The 2025 NFL Draft class is as soon as once more going to be troublesome to discover a first-round worth out of the working again place outdoors of Ashton Jeanty. Because the 2024 season proved, many free agent working backs have quite a lot of tread left on their tires, and this 12 months’s crop isn’t any totally different.
Some very large names are on this top-10 listing. We polled a bunch of writers from round SB Nation to collect consensus rankings in regards to the gamers. Whereas there are not any unanimous picks among the many bunch as of us worth totally different RB traits, our teams stands out into some outlined tiers.
We are going to take away gamers from the listing as they re-sign with their present groups all the best way as much as the opening of free company in March.
Different receiving votes
- Jeremy McNichols
- Khalil Herbert
Clyde Edwards-Helaire- Jeff Wilson
- Alexander Mattison
- Kenneth Gainwell
10. Samaje Perine, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Perinne barely squeaked in forward of Khalil Herbert in our voting by the slimmest of margins. Perine turns 30 originally of the 2025 season and has been considerably of a journeyman in his NFL profession, taking part in for Washington, Miami, Cincinnati, Denver, and now the Chiefs. He didn’t have many carries in 2024 because the Chiefs have chosen to signal road free brokers as an alternative of that includes him on the bottom, however he has been efficient via the air catching passes out of the backfield.
9. AJ Dillon, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Dillion’s rookie contract is expiring after being a second-round choose in 2020. By no means a bell-cow again, he’s averaged simply over 4 yards per carry however has mixed for greater than 3200 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns in his 4 seasons.
8. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (RFA)
Warren is a Restricted Free Agent however was undrafted, so the associated fee for Pittsburgh to get to the correct of first refusal could be $3.2 million or they might use a second-round tag for $5.2 million. With Najee Harris and each beginning quarterbacks from 2024 set to hit free company, they’re going to have to select somebody to maintain. His RFA standing probably pushed him down our listing, however he’s 26 with greater than 2600 mixed dashing and receiving yards in his first three NFL seasons in a timeshare backfield with Harris.
7. Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (RFA)
Mason is a Restricted Free Agent, which is probably going why he’s a bit additional down this listing. He took benefit of accidents to the 49ers RB room to averaged 5.2 yards per try and practically 66 yards per sport this season earlier than succumbing to his personal harm in December. He turns 26 this offseason and he provides a kick return aspect. He was undrafted, so if the 49ers tag him with proper of first refusal, it’s $3.2 million for one season when they’re already paying Christian McCaffrey a hefty bag.
6. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
As excessive as three on one poll, Williams is having a down season in a contract 12 months with the Broncos. The previous twenty fifth total choose led Denver’s working again room by a large margin in snap counts, however their offense is twenty second in yardage with rookie QB Bo Nix. His expertise and youth make him a great candidate for a one-year “show it” deal someplace if he can’t discover good assured cash.
5. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Dowdle nearly crashed our prime 4 spots, however barely missed out. He was as excessive as third on two voters’ ballots, however his very brief observe report scared off different voters. He managed a 1000-yard season this 12 months, however solely 361 in 2023 and his earlier excessive was 24 yards in 2020, his rookie season. He additionally doesn’t rating a lot, with a mixed eight scrimmage touchdowns in 51 profession video games.
4. J.Okay. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
The previous Ravens’ second-round draft selection spent the season with the Chargers on a one-year deal after lacking giant chunks of the seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He sprained his knee in 2024 however returned and was a prime again for Los Angeles. His harm historical past is regarding, however he’s solely 26.
3. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb had the widest variance on our lists; he was ranked second and third on a number of ballots, however utterly left off others. With a number of season-ending accidents over the previous couple of years, it’s not arduous to see why there may be some hesitation, however when he’s wholesome, he’s top-of-the-line within the league averaging over 5 yards per carry. He does flip 30 on the tail finish of the 2025 season, too.
2. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
A detailed second, Jones was stable in his single season in Minnesota after starting his profession with the Packers. He broke 1100 yards on the bottom and added 400 yards via the air for the high-powered Vikings offense, however he turns 31 through the 2025 season, so he’s more likely to solely get one other brief deal.
1. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
The previous first-round choose landed within the good state of affairs in Pittsburgh, however his stats by no means fairly lived as much as his lofty billing. He has averaged below 4.0 yards per carry throughout his profession, however damaged 1000 yards in each season (generally barely). With 64 yards per sport on the bottom and one other 17 via the air, he was the highest choose for almost all of our voters.
Not too long ago launched working backs
These working backs had been launched after our rankings had been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league 12 months.
Jamaal Williams
Set to make $3.15 million in 2025, the Saints launched Williams to clear cap area. He has a 1000-yard season on his resume with 17 touchdowns, however maxed out at 601 in his different seven seasons. He turns 30 in April 2025 and didn’t get a lot run behind Alvin Kamara in 2024. He’s probably a one-year deal for the league minimal or barely greater.
Gus Edwards
After an injury-plagued profession with the Ravens, he couldn’t fairly shake the harm bug in his one season with the Chargers. He solely rushed for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns taking part in in 11 video games. He’s a rotational piece for a workforce so as to add, but it surely’s arduous to see him signing for the $3 million he was owed in Cali.
Different free agent working backs
- Travis Homer
- Ezekiel Elliott
- Nyheim Miller-Hines
- Ameer Abdullah
- Chase Edmonds
Dare Ogunbowale- JaMycal Hasty
- Ty Johnson
- D’Ernest Johnson
- Cam Akers
- D’Onta Foreman
- Trayveon Williams
- Craig Reynolds
- Trey Sermon
- Avery Williams
- Elijah Mitchell
- Chris Evans
- Kareem Hunt
- Ronnie Rivers (RFA)
- Julius Chestnut (RFA)
- Raheem Blackshear (RFA)
Free agent working backs who had been signed to new offers
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints
- Dare Ogunbowale re-signed with the Houston Texans