2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 10 RB Prospects 2025

The running back position has seen a recent resurgence in the NFL, and teams are starting to prioritize it. The 2025 NFL Draft class should be no different.

We’ve seen it with running backs like Saquon Barkley getting big contracts and making a huge impact. In the NFL Draft, teams are selecting running backs early, like the Falcons with Bijan Robinson (eighth overall) and the Lions with Jahymyr Gibbs (12th overall) — both of which have had success in the NFL.

The 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with incredible RB prospects, including one who is being predicted as a generational player. Below, we’ll rank the top RB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving you their stats, draft projections, and explain why they could be an asset to the team they land on.

At PrizePicks, you can get rewarded for your predictions on the 2025 NFL Draft, including where these running backs will be drafted. 

Below, we’ll give you the scouting reports on the top RB prospects in the NFL Draft and where they may be drafted to help you make your PrizePicks NFL Draft lineup.

1. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

‍Height: 5 feet, 9 inches

Weight: 215 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.42

2024 Stats: 374 carries, 2,601 rushing yards, 29 rush TDs (All led the FBS)

Draft Prediction: Top 10 pick

Ashton Jeanty full Scouting Report

Jeanty is the clear-cut best running back in this draft and one of the most exciting running back prospects in a long time. If Jeanty can play like he did at Boise State last season, he is poised to be a generational talent.

Last year, he ran through offenses and was only behind the legend Barry Sanders for the most rushing yards in a college football season. He comes with that rare blend of elite vision, patience, a burst of speed, and power you want in a three-down running back. Not many backs can break through a defensive front and outrun a secondary, but we saw Jeanty accomplish that almost every game.

There are some concerns about his smaller stature and whether he can make adjustments against bigger and stronger players in the NFL. Secondly, we saw him accomplish all of these feats in a non-Power Four conference, making this an even further jump than if he played against better competition.

Even with those concerns, Jeanty is a lock-to-be early draft pick and a Day 1 starter wherever he lands. We haven’t seen a running back win Offensive Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley in 2018, but Jeanty could break that trend.

2. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton

‍Height: 6 feet

Weight: 220 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.46

2024 Stats: 281 carries (Led ACC), 1,660 rushing yards (Led ACC), 15 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Mid-to-late first round pick

If Jeanty wasn’t in this draft, Omarion Hampton would be getting more attention and top-half of the first round consideration. He is another running back who seems to have the complete package of being a downhill runner with the power to break through tackles.

He also has the other attributes every team wants in a running back, including the ability to catch out of the backfield, run routes, and be an above-average blocker. In today’s NFL, teams want running backs that they can keep on the field in passing situations, and Hampton could do that and flourish.

Hampton can come into any situation and make an immediate impact.

3. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson

‍Height: 6 feet

Weight: 220 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.57

2024 Stats: 240 carries, 1,537 rushing yards (Led Big Ten), 21 rush TDs (Led Big Ten)

Draft Prediction: Late first round to early second round pick

Kaleb Johnson is the quintessential bruiser back as he runs hard and violently through defenders. He already has the physical build of an NFL running back and should be ready to make an impact immediately. 

What makes him special is his patience in waiting for his blocks and finding his opening. Mixing that with his quick burst and ability to lean into the tackle and finish for those extra yards will allow him to get within a manageable late-down position and move the sticks.

His physical condition will allow him to handle heavy workloads and allow a team to use him for 20+ touches per game. Johnson’s endurance will allow him to perform at a high level late in games.

Some teams may avoid Johnson in their scheme only because he's limited as a receiver and has struggled to hold blocks in pass protection. Johnson has 22 catches in his junior season at Iowa.

4. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Weight: 210 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.43

2024 Stats: 144 carries, 1,016 rushing yards, 10 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Late second round to early third round pick

TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene in his freshman year, and it looked like he was about to embark on an amazing college career. However, his sophomore and junior years did not go as planned, and he missed eight games due to injuries in those two seasons.

2024 was a resurgence for Henderson, as he was able to play every game and played a big part in Ohio State’s National Championship run. He has a high-level football IQ and can find gaps and burst through them quickly for a big play. His size gives him a lot of power, and he can accelerate on contact and take down a potential tackler. 

Henderson is likely the best pass-catching running back in this draft, and his burst makes him ideal for running screens and flat routes, but he’s an exceptional route runner with a successful route tree. 

The main concern is whether he’s durable enough to be a three-down back. The large reason he was able to stay healthy and be productive all season was that he shared the backfield with Quinshon Judkins — who is also in this draft.

Henderson is hard to take down, as seen with his Big Ten-best 7.1 yards per carry this season and an average of 6.4 yards per carry in four years. But if he has to be in a split backfield to stay healthy, then teams might be hesitant to take him early.

5. Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson

Height: 5 feet, 11 inches

Weight: 201 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.42

2024 Stats: 258 carries (Led SEC), 1,491 rushing yards (Led SEC), 22 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Mid-to-late third round pick

Dylan Sampson is a dynamic running back with acceleration who can make big plays. He was a key piece in the Tennessee offense, as the Vols relied on him to move the ball with rookie QB Nico Iamaleava struggling at times. As a result, he was ninth in the FBS with 258 rush attempts.

Sampson has some of the best footwork in this draft class and can quickly shuffle, juke, and spin to break tackles. He averaged over four yards after contact in seven games last season.

The biggest problem we saw was his lack of ball control. He had four fumbles lost last season, which will have teams worried about trusting him. Most of those fumbles didn’t come from bad carrying mechanics, but they would get punched out when fighting for extra yards.

If Sampson can fix that problem, with his proven endurance to be a high-usage back, he’s a potential starter for an NFL team.

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6. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 221 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.48

2024 Stats: 194 carries, 1,060 rushing yards, 14 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Mid-to-late third round pick

7. Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Weight: 219 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.65

2024 Stats: 293 carries (Led Big 12), 1,711 rushing yards (Led Big 12), 21 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Fourth round pick

Cam Skattebo full Scouting Report

8. Kansas RB Devin Neal

Height: 5 feet, 11 inches

Weight: 213 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.58

2024 Stats: 219 carries, 1,266 rushing yards, 16 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Late fourth round pick

9. SMU RB Brashard Smith

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Weight: 194 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.39

2024 Stats: 235 carries, 1,322 rushing yards, 14 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Late fourth round pick

10. Oregon RB Jordan James

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Weight: 205 pounds

40-yard Dash Time: 4.55

2024 Stats: 233 carries, 1,267 rushing yards, 15 rush TDs

Draft Prediction: Fifth or sixth round pick

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The NFL Draft is a crucial part of the NFL offseason as teams build their rosters for the future. Many teams are in need of a running back, including the Raiders, Bears, Cowboys, and Broncos. They will be looking at one of these guys in a deep RB draft class to carry their backfield into the future.

With PrizePicks, you can win real rewards by making predictions on the 2025 NFL Draft. It doesn’t stop after the NFL Draft because you can pick more or less on rookies’ season-long fantasy football projections — like rushing yards — with NFLSZN.

Stay locked in on the Playbook from now till the first kickoff to gear up for NFL DFS and fantasy football in 2025.