NFL Player News

The Colts selected Giddens in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 151st overall.

Formerly a zero-star recruit, Giddens worked his way up Kansas State's depth chart to start in his final two college seasons. He rushed for 1,200-plus yards in each of those two years and was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 roster in 2024. Giddens' cutback ability and lateral quickness makes him a dangerous runner in the open field, which makes up for his lack of effectiveness between the tackles. His elusiveness as a runner and pass-catching ability should allow him to compete with Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson for a rotational role in the Colts' backfield behind starter Jonathan Taylor.

The Cowboys selected Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 149th overall.

The Texas product is staying home, as he'll join the Cowboys' backfield. Blue brings a much-needed infusion of speed to the backfield (4.38 40-yard dash) to complement the power running styles of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The rookie doesn't have a workhorse frame (5-foot-9, 196) but he has promise as a change-of-pace option with a bit of pass-catching upside (42 receptions, 368 yards, six receiving touchdowns in 2024). His home run hitting ability makes him interesting even though his volume projection is a concern.

The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 147th overall.

James initially saw work as a part-time contributor with the Oregon Ducks in 2023, when he racked up 107 carries for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns working in tandem with Bucky Irving, but the former took over the lead job last season and posted workhorse numbers, racking up 233 totes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He didn't test particularly well at the combine and isn't viewed as a home-run threat, but he's quick to find the hole and get downhill. James joins a 49ers team that dealt Jordan Mason to the Vikings this offseason, leaving Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo (knee/ankle) at the top of the depth chart. Given McCaffrey's injury history, there's a non-zero chance James will see the field as a rookie if he can beat out Patrick Taylor for third-string duties.

The Browns selected Sampson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 126th overall.

The Browns had a significant hole at running back entering the draft, and they've invested accordingly. Sampson will join Quinshon Judkins -- selected in the second round -- as rookies on the running back depth chart. The former showcased mediocre athletic ability at the combine, but Sampson was an excellent contributor at Tennessee by tallying 1,491 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 13 games in 2024 while facing stiff SEC competition. Both scouting reports and draft capital suggest Sampson will start behind Judkins on the depth chart, but Sampson should have the chance to find the field in his rookie season.

The Rams selected Hunter in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 117th overall.

Hunter began his first two seasons at Auburn as the backup to Tank Bigsby before claiming the lead role in 2023, rushing for 2,110 yards and 15 touchdowns on 346 carries over his final two seasons with the Tigers. Coming from a weightlifting background, Hunter doesn't lack for strength, and he projects as a downhill runner who can be difficult to bring down when he gets rolling. He joins an already young backfield that sports draft picks in each of the last few seasons at the top -- Kyren Williams (2022) as the starter and Blake Corum (2024) as the top backup -- and he'll likely fit in alongside Corum vying for reserve snaps behind Williams.

The Texans selected Marks in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 116th overall.

The Texans traded a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick in exchange for this pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Marks led Mississippi State in rushing yards during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before heading to USC for his fifth year. The Georgia native earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors at USC by recording 1,133 yards (5.7 YPC) and nine touchdowns in addition to 47 receptions for 321 yards. Marks measured in at 5-foot-10, 207 pounds at the NFL Combine while adding a 4.54 40-yard dash to his resume. While he'll turn 25 years old during his rookie season, Marks is a sturdy runner and will look to earn a role as a pass catcher, although he'll face stiff competition from Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor for those duties behind lead back Joe Mixon.

The Panthers selected Etienne in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 114th overall.

This selection didn't necessarily fill a need for the Panthers, as they already signed Rico Dowdle this offseason to complement Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks (knee) on the running back depth chart. However, Etienne does add a pass-catching threat to the Panthers' backfield and is expected to be an adequate blocker, traits he was able to showcase in his final collegiate season at Georgia. His ability to see the field during his rookie year is likely to depend on Brooks' recovery, giving him limited fantasy appeal in 2025 for the time being.

The Giants selected Skattebo in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 105th overall.

Skattebo was a two-year starter at Arizona State after spending the first two years of his collegiate career with Sacramento State. He broke out in 2024 with 1,711 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 293 carries while adding 45 catches for 605 yards and three scores, and he played an integral role in the Sun Devils winning the Big 12 Championship and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. There are some questions around Skattebo's pass protection and downhill speed, but his physicality and versatility as a receiver out of the backfield should give him an opportunity to see some snaps on passing downs right out of the gate. Skattebo joins a Giants backfield headlined by 2024 fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy and veteran Devin Singletary.

The Jaguars selected Tuten in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 104th overall.

Tuten was lightly recruited coming out of high school but emerged as a key contributor at Virginia Tech during his final two years in college, combining to score 25 touchdowns while handling 356 total carries. He then helped his draft stock further by running an impressive 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine while also showing a lot of burst in short-area drills. Tuten's landing spot isn't likely to lead to production early in the 2025 season, as both Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are in the mix, but this will be a situation worth monitoring with a new coaching staff making decisions.

Ford (ankle) is atop the depth chart at running back, but that could change given the Browns' selection of Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Zac Jackson and Lauren Smith of The Athletic report.

Ford enters the final year of his rookie deal and has been a competent complementary player behind Nick Chubb the last three seasons. Drafting Judkins suggests the team will not bring Chubb back, and the rookie Buckeyes running back is talented enough to earn carries immediately. At the very least, Judkins will be part of the backfield from Day 1 and could take over as the primary back early in the season -- the same path Chubb took to become one of the game's best backs prior to a serious knee injury in 2023. Think of Ford as atop the depth chart with an asterisk.