Every year, a fresh crop of running backs storms into the NFL like kids showing up to college with a duffel bag full of dreams and zero clue where the cafeteria is. They’ve got the hype, the highlights, and just enough delusion to believe they’ll all be the next CMC. But let’s be real — talent is only half the battle. If you land behind a washed-up vet in a committee nightmare, your rookie season's going straight to the waiver wire.

That’s why the landing spot matters—a lot.

As we gear up for the 2025 NFL Draft, five teams stand out as fantasy goldmines — places where a rookie RB could walk in, plant their flag, and start racking up points while making us look like geniuses for drafting them. These teams have the draft capital, the roster holes, and just enough desperation to hand the keys to a fresh-legged rookie.

So grab your notebook, these are the five rookie RB landing spots that could turn “who?” into a “league-winner” by midseason.

Chicago Bears – Building a Committee with Firepower

New head coach Ben Johnson rolls into Chicago with a fresh playbook, a brain full of scheme wizardry, and a deep love for running-back-by-committee chaos. Think of him as a mad scientist who likes to stir the pot — and right now, that pot contains D’Andre Swift. But don’t get too comfortable, Swifties.

With premium picks at 10, 39, and 41, the Bears are sitting on a juicy opportunity to add a thunder to Swift’s lightning — or, if we’re being honest, maybe just a shinier, more talented player. This backfield is one top-50 pick away from a full-blown shakeup. If the Bears bite, whoever they draft could be riding shotgun in a much-improved offense… and fantasy managers should be circling this landing spot in bold red ink.

**Ashton Jeanty (Pick 10):** The most complete back in the class. Jeanty glides through lanes like he's on rails, with the vision to find daylight and the contact balance to finish runs like a vet. He can run inside, bounce it outside, catch passes like a slot receiver, and probably file your taxes if you asked nicely. In Ben Johnson’s system, he wouldn’t just fit — he’d thrive. Give him a few weeks, and Jeanty could be stealing touches, hearts, and D’Andre Swift’s job.
**Quinshon Judkins (Pick 39/41):** If the Bears pass on a back at 10, Judkins is a Round 2 sledgehammer waiting to be unleashed. He’s the kind of runner who turns 3-yard gains into 7-yard punishments. Add in sneaky-good hands and you’ve got a perfect lead dog for a rotational system. He won’t break every play wide-open, but he’ll break you by the fourth quarter. Ben Johnson would love this kind of reliable brutality.

Dallas Cowboys – Time to Fix the Run Game

Tony Pollard is gone, Ezekiel Elliott is a distant memory (and maybe still getting paid?), and right now the Cowboys’ backfield looks like that junk drawer you keep promising to clean out. Enter the perfect storm for a rookie to ride in on a star-spangled stallion and take over.

Jerry Jones loves a flashy pick, and with no true lead back, the Cowboys are practically begging for a fresh pair of legs. Drafting a rookie RB here wouldn’t just be smart — it’d be a marketing move. Slap a star on the helmet, throw the kid on a billboard, and let fantasy managers argue over whether he’s the next Emmitt Smith or just another Ronald Jones. Either way, the opportunity is prime rib.

**Kaleb Johnson (Pick 44):** If Jerry wants to bring swagger back to Dallas, this is the move. Kaleb Johnson runs like a storm breaking loose — explosive burst, smooth acceleration, and just enough contact power to make defenders question their career choices. He’s not a finesse guy, but he can dust a linebacker in the open field and finish through a safety. This is a low-cost, high-upside weapon built for primetime.
**Bhayshul Tuten (Pick 76):** Tuten doesn’t just bring juice — he brings hot sauce. This dude is a walking chunk play, with the burst to rip through arm tackles and the hands to line up like a third-down weapon. Tuten would be the perfect lightning bolt in a modern committee, flipping field position and flipping fantasy matchups in the blink of an eye. Jerry loves flash — and Tuten’s got it,

Los Angeles Chargers – Harbaugh Needs His Bell Cow

The depth chart’s thinner than Harbaugh’s patience for finesse football. With nothing but question marks in the backfield and a head coach who treats the run game like a religion, this spot is ripe for a rookie takeover. Expect an offense built around power runs, grit, and running backs who aren’t afraid to take a hit and deliver one right back.

For any rookie RB with toughness and vision, this is a golden opportunity to step in and get fed like it’s Thanksgiving every Sunday. There’s no RB1 here yet — just a big hole and a coach who’s gonna fill it.

**Omarion Hampton (Pick 22):** Downhill, powerful, and efficient — Hampton runs like a freight train with purpose. He’s exactly the kind of early-down enforcer Harbaugh forged his Michigan identity around. Vision? Check. Pad level? Nasty. Legs? Always churning. He doesn’t dance — he delivers punishment. Drop him into this Chargers offense and he’s immediately the tone-setter, the short-yardage weapon, and the guy who makes DBs start business decisions by the second quarter.
**Devin Neal (Pick 86):** Devin Neal is the kind of back who doesn't need a hype reel to prove he belongs. He sees the field like a vet, hits the hole with purpose, and does all the little things that keep offensive coordinators sleeping easy. You won’t find him on a lot of TikTok highlights — you’ll find him on the field every down because he just doesn’t mess up. In a Harbaugh system that values precision and consistency, Neal could quietly carve out a significant role. Fantasy value? Boring on paper — annoying as hell for your league mates when he’s putting up 14 points every week.

Denver Broncos – A Clean Slate

Javonte Williams was supposed to be the guy. Then came the injuries, the inconsistency, and a whole lot of “meh.” Sean Payton’s offense is sputtering like an old lawnmower, and he knows it. You don’t spend your days coaching Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara just to sit back and roll out RB purgatory.

With a gaping hole in the backfield and a coach who knows how to feed an RB, the Broncos are ripe for a rookie takeover. This is a team that could easily invest early capital in a do-it-all back and use them. In Payton’s world, you block, you catch, you run — and if you do it well, you get fed. A rookie here could quietly become a top-15 RB by Halloween.

**TreVeyon Henderson (Pick 20):** TreVeyon brings big-play electricity and that rare blend of burst, balance, and big-game polish. He’s not built for grind-it-out slogs — he’s built to flip the field in a flash. And while injuries have knocked some shine off his profile, he’s still got that home run gear you can’t teach. In Denver, he’d be the spark plug this offense desperately needs. Payton knows how to scheme for this archetype — think Kamara-lite, with more straight-line juice. If TreVeyon lands here and stays healthy, we’re talking instant fantasy relevance with RB1 weeks baked in.
**LeQuint Allen (Pick 85):** One of the best pass-catching backs in the class, Allen brings poise, vision, and that silky third-down polish coaches dream about. He’s not here to win a bruiser contest — he’s here to break ankles, move chains, and make linebackers look lost in coverage. If Denver wants versatility over violence, Allen is the answer. He’s got the all-purpose game to anchor a modern backfield, especially in a Sean Payton offense that values intelligence, timing, and clean execution. Think less sledgehammer, more scalpel — and in today’s NFL, that might just be the better weapon.

Kansas City Chiefs – Reloading for Another Run

Every year, we ask the same question: What if the Chiefs drafted a real RB? Not a timeshare guy. Not a gadget back. But a true, fantasy-devouring monster. Isiah Pacheco is fun, but even the Chiefs seem unsure how to use him long-term. KC has the luxury to take a big swing on an explosive rookie RB and let Mahomes’ gravity do the rest. Imagine a rookie with actual juice lining up next to the best QB in football. That’s not just a dream — it’s a potential league-winner. If the Chiefs go all-in, this backfield turns into fantasy Disneyland overnight.

Here’s what to consider …

**Cameron Skattebo (Pick 66):** Skattebo doesn’t care about your analytics. He’s here to hurt feelings, break tackles, and pick up first downs like it’s a personal vendetta. Built like a bouncer with ballet feet, Skattebo brings a violent, downhill style that still manages to look weirdly nimble. He doesn’t run so much as barrel forward with intention — and usually, someone’s helmet pops off. Drop him into Kansas City and he becomes the chaos agent in the most unpredictable offense in football. Imagine Mahomes flipping a no-look shovel to Skattebo, who then stiff-arms a linebacker into another timeline. It might not be clean, but it would be glorious. He’s the wildcard that somehow works — especially with a play-caller like Andy Reid pulling the strings.
**Trevor Etienne (Pick 95):** Etienne plays like he’s got a joystick in his head — sudden, calculated, and always one move ahead. He’s got elite processing between the tackles, slippery acceleration, and just enough pop to keep defenders honest. Add in sure hands and a career drop rate under 2%, and you've got a back that never takes your offense off schedule. In Kansas City, he’d be the ultimate cheat code. Defenses already stretched thin trying to track Mahomes and Kelce would now have to account for a back who can shift from patient runner to human missile in a split second. Etienne doesn’t need 20 carries — just a crack in the armor. And with Andy Reid calling plays? He’s getting it.

Final Thoughts

Each of these five teams is more than just a good fit — they’re launchpads. For the right rookie, these landing spots could turn potential into production real fast. Whether you're an NFL junkie hunting for breakout stars or a dynasty manager trying to draft your way to glory, these are the backfields to watch when the clock starts ticking in April.

Because opportunity matters. And when talent meets the right situation?

That’s how legends — and league-winners — are born.

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