Finding the right running back in fantasy football can make or break your season. While you could spend up and use a first-round pick on elite options like Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, or Derrick Henry, you can also find values later on in the draft that will easily outplay their draft position. While the following four options don’t have the same upside as the aforementioned running backs, they’ll easily outproduce their current draft cost and allow you to spend premium picks on the other positions.
Note: Average draft position information is courtesy of FantasyCalc.
Fantasy Football: The 4 Biggest Running Back Values In Drafts
James Conner (RB23)
Year in and year out, James Conner outproduces his average draft position, and the 2025 season should be no different. While the former Steeler is on the older side, he’s still the unquestioned starter in this backfield. Signed to a new extension, 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson did nothing as a rookie to suggest he’ll earn a larger role in 2025. Conner has a clear path to 250 touches in what should be a capable offense. Factor in his proven track record in this scheme and he should have a good shot of matching or exceeding his RB10 finish from last year, and you can get him as the 23rd running back off the board.
Najee Harris (RB32)
Omarion Hampton will eventually be the Los Angeles Chargers starting running back, but Najee Harris will hold the job at the beginning of the season. As discussed in a previous article, the Chargers have Super Bowl aspirations and would rather place their faith in a proven veteran over an untested rookie, at least in the beginning of the season. Harris might go to your bench in the back half of the season, but he has week-in, week-out RB1 upside for the month or two. That alone makes him a great running back value in fantasy football.
Javonte Williams (RB44)
This one is admittedly not a fun pick to make, but Javonte Williams is the best dart throw you can find at this point in your draft. Fantasy football is all about chasing volume and hoping efficiency follows, and Williams has the best shot at winning the Cowboys starting job. While Williams probably won’t ever recapture his pre-injury form, Dallas just proved that you can plug a career special-teams player like Rico Dowdle into the RB1 spot and he can churn out a 1,000-yard season.
Tank Bigsby (RB52)
The Jacksonville Jaguars backfield is a mess, but Tank Bigsby is the safest bet of the bunch. Bigsby outplayed Etienne last year, and fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten will probably begin his career as a change-of-pace back. Bigsby doesn’t offer much as a receiver, but he’s an above-average runner between the tackles who could find the end zone consistently. Trevor Lawrence is a top-15 quarterback, Liam Coen is an above-average offensive mind, and the wide receiver duo of Brian Thomas Jr and first-round pick Travis Hunter has the potential to be a top-five unit. Bigsby should be the goal line back and could easily reach double-digit touchdowns in this offense.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images
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