Every year, fantasy football drafts feature a few rookie running backs who fly under the radar until they become weekly starters. These 2025 rookies are going in the final rounds of drafts, if at all. But drafting them now could pay off big, rather than watching them break out on someone else’s roster.
Jaydon Blue (RB54) – Dallas Cowboys
It’s hard not to feel optimistic about Jaydon Blue when looking at the Cowboys’ running back room. Javonte Williams, since tearing his ACL and LCL in 2022, has ranked among the least efficient runners in the league. Miles Sanders has now lost his starting job in two straight stops.
Enter Blue, a fifth-round pick with speed, explosiveness, and pass-catching upside. If he earns a meaningful role, especially in the receiving game, he could become a fantasy steal. On a high-powered offense with a clear path to carries, he’s a strong late-round buy with league-winning upside.
Woody Marks (RB63) – Houston Texans
Woody Marks brings pass-catching ability to a Texans backfield led by Joe Mixon, a veteran who has taken on a heavy workload in recent years. With a new offensive coordinator in town and potential shifts away from a zone-heavy run scheme, Marks could be a better fit than expected.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud quickly works through progressions and is not afraid to check it down. That’s part of why Mixon had one of his most efficient receiving seasons in 2024. If Marks earns third-down work early, he has a solid fantasy floor and the potential to take on more as the season progresses.
Brashard Smith (RB66) – Kansas City Chiefs
Taking shots at the Chiefs’ backfield in the late rounds has paid off before, and Brashard Smith is the next intriguing lottery ticket. Isiah Pacheco is the incumbent, but his physical running style and injury history raise durability questions. Also, Pachecho is all the proof you need to see that a seventh-round rookie can have fantasy value in this backfield.
Behind him are aging and injury-prone vets Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell, opening the door for a versatile rookie like Smith. A converted wide receiver from Miami who transitioned to running back at SMU, Smith brings a unique skillset ideal for Kansas City’s pass-heavy attack. Even without an injury ahead of him, Smith could carve out a valuable role, and if Pacheco goes down, the upside is massive.
