In dynasty fantasy football, knowing when to move off or acquire a player, depending on their age, offensive environment, talent, or opportunity, is one of the most important skills to hone.
Being able to sort your players into categories based on which should be traded and which should be kept to build around is essential to team-building success in dynasty formats. Whether you’re rebuilding from the bottom of the barrel or contending from the top of the standings, deciding which assets will be a part of your long-term roster is vital.
That being said, let’s overview four running backs who you should be trading for in dynasty fantasy football. The reasons why you should acquire them vary between the factors listed above, but they are all set to increase in value during the 2025 dynasty fantasy football season. Buying low on one of these assets is a great way to add value to your team!
Playing the trade market is necessary to add players who many perceive to be lower in dynasty value than they actually may be. Achieving the maximum amount of value out of a trade when buying into a certain player means trading for them when their public opinion in your dynasty league has reached a low point. This allows you to acquire a talented asset by capitalizing on your league mates’ ignorance of their talent or opportunity.
If you truly believe in a player’s prospects, it can even be a good idea to trade for them when their value is still fairly solid in your league. If you have firm faith in their ability to outperform their current expectations, it doesn’t matter if you don’t pull off a heist of a trade.
Let’s get into the list!
Kenneth Walker (SEA)
FantasyPros Ranking - RB14
Kenneth Walker has one of the highest ceilings of any player in all of dynasty fantasy football. His down year in 2024 was mostly a result of a poor offensive environment in Seattle that hurt his chances of taking a massive step forward statistically.
When unhampered by poor offensive line play or injuries, Walker was one of the most talented players on the football field at all times. He posted a 91.3 PFF rushing grade in 2024, which was the fourth-highest in the entire NFL last season. Among ball-carriers with at least 50 attempts last year, Walker ranked third in the league in PFF elusiveness rating.
It’s not just the advanced stats that back up Walker’s elite talent; it’s the tape. There were several instances where it seemed like Walker took over a game, torching defenses with his athleticism and physicality.
With a slightly improved Seahawks offensive line, Walker’s ceiling has grown even higher as the strengthened big-man unit will look to prove themselves after an embarrassing 2024 campaign.
In just 11 games during the 2024 NFL season, Kenneth Walker managed to finish as a top-30 running back in fantasy football. That’s a great floor that has been established for the Michigan State product during a year in which seemingly everything went wrong for his week-to-week outlook.
Walker also had his most productive year as a receiver in 2024, again in just 11 games. He achieved career-highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, cementing himself as a capable PPR asset.
At 24 years old, Kenneth Walker still has his whole career in front of him. With Klint Kubiak now hired as the team’s new offensive coordinator, reports have already begun to surface that the Hawks’ offense could take a run-heavy approach this season.
If that’s the case, Walker has RB1 upside. He’s a young, productive running back with a high floor and ceiling who has never scored less than seven rushing touchdowns in a single season. This is the lowest his trade price will ever be.
Chuba Hubbard (CAR)
FantasyPros Ranking - RB20
In his age-25 season, Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard put up one of the most unexpected breakout campaigns we’ve seen in a while. Going into the season, he seemed destined for irrelevancy once rookie rusher Jonathon Brooks returned from a season-ending knee injury sustained during his final year of college football at Texas in 2023.
Before Brooks’ return, Hubbard began to dominate weekly in dynasty. With elite volume, efficiency, and touchdown numbers, the Oklahoma State product took flight and earned the starting job, even upon Brooks’ return.
Once Brooks unfortunately injured his knee once again, Hubbard’s long-term value was cemented. After posting 1,195 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 4.78 yards per carry, Hubbard was signed to a four-year contract extension that ties him to the team through the 2028 season.
Chuba Hubbard’s dynamic productivity on the ground had finally been rewarded with the long-term security that gave dynasty managers full confidence in his dynasty relevance past the 2024 season.
However, all this taken into consideration, Hubbard’s ranking and general outlook from the dynasty community still seem too underwhelming. I don’t think he will greatly improve statistically in 2025 by any means, but he should again return top-15 running back production if he can stay healthy.
Despite an elite fantasy season, the general consensus on his dynasty outlook remains perplexingly low. He’s a great buy-low candidate for teams in need of a great running back.
Trey Benson (ARI)
FantasyPros Ranking - RB36
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but didn’t see a surplus of playing time or volume (only 63 carries for 291 rushing yards) behind veteran back James Conner, who had a career year.
Conner’s production was seriously impressive, landing him a two-year extension from the team that put Benson’s dynasty outlook in doubt. However, the terms of the contract lead me to believe that Conner, who recently turned 30 years old, may be cut after the 2025 NFL season.
The extension itself is set up so that Conner’s dead cap hit lowers dramatically after the first year of his deal, giving Arizona a potential out in his contract if Benson, a complete prospect with a three-down skill set, shows promise in his sophomore season.
This all sets up Benson to be Arizona’s top running back in 2026 if he can show some flashes with what could hopefully be more opportunities this season. If Benson really is Arizona’s long-term plan at the running back position, adding him to your dynasty team after an underwhelming rookie season in terms of volume and production could be a home-run transaction.
D.J. Giddens (IND)
FantasyPros Ranking - RB60
Former Kansas State running back D.J. Giddens is on this list for a very unique reason. After being selected by Indianapolis in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Giddens is set up to be the team’s second running back behind superstar Jonathan Taylor.
As a prospect, Giddens is an extremely elusive running back with good vision at the line of scrimmage. He has NFL size (6’0”, 212 lbs) and talent and is ready to contribute immediately to Indy’s rushing attack.
I think that Giddens has a real chance to be the most valuable handcuff running back in dynasty fantasy football after the 2025 NFL season. Jonathan Taylor has missed 16 games over his last three seasons, leaving the door open for Giddens to see some production if Taylor were to unfortunately miss time once again, which has become a common occurrence as of late.
Overall, Giddens is a valuable, young handcuff running back who is flying under the radar in deeper dynasty leagues. Trade for him while his value is still low!
HM: Kaleb Johnson (PIT)
HM: Bhayshul Tuten (JAX)
HM: Ray Davis (BUF)
HM: Jaylen Wright (MIA)
HM: Woody Marks (HOU)