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🏆 Dynasty RB Blueprint - Built To Win
10 MONTHS AGO • 13 MIN READ

🏆 Dynasty RB Blueprint - Built To Win

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,03/12/26

Howdy Reader,

Happy Tuesday. Hoops, pucks, and bats are flying — but we're dialed in on the NFL so you stay the sharpest GM in the game.

Today's a feast for Dynasty players: Dave Kluge breaks down Running Back Rankings and Tiers to give you the edge.

And of course, Bob Harris and Cecil Lammey are bringing the News and Notes heat.

Let's ride,

J

PS. The Post-Draft Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide is LIVE! Version 3 includes team fits, updated depth charts, and — for the first time — the Post-Draft Bloom 100. It’s available exclusively for ELITE, HALL OF FAME, and G.O.A.T. subscribers and built to give you the edge in every rookie draft.

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The NFL Draft is in the books, and our Rookie Draft Guide is ready. Version 3.0 includes new team fits, depth chart projections, refined scouting intel, and — for the first time — the Post-Draft Bloom 100. It’s your complete blueprint for dominating dynasty rookie drafts.

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📣 Voice Of The Footballguy 🎤

📊 POLL RESULTS: In our last issue of the Daily Update, we asked you Footballguys:

Which rookie RB takes control of his backfield first?

And the Footballguy says: I trust TreVeyon Henderson more than the Patriots do.

TODAY: Clayton Gray’s deep dive into how player values are shifting in high-stakes NFFC drafts reveals one clear trend — quarterbacks are climbing.

Among the biggest movers this week: Lamar Jackson surged 6 spots, Jayden Daniels climbed 4, and Bo Nix jumped 8. But which of these rising QBs most deserves the boost?

So today, we ask you Footballguys:

🗳️ POLL: Which rising QB most deserves their recent NFFC ADP surge?

When you vote in the Poll below, you'll see the current standings, and we'll post the final results in the next edition of the Daily Update.

1. DAL: Dallas Doesn't Necessarily View George Pickens As A WR2

Source: Pro Football Talk – Josh Alper

During an interview with Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the Cowboys think of newly-acquired WR George Pickens as more than a two.

Our view: Jones elaborated on that point to Albert Breer of SI.com. "He's just a dynamic receiver," Jones said. "Everybody says we're looking for a two. I mean, George can be a one. He's got that type of talent. He's got unbelievable ball-tracking ability. He's got plenty of juice, and he's a fiery competitor. We love that he plays with an edge and think he'd be a good fit for our team." While they might see him as a WR1, fantasy investors should view Pickens as the complement to CeeDee Lamb, which this offense has been missing.

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2. CIN: No movement on Trey Hendrickson extension

Source: ESPN.com – Adam Schefter

Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson told ESPN on Monday, May 12, that 'no communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft.'

Our view: Hendrickson, 30, is entering the final year of his contract and is coming off his best season in the NFL. He led the league with 17.5 sacks last season and was named to The AP All-Pro team. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons with Cincinnati. In 2023, he was given a one-year extension on the four-year, $60 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2021. Last offseason, he requested a trade after the team opted not to give him a new deal. He ultimately reported for voluntary workouts. Hendrickson is set to earn $15.8 million in base salary this season. The Bengals will begin organized team activities later this month. Hendrickson isn't the only defensive end on the roster looking to resolve a contract issue. Shemar Stewart, the 17th pick in this year's draft, did not participate in last week's rookie minicamp because his contract remained unsigned.

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Dynasty Running Back Rankings And Tiers

By Dave Kluge - Exclusive to Footballguys

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Rather than a flat list of rankings, I've spent the last few years breaking players up into tiers of players with similar profiles. Age, draft capital, and production are the factors that weigh most in these buckets. A flat list of rankings isn't always helpful in dynasty, because some players should only be targeted by specific teams. For example, a team veering towards a rebuild should have no interest in the "Sniff Test" tier. But they should want to load their "Day 3 Rookies With Upside." While a list of rankings will assuredly have Aaron Jones ahead of Jarquez Hunter, it doesn't mean every dynasty manager should try to trade Hunter for Jones.

Inside each bucket, the players are ranked as I prefer them. So if you're a contender looking for extra firepower at running back, scroll down to the "Sniff Test" tier or the "Productive Veterans… For Now" tier, and see who you could add. Some of these buckets are labeled as players to sell. And I'll rank those according to who will net the most significant return.

Let's dive in, starting with the obvious crème de la crème.

Blue Chips

All these running backs were drafted inside the top 12 and will play the 2025 season at age 23 or younger. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs finished behind only Saquon Barkley in PPR scoring last year. They catch passes, score touchdowns, and make big plays, checking every box we want to see in fantasy. Ashton Jeanty is an elite prospect with eye-popping film, production, and efficiency who landed on a Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly team incessant on establishing the run. Picking between Robinson and Gibbs is a fool's errand based on what we've seen from both so far through their short NFL careers. But Jeanty's age could quickly move him atop this tier. He logged the second-most single-season rushing yards in NCAA history behind only Barry Sanders. With no competition on the roster and a capable passing attack led by Geno Smith, Jeanty will have the opportunity to take. We've never seen him on an NFL field, so moving him higher than RB3 is impossible. But that ranking gives him room to climb quickly in his rookie year.

Typically, I'd advocate for trading away the running backs atop dynasty rankings. However, the blend of age and draft capital in these three isn't typical of a normal dynasty market. The profiles are bulletproof, and injury likely wouldn't even cause a significant dip in value. The recent history of running backs drafted in the first half of Round 1 is excellent, and most dynasty managers are aware of it. If you can get a top quarterback (Jayden Daniels, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson) or wide receiver (Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers) in return, you should take that offer. But don't let the running back label alone scare you away. These are safe and valuable assets.

The Saquon Barkley Tier

The only knock on Saquon Barkley's profile is his age. While he's just as likely to finish as this year's RB1 as the Blue Chips above, he's entering his age-28 season. Christian McCaffrey, Nick Chubb, and Austin Ekeler are recent examples of aging running backs who have quickly tumbled in dynasty value after injury beyond the top of the age curve. Barkley is currently one of the most volatile assets in dynasty. I don't need to explain the downside for you to imagine it. Those courageous enough to hold him could get years of elite production for the next five years. But the floor could fall out from under him at any time. He should be reserved for contending rosters, hopefully at a palatable acquisition cost.

3. ATL: James Pearce Jr. signs rookie deal

Source: NFL Network – Ian Rapoport

Atlanta Falcons first-round pick LB James Pearce Jr. signed his four-year, rookie contract Monday, May 12. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but it's fully guaranteed, and all first-round picks receive fifth-year options.

Our view: Pearce knows how to get after the passer. He's quick off the line of scrimmage, and Pearce has great burst when the quarterback is in his sights. Pearce should bulk up a bit in a pro weight program, and that will help him against punches from stronger tackles.

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4. NO: Donovan Peoples-Jones lands in the Big Easy

Source: The Times-Picayune – Matthew Paras

Free-agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (Lions) reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, May 12. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Our view: Peoples-Jones did not play football last year. In 2023, he split time between the Browns and the Lions where he started six games (five for the Browns, one for the Lions). He will compete for a roster spot behind the Saints' top three receivers Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks, and Rashid Shaheed.

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5. SF: Gabe Davis set to visit

Source: FOX Sports – Jordan Schultz

Free-agent WR Gabe Davis (Jaguars) is scheduled to meet with the San Francisco 49ers in the near future, according to a source.

Our view: The Jaguars officially released Davis with a failed physical designation after he tore his meniscus in November, but he is expected to be ready to go for Week 1. As Profootballtalk.com notes, the 26-year-old Davis was a 2020 fourth-round pick of the Bills who played four seasons in Buffalo before signing in Jacksonville last season. He was a solid member of the Bills’ receiving corps for four years but had his least productive season with the Jaguars. If he’s healthy and in the right offense, he could be a solid contributor to some other team’s passing game, and the 49ers may be that team.

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6. GB: Green Bay optimistic about Savion Williams

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Tom Silverstein

Green Bay Packers WR Savion Williams already seems to have created quite an impression on offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, who told reporters on Monday, May 12, that there is 'a zillion different ways to use him in your offense.'

Our view: Stenavich is going to be able to do quite a few things with Williams. They'll have to design touches for him, and they may be limited as things are crammed at the position in Green Bay. The Packers have 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson (after he returns from a torn ACL).

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7. DEN: Kyrese White inks deal with Denver

Source: 9News.com – Mike Klis

Undrafted free-agent WR Kyrese White (Utah State) signed an undisclosed contract with the Denver Broncos on Monday, May 12.

Our view: White was impressive at Broncos rookie minicamp, and he's a quick receiver on underneath routes. Last year at Utah State, White had 44 receptions for 526 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos receiver room is packed with talent, so White is likely bound for the practice squad if he continues to impress.

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8. PHI: Kyle McCord may have edge for No. 3 QB job

Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia – Dave Zangaro

Philadelphia Eagles QB Kyle McCord will compete with QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the No. 3 quarterback job but likely will have an edge over Thompson-Robinson since he was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, in the opinion of NBC Sports Philadelphia's Dave Zangaro.

Our view: While the sixth-round pick used to select Kyle McCord from Syracuse doesn't guarantee that spot, it should give him the upper hand. The Eagles got Thompson-Robinson back in a trade with the Browns earlier this offseason and thought he'd be a good player to bring in to develop. But Zangaro believes Thompson-Robinson might be on the outside of the position group. The top two -- Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee -- are locked into their spots as starter and backup going into the 2025 season. This is a bump for McKee, who was the No. 3 last year behind Hurts and Kenny Pickett, who was traded to Cleveland.

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9. CLE: Damontae Kazee going to Browns

Source: NFL Network – Mike Garafolo

Free-agent S Damontae Kazee (Steelers) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Cleveland Browns Monday, May 12.

Our view: Kazee had 14 starts over the last three years with the Steelers. He can get his hands on the ball, either interceptions or pass breakups, but Kazee is likely competing for a reserve spot only with the Browns.

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10. CLE: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will not play in 2025

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com

Cleveland Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) will be placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday, May 12, and will remain there throughout the completion of the 2025 season.

Our view: A second-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2021 draft, Owusu-Koramoah was named to his first Pro Bowl after recording a career-high 101 tackles in the 2023 season. The Browns signed him to a three-year extension worth up to $39 million last August. Last month, the Browns drafted former UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the 33rd pick. This offseason, Cleveland re-signed linebacker Devin Bush to a one-year deal and signed veteran linebacker Jerome Baker to a one-year contract.

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That's a wrap for today.

Thanks for rolling with us — being a Footballguy means you're part of the sharpest squad in the game.

Crush your Tuesday, and we'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with more fire.

Peace, Love and Fantasy Football,

J

Joe Bryant

Guide

Written By Joe Bryant. News by Sigmund Bloom, Bob Harris, and Cecil Lammey

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