Best NFL Running Backs in 2025

For all the hoopla behind the star quarterback and flashy wide receiver, the unsung heroes on the offensive side of the football come from two positions.

Firstly, the offensive line, however in terms of sports betting there’s not much we can do with those gentle giants.

Secondly, the running back position. And in sports betting, there’s a lot we can do with these athletic specimens.

This article will break down the various betting markets involving our friends from the running back position and we will revisit what running backs have done in recent years to see if we can’t formulate a few trends with that information.

Let’s jump in.

Betting On NFL Running Backs

Sportsbooks today provide many options for betting on NFL running backs.

Season-long futures bets predict which player will have the most rushing yards and most rushing TDs.

Player prop bets will allow bettors to wager on an RB’s season total for rushing yards or you can bet on an individual game basis, predicting how many rushing yards a running back will tally or how many passes they will catch out of the backfield.

One of the most popular prop bets out of any sport is the infamous anytime touchdown bet, where you’re simply wagering on a given player to score a touchdown at “anytime” during the game.

The most popular futures bet for NFL running backs is always trying to determine who will lead the league in rushing yards at the end of the season.

2024 NFL Leading Rushers

Name	Rushing Attempts	Rushing Yards	Rushing TD’s
Saquon Barkley (PHI)	345	2005	13
Derrick Henry (BAL)	325	1921	16
Bijan Robinson (ATL)	304	1456	14
Jonathan Taylor (IND)	303	1431	11
Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)	250	1412	16

Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were atop the league in basically every possible metric in 2024, with Barkley eclipsing 2000 yards in just 16 games and Henry falling just 79 yards shy of hitting 2000 yards in a season for the second time in his storied NFL career.

The future at the position in the NFL is also well represented here with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs each finishing in the top five in rushing in just their second season in the pros.

Meanwhile Jonathan Taylor was able to bounce back after two straight seasons of having his season marred by injury with a solid 1,431 yard and 11 touchdown performance a season ago.

Our Favorite Running Back Related Bets in 2025

Christian McCaffrey to Win NFL Comeback Player of the Year (+400)

After only playing in four games last season, Christian McCaffrey is poised to enter the new 2025 NFL season with fresh legs and a clear bill of health.

That alone makes him a very enticing candidate to be named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, in a field that will be a bit crowded thanks to Aidan Hutchinson and Dak Prescott also returning from injury-shortened seasons.

However, CMC could have the biggest impact of them all as the Niners enter 2025 with an infirmary list at WR, so Kyle Shanahan will lean on McCaffrey in a big way in the new season.

Saquon Barkley to Win NFL Offensive Player of the Year (+750)

I’m not sure Saquon will be able to put up 2,000 yards rushing in a season again, but he will certainly be a strong candidate to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award should he avoid an injury setback in 2025, which otherwise wouldn’t be a huge concern but given his workload in 2024 and the fact he’s gracing the Madden cover, let’s just say there are mild concerns about his durability this season.

However, if he is just as healthy as he was a season ago, Barkley is going to post some big numbers and he already has the name recognition to put himself in contention for this award.

Bijan Robinson to Win NFL Rushing Title (+850)

While this bet may run counter to our OPOTY bet on Saquon Barkley, I believe Bijan Robinson is about to have an absolute monster of a season in the ATL.

Bijan is no longer held captive by Arthur Smith and is finally in a situation where the team knows how to use him. Pair him with a young quarterback in Michael Penix, and I believe Bijan is going to tote the rock early and often with the Falcons all season long.

Playing in the NFC South doesn’t hurt matters either, as the Saints and Panthers finished 31st and 32nd overall in rush defense in 2024.

Omarion Hampton to Win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (+900)

No disrespect to Ashton Jeanty, who looks like a freak of nature and landed in an ideal situation for a running back by playing for a Pete Carroll led team, however, Omarion Hampton is an electric running back in his own right and is going to a team with a lot more talent around him than Jeanty will have.

Hampton won the starting job outright from Najee Harris in the 2025 preseason, and Jim Harbaugh loves to play ball control and run the ball aplenty. At +900 odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, this feels like a bet that very much merits your attention. 

Jahmyr Gibbs to Lead NFL in Rushing Touchdowns (+1100)

The Jahmyr Gibbs era is upon us and year number two in his career was the warning shot to the rest of the league.

Once upon a time, many draft pundits laughed at the Lions taking Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Those same pundits aren’t laughing very much today.

Gibbs was downright sensational in 2024, rushing for 1,412 yards and scoring 16 rushing touchdowns on the season, which was good for a share of the league lead with James Cook and Derrick Henry. 

He’s currently listed at +1100 to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns this season, and despite the presence of David Montgomery, Gibbs is the no doubt #1 option in the Motor City and should have ample opportunity to continue to pile up the touchdowns in 2025.

NFL Rushing Title Winners Since 2015

Year	Player	Rushing Yards	Team
2024	Saquon Barkley	2005	Eagles
2023	Christian McCaffrey	1459	49ers
2022	Josh Jacobs	1653	Raiders
2021	Jonathan Taylor	1811	Colts
2020	Derrick Henry	2027	Titans
2019	Derrick Henry	1540	Titans
2018	Ezekiel Elliott	1434	Cowboys
2017	Kareem Hunt (R)	1327	Chiefs
2016	Ezekiel Elliott (R)	1631	Cowboys
2015	Adrian Peterson	1485	Vikings

Always Shop Around

While odds shopping is important for all forms of sports betting, it’s even more important in regards to futures betting.

If you are set to plunk down your hard earned cash on a futures bet, make sure you do your research before settling on the sportsbook where you’re going to make that wager.

For example, you can bet Saquon Barkley to lead the NFL in rushing at +230 at Caesars, but wouldn’t it make more sense to bet him at +420 on FanDuel? A $100 wager would only pay $330 at Caesars, but you would win $520 at FanDuel. That’s a sizable difference and is really noticeable with futures bets.

So shop around for your best odds and get every edge you can over the sportsbooks. Lord knows they already get every edge they can over their patrons.