March is typically best remembered for the upcoming NCAA Tournament and the beginning of the MLB season, but over at FantasyPros we still have our fingers square on the jugular of all things NFL.

The NFL Draft is barely over a month away and this upcoming class promises to bring several prospects that will immediately impact fantasy rosters, especially at the running back position. Widely regarded as one of the best groupings of talent in recent memory, there is a solid chance multiple backs are selected in the first round and several more early on Day 2.

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It isn’t just the rookies I am excited about either. There is a definite youth movement across the league at the position chock full of outstanding options. Even with the rise of committee backfields, we will continue to see fantasy managers take running backs and prioritize the position.

I’ve included some of my “must-have” options for the upcoming 2025 season below (both rookies and veterans alike) and my rationale for getting in their corner.

Must-Have Running Backs

Must-Have Rookie Running Backs

Omarion Hampton (RB – North Carolina)

Ashton Jeanty from Boise State is widely regarded as the top prospect for this year’s running back class, but I don’t consider Hampton a consolation prize, far from it. A 6-foot-0, 221-pound chiseled-from-granite wrecking ball, Hampton caught my eye during 2023 in his sophomore season, rushing for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns as the feature option for the Tar Heels.

Possessing a formidable tandem of size and strength, Hampton has an uncanny knack for wriggling through contact, constantly searching for additional yards after being hit. He can maintain leverage and pad level through contact, and his powerful lower body churns out yards, even with defenders draped all over him. Hampton continually demonstrated an ability to accelerate quickly through holes, and his elite burst seemed to catch opposing linebackers and cornerbacks off guard. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL ScoutingCombine, with a 1.54-second 10-yard split —fantastic numbers for someone his size.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking Hampton is a one-trick pony, though. He is also an adept pass protector with reliable hands out of the backfield and is comfortable as a check-down option in the passing game when necessary. In his junior season, Hampton caught 38 passes for 373 yards and multiple touchdowns and proved to be a safety blanket when called upon.

Once he is drafted, I’d like to see Hampton develop further as a pass blocker and not rely on running over (or through) defenders with each touch. Inviting contact in the NFL is a dangerous proposition. Even though his plus size can handle a beating, it could lead to an elevated injury risk.

If Hampton lands with a team where he will immediately inherit early-down and goal-line opportunities (Dallas, Las Vegas, Cleveland and Denver come to mind), I’d instantly rank him as an upside RB2 who will come with an average draft position (ADP) discount compared to Jeanty. Josh Norris and Hayden Winks from Underdog Fantasy compared him to a youthful DeMarco Murray, and I think that is a solid parallel.

TreVeyon Henderson (RB – Ohio State)

Anyone who watched a Buckeyes game the last few seasons is well aware of the threat TreVeyon Henderson poses every time he touches the ball — his picture very well might be in the fantasy football dictionary next to “home run threat.” During his senior season, Henderson averaged 7.1 yards per carry (YPC) on the ground and 10.5 yards per catch (YPC) on each reception, all while operating as a tandem-option with fellow standout Quinshon Judkins.

Henderson’s elite acceleration and patience in allowing blocks to develop are two of his best traits. A glance at his highlight reels shows him continuously turning plays that might otherwise be relegated to small gains into chunk yardage instead. At 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds, Henderson has enough size and power to lower his pads and grind out yards when necessary, though he prefers to juke defenders out of their shoes instead. He fights through first contact and bounces off defenders like a pinball, all while plowing forward.

My biggest concern with Henderson is his lack of durability. Both in 2022 and 2023, he missed chunks of the season on the sidelines. I’m not sure he is built to handle more than 20 touches per game as an unquestioned lead back. He also tends to bounce outside runs and always searches for the big play, occasionally leading to negative yardage.

If Henderson can find a home as a complementary piece on a team with an early-down bruiser, he has the potential to be a sneaky-upside add in PPR formats. He would be an ideal fit on a team such as Green Bay, Houston or the Los Angeles Chargers.

Must-Have Veteran Running Backs

Kenneth Walker (RB – Seattle Seahawks)

A popular breakout pick for 2024, Kenneth Walker struggled through multiple injuries (an abdomen muscle sprain in September and calf/ankle issues in December) that resulted in him missing five games. He never appeared to be fully healthy at any point in the season.

In 12 games last year, Walker ran for 573 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 46 passes for 299 yards and a score as a receiving option, resulting in a paltry RB27 finish in PPR formats. The frustration and disappointment felt by his fantasy managers was palpable, but I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off. If anything, I’m buying the dip in his fantasy ADP and expecting a bounce-back campaign as a post-hype sleeper worth investing in.

What is the cause for my optimism, you wonder? I’m viewing last year as a worst-case scenario that someone of his talent level won’t duplicate. I also fully expect the winds of change in Seattle to benefit him enormously.

The Seahawks were the most unbalanced offense in the league last season, with 593 passing attempts (seventh-most) to just 383 rushing attempts (fourth-fewest). Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired after one season and replaced by Klint Kubiak, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. Kubiak brings a run-heavy philosophy that will make the team more balanced. During his initial press conference (along with interviews since), Kubiak made it a point to emphasize his endorsement of a physical offense predicated on an outside zone running game.

Music to my ears.

The departure of wideouts DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will allow Walker to continue serving as a check-down option for new quarterback Sam Darnold. I fully anticipate him finishing with close to 50 receptions again. Health remains the lone hurdle for Walker to overcome and emerge as an upside RB2 option. I feel we are about to witness his best season as a pro, as long as he can stay on the field.

Najee Harris (RB – Los Angeles Chargers)

The Chargers made one of my favorite moves of free agency by inking Najee Harris to a one-year contract worth $9.25 million, addressing a dire need after J.K. Dobbins‘ contract expired and the release of Gus Edwards.

During his four-year tenure with Pittsburgh, Harris developed a reputation as a solid yet uninspiring fantasy option, buoyed by a high number of total touches and a smattering of passes out of the backfield. I don’t envision that mantra changing much, but an improved line to run behind and a familiarity with the offensive scheme will put him in a position to succeed immediately.

Harris has the best ability fantasy managers can ask for — availability. He has yet to miss one game during his career and currently projects as the workhorse back and three-down option for Los Angeles. Signing him to a one-year “prove it” deal ensures he is motivated each game to succeed. Barring the team spending a high draft pick at the position, we project Harris for another season of 250+ carries. Los Angeles finished with 463 rushing attempts last year (12th-most in the league), but there should be an asterisk next to the total, as the team’s running game completely fell apart from Weeks 12-16 without Dobbins on the field while nursing a knee injury.

Harris has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of his first four seasons and is a shoo-in to make it five in a row under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman (who knows Harris well from their time together in the AFC North). Selecting Harris will never be considered a particularly sexy/splash investment during drafts since he isn’t a big-play threat, but I’m counting on him to have the best season of his career under head coach Jim Harbaugh. His ability to churn out yardage as a one-cut runner bodes well and I think he provides a sneaky amount of value this upcoming draft season.