Reality Check: So far, the 2025 NFL Draft Running Back Class Falls Short of Expectations
The numbers don’t lie. Three weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the highly touted rookie running back class is struggling to make an impact. Led by sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty and other highly drafted prospects, this group has produced underwhelming statistics that stand in stark contrast to the pre-draft hype that surrounded them.
Ashton Jeanty: The Struggling Star
The most glaring disappointment has been Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, who was selected sixth overall after a record-breaking college career at Boise State. Two games into his NFL career, Jeanty has looked pedestrian at best, gaining just 81 yards on his 30 carries (2.7 yards per attempt), scoring one rushing touchdown while managing only three yards on five receptions.
The 63 rushing yards did represent his best effort so far on the ground, but it was still far from a breakout performance for the sixth overall pick in the 2025 Draft. For context, Jeanty’s 2.7 yards per carry average is significantly below the NFL average and represents a dramatic fall from his college dominance.
Omarion Hampton: Struggling Against NFL Defenses
Carolina Panthers running back Omarion Hampton, another highly drafted rookie, has also faced early challenges. Hampton also didn’t have many holes to work with against a good Chiefs defense in Week 1, rushing for 48 yards on 15 carries. This 3.2 yards per carry performance against Kansas City highlighted the adjustment difficulties facing rookie running backs in the NFL.
Hampton, who ran for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns in his sophomore season and virtually replicated that season in 2024 when he ran for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns in college, is finding that college production doesn’t automatically translate to NFL success.
The Broader Picture: A Class-Wide Struggle
The struggles extend beyond just the top-drafted players. RJ Harvey has not had much of that, playing just 31 percent of the snaps and receiving 13 total touches. He is the secondary back on the ground behind established veterans, illustrating how difficult it is for rookies to break into meaningful roles.
Pre-Season Expectations vs. Reality
The disconnect between expectations and performance is particularly stark when comparing current results to pre-season projections. The Ohio State product paced this rookie RB class with a 7.1 yards per carry last season and was effective as both a rusher and receiver throughout his collegiate tenure. Yet translating that college success has proven challenging in the professional ranks.
Fantasy football projections painted an optimistic picture that hasn’t materialized. Projected stats: 241 carries for 1,099 yards, 9 TDs; 39 receptions for 331 yards, 2 TDs. Based on current pace, many of these rookies are nowhere close to reaching such projections.
Why the Struggles?
The Learning Curve Reality
“It’s a learning curve for everybody,” Auman said of Jeanty, highlighting how even the most talented college players face significant adjustments to NFL speed, scheme complexity, and defensive sophistication.
Limited Opportunity Structure
Many rookie running backs are finding themselves in backup roles or committee situations that limit their ability to build rhythm and accumulate statistics. The modern NFL’s preference for veteran reliability over rookie development is clearly impacting this class.
Defensive Evolution
NFL defenses have evolved significantly, and the gap between college and professional defensive speed and complexity appears to be affecting this rookie class more than previous years.
The Fantasy Football Impact
The poor early performance has had significant ramifications in fantasy football circles. Players who were drafted as potential impact rookies are sitting on benches or being dropped entirely. The disconnect between draft capital invested and production delivered has been particularly painful for fantasy managers who banked on immediate contributions.
Bright Spots: The Exception to the Rule
While the overall narrative has been disappointing, two rookies have managed to buck the trend and show real promise in their early NFL careers.
Quinshon Judkins: Cleveland’s Diamond in the Rough
Browns running back Quinshon Judkins rushed 18 times for 94 yards and a touchdown in Cleveland’s 13-10 win over the Packers on Sunday, providing the most encouraging performance from any rookie running back this season. The rookie played just 26% of the snaps in Week 2 but was effective with his touches, rushing 10 times for 66 yards in his NFL debut.
In his first NFL game, Quinshon Judkins played 26.4% of the snaps, finishing with 13 touches and 71 total yards. He had 50% of the running back carries and looked good with a 10% explosive run rate. What’s particularly encouraging is that Judkins has been listed as the team’s starting back on this week’s depth chart, suggesting Cleveland sees him as more than just a rotational piece.
Cam Skattebo: The Giants’ Fourth-Round Find
New York Giants fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo has also provided reasons for optimism. Skattebo carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught two of three targets for 14 yards in Sunday’s 40-37 overtime loss to the Cowboys. The 2025 fourth-round pick made a big statement in his second NFL game, producing a TD nearly single-handedly in the fourth quarter.
What makes Skattebo particularly intriguing is his well-rounded skill set. Skattebo’s 3.1 forced missed tackle rate last season was best in this class, as was his 15% target share and 11.1 yards per target. He’s not super-fast, but he has good size and a three-down skill set, which gives him a solid foundation for NFL success.
Looking for Signs of Life
These bright spots prove that not all rookie running backs are struggling equally. Jeanty stands a better chance of making an impact in Week 4 against a Bears defense that has been one of the worst units in the league, offering hope that favorable matchups might help unlock some of the talent that made these players attractive draft picks.
Historical Context
While rookie running back struggles aren’t unprecedented, the scale of underperformance from this particular class is notable given the pre-draft hype. The combination of high draft positions, significant fantasy investment, and underwhelming statistical output creates a particularly stark narrative.
The Road Ahead
With 14 games remaining in the regular season, there’s still time for this class to turn things around. However, the early returns suggest that either the pre-draft evaluations were overly optimistic, or the adjustment period for rookie running backs in today’s NFL has become more challenging than ever.
The 2025 rookie running back class serves as a reminder that college dominance and NFL success are two very different things. However, players like Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo demonstrate that with the right opportunity and skill set, rookies can still make immediate impacts. As these players continue to adapt to the professional level, their early struggles will either become a footnote to eventual success stories or a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of the draft process.
For now, the numbers tell a nuanced story: while the majority of the 2025 NFL Draft running back class has been a collective disappointment through the first three weeks of the season, there are encouraging signs that suggest not all hope is lost for this group.
(Aspiring NFL Writer | Children’s Author | Chicago Bears Devotee in Chiefs Territory)