Rookie RB Roundup

Rookie Rankings, Sophomore Breakouts, NFL Draft Props, and Best Ball Values

Don’t let the Easter weekend distract you from the fact that the NFL Draft is less than one week away!

It’s time to put down the Mini Eggs and pick up Brett Whitefield’s 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Guide before you’re sitting there on draft night asking yourself, “WTF is a Cam Skattebo?!” In his guide, Brett hooks you up with the rankings, player profiles and analysis you need to be an expert on this year’s class.

Must-read Fantasy Points content this AM:

  • Rookie RB Rankings 📊

  • Second-Year RB Breakouts 🚀

  • NFL Draft QB & RB Props 💰

  • Best Ball Values 📈

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Dynasty Rankings

Scott Barrett’s Top RBs

Scott Barrett uses his proprietary analytical model to rank the incoming rookie running back class for dynasty fantasy football.

Speaking of Skattebo, Barrett is turning heads by putting him at RB3 in his rankings. Although the ASU RB’s athleticism doesn’t jump off the screen, the numbers speak for themselves:

On top of that, Skattebo totalled the most missed tackles forced of any Power Conference RB in PFF College history (115) and led all RBs (6th among all positions) in receiving yards after the catch (571) — 200 yards more than supposed YAC-god and projected Round 1 WR Luther Burden (373). The guy does it all.

Conversely, Barrett is well below consensus on Quinshon Judkins. The Ohio State (via Ole Miss) RB led his team in rushing every year of his college career, but did so with horrendous efficiency — his 4.61 YPC against Power Conference opponents ranked him 45th out of 48-qualifying RBs.

He also added very little in the passing game, with career highs of just 22 catches and 161 receiving yards, while averaging a lackluster 0.76 career YPRR. For perspective, since the 2020 NFL Draft, only one RB with a worse career YPRR has ever reached 250 receiving yards in a single NFL season (Kenneth Walker).

The numbers simply don’t match the comps…

Read the full article for more studs, duds, and sleepers in this year’s RB class.

Second-Year RB Breakouts

Bucky Irving // Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images

Ryan Heath highlights some 2024 rookies primed for a big year in 2025 fantasy football.

Heath’s top-ranked sophomore RB: Bucky Irving

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise… Irving averaged 22.5 FPG in his five healthy games post-bye (would have led all RBs across the full season). But despite many dynasty managers selling the 2024 4th-rounder this offseason (thanks to Dameon Pierce and James Robinson PTSD), Heath doesn’t seem concerned.

Irving is clearly the team’s top back, as he received 17 of Tampa’s 18 RB carries in their Wildcard game. And it was for good reason — he was one of the NFL’s most explosive RBs in 2024, ranking top-4 in YPC (5.42), MTF/A (0.26), and YACO/A (3.02). Plus, the Bucs have spent none of their pre-Draft visits on RBs, paving the way for Bucky to run the show again in 2025.

The same can’t be said about Tyrone Tracy.

The Giants’ 2024 5th-round pick played the 3rd-most snaps (607), ran the 5th-most routes (254), and amassed the 7th-most volume as measured by total XFP (188.3) among 72 rookie RBs drafted since 2021.

With that being said, Tracy finds himself in a bucket of Day 3 backs on tanking teams who were quickly replaced…

And among these Year 2 busts, he averaged the fewest missed tackles forced (0.18) and yards after contact per attempt (2.52).😬

Read the full article for a detailed look at a sophomore class that, unfortunately, looks primed to disappoint.

2025 NFL Draft RB Props

Omarion Hampton // Grant Halverson, Getty Images

Betting expert Tom Brolley highlights the best 2025 NFL Draft Props for the top RB prospects.

Omarion Hampton draft position: Under 20.5 (+115, BetRivers)

Hampton would be the top RB prospect in most classes in the last decade, but he’s been overshadowed by Ashton Jeanty. He led the ACC in rushing yards in back-to-back seasons, scoring 15 rushing TDs in each campaign.

The Raiders, Bears, and Cowboys are each looking for a RB early in the draft and pick inside the top-12. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos, Steelers, or Chargers (picks 20-22) trade up for him either.

Ashton Jeanty draft position: Under 9.5 (-225, BetRivers)

Jeanty took home the Doak Walker Award after leading the FBS in rushing attempts (374) and rushing yards (2601) last season. He finished behind only Travis Hunter for the Heisman Trophy, and could find himself selected shortly after Hunter at the top of the draft as well. Jeanty’s expected draft position is currently sitting at 7.8, with the Raiders (6th overall) being the most popular landing spot for him in mock drafts at 56%.

Read the full article for more RB and QB props, including a potential slide for Shedeur Sanders.👀

Best Ball Corner

Pre-NFL Draft Values

Alvin Kamara // Stephen Lew, Imagn Images

Kyle Menton highlights the most underpriced veteran players in 2025 best ball fantasy football before the 2025 NFL Draft.

Alvin Kamara is set for another bellcow workload in 2025. The vet was fed the most volume as measured by backfield expected fantasy points (19.4 XFP/G) last season, and the addition of Kellen Moore as HC promises more of the same. Last season, Moore’s Eagles offense had the most rush attempts per game (36.5), and Saquon Barkley led the league in touches per game (23.6) while ranking 3rd in EPA/Rush (0.10).

Chris Godwin’s transition back to a slot-receiving role last season was wildly successful. His 16.1 FPG ranked 2nd-best, and through the first 7 weeks, he led the NFL in receptions (50) while ranking 2nd in receiving yards (576) and TDs (5). Not only was Godwin a front-runner for the overall WR1 at that point, but the triple-crown as well. Buy the injury dip.

Read the full article to find out why Kyle sees Courtland Sutton as a potential WR1.

As always, all this content and more is available at FantasyPoints.com.

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