While the 2024 Dynasty rookie class brought us an exceptional group of wide receivers, the 2025 Dynasty rookie class is making waves with its promising crop of running backs. Although this upcoming class may not be as deep at quarterback or receiver, it boasts over ten running backs with the potential to become future fantasy stars.
With NIL encouraging players to stay in school longer and an increased emphasis on offense in college football, the talent pool at fantasy skill positions continues to grow. This trend benefits fantasy owners, offering an impressive selection of emerging talent.
Despite the lack of marquee names in the 2025 dynasty rookie class, savvy dynasty owners should pay attention. This draft presents a prime opportunity to trade veteran running backs for draft picks if you’re not in contention, as the college ranks are filled with running backs ready to showcase their three-down skill sets at the next level.
The 2024 class had zero running backs post 22+ PPG before their junior year, while the 2025 class boasts five—Quinshon Judkins, Ollie Gordon, TreVeyon Henderson, Ashton Jeanty, and Omarion Hampton—making next year’s running back class captivating.
Now, let’s dive into our early 2025 dynasty rookie RB rankings and explore what could be a legendary fantasy football running back class.
2025 DYNASTY ROOKIE RB RANKINGS
TIER 1
1. QUINSHON JUDKINS, OHIO STATE
Quinshon Judkins’ electrifying start to his SEC career at Ole Miss, with 2,725 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns, drew comparisons to the legendary Herschel Walker.
In a surprising move, Judkins entered the transfer portal and committed to Ohio State immediately after their arch-rival lifted the College Football Playoff trophy. Now, teaming up with TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins is set to create the most dynamic running back duo in college football.
Judkins is a physical powerhouse who excels on all three downs. In his first two seasons, he racked up 1,800 yards after contact, forced 154 missed tackles, and earned a stellar 90.8 PFF grade. Known for his no-nonsense, north-south running style with agility and physicality, he’s also an elite pass-blocker on third downs and has recorded 37 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
With Henderson, Judkins has the opportunity to enhance his draft stock while preserving his health in a committee backfield. As Henderson expressed, having Judkins on the team is a great opportunity to share the workload and maintain peak performance. This partnership promises to captivate college football fans and future fantasy managers alike.
2023 key stats: 1,052 yards, 15 TD, 4.4 avg, 21 rec, 135 reYD, 1 reTD
2. OLLIE GORDON II, OKLAHOMA STATE
Ollie Gordon II, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner, was the best running back in the country last season and is poised for an encore junior year as the 2024 season approaches.
Leading the nation with 1,732 rushing yards, Gordon also showcased his versatility with 39 receptions for 330 yards, cementing his status as a premier three-down back. His impressive performance has put NFL teams on high alert, eager to draft the Oklahoma State standout.
Returning to Stillwater for his junior season, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound workhorse aims to build on his spectacular sophomore year. His combination of size, strength, and speed (23.1 max MPH) makes him a true workhorse on the field, and his continued development could make him the top RB prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
2023 key stats: 1,732 yards, 21 TD, 6.1 avg, 39 rec, 330 reYD, 1 reTD
3. ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE
Boise State workhorse Ashton Jeanty has a real chance to be this class’ RB1 and is already must-watch TV every Saturday on the blue turf.
In 2022, as a true freshman, he earned All-Mountain West Honorable Mention after racking up over 800 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. As a sophomore last season, he received multiple All-America honors and was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. Jeanty led the nation with 1,916 all-purpose yards and 106 missed tackles forced and demonstrated his dual-threat capability with 1,347 rushing yards, 569 receiving yards, and 19 total touchdowns. He became the first FBS player since 2019 to achieve 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.
Jeanty’s exceptional contact balance, dual-threat capability, and proven durability have made him an elite running back prospect. His excellent vision, quick acceleration, elite speed, and strong lower body allow him to consistently gain extra yards and power through tackles, making him a complete back in both ground and air attacks.
Jeanty is really my RB1-C, rather than my RB3 in this class.
2023 key stats: 1,367 yds, 14 TD, 6.1 avg, 43 rec, 569 reYD, 5 reTD
TIER 2
4. TREVEYON HENDERSON, OHIO STATE
TreVeyon Henderson, the No. 1 running back in the 2021 high school class, has experienced an up-and-down career at Ohio State.
After a stellar freshman season in which he totaled 1,560 yards and 19 touchdowns, his sophomore year was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 599 yards and seven touchdowns. Even when healthy, Henderson’s vision seemed compromised, as he often strived for big plays rather than taking the guaranteed yardage. However, he returned to full strength last season, amassing 1,074 total yards and 11 touchdowns in just nine games.
His improved vision and physical running style between the tackles have brought him back to his freshman form, showcasing his elusiveness and ability to make defenders miss in space. Henderson also excels in the passing game, making him a reliable three-down back.
Looking ahead, Henderson is set to share the Buckeye backfield with Quinshon Judkins, forming the best running back duo in the country. This partnership promises to keep both players fresh for a deep College Football Playoff run and the 2025 NFL Draft. The combination of Henderson and Judkins will be a fascinating storyline in the 2024 college football season, with Ohio State entering a critical period where success is imperative.
2023 key stats: 854 yds, 11 TD, 6.2 avg, 19 rec, 229 reYD (9 games)
5. OMARION HAMPTON, NORTH CAROLINA
Omarion Hampton quickly made his mark as a true freshman at North Carolina alongside Drake Maye. He popped as a freshman in 2022, rushing for 401 yards and six touchdowns. Hampton’s sophomore season was even more impressive, and he was recognized as a Walter Camp First-Team All-American, among other honors. During that season, he rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding 29 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown. He’s also a beast after contact, leading FBS RBs with 1,072 yards after contact last season.
Hampton’s playing style is characterized by his excellent initial burst, which allows him to easily make plays and get to the second level. He is dangerous in the open field, with the vision and creativity to navigate defenses. The Tar Heel runs with great pad level and balance and maintains forward momentum through contact. He blends good size and speed, along with high pass-blocking effectiveness.
Hampton is a future fantasy stud who will be a day-one contributor.
2023 key stats: 1,504 yds, 15 TD, 5.9 avg, 29 rec, 222 re YD, 1 reTD
TIER 3
6. NICK SINGLETON, PENN STATE
Nick Singleton took a minor step back from his elite true freshman season, where he recorded 1,061 yards and 13 total touchdowns. The Penn State offense as a whole struggled in 2023, partly due to the team breaking in a young quarterback under center. Despite this, Singleton’s potential remains evident, and he’s poised to bounce back next season.
Singleton possesses all the qualities of a top-tier running back prospect: size (6 feet, 226 lbs), speed, early breakout age, and a three-down skill set. He rewrote the Penn State freshman record book with 12 rushing touchdowns and joined Saquon Barkley and DJ Dozier as the only PSU true freshmen to surpass 1,000 rushing yards. His impressive debut season set a high bar for the remainder of his Penn State career.
With Penn State hiring former Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki, expectations are high for Singleton’s final season. Kotelnicki, known for boosting the Jayhawks’ run game, will likely improve Singleton’s 2024 output. I’m betting on Singleton recapturing his freshman season form to stand out in this loaded running back class.
2023 key stats: 752 yds, 8 TD, 4.4 avg, 26 rec, 308 reYD, 2 reTD
7. DONOVAN EDWARDS, MICHIGAN
Donovan Edwards is a running back who has a knack for going off in big games—look at his legendary performances against Ohio State and Washington in the CFP National Championship. However, after a strong sophomore season in which he racked up nearly 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns, he slipped to under 500 yards on the ground and 746 total yards as the team’s clear RB2 behind Blake Corum.
With Corum’s taking his legendary 3,737 rushing yards and 61 total touchdowns to the Rams, Edwards will have the backfield to himself in Sherrone Moore’s run-heavy Harbaugh offense. The junior has proven to possess a true three-down skill set (68 rec in three seasons), along with the long speed to be a home run threat any time he touches the football.
Let’s hope he doesn’t get the EA Sports College Football 25 curse after headlining the cover this year.
2023 key stats: 497 yds, 5 TD, 4.2 avg, 30 rec, 249 reYD
8. JAYDN OTT, CALIFORNIA
Jaydn Ott burst onto the scene in 2022 with an impressive freshman campaign at Cal. He tallied nearly 900 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, showcasing his potential as a game-changing running back.
This strong start laid the foundation for an exceptional sophomore season, during which his performance reached new heights. He amassed 1,315 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the premier backs in the Pac-12 and the nation.
Ott’s multifaceted skill set is impressive. He possesses an explosive first step, quick acceleration, and exceptional vision, allowing him to hit holes rapidly and easily move to the second level. As a long-strider with the speed to stretch runs vertically, he consistently poses a big-play threat.
Ott also demonstrates impressive lateral agility and change-of-direction skills, allowing him to evade tacklers in tight spaces. The Golden Bear is also a versatile receiving threat out of the backfield, comfortable lining up wide or in the slot. He shows a solid understanding of pass protection and a willingness to block and fulfill his responsibilities, making him a three-down weapon.
2023 key stats: 1,305 yds, 12 TD, 5.3 avg, 26 rec, 196 reYD, 2 reTD
TIER 4
9. TREVOR ETIENNE, GEORGIA
Travis Etienne’s younger brother arrived in Florida in 2022 and immediately broke out. Over his first two seasons, he racked up 1,472 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while adding another 30 receptions for 238 yards and a score through the air.
With Florida currently in disarray, he opted to transfer to the rival Georgia Bulldogs for what should be his final collegiate season. The Bulldogs running back room is open for the taking, making Etienne the obvious choice behind one of the most talented offensive lines in the nation.
Like his brother, he has quick feet and can easily make defenders miss. However, unlike his brother, he needs to improve his receiver skill set to become more of a complete back. Etienne won’t be asked to do as much at Georgia and should boost his draft status as the RB1 on the No. 1 team in the country.
2023 key stats: 753 yds, 8 TD, 5.7 avg, 21 rec, 172 reYD, 1 reTD
10. DEVIN NEAL, KANSAS
Devin Neal has been a model of consistency at running back for the Kansas Jayhawks over the past few seasons, consistently ranking among the top runners in the nation.
Since 2022, this junior has amassed 2,373 rushing yards, trailing only Quinshon Judkins and Blake Corum among Power Five running backs. His 25 rushing touchdowns during this period place him third, just behind Corum, Judkins, and Audric Estime.
Last season, he racked up 1,280 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, while also contributing as a receiver with 25 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. Although he will be 22 at the time of the draft, Neal’s dynamism with the football makes him a thrilling player to watch. This season, expect him to create more magic alongside QB Jalon Daniels for his hometown Jayhawks.
2023 key stats: 1,280 yds, 16 TD, 6.3 avg, 25 rec, 217 reYD, 1 reTD
Others studs to keep an eye on: Damien Martinez (Miami), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech), Raheim Sanders (South Carolina), Jonah Coleman (Washington), Kyle Monangai (Rutgers), DJ Giddens (Kansas State), Jo’Quavious Marks (Southern Cal), Jarquez Hunter (Auburn)