Running Back Sleepers, Values & Breakouts (2025)

Aug 17, 2025

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

As regular readers know, I tend to follow the touches when attacking the running back position in fantasy drafts, and that usually means drafting 1-2 heavy-usage backs in the early rounds.

Like last year, there are quite a few high-touch backs available in the 4th-7th range, the so-called “RB Dead Zone,” and some intriguing breakout candidates still on the board even later in drafts, so the “Hero RB” strategy—drafting one bell-cow back early on and then drafting a few guys to potentially fill your RB2 spot—is appealing. And those managers who want to ditch the position completely in the first few rounds (with a Zero-RB approach) can wait and find quality values later on.

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Below is a list of Values, Breakout Candidates, and Sleepers that might help fantasy managers sort out their running back strategies in 2025.

Values

Last year, I followed the touches and highlighted Kenneth Walker (RB15 on a per-game basis), Alvin Kamara (RB9), Joe Mixon (RB13), David Montgomery (RB13 on a per-game basis), Aaron Jones (RB15), James Conner (RB10), and Najee Harris (RB22) in the Values section of this article.

Let’s see who’s popping this year in the 4th-7th rounds.

Players with a high touch floor:

When healthy, Kenneth Walker III has been a solid fantasy producer, finishing as a top-20 RB on a per-game basis in each of the last two seasons while showing improved receiving chops with a career-high 46 catches in 2024. Though durability remains a concern, and his rushing efficiency was uneven, his vision, elusiveness, and strong PFF grades suggest he can continue to deliver RB2 value.

Carolina’s signing of Rico Dowdle likely cuts into Chuba Hubbard’s workload, potentially dropping his share to around 65% of carries and 50% of receptions after he dominated backfield usage last year. He should still serve as the lead back and offers solid value in the fourth or fifth round. He ran really well last season.

Despite declining rushing efficiency, Alvin Kamara finished as the RB9 in 2024 thanks to elite receiving production, leading all RBs in catches (143) over the last two seasons. His age, reduced rushing explosiveness, and a shaky Saints offense cap his ceiling, but his passing-game role keeps him in the RB2 mix in PPR formats.

David Montgomery has been a steady RB2 in Detroit’s potent offense, finishing RB17 in 2024 (RB13 per game) while adding more receiving work and maintaining his physical, tackle-breaking style. His touchdown-dependent ceiling is capped by Jahmyr Gibbs’ presence, but his goal-line role keeps him reliable—and he’d have top-five upside if Gibbs were sidelined.