Top 2025 CFF Running Backs: Your Ultimate Rankings & Tiered Guide

I’m back with my 2025 running back guide for your College Fantasy Football drafts! I’ve organized players into tiers based on their overall value in the order I’ve evaluated them after digging into their roles, offensive systems, and projected stats. I’m using standard CFF scoring (1 point per 10 rushing/receiving yards, 6 points per TD) to help you find your RB1s, flex plays, and deep league sleepers. Let’s dive into my rankings and tiers, I’m so excited to share these with you!

Tier 1: Elite CFF RB1s

These are my top 20 RBs, the cream of the crop with massive volume, TD upside, and receiving skills in high powered offenses.

1. Desmond Reid (Pittsburgh)

2. Darius Taylor (Minnesota)

3. Anthony Hankerson (Oregon State)

4. LJ Martin (BYU)

5. Makhi Hughes (Oregon)

6. Dylan Edwards (Kansas State)

7. Al-Jay Henderson (Buffalo)

8. Bryson Washington (Baylor)

9. Jalen Buckley (Western Michigan)

10. Sieh Bangura (Ohio)

11. Quintin Joyner (Texas Tech)

12. Bryson Donelson (Fresno State)

13. Nicholas Singleton (Penn State)

14. Jamal Haynes (Georgia Tech)

15. DeaMonte Trayanum (Toledo)

16. Caden Durham (LSU)

17. Jam Miller (Alabama)

18. Dean Connors (Houston)

19. Nathaniel Frazier (Georgia)

20. Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)

Desmond Reid: I’ve got Reid at Pittsburgh for my top spot in Tier 1. I project 1,500 total yards and 12 TDs in Pitt’s run first offense under Kade Bell, giving him a 20+ point floor that makes him a must start every week.

Darius Taylor: Taylor at Minnesota is my No. 2 RB, he’s an elite talent. I see 1,500 total yards and 12 TDs in Minnesota’s offense, giving him a 20+ point floor with big play potential in the Big Ten.

Anthony Hankerson: Hankerson at Oregon State takes the No. 3 spot in my Tier 1. I project 1,400 total yards and 10 TDs as the lead back, giving him a 20 point floor in the Beavers’ run heavy system.

LJ Martin: Martin at BYU is at No. 4, still an elite RB1. His 2023 freshman stats (517 yards, 4 TDs in limited play) show his potential, and I project 1,500 rushing yards, 300 receiving, and 15+ TDs in BYU’s run heavy offense, giving him a 20-25 point floor weekly.

Bryson Donelson: Donelson at Fresno State is a surprise to be in my Tier 1. He’s a sleeper that will explode this year, I see 1,400 total yards and 10 TDs in Fresno’s balanced attack, giving him a 20 point floor with big upside against Mountain West defenses.

Tier 2: High-End RB1s

These are my next 35 RBs (ranks 21-55), guys who can be RB1s on your roster with strong production and upside.

21. Sire Gaines (Boise State)

22. Robert Henry (UT San Antonio)

23. Damien Taylor (Ole Miss)

24. Braylen Russell (Arkansas)

25. Daniel Hishaw Jr. (Kansas)

26. Ismail Mahdi (Arizona)

27. Carson Hansen (Iowa State)

28. Kamari Moulton (Iowa)

29. Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M)

30. Jadon Baugh (Florida)

31. Davion Gause (North Carolina)

32. CJ Baxter Jr. (Texas)

33. Mark Fletcher Jr. (Miami)

34. Duke Watson (Louisville)

35. George Pettaway (James Madison)

36. Eli Sanders (USC)

37. Kentrell Bullock (South Alabama)

38. Arnold Barnes (Tulane)

39. Terion Stewart (Virginia Tech)

40. Kyson Brown (Arizona State)

41. Kaytron Allen (Penn State)

42. Malik Sherrod (Boise State)

43. Rahsul Faison (South Carolina)

44. Floyd Chalk IV (San José State)

45. Rashad Amos (Memphis)

46. Shomari Lawrence (Missouri State)

47. Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)

48. Adam Randall (Clemson)

49. Jo’Nathan Silver (Delaware)

50. Davon Jackson (UAB)

51. Tre Wisner (Texas)

52. Yasin Willis (Syracuse)

53. Justice Haynes (Michigan)

54. Jonah Coleman (Washington)

55. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)

56. Isaac Brown (Louisville)

57. Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss)

58. Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma)

Sire Gaines: I’ve got Gaines at Boise State kicking off my Tier 2, he’s a high-end RB1. I project 1,200 total yards and 10 TDs in Boise’s run heavy offense, giving him a 15-18 point floor that makes him a great anchor for your roster.

Damien Taylor: Taylor at Ole Miss (after transferring from Troy) is a Tier 2 guy I’m excited about. I initially projected 1,200 total yards and 10 TDs at Troy, but now at Ole Miss, I’m adjusting to 1,000 total yards and 8 TDs in a shared backfield with Kewan Lacy, still giving him a 15 point floor in Lane Kiffin’s high powered offense.

Tre Wisner: Wisner at Texas is in my Tier, he’s still a high-end RB1. I’m projecting 1,000 total yards and 10 TDs, giving him a 15-18 point floor in Texas’ offense.

Jaydn Ott: Ott at Oklahoma is in my Tier 2, he’s a star transfer. After 1,300 yards at Cal in 2023, I project 1,200 total yards and 9 TDs in OU’s balanced attack, giving him a 15 point floor with upside in Big 12 matchups.

Tier 3: Reliable RB2s with Upside

These are my next 29 RBs (ranks 56-84) guys who can deliver RB2 numbers and occasionally pop off, great for flex spots or deeper leagues.

56. Jaheim White (West Virginia)

57. Jalen Thomas (UNLV)

58. Elijah Green (Sam Houston State)

59. Harrison Waylee (Wyoming)

60. Wayshawn Parker (Utah)

61. Waymond Jordan (USC)

62. Justin Marshall (Colorado State)

63. Tawee Walker (Cincinnati)

64. Vaughn Blue (Liberty)

65. CJ Donaldson (Ohio State)

66. Rueben Owens (Texas A&M)

67. Kaden Feagin (Illinois)

68. Cam Cook (Jacksonville State)

69. Dante Dowdell (Kentucky)

70. Antwan Raymond (Rutgers)

71. Donald Chaney Jr. (Charlotte)

72. Roman Hemby (Indiana)

73. Ja’Quez Cross (Arkansas State)

74. Nolan Ray (Maryland)

75. Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma)

76. Myles Montgomery (UCF)

77. DeSean Bishop (Tennessee)

78. CJ Campbell (Rutgers)

79. Evan Pryor (Cincinnati)

80. Noah Whittington (Oregon)

81. Davon Booth (Mississippi State)

82. J’Koby Williams (Texas Tech)

83. Jaden Nixon (UCF)

84. Parker Jenkins (East Carolina)

85.Taji Atkins (Rice)

86. Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)

Jaheim White: I’m starting my Tier 3 with White at West Virginia, he’s a reliable RB2. I project 1,000 total yards and 7 TDs in WVU’s balanced offense, giving him a 12-15 point floor with upside in Big 12 matchups.

Donald Chaney Jr.: Chaney Jr. at Charlotte is at rank 71 in my order, fitting into Tier 3. I project 1,000 total yards and 7 TDs in the AAC, giving him a 12-15 point floor with upside against teams like Rice.

Taji Atkins: Atkins at Rice is at rank 85. I project 900 total yards and 5 TDs in Rice’s offense, making him a 12 point flex play in favorable AAC matchups.

Emmett Johnson: Johnson at Nebraska is in Tier 3, he’s a solid RB2. I’m projecting 1,000 total yards and 7 TDs, giving him a 12-15 point floor in the Big Ten.

Tier 4: Situational RB2s/Flex Plays

These are my final 11 RBs (ranks 85-94) matchup dependent options to stream in favorable games, but they come with some volatility.

85. Star Thomas (Tennessee)

86. Darrion Dupree (Wisconsin)

87. Daylan Smothers (NC State)

88. Kanye Udoh (Arizona State)

89. Jordan Marshall (Michigan)

90. Telly Johnson (Northern Illinois)

91. Jordan Nubin (Kent State)

92. Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)

93. Jordan Lyle (Miami)

94. James Peoples (Ohio State)

Star Thomas: I’m kicking off my Tier 4 with Thomas at Tennessee at rank 85, he’s a situational RB2. I project 800 total yards and 5 TDs in Tennessee’s offense, making him a 10 point streamer against weaker SEC defenses.

Darrion Dupree: Dupree at Wisconsin is at rank 86 in my order, fitting into Tier 4. I project 1,000 total yards and 7 TDs as a rotational back, giving him a 10-12 point floor in favorable matchups.

James Peoples: Peoples at Ohio State is at rank 94, making him a Tier 4 guy. I project 600 total yards and 4 TDs if he gets touches, making him a 10 point option in the right matchups.

---

This 2025 CFF running back guide has 95 players with my top picks like Desmond Reid and Darius Taylor as your must have RB1s! Tier 2 guys like Damien Taylor (at Ole Miss) and Jaydn Ott (at Oklahoma) offer high end production, while Tier 3 options like Jaheim White and Emmett Johnson are reliable flex plays. My Tier 4 guys like Darrion Dupree and James Peoples are perfect for streaming or deep league stashes. Some RBs might see role changes depending on spring need so stay flexible. Drop a comment below, I’d love to chat CFF with you! Until next time let’s keep the Championship dreams alive one step at a time.