It's a great year to draft a running back. The Round 3/4 turn is loaded with options in particular.

RB1 Ashton Jeanty (Grade: Mid Round 1)

• RB Model: 99th percentile

• Comps: Nick Chubb, Ezekiel Elliott, Maurice Jones-Drew

The 21-year-old early declare is the best rushing prospect since Saquon Barkley, posting a ridiculous 195 total YPG and 30 TDs in 14 games, ranking in the 99th percentile of PPR points per game among drafted RBs since 2005. At 5'8"/218 with a 98th percentile BMI, he combines rare contact balance, core strength, and a low center of gravity that allows him to absorb and shed hits with ease. He runs through defenders like a Looney Tunes highlight reel, making LBs bounce off him and leaving DBs on the ground. PFF charted him with 158 forced missed tackles on 388 carries last year. That feels like a record. While his long speed is more good than elite, he has plenty to break off 50+ yard scores with quality vision and quick decision making. Jeanty is scheme versatile and solid as a receiver (43-589-5, 23-138-0 receiving lines), comfortable with screens, fast 3s, and quick outs. Just don't expect real route running like Christian McCaffrey types.

RB2 Omarion Hampton (Early Round 2)

• RB Model: 91st percentile

• Comps: Joe Mixon, Breece Hall, Melvin Gordon

The 22-year-old early declare averaged 169 total YPG and ranks in the 77th percentile of PPR points per game among drafted RBs since 2005. At 6'0"/221 with tree trunk quads, his contact balance is an obvious strength, forcing a missed tackle every 3.8 carries. Jeanty was at 2.5 for reference. Hampton has good burst through gaps (93rd percentile broad jump) and long speed (4.46 forty) for his size, making him a threat to break long runs. Most of his experience is in a zone-based, RPO and shotgun-heavy offense with just 31 under-center carries over the last two years. His vision can be a little excited, but when he finds the hole, he is a total problem for defenses. As a receiver, he caught 29 and 38 passes in his last two seasons, primarily on swing passes, shovels, and screens, but Hampton occasionally ran option and angle routes, too. His open-field explosiveness and slalom-like agility make him dangerous with the ball in space. He has clear 3-down ability.

He's a big body in pass protection, but he is not an exceptional pass protector against the blitz. Missed a few blitzes and let another couple get by him.

RB3 TreVeyon Henderson (Mid Round 2)

• RB Model: 87th percentile

• Comps: Aaron Jones, Rachaad White

The four-year contributor and National Champion is a 4.43-speed committee member at 5'10"/208 who had below-average rushing production alongside another NFL-caliber back. His 82 total YPG ranks in the 29th percentile among drafted RBs, but his real value lies on passing downs. With a 27-312-7 receiving line as a true freshman and a 75-yard screen TD in the title game this past year, he’s a high-end receiving threat who can run option routes, angles, wheels, and even double moves from the outside. He’s also tough and experienced in pass protection, handling all responsibilities at a high level. I can make a highlight tape of his pass pro reps. As a rusher, he forced a missed tackle every 3.9 carries (average), but he can get a little jumpy and lacks elite play strength between the tackles. He only had 20 career carries with 2-of-fewer yards to go on 3rd/4th down with a below-average 55% success rate. In a pass-heavy offense, Henderson can be a highly productive, quickly shifting from receiver to open-space weapon on tape.

RB4 Cam Skattebo (Late Round 3)

• RB Model: 80th percentile

• Comps: James Conner, Zack Moss

The 23-year-old was a workhorse for Arizona State, dragging them to the College Football Playoff while posting 99th percentile fantasy points per game among drafted RBs since 2005. At 5'9.5" and 219 pounds, Skattebo boasts a 91st percentile BMI, using his massive leg drive to bounce off tacklers and fight for extra yards with outstanding balance. His short-area burst is solid, beating defenders to the first down marker on outside runs, even if his long speed is lacking — a trait often overrated for running backs. He excelled in a diverse scheme that included under center runs (rare for 2025 somehow), showcasing his versatility and experience. As a receiver, he's a legitimate weapon, with 99th percentile receiving yards per game, excelling on swings, screens, Texas routes, and even double moves on the perimeter. While his pass protection technique is a mess, often failing to leverage his strength at the contact point, his instincts and drive to find work are commendable. Any suggestions of a fullback role are disrespectful — he looks like a legitimate NFL bellcow. I just worry that his chaotic, physical style doesn't last very long.

RB5 Dylan Sampson (Late Round 3)

• RB Model: 83rd percentile

• Comps: Bucky Irving, Blake Corum

The 20-year-old early declare is an undersized but compact runner at 5'8"/200, with a dense-enough build (58th percentile BMI) that helps him hold up despite his 4th percentile weight. He exploded in his lone season as a starter, scoring 22 rushing touchdowns (93rd percentile) and posting 82nd percentile adjusted production. His vision and tempo are top-tier. The only way to convert 33-of-36 short-yardage attempts into first downs is by wasting no movement and finishing hard. Coming from Tennessee’s spread offense, Sampson only has 3 career under center carries and benefited from some light boxes. He primarily ran inside zone and gap scheme runs rather than wide zone. He has enough speed to be utilized on the perimeter more if needed, however. In the pass game, he was used in a variety of ways but only had 31st percentile career receiving yards. While he diagnoses blitzes well in pass protection, his smaller frame can be a limiting factor. The scheme and his size make him look like a speedster type, but he plays the opposite on film. A mid 4.4s forty at his pro day confirms he's not a Jaylin Wright speedster.

RB6 Kaleb Johnson (Late Round 3)

• RB Model: 79th percentile

• Comps: Zach Charbonnet, Alexander Mattison

The 21-year-old early declare stands at 6'0"/225. He averaged 144 total YPG as a junior and ranks in the 74th percentile of PPR points per game among drafted RBs. Johnson is a patient runner with good decision-making, primarily winning on zone runs. While he lacks elite explosiveness (16th percentile 10-yard split), he forced a missed tackle every 3.4 carries on average, showing compact movement, balance, and sturdiness through contact. He plays with a nice forward lean to finish runs, making him more refined than flashy. As a receiver, he only caught 22 passes as a junior, with most of his targets coming on swing passes, but he has confident hands and more potential in the passing game than he's shown. His YAC effort against Nebraska was one of the most impressive clips of draft season. On top of that, he's a positive in pass protection with excellent awareness against blitzers paired with the size to hold his ground. Johnson is a well-rounded prospect for a zone-based system, but he lacks a standout athletic trait to truly move the needle.

RB7 Quinshon Judkins (Late Round 3)

• RB Model: 86th percentile

• Comps: J.K. Dobbins, Carlos Hyde

The 21-year-old early declare won a National Championship in his lone season at Ohio State after two years as a starter at Ole Miss. Judkins' freshman season was his most statistically productive, averaging 131 total YPG with 51st percentile PPR points per game among drafted RBs. But Ohio State's offense translates to the pros better. On tape, his short strides limit his long speed (4.48 forty) and he's not as laterally gifted as the top-end ball carriers. Instead, Judkins wins with power and high-end short-area burst (97th percentile broad jump and 90th percentile 10-yard split). He rifles through the first level and can bounce of defenders with drive and a stiff arm. His final season included a forced missed tackle on every 4.4 carries on average (slightly below average), confirming that he's more of a consistent finisher (6'0"/221) than an ankle breaker. His vision and tempo are strengths, and he has experience in multiple schemes, so his transition should be simple. Judkins isn't a dynamic receiver or route runner, but he did catch 15-22 passes per year, mostly on swings and check-downs without any noticeable problems. He's a chip blocker in pass protection, which can cause some problems. While he does have 3-down potential given his frame and burst, Judkins' skill set leans more toward an early-down power rusher capable of 15+ touches per week.

RB8 Damien Martinez (Late Round 3)

• RB Model: 68th percentile

• Comps: Josh Jacobs, Tyler Allgeier

The 21-year-old early declare posted three efficient seasons, excelling in both under-center wide zone (Oregon State) and shotgun gap/inside zone (Miami) schemes. His versatility shows in his consistent production, averaging over 6.1 YPC every year. Martinez plays even bigger than his 218 weight, while running with patience, physicality, and some wiggle. He led college football in short-yardage success rate on 3rd/4th downs per SIS. He lacks elite speed (47th percentile forty) but tested well in explosiveness (74th percentile broad jump) for his size. While his tape shows some nice spin moves and sharp cuts, he was a non-factor as a receiver (just 10 catches per season) and struggled significantly in pass protection. Martinez is an early-down starter with workload size in either rushing scheme. His 24th percentile fantasy points per game among drafted RBs is the biggest flaw in his profile, but that's largely because Miami used him in a committee and passed the ball a ton.

RB9 Devin Neal (Early Round 4)

• RB Model: 71st percentile

• Comps: James White, Devin Singletary, Roschon Johnson

He is a 21-year-old, four-year contributor at Kansas with consistent production—180 carries and 21 catches in three straight seasons. At 5'11" and 213 pounds (41st percentile weight), he isn’t the biggest or most explosive back, but his fantastic vision, patience, and confidence make him a smooth runner capable of reading linebackers. He has experience in both zone and man blocking schemes, and his 68th percentile fantasy points per game highlight his well-rounded skill set. He is comfortable in all phases of the pass game. He has 80th percentile career receiving yards production, and he's an asset in pass protection as one of the only backs with requisite mass, blitz diagnosis, and technique. That said, Neal lacks dynamic physical traits. He only forced a missed tackle every 4.7 carries (below average) and ran a 4.58 forty (20th percentile when weight-adjusted speed). He projects as a do-everything backup who can be a starter for a team willing to punt investment into the position. It won't be a surprise if he lasts in the NFL much longer than his NFL Combine results.

RB10 DJ Giddens (Early Round 4)

• RB Model: 79th percentile

• Comps: Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, Shane Vereen

The 21-year-old early declare is a high-end athlete with 91st percentile jumps and a 79th percentile forty, though his 18th percentile BMI gives him a slender build (6'0"/212) for a running back. He thrived in Kansas State’s balanced scheme, particularly excelling on downhill gap runs and getting to the edge with pullers leading the way. While he’s not a bruiser, he forced missed tackles at a slightly above-average rate with a slick side-stepping swim move, jump cuts, and even some spins. Giddens' production was modest (57th percentile adjusted production) with only seven rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, he flashed clear upside with 72nd percentile receiving yards per game, running more complex routes from the backfield, though occasional drops on swings were an issue. Pass protection remains a work in progress, as he tends to lower his head and miss targets. Overall, Giddens' skill set ranges wide and he's a quality athlete out in space.

RB11 Jarquez Hunter (Early Round 4)

• RB Model: 21st percentile

• Comps: Ray Davis, Khalil Herbert

The 22-year-old senior had four years of contributions at Auburn, peaking at 123 total yards per game. Hunter is 5-foot-9 on a good day but is 204 pounds with a low center of gravity as a rusher, consistently breaking tackles and occasionally dragging defenders on his back for extra yards. His 6.3 career YPC reflects his decisive, one-cut running style and solid vision. He has notable speed (4.44 forty), but he is not elusive (10th percentile shuttle) and usually wins with straight line burst instead of juking. Hunter caught what was thrown to him (21 receptions) but didn't run sophisticated routes and his pass protection was a visible weakness for mass reasons. He is a good enough rusher to be the change of pace RB3 in a committee backfield. He is an analytics darling with above-average efficiency and very encouraging GPS data.

RB12 Trevor Etienne (Late Round 4)

• RB Model: 60th percentile

• Comps: Less wiggle Tyjae Spears

The 20-year-old early declare has good vision and the ability to adapt to multiple run schemes, showing patience and solid cutback instincts. At 5'9"/198, Etienne is maxed out frame-wise but brings above-average burst (90th percentile 10-yard split) and speed (4.42 forty). While elusive moves aren’t an overwhelming strength in the open field, he's a competent receiver with reliable hands—though limited to basic routes like swings and screens. He won't be asked to pass protect due to size and a couple fatal misidentified blitzers in key games. Etienne is best as a change of pace player who can be used on the ground or as a pass catcher in a limited touch capacity. He never led Georgia in rushing and has picked up some bruises along the way. If it wasn't obvious, he is Trevor's younger brother.

RB13 Bhayshul Tuten (Late Round 4)

• RB Model: 78th percentile

• Comps: Matt Breida, Elijah Mitchell, Jaylen Wright

The 22-year-old is a classic one-cut runner and a perfect fit for wide-zone schemes, where he posted an elite 7.6 YPC on outside zone runs in college. Tuten is an electric speedster with a 4.32 forty, 96th percentile 10-yard split, and 93rd percentile jumps, though his 16th percentile short shuttle confirms he’s not shifty in tight spaces. On tape, he's just that. The straight-line speed is game-altering if he can get to the perimeter or find a cutback lane. He attempts to run hard up the middle, but he left him self open to fumbles and never exceeded 206 touches in a season. That left his adjusted college production in the 59th percentile among drafted RBs. He also never had an under-center carry in two years at Virginia Tech. Zero. For a smaller back (5'9"/206), Tuten is an underwhelming receiver with drop problems and was never showcased with schemed touches there (33rd percentile career receiving yards). For now, he's an early-down change-of-pace burner. The Shanahan tree has to have interest, even if it leads to 5-12 touches per game only.

RB14 RJ Harvey (Late Round 4)

• RB Model: 66th percentile

• Comps: Khalil Herbert, Darrell Henderson

The 24-year-old redshirt senior is a stocky 5'8", 205-pound running back with 10th percentile weight, but he makes up for it with explosive athleticism, including an 87th percentile forty (4.40 seconds) and 83rd percentile jumps. He produced at an elite level in his final season (95th percentile fantasy points per game) with 22 rushing TDs. Harvey operated primarily in an inside zone scheme, with 145 inside zone runs to just 6 outside zone attempts. It was a lot of slow-paced mesh point runs on zone reads, where he'd often bounce things outside after initially aiming inside. His jitterbug style led to above-average forced missed tackles (3.3 carries per forced missed tackle), but his vision remains questionable despite his experience. Harvey flashed as a receiving threat, particularly on wheel routes where his speed stood out. However, his pass protection is a glaring weakness — poor diagnosis, technique, and size limitations make him a liability in that area, capping him as a part-time contributor.

RB15 LeQuint Allen (Round 5)

• RB Model: 39th percentile

• Comps: Samaje Perine, Duke Johnson, Charles Sims

Nobody had more on their pass-game plate than the 20-year-old RB in that pass-heavy Syracuse offense. Allen is a well-rounded route runner who won on slot routes on top of all the fancy routes from the backfield. He has reliable hands, leading to 96th percentile receiving yards per game among drafted RBs since 2005. He's very long, which also helps him in pass protection where he's easily one of the very best in the class. They even used him as a lead blocker on some trick plays where he took heads off. Allen was functional as a rusher, but he is too upright to break a ton of tackles and his body is obviously still in development with his narrow legs. He's extremely young, so that could get better in the pros. For now, Allen will be a veteran QB's friend in the pass game. His ceiling is capped by forgettable speed (no forty) and 55th percentile jumps.

RB16 Jordan James (Round 5)

• RB Model: 36th percentile

• Comps: Jacquizz Rodgers, Eno Benjamin

The 21-year-old early declare has a dense 5'9"/205 frame and plays like an undersized bruiser. His efficiency dipped from 7.1 YPC in a committee to just 5.4 YPC as a feature back, a role he won't have in the NFL. James posted 45th percentile fantasy points per game as a starter and didn't have a clear standout trait on tape. He can bounce off tackles with a low center of gravity but doesn't have speed (4.55 forty) or elusiveness. He caught 26 passes with passable pass protection skills but had some drops and didn't run complex routes. James looks like an early down change of pace who needs more time on task to get better at setting up his blocks. His density should serve him well up the middle.

RB17 Jaydon Blue (Round 5)

• RB Model: 45th percentile

• Comps: Smaller Ty Chandler, Tyler Ervin

The 21-year-old early declare has electric speed (4.38 forty) that clearly translates on tape. At just 196 pounds, he’s undersized for a lead role (bottom 4th percentile) and has serious ball security issues with far too many fumbles. When he's holding onto the ball, Blue is an elusive open-field player who made defenders miss against top-tier competition and even hauled in a toe-tap TD on a wheel route vs. Texas A&M. His receiving skills flash—he runs wheel, Texas, quick outs off play action, etc.—but there are concentration drops and double catches. With 13th percentile total yardage per game, Blue profiles best as a pass-catching specialist and special teamer who was not tasked with pass protection. That's a frustrating combination.

RB18 Ollie Gordon (Round 6)

• RB Model: 40th percentile

• Comps: Roschon Johnson, Qadree Ollison

The 21-year-old early declare finished 7th in Heisman voting in 2023 (how?) but dipped to just 42nd percentile fantasy points per game as a junior. At 6'1"/226, Gordon is a big, leggy back who often gets chopped down low and struggles to stay balanced through contact. He makes himself miss in open space and doesn't have enough gas to finish off runs (4.61 forty is in the 16th percentile). Many of his long runs didn't include a forced missed tackle, and his big volume in the receiving game (39 and 29 receptions) was a product of the offense rather than his route running. He's an early-down backup in the NFL with a lackluster 5.4 YPC over his career.

RB19 Brashard Smith (Round 6)

• RB Model: 29th percentile

• Comps: Kenjon Barner, Pierre Strong Jr., Raymond Calais

The senior played WR at Miami for three seasons before pivoting to RB at Souther Methodist. At 5'10"/194, Smith has bottom 5th percentile BMI and 3rd percentile weight, which puts a hard cap on his potential NFL role. His standout trait is his long speed (4.39 forty) which we saw on some of his downfield slot targets and on a few explosive runs. He's just light between the tackles, doesn't have great vision yet, and doesn't have the short-area burst to make up for it. He surprisingly only had 20th percentile jump and a 46th-percentile 10-yard split, too. In pass protection, Smith is a negative because of his lack of mass and technique. The comparison to Tyrone Tracey is rich in that Tracey is bigger and had more RB instincts than what Smith showed on tape. I don't know what Smith's role is in the NFL. Perhaps it's a change of pace rusher if he develops.