Running backs are always popular in fantasy football drafts, but the wrong one can ruin your fantasy season. Think twice before adding any of these three ball-carriers to your roster. (Stats and rankings via Yahoo Sports)
Breece Hall | New York Jets
Despite averaging 4.6 yards per carry in three years with the Jets, Hall has yet to rush for 1,000 yards or more than five touchdowns in a single season. He also had a career-high five fumbles in 2024, something that could lead to more playing time for second-year running back Braelon Allen.
Fortunately for Hall, his pass-catching ability has kept him on the field with 1,292 yards and eight receiving touchdowns in his career. Unfortunately, new quarterback Justin Fields isn’t much of a passer, but his rushing ability should be a legitimate concern for Hall owners.
Fields has 2,509 yards and 19 scores on the ground in 50 games, something that could further limit the running back’s goal-line opportunities. In PPR leagues, Hall is fine as a mid-to-late-round option, but in standard leagues, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker or Chargers’ rookie Omarion Hampton could hold more value with fourth-round ADPs.
RJ Harvey | Denver Broncos
Harvey entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a mid-round grade before being selected 60th overall by Denver, who received only 513 yards from leading rusher Javonte Williams and 496 yards from former undrafted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin in 2024.
Williams signed with the Cowboys in the offseason, which would have spelled plenty of carries for Harvey had the team not signed running back J.K. Dobbins six weeks later. A second-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, injuries limited Dobbins to just nine games from 2021-2023 but rebounded by averaging 4.6 yards per carry for 908 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games with the Chargers last season.
Harvey received the bulk of carries in the team’s first preseason game against the 49ers on Saturday, running for 25 yards on seven carries with one catch for four yards. At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, Harvey is shorter than the average NFL running back and at 24 years old, he’s only two years younger than Dobbins.
Talented as he may be, Harvey’s fifth-round ADP is a bit high with options like Arizona’s James Conner and Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard likely on the board in most drafts.
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