5 Running Backs to Fade in 2025 for Fantasy Football Redraft

Here are five names to fade in your upcoming fantasy football redraft leagues based on early projections with ADP at the running back position. The names listed include a player who could be moved, potentially to a better situation, and a player who could be reverted back to a backup or third-down role player like last season. Two other options mentioned at running back below also saw their backups turn into potential fantasy options and could overtake the backfield more than in 2024.

Running Back Must Fades

Breece Hall, New York Jets (Ranked 10th)

There are rumblings of Breece Hall getting moved, but even if he stays put in New York, I am not a fan of the Jets running back. He severely underperformed based on his ADP (Fantasy Pros) last season, as he didn’t look like the same player and was inflated by receiving the year prior. Hall went from the 2nd-ranked back to the 16th-ranked in 2024 and struggled against better run defenses. There is also a chance he will be used more in a committee with Braelon Allen behind entering his second year.

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (Ranked 8th)

I mentioned two of the top backs in potential redraft options to select at number one overall with Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley. One that is still taken in the first is Jonathan Taylor, ranked 8th, as he finished 12th (his third-best season fantasy-wise). I think the tail end of last year and his finish were more due to taking advantage of his schedule and the defenses he was facing. With a potential quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, I like other backs like Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, and Kyren Williams potentially in better offenses.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (Ranked 25th)

Even with Najee Harris going to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arthur Smith are likely going to select a running back in the first few rounds. Jaylen Warren, due to injuries, just never took the leap as a fantasy flex option at running back in 2024. He finished as the 39th back in PPR, but the season before, he was ranked 22nd and showed flashes. Warren could be named the starter entering the 2025 NFL season, but his role will be muddied if he shares the workload.

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (Ranked 28th)

After finishing as the third-ranked fantasy running back, Travis Etienne Jr. was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy in 2024 as the 35th-ranked back. Some of it was injuries, but he was just not the same player as the year before with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Backup Tank Bigsby was way better when he was on the field and could overtake him in 2025. Etienne could easily be a trade candidate as well this offseason or before the 2025 NFL trade deadline, like Hall.

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (Ranked 24th)

With the potential of them adding Cam Ward at quarterback, along with another running back, the veteran Tony Pollard is a fade for 2025. He didn’t have a bad season, but he was outplayed at times late in the year by Tyjae Spears, who showed promise as a fantasy back. Coming off an injury, Pollard finished as the 21st-ranked back with the Tennessee Titans, but with Spears having injuries on his own, this backfield will likely be a fade for fantasy entirely with a rookie quarterback.