As part of our ongoing roundtable series on rookie sleeper picks, the Footballguys team explores the running back position today.
RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Quarterbacks here
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Today's question: Now that the NFL Draft is over and we know the landing spots, who is a rookie running back sleeper pick who has the potential to surprise everyone?
Versatile Threat in Houston
RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Jeff Blaylock: Some may be surprised when Woody Marks takes over as the RB2 behind Joe Mixon this season, but no one should be. Mixon, who turns 29 in July, cannot sustain last season's workload, so the Texans traded up to draft Marks. Neither Dameon Pierce nor Dare Ogunbowale proved effective as three-down options last season, and both are signed only through 2025.
Marks is a prolific pass catcher, with 30 percent of his touches being receptions. He caught 261 passes for 1,546 yards during his five-season collegiate career. Marks lacks elite speed but makes up for it with acceleration and elusiveness. He ran the 40-yard dash at the Combine in 4.54 seconds, ranking 17th among running backs; however, he recorded the second-best time in the 20-yard shuttle. Ball security is exceptional. According to our Matt Waldman, Marks has fumbled once every 275 touches since 2022.
Marks can deliver starter-level production when called upon, which might happen quickly. He's a steal if he falls to the fourth round of rookie drafts.
Maurile Tremblay: Woody Marks isn't generating much redraft interest, likely because fantasy managers assume his passing-down profile will limit his snaps. His skill set and Houston's roster situation, however, offer sneaky upside. Marks proved at Mississippi State and USC that he is more than just a satellite back, demonstrating reliable efficiency at ~5.0 yards per carry and durability through 608 collegiate rushing attempts without significant injury. The Texans' decision to trade future draft capital to select him in the fourth round indicates genuine investment. At 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds, with strong contact balance, Marks profiles well for goal-line opportunities, particularly if Joe Mixon's substantial 1,900-career-touch workload catches up to him.
Even without fully seizing the lead role, Marks can provide fantasy flex value through the most impactful touches in fantasy: goal-line carries and explosive receptions capable of chunk yardage. Houston frequently reached the red zone under quarterback C.J. Stroud last season, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's preference for zone-running schemes aligns perfectly with Marks' decisive, one-cut running style. Meanwhile, Dameon Pierce averaged a league-worst 2.9 yards per carry and is entering a contract year, suggesting that each mistake he makes opens the door further for Marks. Marks' combination of touchdown potential and big-play ability makes him a high-upside, late-round selection capable of delivering RB2 production during the fantasy playoffs.
Blue Rising
RB Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys
Jeff Haseley: The Cowboys have Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders ahead of Jaydon Blue on the depth chart, but neither has a strong grasp on the top rushing role. Blue, a Texas product, has a good mix of size, speed, and pass-catching ability. He has a versatile skill set that will give him the chance to see the field in multiple formations and offensive sets early on. He was a day-three pick for the Cowboys, but if he catches on quickly and performs well in his limited duty, he could find himself utilized more, especially if one of the two backs ahead of him falters or gets injured. Also worth noting is that Blue's former college running backs coach at Texas, Tashard Choice, who once played for Dallas, is now a running backs coach for the Detroit Lions. He has indicated that he sees a bright future for Blue in the NFL.
Jason Wood: In what's widely considered a weaker draft class overall, the running back position bucked the trend. Many running backs went on Day 3 or were undrafted who might have gone several rounds earlier in a typical year.
My choice, though, is Jaydon Blue, drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys. In Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, he grades Blue higher than Cam Skattebo, Jordan James, Bhayshul Tuten, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson. His assessment: "Blue is a patient and efficient runner between the tackles with good footwork in the open field. Pass-catching is a strength, and his route running is promising."
As importantly, Blue steps into a tailor-made situation as the Cowboys only have veteran free agents Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as competition. They'll probably get first dibs, but do we really believe they're unassailable?
Finally, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer is going to run a far more balanced (run-heavy) offense than we've seen in recent years in Dallas. So there should be plenty of opportunities to contribute.
Workhorse Trajectory
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Ben Cummins: Jacory Croskey-Merritt was only a seventh-round draft pick due to being ruled ineligible to play in the 2024 season by the NCAA after just one game. His jukes in space make him very elusive, and he's a tackle breaker. That is a powerful combination for a workhorse running back. His one game in 2024: 13 carries for 106 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. He was the East-West Shrine Bowl MVP, rushing for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries. In 2023 at New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt's ranks in the Nation at Running Back: 26th in Yards After Contact per Attempt (3.98), 17th in Missed Tackles Forced (64), 10th in 10+ Yard Runs (39), 18th in PFF Elusive Rating (134.8), and 8th in PFF Rushing Grade (92.5). He lands in an incredible offense led by Jayden Daniels with a somewhat shaky Running Back depth chart ahead of him. Croskey-Merritt is arguably already the most talented back on the Commanders and offers immense fantasy upside should the dominoes fall his way.
David Zacharias: Jacory Croskey-Merritt was "Mr. Irrelevant RB" - the 25th and final running back taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Per NFL Draft Buzz, he demonstrates superior lower-body strength with a 99th-percentile vertical leap, 84th-percentile broad jump, and 83rd-percentile 40-yard dash. His running style is reminiscent of Ronald Jones II and Isiah Pacheco.
In 2023 at New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt averaged a gaudy 6.3 yards per carry. Eligibility issues limited his 2024 season at Arizona, but he rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns at the East-West Shrine Bowl, earning MVP honors.
Seventh-round draft picks face long odds, but Croskey-Merritt is well-positioned to climb Washington's depth chart by next season. Running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler struggled with injuries in 2024 and are in the final year of their respective contracts. Ekeler turns 30 in May, and journeyman Jeremy McNichols follows in December. Chris Rodriguez Jr. missed seven games in 2024.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is unlikely to be your future RB1, but if you're playing the long game, he's a low-risk dart throw with a path to early-down volume by 2026.
High Upside Stashes
RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Bob Harris: Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary were the Giants' top two running backs in 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, the Giants earned the fourth-fewest rushing yards from their running backs at 1,307 and the third-fewest first downs at 64. One of the Giants' problems has been their offensive line, where four of their five starters had a PFF run-blocking grade of 67.0 or lower last season.
Cam Skattebo, Footballguys' highest-ranked Day 3 RB, was one of the best running backs on non-perfectly blocked runs and one of the best at converting first downs at ASU in 2024.
With his hard-running style and past success under adverse conditions, there is a chance Skattebo becomes the Giants' lead running back sooner rather than later.
RB Jordan James, San Francisco 49ers
Meng Song: Perhaps it's low-hanging fruit, but it's become an annual tradition to stash 49ers running backs due to the fantasy-friendly nature of Kyle Shanahan's scheme. Any missed time by Christian McCaffrey can instantly propel any one of the San Francisco backups to a top-12 weekly fantasy running back finish.
Isaac Guerendo is likely the 1B on the depth chart. But as we saw last year, he, too, missed time with multiple injuries even when presented with the opportunity, while McCaffrey and Jordan Mason were out. Plus, San Francisco traded Mason to Minnesota and let Elijah Mitchell depart for Kansas City in free agency. This leaves ample opportunity for Jordan James to step into a fantasy-relevant workload immediately as a rookie.
Don't expect him to command a sustained three-down role, but James is a powerful runner who runs through contact despite a lack of size and has excellent lateral agility to take advantage of Shanahan's zone scheme. It's possible that the rookie could see some short-yardage work even alongside a healthy McCaffrey if the 49ers try to preserve their starter a bit more after an injury-riddled 2024 season. And if McCaffrey and/or Guerendo were to miss time, James has the skill set to have a few useful spot starts in fantasy with RB1 upside for those weeks, similar to what we've gotten from Mason and Mitchell in prior years.
RB Phil Mafah, Dallas Cowboys
Zareh Kantzabedian: Phil Mafah has a shot at becoming the Dallas Cowboys' starting early down running back this year.
Standing at 6-foot-1, 234 pounds, Phil was the largest running back to be drafted this year. His size would lead people to assume that he's a plodder. But his film shows otherwise.
Mafah is a powerful runner. That's a given. He punishes defenders when he squares his shoulders and hips while running downhill. Defensive backs and safeties bounce off him when trying to bring him down. But after studying him, it's clear that he runs with the craft you'd see in veteran running backs.
Mafah has nimble feet and thrives in gap schemes. He loves running behind pulling guards, and is patient in setting up his blocks.
He has legitimate burst upfield, and while he won't outrun the fastest of defensive backs, he's more than capable of making them sprint pace-for-pace 30 to 40 yards downfield before catching up with him.
Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are Dallas' only noteworthy players who profile as early down running backs. Over the past two years, Williams has averaged 3.6 yards per attempt on 356 carries, and Miles Sanders 3.5 yards on 184 attempts. They aren't viable starters for an NFL offense.
Mafah is in a position to see plenty of opportunity in what should be a committee with fellow rookie Jaydon Blue. Mafah is going undrafted in rookie drafts and should be immediately added as a taxi squad the second your draft has ended.
RB Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins
Andy Hicks: Counting on backs drafted in the sixth round is a surefire way to lose in dynasty leagues. We have, however, seen a trend of running backs losing value during the draft and NFL teams embracing committees on an increasing basis. Gordon lands in a good spot. The Dolphins have a reputation for having a track meet offense but need balance and variety more than ever. Let's look at his competition on the team. De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright have the speed component covered. However, Achane seems to rely too much on his speed and is always looking for the big play. His increasing usage as a receiving back is where he may land rather than as an every-down back. Jaylen Wright saw little action during the last half of 2024 and averaged less than two yards per carry. Free agent acquisition Alexander Mattison hasn't averaged over four yards a carry since 2020 and his year in Vegas was hardly stellar, with 3.2 yards a carry on 132 rushing attempts.
Gordon therefore has a chance to contribute immediately if he can get through training camp with the trust of the coaching staff. I would be more confident if we were basing his potential on his 2023 numbers at Oklahoma State rather than his 2024 performance.
Bench Builders
RB Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
Rachel Tootsiepop: Alvin Kamara is entering his ninth season and turns 30 this summer. He's under contract through 2026, but age and injuries are catching up—Kamara missed the final three games of 2024 with a groin issue. Kendre Miller had a shot to step up last year but never topped 46 rushing yards in a game. This is where sixth-round rookie Devin Neal comes into play.
However, the concerns in New Orleans go beyond the running back position. The bigger issue may be at quarterback, where Derek Carr could need shoulder surgery and may soon be on his way out. Behind him, the Saints have an uncertain and unproven group with Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough.
With instability at quarterback, the Saints may lean more on the run game. Neal rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons at Kansas, showing consistent production. His 4.58 40-yard dash at the Combine isn't ideal, but his overall profile suggests he could contribute if Kamara misses time or declines. Neal is a smart late-round rookie stash.
RB DJ Giddens, Indianapolis Colts
Phil Alexander: The excitement surrounding Giddens' landing in Indianapolis as a Round 5 pick seems muted, but it's a deceptively good spot. Jonathan Taylor has missed a combined 16 games over the past three seasons, primarily due to recurring ankle issues. Should Taylor miss further time, Giddens' main competition for touches would be Khalil Herbert, who will be playing for his third team since the start of last season. Giddens boasts size (6-foot-0, 212 pounds), impressive speed (4.43 40-yard dash), the capacity for a heavy workload, and demonstrated receiving ability at Kansas State. He could quickly surpass Herbert in the pecking order if Taylor is sidelined again for an extended period. Looking further ahead, it's plausible that Giddens was drafted as a successor to Taylor. Although Taylor's contract extends through 2026, the Colts have a potential exit option after this season with a relatively small dead cap hit of $2.562 million. Given that Taylor will be 28, it's doubtful they'll be eager to give him a second big contract extension, which could make Giddens a steal in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts.
RB Jarquez Hunter, Los Angeles Rams
Craig Lakins: In the rookie drafts I've done so far, I've spent plenty of 3rd or 4th round draft capital on Jarquez Hunter of the Rams. He caught my attention in devy leagues a few years ago after a promising freshman campaign, but he went relatively quiet up until his senior season, where he amassed more than 1,200 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns.
Hunter has a similar frame to incumbent starter Kyren Williams. There's no reason to believe Hunter will threaten for the starting role this season, barring a Williams injury. It is fair to wonder, though, if the Rams were satisfied with what they got out of backup Blake Corum in 2024. He only gave Williams enough rest to account for 58 carries and a 3.6-yard-per-carry average. Hunter should be well within the mix to win that role over the summer. If he gets the chance to make a start in Williams' stead, his elite tackle-breaking ability, patience, and vision will all be on full display.
