We've entered the back half of the 2025 NFL regular season, so it feels like a good time to evaluate the initial returns from this year's crop of rookie running backs.
We've watched all of these first-year players take the professional gridiron over the last few months. So far, they have combined to produce just six 100-yard rushing performances -- with each coming from a different RB, providing parity within the draft class. With that in mind, how do these guys stack up against each other after displaying their wares at the NFL level?
With the benefit of hindsight, here is how I would re-draft the 11 rookie backs who've logged 50-plus carries in 2025.
Actual draft position: Round 4, No. 105 overall (eighth RB selected)
Should have been: Top-10 pick
Despite playing in just eight games before his season-ending ankle injury, Skattebo had the biggest impact on his offense of all the rookies on this list, providing a major spark with his tenacious attitude and play style. Very few rookies outside of the quarterback position affect a team as positively as Skattebo did, on the field and with his infectious personality. He started to take over as the Giants' feature back in Week 2, and from Week 3 through Week 7 -- the gruesome injury came early in Week 8 -- he forced the second-most missed tackles in the league with 31 (behind only Christian McCaffrey), according to Next Gen Stats. He had also gained 316 rushing yards after contact in that span, the fourth-most in the NFL. Skattebo's monster breakout came in a Week 6 upset of the rival Eagles, scoring three of his seven scrimmage touchdowns (a total that is still tied for the most among all rookies with Ashton Jeanty). A fourth-rounder in April, Skattebo has shown he was worthy of being a top-10 pick. He wasn't taken in the first two days of the draft because, frankly, he didn't possess elite traits. But if we're talking about a pure football player, is there anyone better? I'd argue there isn't. This guy plays every down like it's his last.
Actual draft position: Round 1, No. 6 overall (first RB selected)
Should have been: Top-10 pick
Those elite traits that Cam Skattebo lacks? Jeanty has many of them, validating his draft position. He's a top-10 talent who has shown flashes in certain games (SEE: 138 rushing yards and three total TDs in Week 4). Unfortunately, Las Vegas' offense has been stuck in the mud over the last month-plus. Chip Kelly's unit ranks 30th in scoring, total yards and rushing yards, with Jeanty averaging fewer than 4 yards per carry in every game but two. He's not getting much help from the O-line, Pro Football Focus' seventh-worst run-blocking unit this season. One area where Jeanty has thrived is forcing missed tackles, which he's done on 31.8 percent of his rushing attempts, the third-highest rate among RBs this season (min. 100 carries). Jeanty might not reach his potential in Year 1, but that's due to the vast issues surrounding him on this offense and team.
Actual draft position: Round 2, No. 38 overall (fourth RB selected)
Should have been: First-round pick
If not for Henderson's slow start to the season, he would've been higher on this list. He began as a backup RB behind veteran Rhamondre Stevenson, who routinely received more carries than the rookie before his toe injury in Week 8. But what we've seen since Henderson got his first start in Week 9 has been special:
- Weeks 1-8: 8.6 touches/game, 40.9 scrimmage yards/game, 4.7 yards/touch, one scrimmage TD.
- Weeks 9-11: 19 touches/game, 110 scrimmage yards/game, 5.8 yards/touch, five scrimmage TDs.
It's a crime Josh McDaniels didn't lean on the rookie earlier in the season, given what he's shown with more opportunities. Stevenson returned to practice this week, prompting questions about what McDaniels will do at the position when the vet returns to game action. I like Stevenson as much as the next guy, but the rookie has the hot hand and has been more efficient.
Actual draft position: Round 1, No. 22 overall (second RB selected)
Should have been: First-round pick
Hampton showed a lot of early promise prior to his ankle injury in Week 5, compiling 314 yards on 66 carries (4.8 ypc) with two TDs and 20 receptions for 136 yards. Averaging nearly 5 yards per carry, Hampton was proving to be a perfect fit for Jim Harbaugh's Chargers due to his physical, tackle-breaking ability. He was just earning a bigger role, too, after Najee Harris was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 3. Hampton remains on IR but could return to practice after the Chargers' bye week. I liked what I saw early from the rookie. I'm ready to see more, and I'm hopeful his return can take some of the pressure off Justin Herbert and the pass game.
Actual draft position: Round 2, No. 36 overall (third RB selected)
Should have been: Late first-round pick
With the quarterback carousel spinning out of control in Cleveland, Judkins has been one of the few positives for the offense. He might not be as flashy as the players above him on this list, but he's reliable. He leads all rookies in attempts (157) and rush yards (620) despite working behind a battered, ineffective O-line. Judkins has been hit behind the line of scrimmage on 51.0 percent of his rushing attempts this season, the highest rate among running backs with at least 100 carries, resulting in 102 yards lost before contact. Judkins has amassed 555 yards after contact, with these yards comprising 89.5 percent of his rushing total (the fourth-highest figure among backs with 100-plus totes). His ability to constantly run through contact and gain positive yards despite facing loaded boxes (where there are more defenders than blockers) on a league-high 71 of his carries should persuade the Browns to continue leaning on him as they figure out the quarterback position.
Actual draft position: Round 7, No. 245 overall (25th RB selected)
Should have been: Second-round pick
The Commanders showed their fondness of Croskey-Merritt when they traded away Brian Robinson Jr. in late August. He's a perfect fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense as an elusive and explosive runner between and outside the tackles. He took advantage of his early opportunities after Austin Ekeler went down and earned the RB1 job for five games. He had one 100-yard performance in those starts but lost his starting job to veteran Chris Rodriguez Jr. after some inefficient play. Still, the seventh-round draft pick has the third-most rushing yards among rookies this season, with 498 on 114 carries (4.4 ypc). We'll see if he can retake the job after the bye.
Actual draft position: Round 2, No. 60 overall (fifth RB selected)
Should have been: Second-round pick
Drafted to play a Darren Sproles/Alvin Kamara type of role in Sean Payton's offense, Harvey has been quite the pass-catching asset early in his NFL career. He has 28 receptions on 32 targets for 195 yards and four touchdowns, tied for the second-most receiving scores among all running backs. He hasn't been the most efficient runner, averaging just 4.0 yards per carry, but he's in line for a bigger role when the Broncos return from their bye week, now that J.K. Dobbins is out for the rest of the season. The rookie will have to prove himself as a lead back with the Broncos in prime position to return to the postseason -- and potentially do some damage.
Actual draft position: Round 7, No. 233 overall (22nd RB selected)
Should have been: Third-round pick
Am I surprised that a player who's under Eric Bieniemy's tutelage is thriving? Not in the least. The short-area quickness Monangai showed at Rutgers has translated quite well to Ben Johnson's offense, and the rookie has settled in as a change-of-pace complement to D'Andre Swift. The 5-foot-8, 207-pound back has become more involved over the last five games with Swift dealing with a groin injury. Monangai has had double-digit carries in three of those five contests and three rushing touchdowns. Monangai's 413 rush yards rank sixth among all rookies. By scoring on a 1-yard run in last week's win over Minnesota, he became the first Chicago rookie with a rush TD in back-to-back games since David Montgomery in 2019.
Actual draft position: Round 6, No. 179 overall (16th RB selected)
Should have been: Third-round pick
With so much emphasis on speed, Mike McDaniel's offense needed a rugged presence in the backfield. This 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has brought that physical element to a finesse unit, and in my opinion, he isn't being used enough. Gordon has been utilized in short-yard situations on about one-third of his 50 carries (scoring two TDs in the process), which makes sense for a back of his size, but he's averaging fewer than five attempts per game. He is a tough player to bring down, so McDaniel would be wise to give him more touches to help wear down defenses and control the clock. Gordon and De'Von Achane have the skill sets to give Miami a thunder-and-lightning duo in the backfield. McDaniel should lean into that down the stretch in an effort to improve his 21st-ranked run game.
Actual draft position: Round 4, No. 116 overall (10th RB selected)
Should have been: Fourth-round pick
Marks is another player who has taken advantage of his opportunities, with Joe Mixon sidelined and Nick Chubb as the aging veteran in the backfield. He has gradually earned a bigger role in the run game, making starts in each of the last three contests, a stretch in which in the Texans have gone 3-0 after Thursday's upset of Buffalo. He's also been an asset in the passing attack with a pair of TDs. The biggest indicator of Marks' impact on this team is the fact that Houston is 5-0 when he has at least 15 touches this season. They are 1-5 when he has fewer than 15.
Actual draft position: Round 4, No. 104 overall (seventh RB selected)
Should have been: Fourth-round pick
Tuten has been a nice complement to a rejuvenated Travis Etienne in Jacksonville. Liam Coen's two-headed monster has taken its level up a notch since the team's Week 8 bye, with Jacksonville averaging the sixth-most rush yards per game since. Tuten is coming off a performance that saw him carry the ball 15 times for 74 yards (both season highs) and a touchdown. He's taking advantage of his opportunities.
