Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Draft Targets - RB

Running back was an interesting position in fantasy football in 2024. Most of the top backs in the league were unusually healthy for most of the season. That left little room for waiver-wire darlings and late-round picks to perform well for your fantasy squad.

Given how injured running backs usually are, it is reasonable to believe that this was an outlier year. With several players receiving 300-plus touches this season, the need for a committee-back approach may be bigger than ever in 2025.

The 2025 NFL Draft is about as deep at the position as any draft before it. There will be a lot of competition for sleeper candidacy this season. Let's dive in and see who could be in for a breakout or worth a late-round flier in fantasy in 2025.

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1. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

For the past couple of years, Alvin Kamara seems to have been counted out in fantasy football. To be fair, Kamara is entering his age-30 season and his efficiency has cratered in recent seasons. However, Kamara's volume has remained strong.

Kamara has always been an excellent pass catcher. He has caught at least 57 passes in each of the past three seasons. That has come despite him missing multiple games in each season.

Kamara's volume alone vaults him into low-end RB1 status each week. The Saints may have their fair share of issues to contend with as a team but keep in mind that when quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Chris Olave were both healthy in 2024, the offense was solid.

Kellen Moore has taken over as the head coach of the Saints and he has a brilliant offensive mind. Expect him to use Kamara in a variety of ways this coming season. Kamara will not be a flashy pick, but he will be a reliable one.

Alvin Kamara was a PPR monster in 2024, averaging nearly 19 fantasy ppg ⚜️

Are you targeting him in 2025 drafts with Kellen Moore calling plays? pic.twitter.com/M3mMAi2QOk

— FastDraft Fantasy (@fastdraftapp) February 16, 2025

2. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Early best ball drafts indicate that Brian Robinson Jr. is viewed as a double-digit round draft pick. If the Commanders return the same running back room in 2025, Robinson will be anything but a double-digit round pick.

Robinson is currently the starting running back in an offense that should only continue to improve with another step from rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels. We already witnessed Robinson score eight touchdowns in 14 games in 2024. There is no reason to believe that his touchdown opportunities should diminish in 2025.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has demonstrated in both Arizona and Washington that he wants to pound the rock. Most notably, Kingsbury's favorite goal-line play call seems to be a run up the middle. That is Robinson's specialty.

Robinson's issue has been staying healthy. However, if he can put together a full season, he should be a solid RB2 throughout 2025.

3. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Zach Charbonnet was the clear backup to Kenneth Walker III in 2024. However, when given extended opportunities, Charbonnet delivered as an RB1 in several games. Charbonnet displayed marked improvement from his rookie year that could have caught the eye of Seattle's coaching staff.

New offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak is committed to running the football. While Kenneth Walker has generated a lot of praise from this Seattle regime, he has failed to stay healthy in any of his three seasons. If Walker were to miss time, Charbonnet would be an excellent handcuff.

Charbonnet will cost next to nothing in fantasy drafts save for a preseason injury to Walker. You should be jumping at the chance to draft him in a range where most fantasy managers are taking dart throws at players.

Kenneth Walker is a sell for dynasty due to a change in offensive gameplan and Zach Charbonnet! pic.twitter.com/P4XXTyUzdM

— Dynasty Nerds (@DynastyNerds) February 7, 2025

4. Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

After releasing Raheem Mostert, the Dolphins appear prepared to move forward with Jaylen Wright and De'Von Achane as their top two running backs. The Dolphins' running game was excellent two seasons ago. It faltered in 2024 with the absence of Tua Tagovailoa for several games but it has a chance to stand tall once again.

Wright was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He has excellent speed and size which suggests he has a great chance to succeed in the NFL. Mostert and Achane ran wild alongside each other in 2023. The Dolphins will need to lean on the running game and short passing game in 2025 in order to protect Tagovailoa giving Wright a chance for significant touches.

Achane received 203 carries in 2024. The Dolphins would likely prefer to cap his reps around that number to ensure he stays fresh as a smaller back. Achane also caught 78 passes. Some of that work could shift to Wright who carried the ball 68 times himself in 2024. Additionally, Mostert is vacating 85 carries.

If the Dolphins return to form as an offense in 2025, look for Wright to ascend. He is a talented prospect heading into the second year of his career. The arrow is certainly pointing up.

5. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

A broken fibula ruined the expected breakout for Pacheco in 2024. However, do not let that distract from what we all expected to happen this season. Pacheco started the season solidly. He was receiving excellent volume and was an active member of the receiving game. He looked slow coming off the injury at the end of the season and in the playoffs which will likely keep his ADP depressed in 2025.

While Pacheco's injury was unfortunate, it is not unexpected that he played poorly upon his return. Titans running back Tony Pollard suffered a similar injury in the 2022 playoffs that affected him the following season. Pollard was back to normal in 2024. Pacheco's injury occurred early in the season and his recovery was swift suggesting that he needed more time to return to performance.

Unless the Chiefs add a big name to their backfield, Pacheco will likely receive another crack at a massive role. Given their poor Super Bowl performance, expect the Chiefs to make moves along the offensive line and in the receiving corps that could turn this offense back into the juggernaut we have come to know.

Even with 3.7 average yards per carry in 2024, Pacheco's career average is 4.5. Expect him to be closer to the latter number in 2024. If Pacheco can receive 250-plus carries and 50 to 60 targets this season, he will be an RB2 at worst with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback.

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