Previewing Top RB2 Candidates for 2025

James Cook, BUF (ADP: RB14)

James Cook had fewer carries, targets, and receptions, rushing yards, and receiving yards in 2024 than he did in 2023, but he finished with 32 more PPR points this past season than the year before. What gives? There’s no question that James Cook is an explosive running back – he was top-10 in breakaway yards and breakaway run percent last season – but that bump in fantasy production despite a reduction in overall opportunities came from his 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. For those keeping track at home, that’s 14 more scores in a single season than he’s had in any season prior to last year, and Cook ranked fourth in the NFL among RBs in fantasy points over expectation given his role.

That was also with Josh Allen running in 12 touchdowns of his own, but the primary issue with Cook’s usage is that he simply isn’t on the field enough to expect this type of production to be sustainable year over year without change: among the top-12 running backs in points per game, Cook had by far the lowest overall snap share on the season (48%). Buffalo is at odds with Cook in contract negotiations right now over this very issue, and it doesn’t sound like they’re ready to give the keys exclusively to Cook any time soon; if touchdown regression hits (and history suggests it will), Cook could vastly underperform his ADP in 2025.

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Alvin Kamara, NO (ADP: RB19)

Alvin Kamara has finished as a top-10 fantasy RB in every year of his career except for two – 2022 (RB16) and 2023 (RB11). That’s thanks to an exceptional role in the passing game that saw Kamara pace all running backs in targets per game (6.2) and target share (22%), and going into his age-30 season, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Backup RB Kendre Miller has been unable to make inroads on Kamara’s workload, and despite the addition of Devin Neal to the backfield via the draft, Kamara seems to be locked into his usual high-volume responsibilities.

With a question mark under center in Tyler Shough and a new fast-paced playcaller in former Eagles OC Kellen Moore, the Saints offense could be relying more on volume than efficiency to produce – and with just Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed as real threats in the receiving game, Kamara’s bottom line should be effectively buoyed by another season of being heavily targeted out of the backfield. With an ADP outside of the top-15 on most platforms, Kamara is officially being drafted at his floor and offers mid-RB1 upside at a heavy discount.

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James Conner (ADP: RB22)

Age is just a number for James Conner, who was one of only two running backs (the other being none other than Bucky Irving) to rank top-15 across the board in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per attempt, rush yards over expectation, and yards per route run. He’s one of the most efficient running backs in the NFL, and that’s allowed him to stave off pressure from 2024 second-round pick RB Trey Benson in Arizona’s backfield.

Conner’s RB11 finish in 2024 was his best since his overall RB5 finish in his first year with the Cardinals back in 2021, and he’ll look to run it back as a fantasy RB1 once again in 2025 in a Cardinals offense that sneakily ranked inside the top-12 in points, rush yards, and rush touchdowns last year. As long as Conner is playing efficient football, Trey Benson truthers will be forced to sit tight – and while the age cliff will inevitably approach every running back, Conner has earned the benefit of the doubt with his longevity in consistently strong production. He’s an extremely sensible option as the RB2 on your squad with weekly RB1 upside – though another top-12 finish will be contingent on the now 30-year old running back staying healthy (he’s played more than 13 games in just three of his 8 years in the NFL).