Re-Ranking Ashton Jeanty, 2nd-Year NFL RBs After Week 6

The 2025 NFL draft was a good one for teams needing a running back—or so it seemed.

In last year's draft, two running backs were selected in the first round, with two more taken in the top 40. Over two dozen backs were drafted overall. The class appeared to offer everything: an elite prospect in Ashton Jeanty, high-end talent and considerable depth.

So far, though, the class has not lived up to those expectations.

Some backs from the Class of 2025 have impressed, at least in stretches. Arguably, the biggest flashes have come from the fourth-to-last running back selected. But the class has yet to produce a clear star, and questions remain about nearly every back in the group.

Now, just over 20 weeks of NFL action isn't enough of a sample size to pass final judgment on those young runners' careers. But what we can do is take what we've seen so far and re-rank those backs based on talent, production and potential.

This top 10 looks considerably different from the original draft order.

When the Miami Dolphins used a sixth-round pick on Ollie Gordon II last year, expectations were modest.

Maybe Gordon could become something of a "thunder" complement to De'Von Achane's "lightning" in the backfield, but no one expected Gordon to be the lead back in Miami's backfield.

But that was before Achane tore his ACL. Now, it's Gordon's backfield for the rest of the season.

To be clear, Miami's offense has struggled overall. The Dolphins rank 28th in yards per game but ninth in rushing yards per game, and Gordon has contributed to that success.

The Oklahoma State product has averaged 5.0 yards per carry, recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings and scored a touchdown in three straight games.

If that continues the rest of the season, Gordon is going to have a role in the Dolphins offense in 2027—even with Achane back on the field.

9. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a great story last year—the seventh-round pick out of Arizona who went from being the last running back drafted to starting seven games for the Washington Commanders as a rookie.

In his first career start last year against the Los Angeles Chargers, the 5'11", 208-pounder carried the ball 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. By the end of that first season, he had surpassed 800 yards on the ground, averaged a respectable 4.6 yards per carry and found the end zone eight times.

Things haven't gone as well in 2026. His yards per attempt have dropped by a full yard, and he is currently on injured reserve with a groin injury. He has also offered little as a receiver, with just 14 career receptions.

But Croskey-Merritt has shown he can at least be part of a committee attack in the backfield as a between-the-tackles grinder.

Not that long ago, Cam Skattebo would have ranked far higher on this list.

After showing some flashes as a rookie, the 2025 fourth-rounder entered Year 2 as the lead back for a young and exciting Giants offense.

Many expected a breakout 2026 season from Skattebo, but his ball-security struggles have complicated that outlook.

Ball security hasn't been his only concern; his rushing efficiency has also declined. In five starts as a rookie, he had two games with at least 100 total yards, scored five touchdowns and averaged 4.1 yards per carry.

In six games this year, Skattebo has one 100-yard performance and one touchdown while averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Ball security has also been a concern, and he received no touches in Week 6.

R.J. Harvey of the Denver Broncos is one of the harder backs to slot on this list.

On one hand, Harvey has played relatively well to this point in his NFL career. He averaged only 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie but finished with almost 900 total yards and 12 touchdowns, taking over as Denver's lead back after J.K. Dobbins got hurt. He's an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and there's an argument that he's the best back on the Broncos' roster.

But Harvey's usage suggests Broncos head coach Sean Payton doesn't view him as an every-down back. He has never had 20 carries in a game, and while his yards-per-carry average is up slightly from last season, it remains underwhelming.

Harvey's NFL future appears to be as a passing-down and change-of-pace back, so it's hard to rank him any higher than this.

When the Cleveland Browns drafted Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins early in Round 2 last year, the expectation was that he would quickly become a reliable, productive every-down back. He demonstrated that skill set with both the Buckeyes and Ole Miss.

However, returns so far have been mixed.

There have been bright spots—chief among them a 23-carry, 110-yard effort against the Minnesota Vikings last year. Cleveland's offensive line has also struggled, but Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry before breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle last season.

This year, the 22-year-old has struggled to generate explosive gains, averaging just three yards per carry.

Judkins still has the talent to run between the tackles, get outside and contribute as a receiver. For now, though, his production has fallen short of expectations.

Some may be surprised to see Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai ranked this high. But a few years from now, he could be viewed as the biggest running back steal of the 2025 NFL draft.

Monangai may be behind D'Andre Swift on Chicago's depth chart for now, but he has already demonstrated the ability to carry a run game.

In the season opener, Monangai had 100 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. In a Week 4 win over the New York Jets, he had a whopping 30 carries for 146 yards and a pair of scores.

Mind you, this came after a rookie season in which the Rutgers product averaged over five yards per touch, flirted with 950 total yards and scored five touchdowns.

Monangai is averaging a gaudy 5.4 yards per carry this season, and his 2.6 yards after contact per attempt is tied for fourth in the NFL.

His production supports a higher ranking than his draft position might suggest.

In his second season, Bhayshul Tuten appears to be coming into his own with the in-form Jacksonville Jaguars.

After relatively modest numbers as a rookie, the 23-year-old is taking advantage of a larger role with the Jags. He's averaging 4.1 yards per carry, chipping in 9.7 yards per reception and has found the end zone four times in six games. At his current pace, he would end his second professional season with over 1,450 total yards.

At 5'9" and 209 pounds, Tuten isn't the biggest back, but he runs with power. He currently ranks sixth in the league in both yards after contact per attempt (2.5) and broken tackles (8).

The Jaguars may be using Tuten as part of a two-headed backfield with between-the-tackles bruiser Chris Rodriguez Jr., but Tuten has shown the talent and versatility to be a lead back. He's also playing a major role for a Super Bowl contender.

3. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Omarion Hampton has had little opportunity to establish a rhythm.

When the 23-year-old was drafted 22nd overall last year, it was with the expectation that he would be the Chargers' lead back from the jump. He was widely considered a first-round talent after a wildly productive two-season stretch at North Carolina.

An ankle injury sidelined Hampton for almost half his rookie season, but he was effective when available. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry, scored five touchdowns and contributed just under 82 total yards per game.

Then 2026 rolled around, and the wheels came off.

The winless Chargers are a mess, and Mike McDaniel's decision to use a three-back committee has done little to help Hampton find his groove.

Hampton has exceeded 15 carries just once this season, while his yards-per-carry average has dropped by nearly a full yard.

The talent is there, but the situation is a nightmare.

2. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

This is another ranking some may find puzzling. After all, TreVeyon Henderson has just 225 total yards after five games this season. He's averaging over a yard less per carry than he did as a rookie.

Much has been made of the pass-blocking deficiencies that have stopped Henderson from claiming the lead back role in Beantown.

But as his 39-yard touchdown scamper in his first game of 2026 demonstrated, the Ohio State product has a gear no other back in these rankings possesses. He's a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

As a rookie, Henderson averaged over five yards per carry. He caught 35 passes, topped 1,100 total yards, scored 10 touchdowns and had two games with a pair of touchdown runs over 50 yards.

Durability is a legitimate concern. But from a pure talent standpoint, there isn't a better back in the Class of 2025.

After piling up a jaw-dropping 2,739 total yards two years ago at Boise State on the way to finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, Ashton Jeanty was universally considered the top running back in his draft class.

No one batted an eyelid when the Raiders took the 22-year-old sixth overall.

Despite getting hit in the backfield more often than not as a rookie, Jeanty still topped 1,300 total yards, scored 10 times and caught 55 passes. On a better Raiders team in 2026, he was expected to take a step forward in Year 2. Instead, his production has declined.

The Boise State product isn't doomed to a disastrous season after six weeks, but there's no denying he has struggled this year. He is averaging 3.2 yards per carry and hasn't had a 20-yard run yet this year.

This writer isn't ready to drop Jeanty from the top spot just yet, but he has shown nothing to indicate he's the kind of explosive bell-cow back who merits such a high draft pick.

And the gap between him and the rest of last year's draft has evaporated.