The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2025 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll look at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the final group of NFC running back rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#8: San Francisco 49ers
On the Roster: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor, and Israel Abanikanda
About: The 49ers might feel low. We’ve consistently wanted a piece of the run game from Kyle Shanahan throughout his career, and no one is better than him at finding gems later in the draft. This is also a room led by McCaffrey, who is an incredibly dangerous weapon in this system. But he’s coming off some major injury issues, and he’s getting older.
Behind him, the 49ers feel like they have some potential but lack experience. I like the potential and upside enough to put them in the top half of the list, but I like some other rooms better.
#7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the Roster: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, and D.J. Williams
About: Irving had a heck of a rookie season. The Buccaneers have some good depth in White and Tucker, both of whom had strong moments in 2024. That gives them a good trio of backs behind Baker Mayfield. Combined, Irving and White went for more than 1,700 rushing yards and caught nearly 100 passes in 2024. They could build on that in 2025 as Irving looks to solidify himself as a top dynasty option. It’s a good backfield, possibly even underrated on this list.
#6: Los Angeles Rams
On the Roster: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, and Ronnie Rivers
About: It was a close call for me with the Rams and Buccaneers. I was nearly tempted to put the Buccaneers higher, but we’ve seen Williams dominate for a few seasons now. He has rushed for more than 2,400 yards and 26 touchdowns in the last two seasons. He’s a significant weapon in the backfield that fits what the Rams want to do.
Behind him, there are a lot of young and unproven backs. But I still believe Corum will play a role, probably even a bigger role, in year two. Hunter is an interesting pick, and Rivers has been solid depth. This ranking is mostly about Williams, but I don’t want to under-rate the backs behind him.
#5: Green Bay Packers
On the Roster: Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Emmanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks
About: This is another group where the strength of the lead back helps carry the day. Matt LaFleur has wanted a power running game for the past few seasons. In 2024, Jacobs rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding 36 receptions. Behind him, the Packers took Lloyd last year in the draft. It was a lost season due to injury, but he’s another back, and I suspect he will step up in year two. Meanwhile, Wilson showed himself a solid contributor, as did Brooks. This is a good backfield behind a good, young offense.
#4: Philadelphia Eagles
On the Roster: Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley, and Avery Williams
About: The Eagles come in next. This is the last of the three teams with an incredible star and questions behind them. And, Barkley, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is the best of those three backs. His signing with the Eagles was the ideal marriage of a player’s skills and the right system. He had a magnificent 2024, going for more than 2,000 yards. Can he repeat it? I think so. Either way, he’s an incredible weapon.
Behind him, the Eagles hope Dillon bounces back from injury to be a good backup and depth player, while Shipley and Williams feel like role players. The room’s depth is suspect, but Barkley is a star.
#3: Seattle Seahawks
On the Roster: Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, and Damien Martinez
About: As we get to the top of the list, it’s a trio of teams with a good tandem of backs. Seattle has the weakest of those tandems because Walker and Charbonnet are about equal footing. This might also be the last year of their pairing with Walker in a contract year. But both have been good contributors, and both can be three-down backs in the offense. That’s a luxury. I like both as Top 25 options in Dynasty, too. Meanwhile, MacIntosh and the rookie Martinez provide solid depth for the Seahawks. It’s a good room that has them among the best in the NFC.
#2: Atlanta Falcons
On the Roster: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Jase McClellan
About: The Falcons are here because they have a good duo and possibly the best running back in the league. If it’s not Robinson, it’s the guy in the backfield at #1. Robinson has 1,456 rushing yards and 61 receptions in his second year. He’s an incredible weapon on a team and in an offense that knows how to unlock him.
Allgeier, meanwhile, might be one of the best RB2s in football. Before Robinson was a Falcon, he was a 1,000-yard rusher for this team. He still steps right in and contributes well whenever called upon. This is a great duo.
#1: Detroit Lions
On the Roster: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki
About: If Robinson isn’t your top back, Gibbs has to be. He went for more than 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, adding 52 receptions. But what puts the Lions over the top is that this is the best duo in the league.
Montgomery went for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns of his own in just 14 games. Gibbs and Montgomery are an incredible one-two punch that makes this Lions’ backfield incredibly formidable. Reynolds is a great battering ram to add depth, but this is about Gibbs and Montgomery, and no one is better.
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.
