Re-drafting 2025 NFL rookie running backs: Ashton Jeanty NOT first player taken

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We’ve entered the back half of the 2025 NFL regular season, so it feels like a good time to evaluate the initial returns from this year’s crop of rookie running backs.

We’ve watched all of these first-year players take the professional gridiron over the last few months. So far, they have combined to produce just six 100-yard rushing performances — with each coming from a different RB, providing parity within the draft class. With that in mind, how do these guys stack up against each other after displaying their wares at the NFL level?

With the benefit of hindsight, here is how I would re-draft the 11 rookie backs who’ve logged 50-plus carries in 2025.

Actual draft position: Round 4, No. 105 overall (eighth RB selected)

Despite playing in just eight games before his season-ending ankle injury, Skattebo had the biggest impact on his offense of all the rookies on this list, providing a major spark with his tenacious attitude and play style. Very few rookies outside of the quarterback position affect a team as positively as Skattebo did, on the field and with his infectious personality. He started to take over as the Giants’ feature back in Week 2, and from Week 3 through Week 7 — the gruesome injury came early in Week 8 — he forced the second-most missed tackles in the league with 31 (behind only             Christian McCaffrey             ), according to Next Gen Stats. He had also gained 316 rushing yards after contact in that span, the fourth-most in the NFL. Skattebo’s monster breakout came in a Week 6 upset of the rival Eagles, scoring three of his seven scrimmage touchdowns (a total that is still tied for the most among all rookies with Ashton Jeanty). A fourth-rounder in April, Skattebo has shown he was worthy of being a top-10 pick. He wasn’t taken in the first two days of the draft because, frankly, he didn’t possess elite traits. But if we’re talking about a pure football player, is there anyone better? I’d argue there isn’t. This guy plays every down like it’s his last.

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