The 2025 NFL Draft is swiftly approaching. The draft kicks off on Thursday, April 24, and affords three days of picks that could change the makeup of NFL rosters. In this run-up to the draft, I’m looking at five teams and one Wild Card that could make a selection at one of the four key fantasy positions, changing their fortunes and our fantasy outlook. Today, it’s teams that might look to grab a running back.
#1 Cleveland Browns
On the Roster: Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong, Jr.
About: Ford has shown himself to be a capable player and addition to the offense. But he’s not a franchise back. He’s not likely to be the featured back on his own. Yet, he and Strong are the only backs under contract. The team could bring back Nick Chubb, but he’s struggled to stay on the field lately.
The Browns under Kevin Stefanski have been a strong rushing team, which suggests that this won’t be the only set of backs they roll into the season with. The Browns aren’t likely to take a running back in the First Round and might not even be able to snag one in the Second Round, but this is a deep class. I expect the Browns to grab at least one back on day two and maybe another on day three.
#2 Las Vegas Raiders
On the Roster: Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, Isaiah Spiller, Sincere McCormick, and Dylan Laube
About: Yes, the Raiders have a lot of running backs on the roster, which might lead you to believe that the team is set there. But this is a case of quantity, not quality. White had a shot to lead in 2024 and flamed out. Mostert is an aging veteran who is better as a complementary piece. The rest are guys just hoping to make the roster.
With Pete Carroll on the roster, the Raiders will likely be a run-heavy offense. The Raiders also have a Top 10 pick and no longer need a quarterback. Could they be a landing spot for Ashton Jeanty? They sure could be. I expect the Raiders to take a running back in the first couple of rounds of this year’s draft.
#3 Dallas Cowboys
On the Roster: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, and Malik Davis
About: The Cowboys need to get the running game going. They got some production from Rico Dowdle in 2024, but it wasn’t what they’d had in years past. The Cowboys addressed the position this off-season by signing a pair of veterans to one-year deals. With Williams and Sanders, they have some options, but that’s not likely THE answer.
Could they draft a back? We’ve felt like the Cowboys could or should draft a running back for a few seasons, but it hasn’t happened. Still, this could be the year. The Cowboys could be in a position to grab a top option in the First Round, but I think they’re more likely to grab a back in the Second or Third Round that will help form the committee for 2025.
#4 Pittsburgh Steelers
On the Roster: Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, and Cordarrelle Patterson
About: The Steelers have had Najee Harris in the backfield the last four seasons, and each year he went for at least 1,000 yards. But he’s in Los Angeles with the Chargers now. The team has Warren, but he’s not likely to carry the load. Even teamed with Gainwell, that’s not an ideal situation for a team that has typically been run-heavy.
The answer for the Steelers might be to consider the draft. The team is unsettled at quarterback and other positions, which might take priority. It’s hard to imagine the Steelers, with Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, won’t take a shot at a running back somewhere in the first four rounds.
#5 Denver Broncos
On the Roster: Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson, and Tyler Badie
About: Is Estime the answer for Sean Payton? Could McLaughlin be a feature back? After the Broncos let Williams go to the Cowboys, those are questions that fans are asking. Payton has harped on the need for a better rush offense for the past two years.
The Broncos have a full complement of draft picks in the early rounds for the first time in years, too. That gives them options. The team could swing for a running back in the draft’s First Round. I think the Broncos will take a back in the draft whether in the First Round or later. I don’t see the team going into the season with Estime and McLaughlin leading the backfield alone.
Wild Card: Kansas City Chiefs
On the Roster: Isiah Pacheco, Elijah Mitchell, Kareem Hunt, and Carson Steele
About: The Chiefs are coming off their third straight Super Bowl, but the running game was a struggle in 2024. Pacheco was injured, and even when he returned, he was ineffective. Hunt came aboard and led the team, but he’s aging and lacks some top-end explosion. The team took a swing on Mitchell in free agency, but after a couple of years battling injuries, that’s not a lock.
On paper, the Chiefs have enough options to make it work, but there are questions. With Mitchell and Hunt on one-year deals, and Pacheco on the last year of his rookie deal, it would make sense for the Chiefs to add a back out of a good running back class.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
