5 NFL RBs in Best Position for Breakout Season in 2025

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley brought the spotlight back to his position last season by becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000-plus yards. He wound up being named the Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro in the wake of that historic season.

However, Barkley has been an established star for years. Today, we're trying to find the next crop of running backs who can break out in 2025.

Unlike the Eagles, most NFL teams have backfield tandems or a committee these days. Still, featured running backs can stand out as three-down playmakers.

As more running backs take on pass-catching roles, several players can rack up close to or eclipse 2,000 scrimmage yards. Barkley and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry were the only players to top that mark last season, but Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions and Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons weren't far off of it.

This year, a handful of up-and-coming running backs could finish within the top 10 leaguewide in scrimmage yards because of their projected roles and versatile skill set. We've highlighted five tailbacks who are in for a breakout season despite never rushing for 1,000 yards in a season or making an All-Pro or Pro Bowl roster.

Fantasy football enthusiasts should take notes for their upcoming drafts.

De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Doug Murray

The Miami Dolphins may fully unleash De'Von Achane this year.

Dolphins assistant head coach and running backs coach Eric Studesville told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe earlier this year that the team is "preparing" to give the speedy running back more work in the 2025 season.

The Dolphins allowed 11th-year veteran Raheem Mostert to walk in free agency. Even though Jaylen Wright could handle more touches with Alexander Mattison and rookie sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon II mixed into the backfield rotation, Achane is the clear-cut lead ball-carrier, and he has high expectations for himself.

"This year probably—every year I want to get better—so as far as my numbers-wise, as far as in the rush game, I always want to try to hit 1,000 yards and then 500 yards (receiving)," Achane said in May, via a team transcript. "I feel like I can do that as far as how much I'm being used and like the pass game that I was last year because I had a lot of receptions, and me watching film I felt like I left a lot of plays or I felt like I could have did more.

"Going back and watching the year and the cut ups, I feel like I left a lot of yards on the table."

Achane suited up for every game last season and racked up 1,499 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns. If the dynamic running back thinks he left yards on the field, his ceiling for the upcoming season could be close to 2,000 scrimmage yards.

In two years, Achane has shown that he can use his blazing speed, decisive cuts and soft hands to make big plays on the ground and in the passing game. However, he's logged more than 18 carries in only one career outing.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa understands he must protect himself in the pocket, which may result in more quick dump-off passes to Achane. With a full workload, the third-year tailback could post gaudy stat lines in 2025.

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Chase Brown split backfield touches with Zack Moss and served as the Cincinnati Bengals' backup running back for the first five weeks of the 2024 season. After Moss suffered a neck injury in October, Brown took over the featured role for the remainder of the campaign.

The Bengals restructured Moss' contract, which indicates he will be around for another year in Cincinnati. However, Brown put a stronghold on the lead role, racking up 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

Despite the Bengals' below-average offensive line, Brown averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry and finished 10 yards short of a 1,000-yard rushing season.

This offseason, the Bengals hired a new offensive line coach in Scott Peters, drafted guard Dylan Fairchild in the third round and signed ninth-year veteran guard Lucas Patrick.

With a revamped offensive line and new position coach, the Bengals could see improvement on the ground. If so, Brown, who should open the year in the featured role, could top 1,100 rushing yards.

Since he's also a key contributor in the short passing game, he could rack up over 1,500 scrimmage yards.

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Ashton Jeanty is the only rookie featured here because he's the only first-year tailback who's expected to lead his team's backfield at the beginning of the 2025 season.

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft. They finished with the fewest rushing yards in the league last season, but Jeanty will bring an immediate spark to the ground attack.

After recording a nation-high 374 carries for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns at Boise State this past season, the runner-up for the 2024 Heisman Trophy has a clear pathway to a massive workload in Las Vegas.

Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters he won't be "relying on one guy" in the team's backfield rotation. But Raheem Mostert, who turned 33 in April, isn't likely to take a big chunk of touches away from Jeanty.

Jeanty could finish the upcoming season with 250-plus carries. If he's involved in the short passing game, the rookie running back should easily eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards.

Jeanty is justifiably the favorite to win 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year heading into the season.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The Pittsburgh Steelers will feature a new running back duo. Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, and the team drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round.

At 6'1" and 224 pounds, Johnson can take on an early-down role. Harris' departure could also result in more work for Jaylen Warren, who averaged 4.3 yards per carry in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's system last season.

Head coach Mike Tomlin "certainly" believes Warren can handle more touches. The fourth-year running back has "no doubt" that he could do it.

At 5'8" and 215 pounds, Warren doesn't have the prototypical size for a featured running back, but he's been efficient with his carries across his three NFL seasons. Warren is averaging 4.8 yards per carry through 48 career games.

Unless Johnson looks incredible in training camp and the preseason, Warren figures to get the first crack at being the Steelers' lead ball-carrier. He has never recorded more than 15 carries in a game, but that could change this year.

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth

Javonte Williams is the only player on this list who will suit up for his second team in 2025. He could have a career year with the Dallas Cowboys after his production tailed off over the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Williams racked up 1,219 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2021, both of which are his high-water mark to date. In the following season, he tore his ACL, LCL and posterolateral corner. Over the last two years, he's averaged less than 3.8 yards per carry.

Now that he's multiple years removed from that injury, Williams can claim the lead position in the Cowboys' wide-open backfield competition and show flashes of the player who accumulated 1,200-plus scrimmage yards before the injuries.

"I feel completely like myself…" Williams said to reporters in May.

The Cowboys didn't re-sign Rico Dowdle, who led them with 1,079 rushing yards last season. Instead, they inked Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals and drafted Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.

The 25-year-old Williams is two years younger than Sanders and has fewer carries (606) on his career resume than Sanders (923) as well. As the rookies find their footing on the pro level, Williams can take off running with the lead job.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.