The flip side of succeeding with undervalued players is failing with overvalued players. They can clog your roster and never seem to match your expectations. Avoiding them is another important key to a successful fantasy team. To point out these players, we asked our staff to identify players available in the top half of your draft who should underperform their draft position.
RELATED: See 3 Underrated Running Backs here
RELATED: See 4 Overrated Quarterbacks here
A whopping seven overrated running backs were mentioned. See what our staff has to say about each player.
Overrated RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Jason Wood: Sometimes we make too much of a rankings disparity versus ADP, especially when there's very little separating RB16 from RB22 in my projections. So I have no particular issue with someone drafting the promising rookie a round earlier than we recommend.
But if you want to understand why we project him slightly below his ADP, it's because we're higher on the role veteran Najee Harris will play in the Chargers offense than the consensus appears to be. Harris was consistently productive in Pittsburgh, even while splitting touches with Jaylen Warren and dealing with subpar quarterback play.
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman wants to lead the league in rushing attempts, and the team prioritized adding both Hampton and Harris to create a dynamic, interchangeable 1-2 punch. Needless to say, if either back gets hurt, the healthy one becomes a smash play. However, while both are available, we expect a more hot-hand approach than a true lead role for Hampton.
Ben Cummins: It's understandable why the masses are excited about Omarion Hampton. He enters the NFL already one of the bigger running backs at 221 pounds and is an athletic specimen. Hampton ran a 4.47 40-yard dash and posted a 38" vertical and a 10'10" broad jump.
His size and speed were evident on film as he posted 1,504 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 222 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns at North Carolina in 2023 and racked up 1,660 rushing yards, 38 catches, 373 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns last season.
The combination of production and athleticism earned him a first-round selection in this year's NFL Draft. Yet drafters are getting a bit ahead of their skis on this one.
Najee Harris is also on the Chargers, and while he's not a very exciting player, he is a solid one who will be a thorn in Hampton's side this season. Harris, a former first-round selection himself, is a 230-pound bully of a running back who has run for over 1,000 yards for six straight seasons, dating back to his Alabama days. Draft running backs with locked-in RB1 roles instead, such as James Conner and Alvin Kamara.
Gary Davenport: There is a psychological disorder that plagues fantasy managers. It's in the DSM-IV and everything, because I added it with a blue crayon from a kids' menu at Waffle House at…the details aren't important.
What is important is the affliction itself: "Shiny New Toy Syndrome". Each and every year, rookies are overvalued, and 2025 is going to bring a pandemic among running backs, with Hampton as Patient Zero.
It's not about Hampton. Or his talent. Or his long-term outlook. It's about the presence of Najee Harris, who (at Hampton's ADP) is going to murder more dreams than Freddie Krueger.
Far too many are far too quick to dismiss Harris, who is admittedly as explosive as a popcorn fart. The Plodders Club is still reviewing his application. But Harris has also rushed for 1,000 yards four times in as many years in the NFL, and the next game he misses in the pros will be his first.
Are the Chargers gonna run the ball a lot? Oh yeah. But there's no reason to overload Hampton if Harris is just his boring-as-heck, durable self. If Hampton's touches are closer to 250 than 300? Freddie got you.
Matt Waldman: Will Hampton one day earn the value the fantasy community envisions this year? Probably. Will it happen as a rookie? Doubtful.
The community underrates the consistency and skill of Najee Harris. They conflated the struggles of the Steelers' offensive line with those of the running back. It also happened with James Conner. It's a common problem with running-back analysis.
The community overrates Hampton as a "close second" to Ashton Jeanty as a prospect. Hampton could rival Jeanty's production for stretches of his career if he earns a bell-cow role in a run-based offense. Hampton has the right offense, but not the role.
Hampton's top speed doesn't include commensurate acceleration during the early phase of his runs. It will be harder for him to reach that top speed in the NFL. He goes down too easily against forms of contact that project better to the NFL. People got it wrong with Javonte Williams for the same reasons. They don't study tackling to see the reality of the tape.
Could Hampton earn 1,200-1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns this year if Harris misses most of the season? Yes. Will he if Harris is healthy? No chance. Look for Hampton to earn half that quoted value this year.
Colton Dodgson: As a prospect, there was plenty to be excited about with Omarion Hampton. Coming out of North Carolina, Hampton's 43.9 breakaway percentage didn't quite scream home run hitter. Still, he was an incredibly physical runner – 4.35 yards after contact per attempt – with the experience to excel in a zone-based scheme.
He landed with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. Justifiably, the Hampton hype hit a crescendo. Chalk that up to the Chargers' 45.5 percent run rate from a season ago. While the scheme is more balanced between zone and gap concepts, Hampton is a versatile piece that'll fit regardless.
The potential issue is with the workload. The Chargers paid Najee Harris $5.25 million for 2025, and the 27-year-old will have a role. Harris hasn't missed a game across his first four NFL seasons and boasts some of the more consistent metrics you'll find at the position. This screams more of a 1A and 1B backfield than a 70-30 or even 60-40 split. It might get frustrating if you overvalue one of the pieces.
Hampton figures to be an early-round fixture ahead of 2026 and beyond. Just don't expect the top-end production immediately from the talented rookie.
Bob Harris: The Los Angeles Chargers were looking for new contributors at the running back position for 2025. First, they added Najee Harris to the roster in free agency, and then they used their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Omarion Hampton. The rookie believes that his playstyle, combined with Harris', can be special for the club.
But why a combined role? Hampton demonstrated at the college level that he can take on a workhorse role. He finished his last college season at North Carolina with 2,033 yards from scrimmage, third-most in the nation. Hampton averaged over 175 total yards per contest over 12 games in his final season.
The question is whether he gets that workhorse workload. Hampton sharing carries as the Chargers rely on both their backs to help a rushing attack that averaged just 110.7 yards per game in 2024 isn't ideal for our purposes.
Investing in Hampton as a high-end RB2 when there is an entire universe of more proven players in better situations -- Alvin Kamara, Chuba Hubbard, Ken Walker III, James Conner, David Montgomery, and Aaron Jones, to name just a few -- might be fantasy malpractice.
Andy Hicks: As a dynasty prospect, few are better than Omarion Hampton. However, 2025 is not the year we will see the best of him.
Apart from the usual rookie teething issues, such as pass protection, speed of the game, and hitting the holes that are present, Hampton has a giant Najee Harris-sized obstacle between him and fantasy stardom.
Notably, Harris signed a one-year contract and is on a team expected to rush an excessive amount of the time; he should continue his four-year streak of 250-plus carries for over 1,000 yards. A handy receiver as well, he should dominate third-down carries until Hampton can be trusted to protect Justin Herbert.
Expecting Hampton to be a fantasy starting running back this year is going to fall flat early in the season when Harris dominates carries. Goal-line carries are going to go to the bigger back in Harris as well. Without touchdowns on his limited carries, where do the numbers come from?
The chance of Hampton being so good that the Chargers have to flip the roles is possible, but with Harris only a 2025 rental, it's time to use the season to develop the rookie instead.
Overrated RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Jason Wood: The Giants are tied for last in Super Bowl odds and own the league's second-lowest win total (5.5). That points to a looming overhaul in New York, from the front office to the coaching staff and, quite possibly, a new quarterback in 2026.
Running backs on bad offenses are hard to trust unless they're undisputed workhorses with robust receiving roles. Rookie Cam Skattebo fits none of those criteria. He's a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, saddled with modest fourth-round draft capital.
Even if you project him to split snaps with incumbent Tyrone Tracy Jr., drafting half of a committee in a dysfunctional offense is a recipe for weekly frustration.
Jeff Bell: Getting it out of the way: Skattebo is very fun. A fantasy disappointment is not fun. In reality, Brian Daboll's offense struggled to create consistent fantasy contributors out of Devin Singletary and Zack Moss in a Josh Allen offense.
Skattebo can win the lead role in the Giants' backfield and still be in a low-ceiling offensive situation. Unless Daboll dramatically shifts tendencies, Skattebo is likely to be a touchdown-dependent player in an offense that may not score touchdowns.
Phil Alexander: I've seen players get overvalued for all sorts of reasons over the years, but fun-to-say-name bias is a new one. In a recent draft of mine, Cam Skattebo was picked ahead of Tyrone Tracy Jr., which feels borderline absurd.
Yes, Skattebo was a fourth-round pick in 2025, while Tracy went in the fifth round in 2024. But once players prove themselves on the field, draft capital becomes irrelevant.
Tracy showed last year that his explosive athleticism holds up in the NFL, something the Giants offense badly needs outside of Malik Nabers. Despite limited snaps early in the season, Tracy ripped off ten runs of 15-plus yards, tying for 15th in the league.
Skattebo, by contrast, still needs to prove he can win at the next level by breaking tackles and extending plays. It worked in college, but that production came against Big Sky and Big 12 opponents, not NFL defenders. And unlike Tracy, Skattebo isn't beating anyone with his speed and agility.
Until he proves otherwise, treat Skattebo as what he is - a rookie stuck behind a more dynamic playmaker. Let someone else reach. There's nothing fun about drafting a grinder in an offense starving for big plays.
Maurile Tremblay: Cam Skattebo is a fun tape study, yet nearly everything about his 2025 reality argues against drafting him at ADP. The Giants used only a fourth?rounder (No. 105) to land the 5-foot-9, 220-pound bruiser.
He likely was available that late due to his 4.65-second 40-yard dash. That means he projects as situational power rather than every-down juice. He steps into a backfield already topped by second-year back Tyrone Tracy Jr., with veteran Devin Singletary penciled in on passing downs.
Skattebo is therefore likely to receive conditional, committee-based touches. Moreover, Skattebo's limited college receiving production suggests minimal third-down utility. His projected workload thus appears fragile and touchdown-dependent, reducing weekly reliability.
Meanwhile, Brian Daboll's offense is being rebuilt around new quarterback Russell Wilson's downfield preferences and a receiving group led by Malik Nabers, meaning overall rush volume is likely to contract. That tilt toward the air must operate behind a subpar offensive line, despite modest offseason upgrades, which limits both efficiency and red-zone trips.
Add it up and you have a rookie without breakaway speed buried behind two proven backs in a pass-heavy scheme and a shaky front. He has a narrow path to hitting his upside potential in Year 1.
Overrated RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Dave Kluge: However you define "league-winner," Chase Brown fit the bill in 2024. A late-round fantasy pick, he seized the Bengals' starting job and finished as the RB5 in points per game from Week 9 onward. That run came while Cincinnati was in must-win mode, clawing for a playoff spot with no margin for error.
After Zack Moss suffered a season-ending injury, the team acquired Khalil Herbert. But after Herbert's first touch, a fumble during the exchange with Joe Burrow, his role vanished. From that moment forward, Brown dominated with a staggering 96.1% backfield opportunity share.
Simply put, that workload is not sustainable. Moss is expected back for 2025. Samaje Perine has returned. The Bengals also drafted Tahj Brooks. Brown has likely done enough to lead the committee, but even a slight touch dilution could significantly impact his fantasy output.
He's a young, talented back in a strong offense, making him a worthwhile target at the right cost. But if you're drafting him expecting a repeat of last year's production, temper expectations. With a healthy backfield to start the season, Brown's usage could take a meaningful hit. And that makes him a tough player to draft.
Colton Dodgson: Brown will likely be one of the more polarizing names across fantasy discourse because of his range of outcomes. At first glance, this is a guy who handled 17.7 touches per game on the NFL's sixth-best offense in terms of points per game. The role equated to 14.3 fantasy points per game and an RB12 finish.
He took the opportunity created by Zack Moss's injury and made the most of it. You can't ignore, though, that Brown was a former fifth-round pick leading a running back room comprised of Khalil Herbert, Kendall Milton, and Trayveon Williams. The role was created out of necessity. It also wasn't one Brown ran away with.
Brown's -0.07 expected points added per attempt was 15th among qualified running backs. His 38.4 percent success rate was 26th. His +0.11 EPA/target, though, was 11th on 4.1 targets per game.
Cincinnati brought Moss back. It also selected Tahj Brooks in the sixth round and signed Semaje Perine to revamp what was an incredibly shallow room last season. Brown is a good-not-great option operating in a high-powered Bengals offense. Don't be surprised if he posts fringe RB1 production at a mid-to-late RB1 price tag.
Overrated RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
Jason Wood: I've said repeatedly that rookie TreVeyon Henderson could be this year's De'Von Achane, and his explosiveness could allow him to shatter preseason expectations if everything clicks. I stand by that enthusiasm, but I also view our current projections as a fairer assessment of his most likely outcome than the overly bullish ADP suggests.
The Patriots are a work in progress. As excited as we may be for the Vrabel era to begin and for Josh McDaniels to return, we can't get overly confident. The offensive line remains a major question mark, as does quarterback Drake Maye. And let's not forget that McDaniels has a far spottier track record as a play-caller without Tom Brady than he had with the G.O.A.T.
The most likely scenario is that the Patriots make liberal use of both Henderson and incumbent Rhamondre Stevenson. That setup would make both backs viable RB3 plays most weeks, with the occasional spike game depending on game script and red zone usage.
Ben Cummins: TreVeyon Henderson is a baller. As a true freshman at Ohio State, he totaled 1,248 rushing yards, 27 receptions, 312 receiving yards, and 19 touchdowns. He was just selected in the early second round after showcasing elite athleticism by posting a 4.43 40-yard dash, 38.5" vertical, and 10'8" broad jump.
Drafters are excited about Henderson, as they should be, but Rhamondre Stevenson weighs 231 pounds compared to Henderson's 202-pound frame. And like Henderson, Stevenson is also a good pass catcher out of the backfield. Stevenson is going to play more than most would like.
New England's offense ranked 27th in Expected Points Added per Play last season. While Drake Maye starting all year and the additions of Henderson, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Josh McDaniels will help, the best reasonable projection we can make is this offense going from one of the league's worst to average.
There won't be a plethora of touchdowns in this offense, and both Stevenson and Drake Maye are rushing threats near the goal line. Draft a proven talent in a better offensive environment, such as Aaron Jones, D'Andre Swift, or Isiah Pacheco instead.
Overrated RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Jason Wood: There's nothing particularly special about Isiah Pacheco. He's functional to average in nearly every aspect of the game but possesses no elite traits. You don't have to be elite to be an effective NFL running back—opportunity, supporting cast, and scheme fit often matter as much as talent—but generally speaking, players who aren't special tend to disappoint or fade into obscurity faster than fantasy managers expect.
Just look at how well Kareem Hunt fared in the same system last year, coming in off the street as a free agent. When an older veteran can outperform you without being game-ready, that's a red flag.
Could Pacheco be the Chiefs' top running back? Absolutely. But would I be surprised if he ends up as an interchangeable piece who doesn't help you win many weeks? Not at all.
Jeff Blaylock: Isiah Pacheco missed most of last season with a fractured fibula. After returning in Week 13, he shared rushing duties with Kareem Hunt, whom he out-carried 49 to 45 and outgained 175 yards to 151. Hunt scored both rushing touchdowns during those games. Pacheco's 3.7 yards per rushing attempt, the lowest of his three-year career by nearly a yard, was barely better than Hunt's 3.6 yards per carry.
During the offseason, the Chiefs added Elijah Mitchell in free agency and drafted Brashard Smith out of SMU. Mitchell ran for 963 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie in 2021 but has been plagued by injuries since. Smith offers more speed and versatility as a receiver than Pacheco, Hunt, or Mitchell. Smith could be the replacement for Samaje Perine, who was Kansas City's primary third-down back.
That leaves Pacheco, Hunt, and Mitchell as the early-down backs. That kind of role-sharing has the hallmarks of a committee, which may be great for keeping players healthy in real football but torpedoes their values for fantasy. At his current ADP, Pacheco is more of a risk than a value. Fantasy managers looking for a running back around that price should look elsewhere.
Overrated RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Andy Hicks: Jordan Mason arrives at Minnesota in a good situation. The team needs a strong running game to help the inexperienced J.J. McCarthy. The starter, Aaron Jones, is 30 years old, and Mason looked great at the start of 2024 for San Francisco once Christian McCaffery couldn't play.
The first four games for the 49ers produced 447 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He ranked sixth at the time in fantasy rankings. For the rest of the year, he ranked 65th as he wore down, got injured, and struggled to handle the workload.
At best, Mason is a nice complement to Jones. Mason is also inferior to Jones and even Ty Chandler as a third-down back. Touchdowns? He doesn't get many of them either.
At best, Jones misses a game or two, and Mason is an ideal short-term replacement. As we saw in San Francisco last year, he is not a long-term proposition. He is only going to disappoint those expecting flex production. If you use a running back as a flex, you want them to be able to catch. Unless Jones misses significant time, Mason will take up valuable space on your bench.
Overrated RB Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Maurile Tremblay: Kaleb Johnson is an easy rookie to like on film, yet the path to reliable fantasy value in 2025 is strewn with pitfalls. Start with draft capital: third-round backs historically enter the league as role players, and Pittsburgh is already framing him that way.
Arthur Smith has said Johnson will "share the load" with incumbent Jaylen Warren, who has three years of efficient NFL production and pass-pro chops the staff trusts.
Smith's offenses tend to lean run-heavy, but he has just imported Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, then promised more balance after finishing fourth in rushing attempts last year. A split backfield, combined with an uptick in passing volume, squeezes rushing opportunities at both ends.
Johnson profiles as an early-down specialist still polishing receiving and blitz pickup skills. He may not get many third-down snaps, as his pass protection is a work in progress.
Finally, the Steelers' young offensive line may not produce wide rushing lanes. Betting on a committee back with incomplete passing-game chops and an unproven offensive line is a low-percentage fantasy play when sturdier workloads are available in the same draft range. Additionally, Johnson's limited receiving upside severely caps his weekly ceiling, making him heavily touchdown-dependent for fantasy production.
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