s, only five running backs went in the first round of drafts last summer.
Although three of those running backs (Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Jahmyr Gibbs) put up strong fantasy numbers, there were also plenty of running backs who broke out during the 2024-25 season. Most of these backs weren't going early in drafts and were some of the best value picks at the position.
So, which five running backs broke out during the 2024-25 fantasy season? Let's dive in and find out what this might mean for these players next year.
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De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane showed some great things in his rookie campaign back in 2023. However, injuries and a timeshare with veteran Raheem Mostert out of the backfield prevented the young running back from breaking out in his first year. That all changed in his second season, though, as Achane was a top fantasy option.
He overtook Mostert for the starting job and finished as the RB5 in fantasy PPR formats. Achane also finished as a top-10 fantasy running back in nine of his 17 games.
The Dolphins back was a strong RB1 option for most of the year, thanks to his high usage in the passing game. The 23-year-old caught 78 passes for 592 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 907 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Achane with a massive gain!
📺: #MIAvsNYJ on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/dHcOWnQ8Ui— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
Following that strong season, Achane should almost certainly be a first-round pick in 2025 fantasy drafts. He'll lead this Dolphins backfield once again, and his receiving upside will make him a strong RB1 play every week. As a result, fantasy managers will likely need to spend a top-10 pick on him in drafts this summer.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Fantasy managers didn't know which Bengals running back to select in drafts this past season. Both Chase Brown and Zack Moss were going to have a role in the Cincinnati offense, and both running backs had a very similar ADP in drafts. Although Moss began the season as the team's starter, Brown was the better fantasy pick.
Part of the reason was because Moss missed the final nine games due to a neck injury. Still, that allowed Brown to break out in his second NFL season. He finished as the RB10 in PPR formats and averaged 20.6 PPR fantasy points over the last eight contests. Those numbers down the stretch made him a league winner.
Chase Brown in his last 6 games...
730 yards from scrimmage
6 TDs
100 yards or TD every weekRB1 pic.twitter.com/FWqV5EC1ef
— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) December 15, 2024
Now, it'll be interesting to see if Brown can build off that campaign in 2025. While he will likely be the team's starter, Moss should eat into his workload just a little bit. So, he might not see as many opportunities as he did to end the season. Nevertheless, he will likely be a solid RB2 option for fantasy managers next year.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was only a matter of time until Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving overtook Rachaad White out of the backfield. He was the more explosive back and had the potential to carry the ball over 20 times in a game. Even though the rookie started the season in more of a backup role, he eventually broke out later in the year.
Irving averaged 18.3 PPR fantasy points over the final eight games and finished as the RB6 during that span. The Oregon product also saw at least 17 touches in six of the last seven weeks of the season. That strong stretch helped the 22-year-old running back finish as the RB13 in PPR formats on the year.
Irving had such a strong end to the season that he should fly up draft boards in 2025. It wouldn't be a shock at all to see him go early in the second round of drafts after rushing for 1,122 yards in his rookie year. He should lead this Tampa Bay backfield and see plenty of opportunities in both the running and passing game.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard did a nice job in the starter role in 2023. He rushed for 902 yards and five touchdowns while finishing as the RB27 in PPR formats. However, it was hard to imagine Hubbard finishing with those kinds of numbers again this past season, especially with Jonathon Brooks coming into the picture.
Therefore, he found himself going outside the top 150 in drafts last summer. That ADP, though, turned out to be way too low for the Panthers running back. Brooks only appeared in three games before tearing his ACL, and Hubbard might have been the best value pick at the position this year. He finished as the RB14 in PPR formats behind 1,195 rush yards and 10 touchdowns.
Chuba Hubbard was a fantasy hero in 2024:
💪 Fantasy RB11 with an ADP of RB47
💪 5 games with over 20 fantasy points
💪 On 29% of fantasy championship teams on Yahoo pic.twitter.com/qqYPqftfq3— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 28, 2024
Heading into the 2025-26 season now, Hubbard should be a strong pick near the top of drafts. Brooks will almost certainly be out for the season, which paves the way for the 25-year-old to have another strong fantasy year. He will likely be drafted within the first six rounds of drafts next season.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle broke out in his first full season as the team's starter. Dowdle didn't see many chances in this Dallas backfield across the last few years and only rushed for 361 yards in 2023. However, the 26-year-old showed this past season that he can handle a larger workload.
He ran 235 times for a career-high 1,079 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished as the RB23 in PPR formats while averaging 12.4 PPR fantasy points per game. It was a solid all-around campaign for Dowdle, and he started to pick things up as the season went on. He averaged 96.7 rush yards per game over the final seven weeks.
Even though the Cowboys back put up solid RB2 numbers for fantasy managers this past year, it's hard to predict where he will be going in fantasy drafts next season.
Given that he is a free agent, he can sign with any team this offseason. If he winds up back with Dallas and the team doesn't select a running back early in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dowdle could then be a value pick in the double-digit rounds.
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