May 28, 2025 • 7 mins
These are the MUST-HAVE breakout running backs you need to draft in 2025 fantasy football! Whether you're playing redraft, best ball, or dynasty, these RBs are primed to explode based on talent, opportunity, and offensive situation. We’re diving into names like Kenneth Walker, RJ Harvey, and a few deep sleepers who could win you your league if you draft them at the right value. Don't miss out on the breakout wave!
🌐 For more player rankings and sleeper picks, visit 👉 www.fffaceoff.com 👈
🌐 For more player rankings and sleeper picks, visit 👉 www.fffaceoff.com 👈
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
What's up, guys. I'm Mernie. I'm back with the Face
Off Sports Network, and today we're gonna dive into three
of my biggest RB breakouts for the twenty twenty five season.
Let's jump right in. First, guy, we got my boy,
Kenny Walker. So, Kenny Walker is entering year three and
he's still only twenty four years old. He has flashed
(00:21):
some serious upside in the past, despite splitting carriers or
dealing with some nagging injuries, right, and honestly, it feels
like if these injuries, you know, weren't in his way,
it's really the only thing truly holding him back. And
kind of what I mean by that is is, if
you know, you average out his fantasy points per game
last season and you stretch it out over a seventeen
(00:42):
game season, he would have scored two hundred and eighty
PPR Fantasy points and that would have made him last
year's RB seven. So that would have had him higher
than guys like Kyra Williams, James Cook, Alvin Kamara, Chase Brown,
James Connor, Jonathan Taylor, and Bucky Irvin. PFF grade was
a ninety one point two that was elite. It actually
(01:04):
ranked him the third highest rusher in the entire league,
So he absolutely possesses some elite upside his passing game.
That was his passing game, uses was really his biggest law,
especially in his first two seasons. But last year with Grubb,
you saw an uptick in that. So he was targeted
(01:24):
fifty three times at eleven games last year, and he
posted a twenty four target per route run rate, and
I was tying him with top tier receiving backs like
Bucky Irving. Expect to see more of the same with Kubiak.
You know, the Seahawks have also been beefing up their
offensive line. They took offensive lineman in the second round
(01:45):
last year. They took Gray Zabel in the first round
this year, who I thought was the best interior lineman
in the entire draft. And they also drafted a two
hundred and seventy pounds full back from Alabama in the
fifth round. So they're gearing up to really run the football.
And you could see that because you know, in Clint
Kubiak's offense, running backs have thrived. His coaching tree is
(02:09):
known for featuring running backs and outside zone concepts. So
Kubiak's offense has produced our Fantasy RB one finishes in
Fantasy RB ten, so they get and they also average
a twelve point seven percent target share, which is awesome
for PPR. So I think if Kenny Walker stays healthy
this year, he is in for a massive, massive breakout.
(02:33):
Moving on to our second player is Omarion Hampton. So
Omarian Hampton is one of my favorite rookies. I may
be too high on him, but I just feel like
there's so much to like in this situation. First of all,
I couldn't ask for a better landing spot. Yeah, I know,
they signed Naji Harris, and I'm a Naji Harris fan.
I think he is a very good football player, a
(02:54):
very solid football player. But I think we know what
Nause's upside is and I thought it was in They
signed him before the draft, and they signed him to
a one year deal. I think that was insurance just
in case, you know, if the board fell a certain
way and they didn't get a running back they love.
Now they have a guy that could easily carry the
ball thirty times a game and rush for one thousand yards.
(03:16):
Because you know, you saw what they have. They have JK.
Dobbs and Gus Edwards, who are pretty injury prone and
for what Harborough did with those two backs last year
was really really impressive. So I think nause is more
of an insurance just to you know, keep that smash
mouth identity going. Whether they didn't land the running back
or the running back they draft gets hurt, right, that
could always happen. So you look at the Chargers makeup right,
(03:39):
they have one of the best young tackle tandems in
the NFL with Joe Alt and Slater that probably, you know,
you can make an argument that that is the best,
but I would still take my a lot in Lane Johnson.
But this is very elite. Now their running back, their
offensive line is a top ten unit in the NFL
and it's very young. So, like I said, Harboro is
(04:01):
gonna play smash mouth football. He's absolutely going to pound
the ball this year. Omarion Hampton's play style if you
watch him in college, man, he's a violent downhill runner
and it really reminds me a lot of Nick Chubb,
which is why I love this landing spot and a
fun nugget. Harboro recruited him to Michigan, right, but obviously
(04:23):
that didn't happen. He went to Chapel Hill but now
they reunite in the NFL. So Harboro lands his guy.
Thank you Ryan for that nugget. And again, this guy
he has workhourt size. He had the second most yards
after contact in the entire draft. His RADS score was
top forty five of all time dating back to nineteen
eighty seven. I would not leave drafts without him. I'm
(04:45):
still smashing him in redraft despite nause. I think the
upside is worth the gamble. His dynasty outlook is completely
elite right now, as you only signed a one year contract.
And again, you know, we know what the Chargers are
going to try to do. They spent a first round
pick on this kid. I think at worst you see
a fifty to fifty split with Najee and Hampton, and
(05:06):
Hampton eventually just running away with that job. And honestly,
if this kid does out the gate, let's say best
case scenario, he gets a full workload, he will absolutely
challenge Aston genty for top running back of this class
when the year is over. And our last player for
(05:27):
must draft running backs having a breakout season is RJ. Harvey.
So I think r J. Harvey is going to be
the steal of fantasy drafts. The Broncos drafted him in
the second round, and now you insert him into an
ascending offense ran by Sean Payton. He's gonna take over
Sean Payne's joker role. This was the same role Alan
(05:48):
Kamara had back in Sean Payton's New Orleans Day. So
this is an awesome, very fantasy friendly role to have,
and this was an elite landing spot. RJ. Harvey was
a act that I love. Through the whole predraft process.
I watched a lot of him at UCF. He is
a very underrated running back. You know, a lot of
people think he's small. He's not small at all. He's
(06:09):
a great pass catcher. He has an amazing vision. So
this was literally one of the best landing spots for him.
You know, a lot of people think he's undersized, but
he's actually pretty much the same size as Ashton Gent
and in my opinion, he had the best vision of
any running back in this class. His elite pass catching
sal is gonna go perfectly with the Broncos. For instance,
(06:32):
the Broncos running backs last year were fourth and RB
targets last season. And let me tell you, RGIE Harvey
is electric when he comes out of the backfield and
catching the ball, so he's gonna be Sean Paynes do
it all back. The hype is definitely real. He has
a smash pick in every format, especially PPR. And that's
all I got for you today. Guys, thanks for joining us.
(06:54):
I would strongly suggest drafting these running backs. They're going
to help you win your fantasy leagues. Luck
What's up, guys. I'm Mernie. I'm back with the Face
Off Sports Network, and today we're gonna dive into three
of my biggest RB breakouts for the twenty twenty five season.
Let's jump right in. First, guy, we got my boy,
Kenny Walker. So, Kenny Walker is entering year three and
he's still only twenty four years old. He has flashed
(00:21):
some serious upside in the past, despite splitting carriers or
dealing with some nagging injuries, right, and honestly, it feels
like if these injuries, you know, weren't in his way,
it's really the only thing truly holding him back. And
kind of what I mean by that is is, if
you know, you average out his fantasy points per game
last season and you stretch it out over a seventeen
(00:42):
game season, he would have scored two hundred and eighty
PPR Fantasy points and that would have made him last
year's RB seven. So that would have had him higher
than guys like Kyra Williams, James Cook, Alvin Kamara, Chase Brown,
James Connor, Jonathan Taylor, and Bucky Irvin. PFF grade was
a ninety one point two that was elite. It actually
(01:04):
ranked him the third highest rusher in the entire league,
So he absolutely possesses some elite upside his passing game.
That was his passing game, uses was really his biggest law,
especially in his first two seasons. But last year with Grubb,
you saw an uptick in that. So he was targeted
(01:24):
fifty three times at eleven games last year, and he
posted a twenty four target per route run rate, and
I was tying him with top tier receiving backs like
Bucky Irving. Expect to see more of the same with Kubiak.
You know, the Seahawks have also been beefing up their
offensive line. They took offensive lineman in the second round
(01:45):
last year. They took Gray Zabel in the first round
this year, who I thought was the best interior lineman
in the entire draft. And they also drafted a two
hundred and seventy pounds full back from Alabama in the
fifth round. So they're gearing up to really run the football.
And you could see that because you know, in Clint
Kubiak's offense, running backs have thrived. His coaching tree is
(02:09):
known for featuring running backs and outside zone concepts. So
Kubiak's offense has produced our Fantasy RB one finishes in
Fantasy RB ten, so they get and they also average
a twelve point seven percent target share, which is awesome
for PPR. So I think if Kenny Walker stays healthy
this year, he is in for a massive, massive breakout.
(02:33):
Moving on to our second player is Omarion Hampton. So
Omarian Hampton is one of my favorite rookies. I may
be too high on him, but I just feel like
there's so much to like in this situation. First of all,
I couldn't ask for a better landing spot. Yeah, I know,
they signed Naji Harris, and I'm a Naji Harris fan.
I think he is a very good football player, a
(02:54):
very solid football player. But I think we know what
Nause's upside is and I thought it was in They
signed him before the draft, and they signed him to
a one year deal. I think that was insurance just
in case, you know, if the board fell a certain
way and they didn't get a running back they love.
Now they have a guy that could easily carry the
ball thirty times a game and rush for one thousand yards.
(03:16):
Because you know, you saw what they have. They have JK.
Dobbs and Gus Edwards, who are pretty injury prone and
for what Harborough did with those two backs last year
was really really impressive. So I think nause is more
of an insurance just to you know, keep that smash
mouth identity going. Whether they didn't land the running back
or the running back they draft gets hurt, right, that
could always happen. So you look at the Chargers makeup right,
(03:39):
they have one of the best young tackle tandems in
the NFL with Joe Alt and Slater that probably, you know,
you can make an argument that that is the best,
but I would still take my a lot in Lane Johnson.
But this is very elite. Now their running back, their
offensive line is a top ten unit in the NFL
and it's very young. So, like I said, Harboro is
(04:01):
gonna play smash mouth football. He's absolutely going to pound
the ball this year. Omarion Hampton's play style if you
watch him in college, man, he's a violent downhill runner
and it really reminds me a lot of Nick Chubb,
which is why I love this landing spot and a
fun nugget. Harboro recruited him to Michigan, right, but obviously
(04:23):
that didn't happen. He went to Chapel Hill but now
they reunite in the NFL. So Harboro lands his guy.
Thank you Ryan for that nugget. And again, this guy
he has workhourt size. He had the second most yards
after contact in the entire draft. His RADS score was
top forty five of all time dating back to nineteen
eighty seven. I would not leave drafts without him. I'm
(04:45):
still smashing him in redraft despite nause. I think the
upside is worth the gamble. His dynasty outlook is completely
elite right now, as you only signed a one year contract.
And again, you know, we know what the Chargers are
going to try to do. They spent a first round
pick on this kid. I think at worst you see
a fifty to fifty split with Najee and Hampton, and
(05:06):
Hampton eventually just running away with that job. And honestly,
if this kid does out the gate, let's say best
case scenario, he gets a full workload, he will absolutely
challenge Aston genty for top running back of this class
when the year is over. And our last player for
(05:27):
must draft running backs having a breakout season is RJ. Harvey.
So I think r J. Harvey is going to be
the steal of fantasy drafts. The Broncos drafted him in
the second round, and now you insert him into an
ascending offense ran by Sean Payton. He's gonna take over
Sean Payne's joker role. This was the same role Alan
(05:48):
Kamara had back in Sean Payton's New Orleans Day. So
this is an awesome, very fantasy friendly role to have,
and this was an elite landing spot. RJ. Harvey was
a act that I love. Through the whole predraft process.
I watched a lot of him at UCF. He is
a very underrated running back. You know, a lot of
people think he's small. He's not small at all. He's
(06:09):
a great pass catcher. He has an amazing vision. So
this was literally one of the best landing spots for him.
You know, a lot of people think he's undersized, but
he's actually pretty much the same size as Ashton Gent
and in my opinion, he had the best vision of
any running back in this class. His elite pass catching
sal is gonna go perfectly with the Broncos. For instance,
(06:32):
the Broncos running backs last year were fourth and RB
targets last season. And let me tell you, RGIE Harvey
is electric when he comes out of the backfield and
catching the ball, so he's gonna be Sean Paynes do
it all back. The hype is definitely real. He has
a smash pick in every format, especially PPR. And that's
all I got for you today. Guys, thanks for joining us.
(06:54):
I would strongly suggest drafting these running backs. They're going
to help you win your fantasy leagues. Luck
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