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 be looking 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 it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the last group of AFC running back rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#8: Las Vegas Raiders
On the Roster: Ashton Jeanty, Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, Sincere McCormick, and Dylan Laube
About: The Raiders make it to the top half of the list after doing some big work this offseason. White, McCormick, and Alexander Mattison were part of the answer for this team in 2024, and it didn’t go well. None looked like they could carry a successful backfield. Enter Pete Carroll and a new look for the Raiders. That included the addition of Mostert, a veteran who has done well with the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.
Mostert would have boosted the backfield a bit on his own, but the Raiders spent a first-round pick on Jeanty. He’s the star in this backfield and a Top 5 dynasty running back. He went for more than 2,600 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns last season for Boise State. He’s a three-down weapon that figures to be among the league’s best. That vaults the Raiders up on this list.
#7: Cincinnati Bengals
On the Roster: Chase Brown, Zack Moss, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks, and Gary Brightwell
About: The Bengals have an interesting room. The star here is Brown, who took a huge leap in 2024. He rushed for 990 yards and caught 54 passes last season. He’s rising up the dynasty ranks and fits this offense well. Behind him, the Bengals have some good depth. Moss has proven himself a durable veteran and spot starter, while Perine has been a contributor for the Bengals, Broncos, and Chiefs the past three seasons. Brooks is an interesting rookie who has a chance to develop for this team. It’s a solid and underrated backfield.
#6: Indianapolis Colts
On the Roster: Jonathan Taylor, Khalil Herbert, D.J. Giddens, Salvon Ahmed, and Tyler Goodson
About: The AFC has several teams led by a star running back and not a lot behind them. That’s the case with the Colts. I struggled with where to place the Colts, but ultimately, Taylor is one of the best backs in the league. He’s rushed for 6,013 yards and 51 touchdowns in five seasons. He’s a weapon and the most dependable piece of the Colts’ offense.
Behind him, the Colts brought in Herbert, a role player in the backfields for the Bears and Bengals. He has some experience, which boosts the Colts, but he’s not Taylor. Giddens is similarly an interesting rookie pickup. That gives the Colts some depth, but this ranking is about Taylor.
#5: Los Angeles Chargers
On the Roster: Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris, Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins, and Jaret Patterson
About: The Chargers wanted to upgrade their backfield, so they brought in two new players to lead it. The first is the veteran Harris, who signed a one-year deal after four years in Pittsburgh. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons as a Steeler.
Then, the Chargers spent a first-round pick on Hampton, a powerful runner out of North Carolina. He went for over 3,100 yards and 30 touchdowns the past two seasons. He figures to be a significant weapon for the Chargers. The team plans to deploy them as co-starters, creating a formidable backfield.
#4: Miami Dolphins
On the Roster: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Alexander Mattison, Ollie Gordon II, and Nate Noel
About: The Dolphins land at fourth, and they’re a tough group to rate, but this is based on the strength of lead back Achane and the potential of the rest of the backfield for Mike McDaniel. Achane rushed for more than 900 yards in 2024, but also caught 78 passes. That makes him an Alvin Kamara-like weapon out of the backfield.
Behind him, the team has a promising second-year back in Wright, veteran Mattison, and interesting rookie Gordon. That gives them some options that could contribute meaningfully in 2025.
#3: New York Jets
On the Roster: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu, and Donovan Edwards
About: The Jets have a deep backfield and some good talent at the top. Hall is an interesting player and a weapon on all three downs. He’s a Top 12 Dynasty back and has the potential to hum in this new offense. But will he get the volume? That’s the question. He split more work than expected with Allen during 2024, and new Jets’ Head Coach Aaron Glenn has talked about the team having three good backs, including Davis.
That gives this team great depth and options, but it could also be frustrating at times for fantasy players. Still, in just a ranking of backfields, the Jets’ depth with Hall’s top-end capability vaults them to the top three for me.
#2: Buffalo Bills
On the Roster: James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Darrynton Evans, and Frank Gore, Jr.
About: The Bills have a good running game. That’s led by Cook, who went for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024. But he’s not the only backfield weapon. As a rookie, Davis had more than 100 carries and produced more than 400 rushing yards, while Johnson added four touchdowns as a rusher and a receiver. That gives the Bills a lot of options and depth. It’s one of the better backfields in the AFC, landing them at the second spot for me.
#1: Baltimore Ravens
On the Roster: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and Rasheen Ali
About: The Ravens top the AFC list because of King Henry. It’s the perfect marriage of the right kind of player with the right kind of scheme. In his first year with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. It was a powerful performance he figures to replicate in 2025. The team also has a dynamic weapon in Hill, who contributed as a runner and pass-catcher.
Beyond that, the Ravens have more development prospects in Mitchell and Ali. However, with Henry and Hill leading the way, this is the best backfield in the AFC.
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.
