-2025 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2025 Draft Kit
Giddens was the 15th running back selected in the draft as he landed with the Colts. He'll compete with Khalil Herbert to earn backup duties behind the Colts' incumbent starter, Jonathan Taylor. Giddens' talent is very real after he ranked 16th in yards after contact per attempt, sixth in breakaway percentage, and 22nd in elusive rating last year (per PFF). He's in the final-round pick bucket that could pay off handsomely if he earns the RB2 spot and Taylor misses any time.
Sampson joins the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He'll pair with Quinshon Judkins, forming the new-look duo for the Browns' rushing attack. Yes, Jerome Ford remains on the roster, and Sampson has to outplay him to earn the RB2 job in 2025 officially, but I think that will happen because Cleveland's selection of two backs inside the top four rounds of the NFL Draft speaks volumes about their lack of faith in Ford. This easily could be Cleveland getting an updated version of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt for their offense. No, I'm not saying there's a direct comparison with talent, but the usage could be similar. In 2023, Sampson ranked sixth in receiving grade and 14th in yards per route run (per PFF), so there are some reasons to be encouraged with his profile if he does take over the passing down duties for the Browns.
The Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the NFL Draft to challenge Rhamondre Stevenson from the jump. Stevenson isn't going anywhere, but Henderson will play a prominent role in 2025 as, at worst, the 1B in this backfield. As we move through the season, Henderson will eat into Stevenson's workload, if not quickly supplant him as the backfield leader. Henderson has the talent to do so. In two of his last four seasons in college, Henderson ranked top ten in yards after contact per attempt (seventh, eighth) and top 20 in breakaway percentage (10th, 18th). He will operate behind an improved offensive line that added Garrett Bradbury, Will Campbell, and Morgan Moses in the offseason. Henderson should be the team's passing down back immediately, which is great news for his floor and ceiling. Across his last two collegiate seasons, Henderson has ranked 21st & 22nd in receiving grade (per PFF). Josh McDaniels will feature him through the air. In McDaniels' last five full seasons of directing NFL offenses, he has ranked inside the top ten in four of those years, with 20-36.2% of the passing attack flowing through the backfield. Henderson could be New England's version of Jahmyr Gibbs.
Dynasty Outlook: Well, the Bears didn't address running back early in the draft, but they didn't overlook the position. Chicago selected Monangai in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Monangai is a squatty pinball back that can handle volume and fight for every blade of grass. He isn't an explosive runner, but he can roll up plenty of chunk gains and handle a ton of volume. Last year, he had 25 or more carries in 55% of his games and at least 18 carries in every game. He'll have to beat out Roschon Johnson for RB2 duties behind D'Andre Swift, but that's not impossible. Johnson hasn't exactly set the league on fire so far, and he has had trouble staying on the field (concussions). Monangai is a decent last-round pick/taxi squad candidate.
Dynasty Outlook: The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He'll likely begin the year as the team's RB3 with the opportunity to push Isaac Guerendo for the backup job behind Christian McCaffrey. Jordan Mason and Guerendo proved last year that being a solid backup for the 49ers can be fruitful if injuries strike, so for this reason, he's worth a stash on taxi squads. I'm not exceptionally high on him as a prospect, though. Last year, James ranked outside the top 65 FBS running backs in yards after contact per attempt (107th), breakaway percentage (151st), and elusive rating (68th, per PFF).
Harvey is set to explode in his rookie season. The runway is clear for takeoff. Sean Payton just put second-round capital behind a back that enters a room with Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, and J.K. Dobbins. No, I'm not worried about Estime or McLaughlin when they couldn't carve out consistent roles last year with only the ghost of Javonte Williams standing in their way. Dobbins will assist Harvey on early downs so Denver doesn't run their talented rookie into the ground, but I don't project him taking away passing down work or high-leverage opportunities. It's hard not to love a player like Harvey, who has ranked inside the top 20 among FBS running backs in each of the last two seasons in breakaway percentage and elusive rating (per PFF). Add in Payton's running back usage, and Harvey looks primed to smash. Over the last two years, Payton has ranked fifth and first in running back target share. Harvey is a strong RB2 who could finish as an RB1 this season.
The Texans added Marks to their backfield in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. he looks like a passing down back upgrade over Dare Ogunbowale, who can also take on some early down work to spell Joe Mixon occasionally. I wasn't high on Marks as a prospect. Since 2021, he never finished higher than 102nd in yards after contact per attempt or elusive rating (per PFF). He could siphon off some targets from Mixon, though. He has ranked 26th or higher in receiving grade in three of the last four seasons.
Ashton Jeanty will be seen as a disappointment for fantasy managers exiting his rookie season. It wasn't a failure, but you can make the argument that, because of his talent and the hype, it didn't live up to lofty expectations. Jeanty was the RB15 in fantasy points per game, finishing with 321 touches and 1,321 total yards. He ranked fifth in snap share, first in opportunity share, seventh in weighted opportunities, and 15th in red zone touches. Among 49 qualifying backs, Jeanty ranked 16th in missed tackle rate and 17th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). The ecosystem surrounding Jeanty stunk. The Raiders were 31st in red zone scoring attempts per game and 30th in yards per play. Among those 49 qualifying backs previously, Jeanty had the second-fewest yards before contact per attempt (1.28), and 65% of his rushing yards came after first contact. With Klint Kubiak in town, Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins at the helm, a healthy Brock Bowers, and improved blocking up front, Jeanty could be poised to post a strong RB1 season in his second season.
Last year, Omarion Hampton's rookie season was derailed by an ankle injury in Week 5. When he came back, he wasn't close to 100% healthy and had only one game with over a 55% snap rate. Any games after Week 4 last year, I'm just tossing in the trash because that wasn't the "real" Hampton. In 2025, in Weeks 1-4, Hampton averaged 17 touches and 95 total yards as the RB13 in fantasy points per game. In that small sample of games, he posted a 7.4% explosive run rate, a 19% missed tackle rate, and 2.54 yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If he had kept up that pace the entire year in those three categories, he would have ranked fourth, tenth, and eighth in those categories (minimum 100 carries). Those are impressive numbers and speak to his talent and upside in 2026 as Mike McDaniel's possible bellcow. Hampton also contributed through the air in his first four NFL games with a 10.1% target share, 27.5 receiving yards per game, and 1.12 yards per route run. McDaniel is sure to get Hampton involved through the air after designing offenses of the last three seasons that have ranked third, third, and seventh in target share to the running back position. Yes, I know that Hampton isn't De'Von Achane, but this is still a feather in Hampton's cap. Hampton should be a rock-solid RB1 with massive upside in 2026.
Robbie Ouzts (neck) listed questionable for Super Bowl Robbie Ouzts is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl against the Patriots. Ouzts was limited in practice all week. His status will need to be monitored closer to kickoff.
Robbie Ouzts is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl against the Patriots.
Ouzts was limited in practice all week. His status will need to be monitored closer to kickoff.
The human battering ram known as Cam Skattebo made waves in his rookie season before being sidelined by a horrible ankle/fibula fracture that also ruptured his deltoid ligament in Week 8 of last season. In Weeks 2-7 as the Giants' workhorse, Skattebo averaged 19.5 touches and 96.3 total yards as the RB8 in fantasy points per game. I won't be surprised if Skattebo's per-touch efficiency is impacted for at least part of his 2026 season, if not the entire year, as he works his way back from last year's injury. If he's good to go, he should be the Giants' leading ball carrier this season. Last season, he was stellar with his touches, ranking fourth in missed tackle rate and yards after contact per attempt, 11th in target per route run rate, eighth in yards per route run, and second in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He's best viewed as a volume-driven RB2, but I won't be shocked if he's an RB1 this season.
Quinshon Judkins had off-the-field and contract issues last year, entering his rookie season, which caused him to miss training camp and not start the season until Week 2. Once he was on the field, he was Cleveland's workhorse back until suffering an ankle and fibula fracture in Week 16. In Weeks 2-15, he was the RB26 in fantasy points per game (RB22 in expected fantasy points per game), averaging 18.7 touches and 72.8 total yards. I wasn't high on Judkins as a prospect, as his per-touch efficiency in college wasn't amazing. He didn't debunk that trend in his rookie season, either. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked 40th in explosive run rate, 33rd in missed tackle rate, and 26th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). In his defense, Judkins' offensive line didn't do him any favors last season. Among those 49 backs, Judkins had the fifth-highest mark of yards after first contact, with 62.2% of his rushing yards coming after first contact, and he had the fourth-fewest yards before contact per attempt, with only Cam Skattebo, Ashton Jeanty, and Zach Charbonnet seeing less runway with the ball in their hands. With a rebuilt offensive line to run behind in 2026, hopefully better quarterback play in front of him (fingers crossed), and more scoring opportunities, Judkins could return RB2 production this season.
With Travis Etienne gone, Bhayshul Tuten will compete with Chris Rodriguez to be the lead back for the Jaguars in 2026. I want to bet on Tuten this year and his talent. Last year, Tuten was unfortunately robbed of the stretch run of his rookie season as he was sidelined by a finger injury. Before the injury, he was starting to make some noise. This could be the big breakout season for Tuten, who, on a per-touch basis, flashed the immense talent that I really liked when he was in college. Last season, among 55 qualifying backs, he ranked fifth in rushing success rate, 11th in missed tackle rate, and 17th in yards after contact per attempt. Rodriguez will remain a worry for Tuten at the goal line and to his overall touch count until we see his role fleshed out this season, but if he can be the clear lead guy, he has the talent to match Etienne's RB13 finish last year in fantasy points per game.