The running back position isn’t very deep in dynasty fantasy football. Unless you are in a deeper league, there is generally only one fantasy-relevant running back per backfield in fantasy. While this could change with the fantastic 2025 rookie running back class coming into the NFL, right now, choices tend to be few and far between.
Obviously, this means that finding a diamond in the rough at the position gives your dynasty team an immediate advantage. If you are able to pick up a low-priced option who turns into a sustainable starter, your team is put into a phenomenal position. Sleepers are vitally important at the running back position.
The following players could make some noise in 2025 if they’re counted out for too long. We’ll be using the dynasty rankings from the KeepTradeCut website for this list. Hopefully, you can trade for some of these players in the offseason to put your dynasty team a little closer to a championship next year!
Trey Benson - ARI
(KTC Ranking: RB24)
It was a disappointing rookie year for Trey Benson, who was considered to be one of the top sleepers at the running back position heading into this season by redraft fantasy owners. Benson struggled to make a consistent impact for the Cardinals because it was so hard to take fellow Arizona running back James Conner off of the field.
Conner is one of the league’s older starting running backs, so some believed he would begin to split carries 50/50 with Benson by the end of the year. Conner responded by having the best rushing season of his career, production-wise. James Conner posted a career-high in rushing yards, as well as carries, on his way to establishing himself as one of the best running backs in football.
Because of his stellar play, Conner was signed to a two-year extension by Arizona, much to the dismay of Trey Benson’s dynasty owners. However, there are a few reasons why Trey Benson is a good buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues.
Firstly, there’s a real possibility that James Conner could be cut after the first year of his contract due to the fact that the amount of dead cap Arizona would have to deal with decreases significantly after the 2025 season, according to Spotrac. Conner will be over 30 years old, which is when many running backs begin to decline in value. This leaves the door open for the Cardinals to move on from the veteran back.
Also, Trey Benson is a young running back with three-down potential. I still believe that Benson is the future of this backfield and will be the full-time starter in a season or two. He was efficient as a rookie despite the lack of eye-popping statistics. He will have a shot to continue to get better and compete for the starting job next season.
I would be willing to trade away a veteran running back like Joe Mixon or Brian Robinson Jr. to get Benson if your team isn’t currently contending. Overall, Trey Benson’s situation seems a lot worse than it actually is. He will likely be the team’s starter sooner rather than later and should be traded for dynasty while his value is low.
Travis Etienne - JAX
(KTC Ranking: RB26)
It was an absolute disaster season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially running back Travis Etienne. Etienne put up what was by far the worst statistical season of his career, rushing for just over 500 yards and a career-low two touchdowns. He was also extremely inefficient, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 6.5 yards per catch in 2024, both career lows.
After impressing through his first two full seasons, Jacksonville decided to exercise Etienne’s fifth-year option this past offseason, adding another year to his rookie contract. This means that the running back is tied to Jacksonville through the end of the 2025 NFL season, according to Spotrac.
So why should you trade for Travis Etienne Jr. in dynasty this offseason? Simply put, things can’t get much worse at this point. While this logic may not be the strongest, it’s still true that it’s difficult to find a fantasy running back with a history of strong production with a lower price tag this offseason.
To get the Jaguar running back, it would make sense to trade away a slightly more favorable name, such as Jonathon Brooks or Rachaad White, whose teammate is one of FTR’s Dynasty WR Sleepers if you’re able to get a solid package in return that includes Etienne.
Etienne’s past production still gives him a high ceiling despite a nightmare 2024 season. If he is allowed to hit free agency after 2025, his career could be saved by a team in need of a running back.
Isiah Pacheco - KC
(KTC Ranking: RB19)
Going into the 2024 season, I viewed Isiah Pacheco as one of fantasy football’s safest picks in the second round of fantasy drafts. Though it was beyond anyone’s control, this was proven to be false.
Isiah Pacheco, whose teammate is also one of FTR’s Dynasty WR Sleepers, suffered a leg injury early in the season that caused him to miss nine straight games. To make matters worse, since returning from injury, Pacheco has been competing for touches with veteran running back Kareem Hunt. This is not an ideal situation for the young running back to be in from a fantasy perspective, and it calls into question his value in dynasty heading into 2025.
However, I think there is still reason for optimism here. First, Kareem Hunt will be a free agent this offseason, so there’s a chance he won’tdoesn’t return to Kansas City for another season. Also, Pacheco still has an extremely high floor in fantasy football when healthy. If given a fresh start next season, he should be able to win back the starting job.
It’s a bit risky, but if you can acquire Isiah Pacheco in exchange for a player like J.K. Dobbins, D’Andre Swift, or Najee Harris, I think it’s worth a shot considering how good of a position Pacheco is in on an dynamic offense like Kansas City’s.
Rico Dowdle - DAL
(KTC Ranking: RB39)
Rico Dowdle was one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 fantasy football season, single-handedly making Dallas’ rushing offense slightly more enjoyable to watch towards the end of the regular season. Dowdle was the Cowboys’ best running back by a mile and will be a free agent this offseason.
If Dallas decides to draft a running back, Dowdle could earn himself a nice payday in free agency after running for over 1,000 rushing yards in 2024. The former undrafted free agent could be given the chance to start for a team next season, which would skyrocket his value in dynasty.
If given a real chance to start on a decent team, Dowdle could be a very solid running back option in dynasty fantasy football next season. I would rank him ahead of players like Tony Pollard and Aaron Jones if he ends up in a favorable landing spot in 2025.
James Cook - BUF
(KTC Ranking: RB9)
Sure, it may be pretty stupid to list a top-10 dynasty running back as a sleeper, but just hear me out. However, James Cook still remains an underrated asset in dynasty fantasy football.
Cook was tied for first in rushing touchdowns this season, punching in a whopping 16 scores on the found in 2024. The only other players to finish with the same number were Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s become obvious that Buffalo’s offense is strong enough to propel Cook into top-10 conversations at his position in fantasy football.
The third-year running back also averaged nearly five yards per carry in 2024, making himself hard to take off of the field. If Buffalo decides to lean on their rushing attack a bit more in 2025, James Cook could become a top-five running back in fantasy football. That’s a big ask, but if Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady is hired as an NFL head coach somewhere else this offseason, a new offensive system could be in place for the Bills.
This is all a bit of a stretch, but the fact remains that James Cook has become a touchdown machine as of late and remains the top backfield option for one of the NFL’s best offenses. I would trade a player like Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, or Josh Jacobs. He’s a fantastic player with a bright future in the NFL.