The first two weeks of training camp along with the first week of preseason games offers an evergreen reminder that whatever we thought in the offseason doesn't matter once August comes around.
Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks was on his way to overtaking Chuba Hubbard -- he was already ranked ahead of him -- but a hamstring injury resulting in a weeks-long absence for Hubbard has catapulted Brooks into the top 70 picks in drafts. And he might not stop rising.
And in Pittsburgh, multiple credible reports offer Rico Dowdle as a primary runner for the Steelers slightly ahead of Jaylen Warren. We already knew Dowdle was a Mike McCarthy favorite going back to their Dallas days, but now it seems like Dowdle could become a Fantasy manager's favorite, also.
Meanwhile, the Giants could be headed toward a multi-pronged rushing approach, Josh Jacobs' future remains up in the air, and the first impression of Jeremiyah Love was exciting.
The point is that this position, more than any other, will continue evolving all the way up until Week 1, which is somehow still about a month away from the time this story publishes. A smart Fantasy drafter will stay on top of the news and make draft plan changes accordingly. For now, all of the running back changes have deepened the position and made it a little bit easier to draft with confidence.
Is it enough to alter draft strategies? No, but at least you now know of more options once you get past the first few tiers.
Tier 1
Round 1 in half-PPR
Jahmyr Gibbs RB DET Detroit
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1223 REC 77 REYDS 616 TD 18 FPTS/G 19.3 
Bijan Robinson RB ATL Atlanta • #7
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1478 REC 79 REYDS 820 TD 11 FPTS/G 19.5 
Jonathan Taylor RB IND Indianapolis • #28
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1585 REC 46 REYDS 378 TD 20 FPTS/G 20.0 
Christian McCaffrey RB SF San Francisco • #23
Age: 30 • Experience: 10 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1202 REC 102 REYDS 924 TD 17 FPTS/G 21.5 
Chase Brown RB CIN Cincinnati • #30
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1019 REC 69 REYDS 437 TD 11 FPTS/G 14.6 
James Cook RB BUF Buffalo • #4
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1621 REC 33 REYDS 291 TD 14 FPTS/G 16.8
Pretty self-explanatory group of mega-stud running backs worth a first-round pick. All of them have the potential for 18-plus half-PPR points per game. Maybe there's an argument that Chase Brown doesn't belong, but he has not only been solid in each of his past two seasons (at least 14 half-PPR points per game in each), but he has also shown flashes of being a monster close to the level of Robinson and Gibbs when the Bengals have given him a lot of work. That's in play this season, given the lack of running back improvements they made this offseason.
Tier 2
Round 2 in half-PPR
Omarion Hampton RB LAC L.A. Chargers • #8
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 545 REC 32 REYDS 192 TD 5 FPTS/G 13.3 
Ashton Jeanty RB LV Las Vegas • #2
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 975 REC 55 REYDS 346 TD 10 FPTS/G 12.8 
De'Von Achane RB MIA Miami • #28
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1350 REC 67 REYDS 488 TD 12 FPTS/G 18.1 
Derrick Henry RB BAL Baltimore • #22
Age: 32 • Experience: 11 year 2025 Stats RUYDS 1595 REC 15 REYDS 150 TD 16 FPTS/G 16.0 
Kenneth Walker III RB KC Kansas City • #9
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1027 REC 31 REYDS 282 TD 5 FPTS/G 10.4 
Saquon Barkley RB PHI Philadelphia • #26
Age: 29 • Experience: 9 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1140 REC 37 REYDS 273 TD 9 FPTS/G 13.4 Don't be surprised to see Achane or Henry taken closer to the names in the first tier. However, both carry concerns that shouldn't be overlooked: Achane figures to see a decline in both targets and touchdowns given the changes around the Dolphins offense, and Henry isn't fighting age as much as a track record of declining numbers when the Ravens are trailing, plus the Ravens' new offensive system could mean changes to how much they actually run the ball. Walker III has disappointed us so many times before, and Chiefs running backs have disappointed us for much of this decade, but there's something about an explosive back like Walker getting schemed up in an Andy Reid offense that should get Fantasy managers pretty excited.
This is a good group to expect at least 15 half-PPR points per game from.
Tier 3
Round 3 in half-PPR
Josh Jacobs RB GB Green Bay • #8
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 929 REC 36 REYDS 282 TD 14 FPTS/G 14.6 
Javonte Williams RB DAL Dallas • #33
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1201 REC 35 REYDS 137 TD 13 FPTS/G 14.1 
Jeremiyah Love RB ARI Arizona • #4
Age: 21 • Experience: Rookie 
Kyren Williams RB LAR L.A. Rams • #23
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1252 REC 36 REYDS 281 TD 13 FPTS/G 14.4 You might expect some of these names to slip into the back of Round 2 in half-PPR drafts. Jacobs would absolutely be in the second tier if his off-field issues were non-existent. The rest of the names carry at least mild risk due to injuries, splitting with another running back, a fall-off in performance, or all of the above. And yet you could argue they're a notch better than anyone else in the tiers after them.
I don't think it's a mistake to expect at least 13.5 half-PPR points per game from this tier.
Tier 4
Rounds 4-5 in half-PPR
Cam Skattebo RB NYG N.Y. Giants • #44
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 410 REC 24 REYDS 207 TD 7 FPTS/G 16 
Travis Etienne RB NO New Orleans • #3
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1107 REC 36 REYDS 292 TD 13 FPTS/G 14.9 
Quinshon Judkins RB CLE Cleveland • #10
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 827 REC 26 REYDS 171 TD 7 FPTS/G 11.2 
Breece Hall RB NYJ N.Y. Jets • #20
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1065 REC 36 REYDS 350 TD 6 FPTS/G 11.9 
D'Andre Swift RB CHI Chicago • #4
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1087 REC 34 REYDS 299 TD 10 FPTS/G 13.2 
Bucky Irving RB TB Tampa Bay • #7
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 588 REC 30 REYDS 277 TD 4 FPTS/G 12.4 It's notable that a tier of six players is expected to last two rounds. That speaks to the limited supply of decent-enough No. 2 running backs.
Etienne should be the primary back for a potent Saints offense. We know Judkins can be a workhorse in Cleveland, we're not sure if Skattebo will be given the same chance in New York but his game is impossible to ignore, and while it's been a few years since we've seen Hall average over 13.5 half-PPR points per game, there is a fair argument to make that he can get there again. You may see Hall go a full tier higher, something I personally don't agree with.
After them, there are some questions. Swift is expected to significantly split with Kyle Monangai (who's going several rounds later), and Irving also has great upside but will split with potentially two backs (both of whom are going several rounds later).
Every RB in this tier will be gone by the end of Round 5, if not the middle, and all have a profile that offers at least 12.5 half-PPR points per game.
Tier 5
Rounds 6-7 in half-PPR
David Montgomery RB HOU Houston • #32
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 716 REC 24 REYDS 192 TD 9 FPTS/G 9.9 
Bhayshul Tuten RB JAC Jacksonville • #33
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 307 REC 10 REYDS 79 TD 7 FPTS/G 5.6 
Jadarian Price RB SEA Seattle • #8
Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie 
Jonathon Brooks RB CAR Carolina • #25
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs. No one's made a bigger leap in the last week than Brooks, who appears to be over his latest ACL tear and sees a clear pathway to be the Panthers lead running back not just for Week 1, but the whole year. The sticking point is deciding on when it's not too risky to take him -- I've settled on him being behind the RBs in this tier. Could he outplay them? Yes. Could they all outplay him? Obviously possible given that Brooks has played almost one full season of organized football in his past five years. You have to weigh the risks involved in drafting Brooks.
You're hoping for these guys to at least hold down an 11 half-PPR average.
Tier 6
Round 8 in half-PPR
Rico Dowdle RB PIT Pittsburgh • #13
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1076 REC 39 REYDS 297 TD 7 FPTS/G 11.6 
Tony Pollard RB TEN Tennessee • #20
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 1082 REC 33 REYDS 206 TD 5 FPTS/G 10.0 
Rhamondre Stevenson RB NE New England • #38
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 603 REC 32 REYDS 345 TD 9 FPTS/G 11.6 
TreVeyon Henderson RB NE New England • #32
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 911 REC 35 REYDS 221 TD 10 FPTS/G 11.1 
Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB WAS Washington • #22
Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 805 REC 9 REYDS 68 TD 8 FPTS/G 8.0 
Jordan Mason RB MIN Minnesota • #27
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 758 REC 14 REYDS 51 TD 6 FPTS/G 7.6 
Jaylen Warren RB PIT Pittsburgh • #30
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 958 REC 40 REYDS 333 TD 8 FPTS/G 12.3
Tier 7
Rounds 9-11 in half-PPR
J.K. Dobbins RB DEN Denver • #27
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 772 REC 11 REYDS 37 TD 4 FPTS/G 11.6 
Blake Corum RB LAR L.A. Rams • #24
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 746 REC 8 REYDS 36 TD 6 FPTS/G 7.0 
Kyle Monangai RB CHI Chicago • #25
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 783 REC 18 REYDS 164 TD 5 FPTS/G 8.1 
Chuba Hubbard RB CAR Carolina • #30
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 511 REC 30 REYDS 223 TD 4 FPTS/G 7.4 
Kenneth Gainwell RB TB Tampa Bay • #1
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 537 REC 73 REYDS 486 TD 8 FPTS/G 10.9 
Rachaad White RB WAS Washington • #1
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 572 REC 40 REYDS 218 TD 4 FPTS/G 7.2 
Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB JAC Jacksonville • #24
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 500 REC 3 REYDS 30 TD 6 FPTS/G 7.0 
Tyrone Tracy Jr. RB NYG N.Y. Giants • #29
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 740 REC 36 REYDS 288 TD 4 FPTS/G 9.5 
RJ Harvey RB DEN Denver • #12
Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 540 REC 47 REYDS 356 TD 12 FPTS/G 12.2 
Zach Charbonnet RB SEA Seattle • #26
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 730 REC 20 REYDS 144 TD 12 FPTS/G 10.7 
MarShawn Lloyd RB GB Green Bay • #32
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs. 
Woody Marks RB HOU Houston • #4
Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 703 REC 24 REYDS 208 TD 5 FPTS/G 8.7
Tier 8
Rounds 12+ in half-PPR (and pretty much any format)
Jonah Coleman RB DEN Denver • #20
Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie 
Aaron Jones RB MIN Minnesota • #33
Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 548 REC 28 REYDS 199 TD 3 FPTS/G 9.9 
Ray Davis RB BUF Buffalo • #7
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 275 REC 10 REYDS 86 TD 2 FPTS/G 3.5 
Tyler Allgeier RB ARI Arizona • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 514 REC 14 REYDS 96 TD 8 FPTS/G 6.8 
Keaton Mitchell RB LAC L.A. Chargers • #34
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 341 REC 9 REYDS 63 TD 1 FPTS/G 4.3 
Tyjae Spears RB TEN Tennessee • #2
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 283 REC 45 REYDS 264 TD 2 FPTS/G 8.6 
Kaelon Black RB SF San Francisco • #26
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie 
Alvin Kamara RB NO New Orleans • #41
Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 471 REC 33 REYDS 186 TD 1 FPTS/G 7.7 
Tank Bigsby RB PHI Philadelphia • #8
Age: 23 • Experience: 4 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 356 REC 3 REYDS 32 TD 2 FPTS/G 3.2 
Isiah Pacheco RB DET Detroit • #10
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 462 REC 19 REYDS 101 TD 2 FPTS/G 6.0 
Brian Robinson Jr. RB ATL Atlanta • #15
Age: 27 • Experience: 3 yrs. 2025 Stats RUYDS 400 REC 8 REYDS 25 TD 2 FPTS/G 3.4 Add CBS Sports on Google Join the Conversation comments 
