This Year’s Bucky Irving: 7 Late Round Running Backs To Draft In 2025 Fantasy Football
2025 Breakout Running Backs: This Year’s Bucky Irving?
Every fantasy football season has its hidden gems. Oftentimes they show up in the form of running backs who are drafted in the late rounds or scooped up off waivers and go on to become league winners. In 2024, that player was Bucky Irving. Now, as we approach the 2025 season, the question becomes: Who are the next breakout running backs? Aka, this year’s Bucky Irving.
Here are the prime candidates to be that guy—the unheralded, late-round RB who can breakout out of nowhere and change the trajectory of your fantasy team.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars
If you’re looking for this year’s Bucky Irving, you’re probably not going to find a better candidate than Bhayshul Tuten. The rookie out of Virginia Tech is a slashing, explosive runner with 4.32 speed who can hit top gear in a blink and turn any touch into six points.
More importantly, opportunity is knocking in Jacksonville. Travis Etienne has seen his efficiency decline over the past two seasons, and the Jags clearly wanted to overhaul their backfield. They considered Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 and were reportedly eyeing RJ Harvey before he went to Denver. Tuten was a guy GM James Gladstone personally highlighted during his interview process—and then went and drafted in the 4th round. They even doubled down with LeQuint Allen later in the draft. The writing is on the wall.
Tuten enters a Liam Coen offense that just last year handed the keys to a day-three rookie in Tampa. That guy’s name was Bucky Irving. With more juice than Irving and a less effective incumbent in Etienne, Tuten is the top candidate to make a Bucky-style leap in 2025.
Jaydon Blue, Cowboys
Jaydon Blue might be the most immediate contributor on this list. Dallas did very little to shore up its RB room after losing Rico Dowdle, adding only the injury-prone Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Blue, an undersized but electric runner with 4.38 speed and serious receiving chops, steps into a wide-open depth chart.
He’s expected to play early—likely as the third-down back—but could grow into a 1A role in a split backfield. His open-field burst and elusiveness make him a weapon in space, and if he captures even 40–50% of the workload, he could return RB2 value as a rookie. He’s not just a lottery ticket—he’s a flex option with upside from Day 1.
Roschon Johnson, Bears
We may finally be on the verge of the Roschon Johnson breakout. Injuries slowed his development, but Johnson—who profiles as a classic between-the-tackles thumper—is now positioned to thrive as the RB2 (or 1B) in Chicago’s revamped offense under Ben Johnson.
With a vastly improved offensive line and dynamic rookie weapons like Luther Burden and Colston Loveland added to support Caleb Williams, this offense is poised to score far more in 2025. Roschon could fill the David Montgomery/Jamaal Williams role in a two-back setup, especially if D’Andre Swift stumbles early. If that happens, Johnson could lead this backfield outright—and be a weekly fantasy starter.
Jaylen Wright, Dolphins
Jaylen Wright is the kind of big-play back who doesn’t need 20 touches to blow up your fantasy week. With Raheem Mostert gone and Devon Achane’s durability always a question mark, Wright has a clear path to meaningful touches in 2025.
The Dolphins offense has supported two fantasy-relevant backs before, and Wright—who ran a 4.38 and ranked top-20 in both yards after contact and missed tackles forcedin his rookie season—offers similar home run upside. With minimal competition (Alexander Mattison, Ollie Gordon), Wright is a sneaky breakout candidate in his second year.
Devin Neal, Saints
Don’t sleep on Devin Neal. Buried for now behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller, the rookie has a legitimate chance to climb the depth chart. Kamara is now 30, and Miller has struggled to stay healthy or productive.
Neal’s blend of power, vision, agility, and acceleration—plus 5,000+ college scrimmage yards—make him a strong candidate to emerge as the RB2 (or even RB1b) in an offense that will likely need to lean on the ground game given uncertainty at quarterback. His versatility gives him real upside if the opportunity arises.
Brashard Smith, Chiefs
Brashard Smith is your ultra-deep, high-ceiling sleeper. A seventh-rounder with just one season of RB experience, Smith was a former wide receiver who transitioned seamlessly to the backfield, showcasing elite speed and natural receiving ability. Think Jerick McKinnon—but with more juice.
Kansas City’s backfield is unsettled. Isiah Pacheco is coming off a broken leg, and the other names (Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, Carson Steele) are placeholders. If Smith flashes during the season, Andy Reid won’t hesitate to get creative with him. He’s the kind of late-season league winner that pops when it matters most.
Tahj Brooks, Bengals
Looking for a grinder with upside? Tahj Brooks fits the mold. A sixth-round pick, Brooks could quickly ascend to the RB2 role behind Zack Moss (recovering from a neck injury) and Samaje Perine. If that happens, he’ll be operating in one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.
A tackle-breaking machine with excellent lateral agility, Brooks doesn’t need massive volume to return value. Think 8–12 touches, a few goal-line plunges, and boom—fantasy flex gold. He’s a dependable stash who could quietly become a plug-and-play RB2.
The Final Word
Bhayshul Tuten is the clear frontrunner to be this year’s Bucky Irving, but depending on your roster construction and league size, any of these backs could be a late-round lottery ticket that hits in a big way. Target them late. Stash them. Watch the early season usage. And prepare for one of them to carry you to a fantasy championship.
