With the 2025 NFL Draft season approaching, fantasy leagues are focusing on dynasty rookies. While there’s plenty of focus on the players themselves with rankings, scouting reports, and NFL comparisons, I wanted to shift the focus to landing spots, particularly for dynasty rookie running backs.
Running back is the position that may be the most dependent on landing spot. Whether or not a running back succeeds for fantasy is determined in large part by the scheme they play in and, more importantly, playing time.
While I could simply list the top landing spots for running backs generally, that removes the nuance of how certain players fit into certain schemes. With the NFL moving away from the workhorse running back, there are also considerations about which players would fit into a certain role in a high-value committee situation.
I’ll be highlighting the top landing spot for each rusher, which is the team that I think provides the rookie with the best chance to flourish as a fantasy player while also being a likely destination based on team need and draft position.
In addition to this top spot, I’m identifying a dark horse landing spot. This dark horse landing spot provides a great spot for the rookie to flourish for fantasy – albeit potentially with some additional challenges – while being a less likely destination based on team need or draft position. With that said, let’s look at the top landing spots for each of the top 2025 dynasty rookie running backs.
Ashton Jeanty
Top Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
Ashton Jeanty is by far the most impressive running back prospect in this class. He’s widely believed to be an early 1st round pick. It would be an absolute shock to see Jeanty slip past the Cowboys with the twelfth pick. In fact, Jeanty has been consistently mocked to the Cowboys.
Teams ahead of the Cowboys linked to the historic college rusher include the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders. While these teams could offer Jeanty a young offense to grow with, a more veteran offense with a better offensive line will allow Jeanty to translate better immediately.
With a healthy Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb returning the Cowboys to an above-average passing attack, Jeanty will be given more room to operate than if he was the sole focal point of the offense. Few teams that are in the mix to draft Jeanty have as skilled a quarterback-wide receiver duo as Dallas.
While Caleb Williams still has the potential to join the league's top passers, and DJ Moore and Rome Odunze make for a dangerous receiving threat, there are a lot more questions in Chicago than in Dallas. Brock Bowers may even be as dangerous a pass-catching option as Lamb, but with a huge question mark at quarterback, teams could sell out to stop the run against the Raiders with Jeanty.
Teams like the Bears and Raiders don’t yet have the offensive lines developed to a level that would allow Jeanty to truly show his potential. The Cowboys' offensive line isn’t the same dominant unit we’ve grown accustomed to for the better part of the past decade, but they’re still a tier or two above those teams.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers, under Kyle Shannahan, have been unafraid to make bold splashes in the first round of the NFL Draft and have shown their focus on building around the running game. The 49ers are set to make their first selection in the Draft one pick ahead of the Cowboys.
This is a dark horse landing spot for a pretty obvious reason – Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey, the most dangerous running back in the NFL when he is healthy, has been his best self in Shannahan’s system. This past season highlighted just how important McCaffrey is to this team.
If McCaffrey’s health doesn’t recover as the 49ers hope, then Jeanty may be one of a very select few players that could replace his production – and the only one available to them this offseason. And if McCaffrey can return healthy, Jeanty would give Shannahan the ability to keep his rushers fresh by splitting touches throughout the season. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations dependent on their rushing game, that could be a very important investment.
For fantasy purposes, this may seem like a terrible landing spot. Jeanty would, at best, be getting half of the touches. The upside, though, is incredible. If McCaffrey’s injury problems persist, the 49ers run scheme would give Jeanty a higher ceiling than any rusher in the NFL.
McCaffrey is already approaching the back half of his career. If Jeanty shows the ability to replicate McCaffrey’s success in the Shannahan system, the 49ers could look to save money following the 2025 season with Brock Purdy’s new deal set to kick in.
Even if McCaffrey is effective and healthy, I may prefer Jeanty getting 40% of snaps in the 49ers offense over 75% of snaps on a team like the Raiders. Don’t count out Shannahan finding a way to keep both elite rushers on the field at the same time, either, as both are great pass-catching options.
While it’s far from the most likely scenario – as a dark horse landing spot should be – it’s an exciting one to think about.
TreVeyon Henderson
Top Landing Spot: Denver Broncos
TreVeyon Henderson may be one of the most landing spot-dependent rushers in this class. He’s an explosive player in space who seems very well-designed for the NFL game. He compares to someone like Jahmyr Gibbs (not to say he’s that level of prospect – Gibbs was clearly the better prospect) in his ability to beat defenders in space.
Sean Payton is well known for his proclivity for using running backs in the passing game. Henderson is a great pass catcher who thrives in space. A good comparison may be one of Payton’s old running backs – Alvin Kamara. During Kamara’s time playing for Payton, he was often playing 50%-60% of snaps.
Payton featured a more traditional early down back (like Mark Ingram) alongside Kamara. Kamara’s rookie season is a great example of what Peyton can do with a running back well suited for this role. Kamara only had 120 carries for 728 yards – something that many would say is a fairly disappointing result for Henderson as a rookie. Kamara had a whopping 81 receptions for another 826 yards in the air, though. If Payton sees Henderson as someone able to fill that role, he should be considered the RB2 in this class (and potentially RB1).
Bo Nix’s mobility is another factor that makes Henderson a good fit for the Broncos. While rushing quarterbacks can occasionally be a negative for their team's running backs, that’s often for rushers dependent on touchdowns for fantasy success. Nix’s rushing ability would open up significant space for Henderson and give him the ability to find himself more often in one-on-one situations in space – a place where Henderson thrives.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: Washington Commanders
While Washington may not be as much of a dark horse for an early-round running back as the 49ers, the resurgent Commanders have plenty of needs on the defensive side of the ball and on the offensive line. Spending a premium pick on the running back position, which isn’t the biggest area of need, would be somewhat of a surprise. There’s also the fact that Henderson would need to slide a bit in the draft to reach the Commanders at the back end of the second round.
If the Commanders do find Henderson available late in the second round, though, he’d be a great complement to their offense. The point above on Henderson’s fit with a mobile Nix is only increased with Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability. While Kliff Kingsbury doesn’t have quite the same history of targeting running backs in his offenses as Sean Payton, the Commanders were one of the most active screen teams in the NFL last year.
The Commanders' receivers have bought in as blockers on the outside and could give Henderson a lot of room to operate out in space. With a lack of receiving options outside of Terry McLaurin, Henderson could see a very high target share out of the backfield. Kingsbury already showed his willingness to run his top two running backs on the field at the same time, so with a talent like Henderson, those sets could be even more effective with the explosive Henderson alongside the powerful Brian Robinson.
Omarion Hampton
Best Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers
This is one of the few landing spots that could lead dynasty managers to move Jeanty down to RB2 in the class. Now, I’m not saying that’s the right move, but it speaks to how good of a landing spot this would be for Omarion Hampton.
On the Chargers, Hampton would join a team with a coaching staff that has a long history of run-first offenses, a great young offensive line, and a great young quarterback. Hampton is probably the most suited of anyone outside of Jeanty to be a true three-down back. He’s an aggressive runner and fluid pass catcher.
While JK Dobbins could stick around to complement Hampton, the oft-injured back isn’t a significant impediment to being a workhorse back in LA. An ineffective late-round selection in Kimani Vidal and a well-past-his-prime Gus Edwards don’t offer any resistance to Hampton being a star fantasy asset from day one.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are another team that has little competition for Hampton to overcome in order to be a workhorse back while also offering a proficient offense around him. So what makes the Vikings a dark horse? Draft capital.
The Vikings only have four total picks in the 2025 Draft, with no second-round selection. They also have a giant need in their secondary. Adding a running back in the 1st round to an already prolific skill position group isn’t their biggest need.
That being said, if the Vikings see Hampton as an early first-round pick, or they manage to trade back into the second round, and he’s available, it would be an amazing fit. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson offering one of the deepest receiving groups in the NFL, an every-down back like Hampton could be afforded more space than almost any landing spot in the league.
Kaleb Johnson
Best Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers
I went into the 2025 season as a big proponent of Najee Harris for fantasy. While his RB20 finish did outpace his ADP, there was some measure of disappointment in the season. While Harris did receive the seventh-most carries of any running back in the league, his lack of big-play explosiveness really undermined the Steelers running game.
Kaleb Johnson’s NFL comparison for me is Najee Harris with a little extra burst. Johnson is a big runner who isn’t necessarily the most aggressive for his size, like Harris. Unlike Harris, though, when he sees any amount of daylight, he can turn on the burners and shed tacklers for a huge gain.
Arthur Smith has shown that he loves a big running back who can handle a heavy workload. Harris got the volume in Smith’s offense, but he couldn’t break off those big, explosive plays that he needed to be a fantasy star. Johnson has that burst and strength to beat defenders when he reaches the second level.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins aren’t at the top of anyone’s radar for teams looking to invest an early pick at the running back position. De'Von Achane has looked great in an expanded role, and the Dolphins already added depth at the position last year with Jaylen Wright.
Well, after one season, Wright isn’t inspiring confidence in anyone. He seemed to receive fewer opportunities as the season went on and may be an outright bust. Raheem Mostert’s age showed, and now he is off the team.
As good as Achane was last year, he’s not the type of back that can traditionally take on 20+ opportunities a game. If Achane does go down, the Dolphins could be very thin at a position they rely heavily on in their offense.
Enter Johnson as the 2023 Mostert replacement. Johnson would be in line to receive a huge share of early down work and touchdown opportunities. His long speed could also lead to some big gains as defenders focus on the blazing weapons all around Miami’s offense.
With Achane’s emergence as a pass catcher, there could also be opportunities for the two rushers to share the field. Achane’s presence as a receiver would further spread out defenses, giving Johnson even more opportunities to meet weak resistance at the second level.
Quinshon Judkins
Top Landing Spot: Chicago Bears
The Bears might not be the top landing spot overall for a running back, but they certainly have a lot of potential. Possibly the most important reason to be optimistic for an offensive turnaround this season is the Bears’ new head coach, Ben Johnson.
Johnson was the play-caller for the best offensive unit in the league in Detroit last year. The Bears may not have quite the established offensive talent that the Lions had, but there is a bunch of potential. Caleb Williams showed some great flashes, interspersed between some bad football by the team. It’s hard to blame Williams for the team’s overall fortunes.
They also have an established veteran receiver in DJ Moore and ascending pass catcher Rome Odunze. Quinshon Judkins to Chicago makes sense for two reasons: D’Andre Swift is not a between-the-tackles runner, and Judkins will be available later on Day 2.
Swift has shown time and time again that he’s not an every-down back. He’s explosive and can break off big plays in space, but he doesn’t have the size or vision between the tackles to regularly pick up yards. While chunk plays are needed in a prolific run game, you also need a running back that can pick up 4-5 yard runs regularly to put the team in 2nd, or 3rd and short situations. That’s especially important with a young quarterback.
Judkins fits perfectly as a complement to Swift. He’s an aggressive between the tackles runner. He’s not limited to being a bruiser, though. He showed his pass-catching chops at Ohio State and is able to shed tacklers in the second level, particularly with his stiff arm. Judkins and Swift could be Johnson’s knock-off Montgomery and Gibbs.
The Bears have three picks in the first two rounds of the draft. The Bears will likely be in search of an edge rusher with one of those picks, but they could also address their offensive line with one of those picks. The Bears are already expected to make a splash on the offensive line in free agency, so Judkins running behind a line that’s added a top free agent and a top 40 pick would be dangerous for fantasy.
If Johnson manages to elevate the Bears’ offense, Judkins could be the biggest fantasy beneficiary with a 10+ touchdown season as a rookie.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals
I’m fully prepared to get some pushback on the Bengals being considered a dark horse here. It seems there’s a divide in the fantasy community on whether the Bengals will move forward with Chase Brown as the clear RB1 on the team moving forward or look for his replacement in the draft.
Judkins offers a bit of a middle ground. Brown would still feature heavily and limit his snap share, but Judkins would take on the goal-line role on one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league.
Chase Brown had the eleventh-most rushing attempts within the 5-yard line in the NFL last year. That’s after splitting snaps with Zack Moss early in the season as well. If Brown had those eight touches that Moss took early in the season, it’d rank him as the second-highest total of attempts within the 5.
Brown only managed the 20th-ranked scoring efficiency on those touches however, meaning there’s plenty of room for improvement with a strong goal-line back like Judkins. What the Bengals miss in total volume to offer Judkins, they make up for with quality of touches.
Devin Neal
Best Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs
Last year the Chiefs were left scrambling to address the running back position when Isiah Pacheco went down early in the season. Rookie Carson Steele was given an opportunity, but that experiment ended quickly. The Chiefs ended up bringing in veteran Kareem Hunt to plug the hole. Hunt showed that it doesn’t take a transcendent talent in their prime to succeed in Kansas City’s rushing scheme.
When Pacheco returned, he was far from what fans had come to expect. While some of that can be attributed to coming back from a serious leg injury, it’s possible that Pacheco will never regain what made him special for the first two years of his career. Across eight games following his return from injury, Pacheco only managed 4 yards per carry once. That’s not just bad; that’s terrible.
Devin Neal gives the Chiefs a player who can play alongside Pacheco with his comparative speed and shiftiness while also being a complete enough back to usurp Pacheco should the former seventh-rounder never regain his previous form.
Neal shouldn’t be very expensive, either. In such a deep running back class, Neal could still be available early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. This gives the Chiefs plenty of draft capital to address the offensive line, an area that was thoroughly outmatched in the Super Bowl, while still adding reinforcements at the position of need.
Dark Horse Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints
The Saints are viewed as a fantasy wasteland right now. Derek Carr is seen as the worst quarterback in the league, Chris Olave has gone from fantasy darling to someone everyone seems scared to touch, and the cap situation seemed to scare off multiple head coaching candidates. Despite that, I think they could be a great landing spot for a dynasty rookie running back.
In all of the mess, Alvin Kamara seems to be the only fantasy option that managers are still happy to draft. Kamara will be 30 years old when the season starts, and although there was a small efficiency rebound last year, he’s still far from the player he was 5 years ago. While it’s admirable how he has continued to produce on a team that’s faltered so much, I think time is up for him.
I think the team situation is much less dire than people make it out to be. The Saints offense looked quite good early in the season. Injuries to Carr, Kamara, Olave, and Rashid Shaheed meant that the Saints were bound to fall apart. I identified Carr as a great late-round value recently, due in large part to this negative sentiment driving his ADP.
Kendre Miller is really the only impediment to the future at running back in New Orleans, and through two seasons, he’s barely seen the field due to injuries. Neal would offer a low-cost option for the future at running back and could move into a starting role for the Saints sooner rather than later as they look to the future.