"Return of the back" was the theme of the 2024 NFL season, and it's continuing into the 2025 NFL Draft. For the first time in years, running backs have dominated draft discussions and are expected to be taken much higher than in years past. The trend of letting running backs slide down the board appears to be over, at least for this draft. Expect to see running backs coming off the board throughout all rounds, with fans excited by the possibility that their team just drafted a player who can help them reach the next level.
2025 NFL Draft's Top 10 RBs
Last Updated: April 17 2025 3:48 pm| Rank | Name | School | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omarion Hampton | North Carolina | Link |
| I'm in the minority on this one, but sometimes you have to stand alone. The combination of size, on-tape performance, and tested speed (4.46 at over 220 pounds), along with strong production, gives Omarion Hampton the slight edge for me over Ashton Jeanty. The most underrated part of Hampton's game is his consistency—he has back-to-back seasons with over 1,500 rushing yards and a 5.9 yards per carry average. In my opinion, Hampton is the definition of a bell-cow running back, drawing close comparisons to players like Ezekiel Elliott and Jonathan Taylor. Give him a high volume of carries, and he will produce at a high-end level. | |||
| 2 | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | Link |
| Ashton Jeanty has had one of the most productive two-year stretches rushing the football of any running back entering the NFL in the past decade. Jeanty is a compact back with impressive lateral agility and quickness, but his most outstanding trait is his ability to force missed tackles. An underrated part of Jeanty's game is his impact in the passing game, as he’s also a reliable threat catching the ball out of the backfield. | |||
| 3 | Quinshon Judkins | Ohio State | Link |
| At the beginning of the season, Quinshon Judkins was ranked as RB1 on some boards, but as the season went on and his production dipped, Judkins fell down the rankings. I'm rolling with what I saw in the final games of the 2024 season and what I’ve seen from Judkins during his time at Ole Miss. Judkins is a true three-down back, capable of handling 20-plus carries a game in an RB1 role for an NFL team. | |||
| 4 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio State | Link |
| TreVeyon Henderson had a great start to his career at Ohio State, but due to injuries, his production and workload stalled at times. For the 2024 season, the Buckeyes brought in Quinshon Judkins to create a split-duty backfield. While this impacted Henderson’s production early on, as the season progressed, the flashes of his true ability became clear. Henderson is an electric athlete in space, and when he gets the edge, he can make defenses pay. NFL teams looking to add explosiveness and big-play ability to their backfield will target Henderson to fill that role. | |||
| 5 | RJ Harvey | UCF | Link |
| RJ Harvey is yet another back whose production has been off the charts, posting back-to-back seasons with over 1,400 rushing yards at UCF. Harvey also showcased his athleticism at the Combine, running a 4.4 40-yard dash and recording a 38-inch vertical jump. In my opinion, Harvey has some of the best footwork in the draft and is an instinctual runner. The fact that he isn’t a 220-pound-plus back may give some teams pause when considering him as a lead back for their offense. However, I believe Harvey will have a stretch of years where he is extremely productive for an NFL team. | |||
| 6 | Ollie Gordon II | Oklahoma State | Link |
| The 2023 Doak Walker Award winner, Ollie Gordon II, is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound smooth glider who can also lower his pads and deliver punishment to defenders. Gordon's stock has dropped in the eyes of many talent evaluators, but considering the poor quarterback play and inconsistent offensive line he dealt with, I say go back and watch the 2023 tape—you’ll get a much clearer picture of what Gordon can be. An underrated element of Gordon's game is his pass-catching ability. Teams in need of a complementary big, bruising back for their system will find great value in drafting Gordon, as he is one of the bigger and more proven backs in this class. | |||
| 7 | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa | Link |
| Let’s keep the theme of big running backs going. Kaleb Johnson is a back who broke onto the scene this year, producing in Iowa’s run-heavy offense. Johnson showcased his ability to lower his pads and be an effective runner between the tackles. He also showed that he can accelerate in the open field when he gets to the edges. | |||
| 8 | Jarquez Hunter | Auburn | Link |
| One of my favorite prospects across the board, Jarquez Hunter doesn’t have one elite physical trait like overwhelming size or blazing speed, but he posts solid marks across the board and is consistently productive. Hunter has a well-rounded combination of lateral agility and power and has been productive in the SEC for back-to-back seasons, despite minimal help around him. I believe that, in the right situation, Hunter will have a much more impactful NFL career, as defenses won’t be able to key in on just him. Remember the name: Jarquez Hunter. | |||
| 9 | Cam Skattebo | Arizona State | Link |
| Cam Skattebo’s production, running style, and even his last name made him one of college football’s standout stars last season. Skattebo is the true definition of a battering ram, delivering punishment to defenses on every single play. He projects as a downhill back, likely a key part of a rotation in an NFL offense. What Skattebo lacks in top-end athleticism, he makes up for with grit, toughness, and the kind of physical runs that motivate and inspire a team. | |||
| 10 | Jordan James | Oregon | Link |
| Last year, Bucky Irving flew under the radar during the draft process, then hit the ground running in the NFL, showing he has a bright future in Tampa Bay. I believe Jordan James can do the same. Although their running styles differ, James is a productive back who knows how to hit holes quickly and is an excellent accelerator. James not only has speed, but he also brings an element of physicality to his game, giving him the potential to be a complete back. In my opinion, James has an underrated skill set and an opportunity to carve out moments where he could serve as the lead back for an NFL franchise. | |||
