2025 Draft Class of Running Backs Faces Mixed First Season

An in‑depth look at how the 2025 rookie running backs performed in 2025, highlighting both flashes of potential and ongoing struggles, especially for top pick Jeanty and middle‑round selections, and what their future looks like amid line and coaching challenges.

The 2025 rookie class of running backs has delivered a mixed season, with some players making strides while others continue to struggle. In one highlight, the group collectively amassed 737 rushing yards during a September week, a figure that eclipses any rookie rush total since the AFL‑NFL merger.

That burst of production surprised many analysts who had lauded the class as one of the most promising in recent memory, hinting that the talent pool could mature quickly if team situations improve. However, the overall outlook has been dampened by inconsistency. Combined for just 246 yards during the same period, the class of 2025 also posted its lowest single‑week rushing total. Injuries and benchings have left leads in the backfield to shiver.

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The only three 2025 draft picks who have appeared in every game for their teams so far have been used sparingly, with two primarily serving as backups and one playing through injuries. Among them, Jeanty, the sixth overall pick in the draft, stands out as a case study of early promise that has yet to translate into consistent production. Jeanty entered the league with high expectations.

Drafted by the Raiders over offensive linemen and other potential playmakers, he was slated to become a key part of their offensive weaponry. Yet his rookie season was marked by a low average of 3.5 yards per carry and a negative 0.27 EPA per rush attempt, the worst among backs with 150 carries in 2025. He also ranks near the bottom for success rate (32.8%) and first‑downs over expectation.

Analysts attribute this performance to the Raiders' inefficient offensive line, which allowed Jeanty to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage 52% of the time-a figure higher than almost any other rookie of the season. The coaching change that brought Klint Kubiak to Washington could have offered Jeanty a more favorable zone‑running scheme, but the data suggests little improvement.

He continues to be hit behind the line more often than the league average and has not broken any runs over 20 yards. Only five of his 105 carries yielded 10 or more yards, a rate below the league average for backs with similar workload. Even when he manages to force missed tackles, the rate (just under 18%) falls short of the 25% average across the league.

Meanwhile, other picks from the 2025 crop have shown more promise on a limited basis. A fourth‑round selection has managed an average of 4.9 yards per carry behind a competent line, and he has already logged a 21‑yard and a 35‑yard run this season-both explosive plays that could signal growth. Though variance affects these big‑break attempts, the fact that these larger gains are coming from a backup role suggests the potential for a more balanced attack.

As the season continues, the key question for franchises remains whether they can develop these young talents into reliable contributors or whether they will pair them with more established veteran backs to help shore up their offensive lines. The performance trends over the next few weeks will likely dictate how the 2025 roster of running backs is perceived and what role they will play in their teams' deeper playoff ambitions.

Overall, the first year of this draft class has been a story of uneven progress. While some backs have found early footing, others like Jeanty are still settling into the professional gridiron's demands, awaiting both improved coaching schemes and better teammate support to transform the early struggles into productive seasons.