Each season in fantasy football, veteran running backs see their value rise and fall depending on their surroundings. Many factors can play into this, including past production, invested draft capital, offensive line, and pass/run offensive balance. There are many more possible factors other than the ones listed here, but you get the point. In order to qualify for this list, each player must be at least 26 years old.
It’s hard for a running back to have a productive season if they are in a poor situation. That’s why drafting players on horrible offenses who just so happen to top their teams’ depth charts is a bad idea. Opportunity must equal talent and situation.
Nonetheless, some players just perform poorly because they are no longer in the prime of their careers. Some players just simply don’t have the skills to be starting running backs in the NFL and would be better in a committee backfield. That being said, let’s get into a list of five veteran running backs I won’t be drafting in 2025.
Christian McCaffrey
SF (28)
It was an absolute nightmare season for Christian McCaffrey fantasy managers in 2024, as the superstar running back only played in four games due to Achilles Tendinitis and a PCL injury. After being the consensus first-overall pick in most fantasy drafts, McCaffrey was a major disappointment, burning many fantasy managers this year.
McCaffrey’s injury history is now even more alarming, making him one of the riskiest players in all of fantasy football. If he stays healthy, he could be the overall RB1. However, if he sustains another injury, his fantasy season could be over before it begins.
I would exercise caution in drafting McCaffrey, who was not projected to be a first-round pick in Fantasy Trading Room’s 2025 Fantasy Mock Draft, until he plays another full season. Normally, taking a risk in the first few rounds is a good idea, but with a player like McCaffrey, the worst-case scenario jumps significantly in potential season-ending situations.
James Conner
ARI (29)
James Conner had a very strong year in 2024, becoming one of the top players at his position during a season in which the running back position was revitalized. The veteran back was able to keep his starting spot despite the presence of rookie running back Trey Benson, who was a popular sleeper pick heading into the season. Conner registered almost 1,100 rushing yards, over 400 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns.
He was absolutely fantastic this season, but I am slightly worried about his outlook heading into 2025. It would make sense for Trey Benson to take on a larger role heading into next season. Running backs have a short shelf-life, so it would be wise for Arizona to take advantage of Benson’s abilities while he is still on his rookie contract. Conner will likely have a high ADP next year, so staying away from him in fantasy drafts makes sense.
If Benson were to take over as the future of the backfield, Conner could see his workload diminished sooner rather than later. The modern NFL is shifting to an offensive identity of a two-back system in the backfield. If this happens in Arizona, which is a definite possibility, James Conner could end up producing a down year in 2025.
Nick Chubb
CLE (29)
Nick Chubb sustained a devastating injury at the start of the 2023 NFL season, expectations for 2024 very extremely low. His lack of production was no surprise. Many assumed that his debilitating knee injury would keep him sidelined for most of the 2024 season and cause him to have a slow start once he returned to action.
This was certainly the case, as Chubb only averaged 3.25 yards per carry in his return from an awful knee injury. He would’ve gotten a pass for this, but his season-ending foot injury that he suffered late in the season worries me. The combination of these two injuries could cause Chubb to have another slow start to his year, even if he is available for the start of the 2025 season.
On top of this, Chubb is getting older, and these injuries will certainly not help his longevity. Because of these unfortunate situations, his outlook in both redraft and dynasty has significantly worsened.
D’Andre Swift
CHI (26)
I was very low on D’Andre Swift heading into this season and I expect my position on the veteran running back to be relatively similar in 2025. Swift only finished within the top-10 scorers at his position in PPR leagues only three times this season, during Weeks 4-6. He failed to do so over the final 11 games of the year, marking a clear decline in his dependability as a fantasy asset. By Week 17, Swift wasn’t even ranked inside Fantasy Trading Room’s top-20 fantasy football running backs.
Swift only rushed for 100+ yards once in 2024, and only averaged over four yards per carry in six of his 17 games. He simply wasn’t efficient as a runner this season and could potentially be replaced this offseason. He has not returned on Chicago’s investment of a 3-year, $24M contract.
The 2025 NFL Draft has a generational class of running backs waiting to take on the professional level, so if the Bears decide they need an upgrade at the position, it wouldn’t be hard to find one. This would cause Swift’s fantasy value to take a major hit, leaving him on the outside looking in for 2025 in terms of the group of fantasy-relevant running backs in the NFL.
Overall, D’Andre Swift is coming off of the least efficient year of his career and could be replaced by a rookie running back due to a strong draft class at the position. If Chicago’s offensive line improves drastically, my opinion could change. But as of now, I don’t see myself drafting Swift in 2025 fantasy football drafts.
Rachaad White
TB (26)
Rachaad White should not be viewed as a late-round option in 2025 unless you’re in a deeper league. White lost the starting job this season to rookie Bucky Irving, who rushed for over 1,000 yards on his way to an outstanding rookie campaign. Irving has locked up the starting job heading into next season, leaving White to operate as the second option.
Rachaad White still managed to have a decent fantasy season despite losing the starting job, but a lot of his fantasy points came from touchdowns. Touchdown dependency is not a positive quality to have in fantasy football if you aren’t a starting running back. While White is a good player, he is an inefficient runner. If he were to see less receptions and touchdowns in 2025, his value could drop quickly.
While there is still a bit of hope in his receiving upside, I don’t see a reason to draft Rachaad White in 2025 unless you already have Bucky Irving. White is a solid handcuff option but could be in line for touchdown regression in 2025 fantasy football.