2025 NFL Fantasy Football Season Insights
Welcome to the 2025 NFL fantasy football season! There’s a mix of excitement, a bit of heartbreak, and, well, sometimes just some uncomfortable moments. The fantasy draft is underway, and there’s still time to gather info before making those crucial choices. Today, let’s dive into the running back position—the lifeblood of any NFL team.
The cut-down day has passed, and the practice squads are full. It’s really crucial to understand the depth charts across the league at this point. Of course, injuries often complicate things, so let’s explore some injury issues that might affect your roster as we head into week one.
Mixon is dealing with a foot injury and is on the non-football injury list to kick off the season. And if it were that straightforward… well, it isn’t. There isn’t much solid information available—about his recovery timeline or whether he’ll even play this season. Unless you have an IR slot, Mixon really isn’t draftable right now. His backup, Nick Chubb, hasn’t truly shown he can handle the lead role after facing injuries in Cleveland. However, he does have some value in standard leagues compared to PPR. Rookie Woody Marks could also be a contender, but he’s had a shaky start and hasn’t made a strong case so far. I think he might be worth a late-round pick, especially in PPR formats.
Then there’s Spears, who’s dealing with a high ankle sprain and is likely to miss the first four games. There was a lot of hype around him in the offseason as a potential breakout, but we saw a similar narrative last year, and it was Tony Pollard who stepped up. Pollard’s performance last year while Spears was sidelined really sets him up for an even more significant role this time around, especially with a strong quarterback in play.
De’von Achane/Jaylen Wright, Dolphins
Achane has a calf injury but might still be able to play in week one. Wright, on the other hand, has a leg issue that could keep him out, though he’s not on the pup list, which is a plus. So generally, you shouldn’t count on him missing extensive time.
Achane relies on his speed, so the team is likely going to be cautious with him. If he plays in week one, we can hope he’s at full strength. These circumstances open the door for rookie Ollie Gordon, who has been getting some early work and could be a valuable late-round pick if he keeps earning opportunities as the season starts.
Lastly, Harris has been removed from the NFI list and is set to play in week one after missing all of training camp with an eye injury. This situation might complicate things for Omarion Hampton, the rookie who’s been given a significant amount of work thus far. Hampton is definitely seen as a future cornerstone for the position, yet Harris was brought in to alleviate some of that pressure on him. Still, given Harris’s unfortunate injury history from July 4th, Hampton will likely lead the way through training camp and preseason. If he performs well, there’s little reason for Harris to take too many touches, except perhaps in a backup role.
