With the running back position extremely top-heavy, some running backs fall through the cracks when you examine their average draft position (ADP). Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s an ambiguous opportunity, but there’s huge value in early drafts related to these running backs.
The best part about drafting any number of these backs is capitalizing on the return on investment that’s been key to a lot of successful fantasy seasons. Take James Conner a few seasons ago when nobody knew whether to draft Conner or Chase Edmonds. Josh Jacobs in his massive 2022 season with the Raiders was somebody we thought was washed.
We’ll dive into two running backs that are currently RB3s for fantasy who have immense value and have the potential to finish out 2025 as an RB1.
- 2025 NFL Draft Guide
- 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
- 2025 NFL Mock Drafts
- Dynasty Mock Draft Simulator
RB3s With RB1 Potential
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) | ECR: RB25
Tony Pollard was a solid success in 2024 as fantasy’s RB21 in PPR on what ended up being a moribund, directionless Tennessee Titans team that traded DeAndre Hopkins mid-season. With the struggles of Will Levis, the Titans find themselves in a position to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pollard was a workhorse with his second-straight 250-carry season and third-straight 1,000-yard season in 2024. More importantly, Pollard held second-year back Tyjae Spears at bay with not just rushing work but receiving work, too. Pollard predictably bested Spears in carries (260 to 84) while he also had Spears’ number in target volume, seeing 55 targets to Spears’ 33.
There’s been quite a bit of talk that the Titans could select a running back with some decent draft capital. However, the Titans have far too many positional needs outside of running back to go back to the well after paying for Pollard in free agency this time last offseason plus spending a third-round pick on Spears in 2023.
Titans obviously invested in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears but neither (especially Spears) have proven ability to stay healthy.
Enter a strong RB class, on paper TEN doesn’t “need” one but probably on the list to take one https://t.co/03dRmJDm0Z— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) February 25, 2025
In terms of efficiency, Pollard’s 35% success rate was 33rd out of 41 qualified running backs with at least 113 total carries, per NFL Next Gen Stats. However, Pollard’s yards after contact per attempt (YACo/Att) was 13th among 41 qualified backs.
With two seasons left in Pollard’s contract, he should be lined up for more workhorse duty in Tennessee as long as the Titans don’t invest in the position in the NFL Draft. If the Titans get a quarterback upgrade in the draft like Cam Ward, that could increase Pollard’s touchdown equity as he had just five rushing scores in 2024.
His RB25 ADP is a great price to bet on a possible upgrade in the offensive environment as well as touchdown regression. At the end of the seventh round/start of the eighth round, that rushing profile is one you would have found in the early rounds of 2018-2020. In 2025, Pollard’s profile is a veritable bargain.
Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT) | ECR: RB26
Criminally underrated, often overlooked, underdrafted, miscast, overshadowed, underused; these are some of the ways we’ve described Jaylen Warren’s fantasy value as well as his real-life NFL value over the past few seasons since coming to the Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
Yet, we’re here in March of 2025, staring down Warren’s name in the eighth round of early best ball drafts just like last season. There is a bit of a wrinkle, though: There’s no Najee Harris in sight.
With Harris off to Los Angeles to run behind a juiced-up Chargers offensive line and ascending offense, Warren finds himself with only Kenneth Gainwell behind him in an Arthur Smith-led offense as the top running back for the first time in his career.
The gloves are off now, folks; Warren is awesome and electric when he steps on the field. He’s made the most of his opportunities in each of his three seasons in Pittsburgh:
| Season | YPC | Success Rate % | YACo/Att |
| 2022 (77 att) | 4.9 | 46.8% | 3.5 |
| 2023 (149 att) | 5.3 | 39.6% | 3.9 |
| 2024 (129 att) | 4.3 | 43.3% | 3.6 |
(*Stats above per NFL Next Gen Stats)
With the Steelers’ propensity to play as much “boomer-ball” as the Yinzer faithful can handle, it should be a great opportunity for Warren as the lead dog. The Steelers were the fourth-lowest team in pass rate over expectation (PROE) last season, only ahead of the Packers, Eagles and Colts.
Let’s also not discount the fact that the Steelers are very much live to draft a running back to complement Warren. The later it gets in the draft when the Steelers inevitably pull the trigger on a back, the better it is for Warren.
Ok, let's get real here…
EVERYONE should be excited about the possibility of a workhorse szn from Jaylen Warren in 2025
2024 (Weeks 10-18 once healthy-ish)
20th in MTF/att
3rd in YACARewind to 2023
7th in yards per touch
3rd explosive run rate
1st MTF
2nd YACA…— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) March 17, 2025
As the current RB26 in FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR), Warren is one of the best values on the board — not just for his rushing efficiency, but his receiving work as well. People want to scoff at his 5-foot-8 frame at 215 pounds and say he can’t handle a workload.
We don’t know that yet. Size hasn’t exactly stopped Austin Ekeler (5-foot-9, 200 pounds), Aaron Jones (5-foot-9, 208 pounds) or Bucky Irving (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) from producing at high levels.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Kevin Tompkins is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Kevin, check out his profile and follow him on Bluesky @ktompkinsii.bsky.social
