Running Backs Most Likely to Rise in 2025:

Chuba Hubbard, CAR: Style points are fun and all, but you win fantasy chips with real points, the kind guys like Chuba Hubbard reliably churn out while the rest of the fantasy community focuses on bigger names and sexy rooks. We’ll get to those sexy rooks in a second, but can we first stop to appreciate what Hubbard accomplished in 2024? He was only supposed to keep a seat warm for presumed starter, Jonathon Brooks, whom the Panthers nabbed in the second round of the 2024 draft. Instead, he tallied 1,195 rushing yards (eighth overall) and 10 touchdowns plus one more as a receiver. That was good enough for a RB12 finish playing for one of the league’s worst teams.

Carolina may not be a lot better in 2025, but there are signs things might be pointing in the right direction. First, Bryce Young showed he’s not a complete bust in the second half of the 2024 campaign, throwing for at least one TD in every single game from Week 8 on. This despite throwing none in the first seven weeks and only 11 in all of 2023 over 15 starts. Then the Panthers went and added a true WR1 candidate in Tetairoa McMillan. The rangy Arizona product should help Young continue his upward trajectory. Could Carolina’s offense be respectable this year?

If it is, Hubbard will still be its backbone. Brooks is slated to miss his entire sophomore season after missing almost all of his freshman campaign, leaving Rico Dowdle as Chuba’s primary backup. Dowdle was surprisingly good in 2024 as Dallas’ lead back. He’s always been better suited for a secondary role, however, and is unlikely to threaten Hubbard’s existing workload (250 carries last season). There are more exciting options, but fewer better ones. Go get Hubbard.

Ashton Jeanty, LV: We promised sexy rooks so we give you sexy rooks! The hype train’s been barreling down the tracks since Vegas selected Jeanty with the sixth pick in April’s draft and I’ll be danged if I’m gonna be the one to step in front of it. If it’s hype you’re selling, it’s hype I’m buying!

To be fair, Jeanty was the cornerstone of my college fantasy squad the last couple years, so I spent many an evening watching him slalom through Mountain West defenses. Even when he stepped up in class, the results were devastating. As in almost literally. In an early season visit to Eugene, the kid from Frisco nearly derailed my Ducks’ perfect regular season before it got started, rushing for 192 yards and three scores in a narrow 37-34 defeat. He looked like the best player on the field because he was the best player on the field. Bear in mind Oregon had 10 players drafted along with Jeanty, a program record.

While the former Bronco’s skill set is compelling enough, what really excites fantasy GMs this year is Jeanty’s franchise and coach fit. OK, so the Raiders were atrocious and a rookie RB isn’t going to change that overnight. However, nobody loves running the football more than Pete Carroll. In his fourteen seasons as Seattle’s head man, the Seahawks ranked Top 3 in rushing attempts six times. When Coach Carroll finds a guy he can trust to lug the rock (e.g. Marshawn Lynch), he lets him do that a lot. Oh, did I mention Jeanty can catch a little too? He didn’t feature much as a receiver in 2024, but tallied 569 receiving yards (and five scores) a year prior. Yup, that led all NCAA running backs that season. This kid is special.

Omarion Hampton, LAC: Hey, I did say sexy rooks, as in more than one. It’s not that common for rookie runners to crack the Top 10, let alone two of them. It isn’t completely unprecedented, though. Jonathan Taylor and James Robinson (remember him?) pulled it off as recently as 2020. Jeanty feels like an easy choice for inclusion in the positional penthouse. Hampton, not so much. There are a couple things working in his favor, however.

First, if Pete Carroll has any competition for most run-friendly HC, it’s Jim Harbaugh. We’ve talked about this already this summer, but it bears repeating: This former quarterback loves, with a capital “L,” to pound the pigskin. So does his OC Greg Roman, who orchestrated four Top 3 rushing offenses in as many seasons back in Baltimore. It’s true the Ravens had a unique talent under center, but the Chargers aren’t going to suddenly resurrect their Air Coryell roots with Harbaugh and Roman doing the game planning. Expect lots of running, lots of play-action, and overall balance in 2025.

Second, Hampton’s pathway to an even larger touch share in LA is starting to look guaranteed. The Bolts’ other big off-season acquisition, Najee Harris, is still recovering from an unfortunate fireworks mishap (why, people?), and his timeline for returning to camp isn’t certain. Harbaugh characterized it thusly when asked if Harris would be ready for Week 1: “There’s a chance…I don’t comment because I’m not a doctor.” Hmmm. That sounds like coachspeak for “I have no earthly idea and stop asking me, would ya’?” Harris will return eventually, at which point Hampton won’t have to shoulder most of the load. But he’s able because he’s a big back who can catch the ball too. Gimme a three-down back playing for Harbaugh any ol’ day.