2025 Fantasy Football Winners & Losers: Running Backs

2025 Fantasy Football Winners & Losers: Running Backs

Each year we dissect the season that was. The ups and downs. The injuries. The new hotness. The free agent super signing. The big trade that did or didn’t pan out. The studs and duds of our fantasy football frenzy. This look back is essential before starting to dive into 2026. Who would you put in each of these categories and why? Comment below.

SEASON MVP

Christian McCaffrey (49ers) – What can we say, this dude is the best. Literally. When healthy, he’s the best RB in fantasy football and it’s not close. If NFL MVP awards weren’t reserved for quarterbacks, he’d have at least one by now. CMC had 13 of 17 games as a RB10 or better. His lowest output was RB25 vs the Texans, who have the best defense in the AFC (I’d argue the entire league, but shouts out to the Seahawks for the NFC nod). He surpassed 2,000 total yards (2,126) becoming the first player to do that in their career. He had 17 total touchdowns which is the third most of his career. Since 2018, when he’s played 16 games, he’s been RB1 or RB2 overall. Nobody has that consistency. CMC is a fantasy football Hall of Famer and an NFL one as well, in my “humble” opinion. 

1ST HALF MVP (Week 1-7)

Jonathan Taylor (Colts) – This would go to CMC if he wasn’t already the MVP overall. CMC had a CMC-esc 27 PPR points per game over the first half of the season. JT though, was on his heels with 26 PPR points per game. Taylor had 17 touchdowns (15 rushing, two receiving) before the Colts’ bye in Week 11. Thereafter, he had only three total touchdowns. Taylor was RB1 overall in four games before the bye. He was RB8 or better in all but three games. Daniel Jones going down changed this offense, but JT’s first half was incredible.

2ND HALF MVP (Weeks 8-14)

Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions) – A bye week in Week 8. A measly 5.8 PPR points in Week 9, just 11.6 points in Week 13. Yes, Gibbs was still the top back in the second half. 38.2 in Week 10, 19.6 in Week 11, an astounding 55.4 in Week 12 and 37 in Week 14 to secure (or bump) playoff contenders. Gibbs had 26 more points than CMC over weeks 8-14. 

FANTASY PLAYOFF MVP (Weeks 15-17)

Bijan Robinson (Falcons) – BeeJean/Bijaun was the RB2 overall behind only King Caffrey, so there’s no surprise he’s in one of these categories, but to be in this one is special. Prior to the fantasy playoffs, he was solid; RB5. Once the playoffs hit though, he was magical! He outpaced Derrick Henry by seven… SEVEN PPR points per game over weeks 15-17. Bijan had 29.5, 30 and 40(!) PPR points respectively each week in your playoffs. It’s rare that the top pick on draft day not only lasts, but excels once playoffs hit at the running back position. Legendary finish to a stellar season. Will He-Gone Robinson be the RB1 come August?

BREAKOUT

Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers) – If drafted at all, he was RB89 off the board. In most leagues he was a waiver add. The Real Kenny G finished RB16 and saw career-highs across the board; especially in the receiving game collecting 73/486/3 on 85 targets. In the first 10 weeks, he had just one game better than RB18 – RB3 Week 4 vs the Vikings. However, Weeks 11-18, Gainwell had five Top10 performances with two of those being Top5 including the “oops I did it again” Week 18 Bowl where he was RB4. There’s a lot to shake out in Pittsburgh this offseason, but there’s no reason Gainwell shouldn’t remain an asset with Jaylen Warren and whatever Kaleb Johnson might bring to the table. 

BUST (DRAFTED AS TOP15 RB)

Alvin Kamara (Saints) – This one personally stings. I’ve been Kamara’s biggest fan since he helped my home-league squad go undefeated in 2017. I was zagging when the industry zigged last offseason doing my best to back Kamara. That backfired in a major way. He was drafted RB15 and finished RB31 in PPR points per game at the time of his injury in Week 12. It goes without saying that Kamara saw career-lows across both rushing and receiving metrics and after eight previously electric seasons, he may be a legend of the past. He’s been vocal about not wanting to leave New Orleans which is painful to hear for fantasy managers, but the Saints showed a pulse at the end of 2025. If they can build on that and Kamara retains 80% of the RB work, he may actually become a value in 2026… we’ll see.

SLEEPER (DRAFTED ROUND 8+)

Woody Marks (Texans) – Finished RB35 in PPR points per game which doesn’t sound exciting, but considering he was drafted RB67 as a late round handcuff in the 14th Round to Joe Mixon (never played) and outpacing above mentioned Kamara, I’d say it was a nice gamble. Marks had a few five games with 12+ points and showcased his ability in Week 4 spotting 28 PPR points against the Titans. If Marks can retain the starting role (Mixon and Chubb may be done), then he’s a great RB2 option heading into 2026.

BEST DRAFT PICK VALUE (BASED ON ADP)

Javonte Williams (Cowboys) – Finished RB12 in PPR points per game, yet was drafted as the RB37 in the back of the 8th Round. He finished no worse than RB17 over four years in Denver, but was written off heading to Dallas. Boy, did we collectively miss on that projection. Williams saw career highs across the board in the run game 1,201/4.8 ypc/11 TDs. He hit averages in the receiving game, but was a great pick up off waivers if not drafted late as an RB3/flex who had a run as an RB1 in the first nine weeks of the season.

ROOKIE STANDOUT

Cam Skattebo (Giants) – RB9 in PPR points per game before his season ending ankle and leg injuries. He only played in eight games, but had minimal involvement Week 1 and got hurt Week 8. Over Weeks 2-7 Lil’ Freight Train (I just made that up) was RB8 in PPR and RB7 in ½ PPR averaging a touchdown per game. Assuming he’s good to go for 2026, he’ll be really nice with John Harbaugh coming in, year two of Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers and co. Giants could be real sneaky next season. Buy the dip on Skattebo in dynasty while you can.

WHAT IF…

Ashton Jeanty (Raiders) played for anyone else.

Drafted RB6 overall in the First Round of fantasy drafts, Jeanty was expected to explode as the top rookie running back prospect since Saquon Barkley. Unfortunately for Jeanty, he plays for the Raiders. Las Vegas was a joke all season, yet Jeanty still finished RB13 in PPR points per game with a massive 32 points in the fantasy semis. Jeanty isn’t the issue in Vegas. He got the top opportunity share among RBs, was Top 5 in snap share, routes run, route participation, juke rate and evaded tackles, but the Raiders had the worst offensive line in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus’ end of season rankings. They gave up 47 sacks. The next most was less than 35. It can’t get worse for Jeanty. Let’s just hope it somehow gets better. He remains special.  

KEEP YOUR EYE ON ________ FOR 2026

Breece Hall (Jets?) – Quietly rushing for a career high 1,065 yards, Hall had a solid year behind the 22nd ranked o-line without star guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. The issue was his downgrade across the board in the receiving game. Over the last two healthy seasons, Hall averaged roughly 85 targets, 65 receptions, 500 receiving yards and 3.5 receiving touchdowns. Unfortunately, those numbers fell to 48/35/350/1 in 2025. Mix-match QB play, Garrett Wilson going down, bad play calling and being “The Jets” did Hall no favors. We can only hope he moves to another team in free agency. Cardinals? Saints? Vikings? Commanders? Chiefs? Giddy up!

Be sure to check out Razzball Football’s updated rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF

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