Hey folks. Started participating in a dynasty league last season (you retain players year over year and draft rookies like a GM) and I invested a lot in QB, WR, and TE last year in the original draft knowing that this running back class was loaded. I wanna get this rookie draft right by getting the right running backs.

I'm not necessarily an expert on NFL depth charts, but this is the list I came up with. Help me out if y'all have any thoughts on it. Note: these names aren't in any particular order, the groups are what matter.

Rookie RBs

Day one starters
Ashton Jeanty - Oakland Raiders
Quinshon Judkins - Cleveland Browns
RJ Harvey - Denver Broncos
Kaleb Johnson - Pittsburgh Steelers

Two RB systems/goal line backs also in backfield:
TreVeyon Henderson - New England Patriots
Omarion Hampton - Los Angeles Chargers

Handcuffs (could pop off if others get injured:
Woody Marks - Houston Texans
Devin Neal - New Orleans Saints
Cam Skattebo - New York Giants
Dylan Sampson - Cleveland Browns
Jaydon Blue - Dallas Cowboys

Sleepers (guys that aren't getting enough attention):
Kalel Mullings - Tennessee Titans
Brashard Smith - Kansas City Chiefs
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Washington Commanders

Questions (crowded backfield or other concerns):
Trevor Etienne - Carolina Panthers
Kyle Monangai - Chicago Bears
Bhayshul Tuten - Jacksonville Jaguars
Damien Martinez - Seattle Seahawks
Jordan James - San Francisco 49ers

Avoid (Mega crowded backfields):
Tahj Brooks - Cincinnati Bengals
LaQuint Allen - Jacksonville Jaguars
Rocket Sanders - Los Angeles Chargers
Ollie Gordon - Miami Dolphins
Phil Mafah - Dallas Cowboys
DJ Giddens - Indianapolis Colts

TreVeyon and Hampton are day one starters. They may have to 'split' some carries but Draft Capital and talent gap alone dictates they should get the lionshare of the attempts.

Cam Skattebo will 100% supplant Tyrone Tracy. I'd be shocked if Tracy does anything other than spell Skattebo for rest.

I think Jayden Blue will at worst be a 50/50 back with an outside chance of outright leading the entire backfield in Dallas. Javonte Williams is just not good and Miles Sanders won't make the roster.

Bhyshul Tuten was selected by a new regime with traits that make Etienne and Bigsby obsolete. Etienne and Bigsby are the ones with the question mark imo.

I don't think Devin Neal is really worth any consideration as a 6th round pick behind Kama and Miller. Prolly avoid him tbh.

tl;dr -

Day One Starters: Add Henderson, Hampton, Skattebo, and Blue.
Handcuffs: Add Jordan James (he'll be the next man up after CMC) and DJ Giddens (JT handcuff)
Sleepers: Add Tuten (I think he has an legit chance to start. At worst is a year 2 starter)

I feel like the 49ers really love Guerendo. He was a guy I took a flyer on last year and have him on my team. Could be worth taking James also just to have both.

Hampton might be my RB 1 just because of the system and volume. Only downside this season is the Najee goal line thievery.

Good point about Tuten. Loved watching him at Virginia Tech.

You're probably right about Giddens. Saw Khalil Herbert in that backfield and assumed he'd be the number 2. Buts it's only a 1 year deal and he may not even be the number 2.

Tracy had a 1,000 total yards as a rookie. 4.4 ypc. I don't think skattebo is a lock to start over him.

And it all happened in 13 games. I think I'm with you on that one. Not sold on Skattebo carving out a huge role in year one. If Tracy goes down though…

Skattebo is a more talented RB imo and the draft capital agrees.

This is all projection, so you can disagree but I think Tracy's fantasy relevant days are over.

Tier 1
Ashton Jeanty

Tier 2
Omarion Hampton
Quinshon Judkins

Tier 3
TreVeyon Henderson (Tier 2 in PPR format)
Kaleb Johnson
RJ Harvey
Cam Skattebo

Tier 4
Dylan Sampson
Bhayshul Tuten
DJ Giddens
Jaydon Blue
Devin Neal

Late Round Darts
Woody Marks (in PPR)
Tahj Brooks
Kyle Monangai
Jarquez Hunter

Great RB class, Jeanty is really special though. Best fantasy prospect in this class by a wide margin and better than anyone in the 2026 class as well IMO; I will try to package my late 1st and late 2nd in this year's draft and my 1st in next year's draft to move up to 1.01. Might be talked into throwing in next year's 2nd as well, not high on 2026 class at all.

From a RB perspective, I'm with you. This is way stronger than 2026

I'm high on Hampton this year.

Mainly because he's in a great system that just wants to run the hell out of the ball. When he was healthy last year JK Dobbins put up excellent numbers I seem to recall.

Kaleb will be in a 2 back system. Jaylen Warren is pretty damn good.

Bunk Moreland said:

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Kaleb will be in a 2 back system. Jaylen Warren is pretty damn good.

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hmm maybe. Warren never really threatened Najee's carries despite his inefficiencies. Kaleb isn't as good as a 'prospect' as Najee, but I think he has more 3 down upside than Najee which would kinda neuter Warren's on field contributions. Also the Steelers aren't committed to Warren; his contract expires after this season.

I'd be shocked if the Steelers deployed anything remotely close to a 50/50 RBBC. I think Kaleb eats as much as he can/wants.

I certainly hope he turns out to be good enough to warrant that. Outside of some fumbling issues, Warren has shown very well and I think they're going to give him more of the share this year.

Just curious, what picks do you have?

cheese85 said:

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Just curious, what picks do you have?

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1.5 2.5 2.8 3.5