Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "FantasyPros - Will Saquon Barkley Bust? | The Top 50 Running Backs for the 2025 Season (Ep. 1580)"

Release Date: May 31, 2025
Host/Authors: Ryan Warmley, Andrew Erickson, Derek Brown
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Duration: Approximately 72 minutes

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with brief advertisements before transitioning into an in-depth discussion on fantasy football running backs. Hosts Ryan Warmley, Andrew Erickson, and Derek Brown delve into the intricacies of drafting running backs for the 2025 fantasy football season, analyzing player performances, rankings, and strategies to maximize team potential.

2. Overview of the Running Back Landscape

Ryan Warmley opens the discussion by highlighting the importance of running backs in fantasy drafts, likening their significance to pitching in fantasy baseball. He emphasizes the challenge of accurately ranking running backs during draft preparations.

Derek Brown provides a macro view of the running back position, noting that 2025 presents another strong year for zero-RB (0 RB) strategies due to a robust group of rookies and healthy veterans. He suggests that managers might often wait on drafting running backs, leveraging the depth available later in the draft.

Derek Brown [01:11]: "Honestly, it's another great year for 0rb. ... I'll be in drafts just kind of looking at this, probably waiting on running back."

Andrew Erickson counters with a preference for the "superhero RB" approach, advocating for investing in top-tier running backs in the early rounds to secure consistent high scorers.

Andrew Erickson [02:13]: "I still think that hero RB is the way to go because I think that it's smart to draft a running back with one of your high picks ... you lock him in as your RB1."

3. Top Three Running Backs

The hosts collectively agree on a trio of elite running backs considered as the top three for the season: Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson, and Jameer Gibbs. However, there's some contention regarding their exact rankings within this group.

Ryan Warmley posits that Saquon Barkley is likely to be the first overall pick in standard drafts due to his outstanding performance in the previous season.

Ryan Warmley [06:04]: "I think Saquon will be the first overall pick, like 99% of the kind of standard drafts that you're in."

Derek Brown challenges this view, arguing that Saquon Barkley's performance metrics have declined and that Bijan Robinson should take the top spot instead.

Derek Brown [06:55]: "Saquon is not my RB1 this year. He's not even inside of my top three... Bijan Robinson is my RB1 this season."

Andrew Erickson aligns with Brown but also discusses the potential of other backs like Christian McCaffrey, emphasizing the importance of high-upside running backs in the early rounds.

Andrew Erickson [07:17]: "... I have Genti as three and then the other guy like I'm thinking about is. Is McCaffrey too, right?"

4. Tier 2 Running Backs (RB4-RB10)

This tier encompasses solid, high-performing running backs who offer reliable fantasy points but may come with certain risks or limitations.

Ryan Warmley lists the players in this tier as:

• Ashton Gentry
• Derek Henry
• Devon Hn
• Christian McCaffrey
• Josh Jacobs
• Jonathan Taylor
• Bucky Irving

Andrew Erickson elaborates on players like Ashton Gentry, emphasizing his explosive potential and suitability for late-round drafts.

Andrew Erickson [14:18]: "I think that Ashton Genti is in that mix again... it's a great price."

Derek Brown discusses Derrick Henry, expressing high confidence in his stability and consistent performance, positioning him as a top-five running back if healthy.

Derek Brown [15:29]: "I think Derek Henry is a locked in RB1 straight up until he decides to hang up the cleats."

Ryan Warmley reinforces Henry's reliability, citing his high touchdown count and minimal involvement in the passing game as factors ensuring his top-tier status.

Ryan Warmley [16:36]: "If every running back in the league stayed healthy, I would be most confident in him finishing like inside the top five over everybody."

5. Tier 3 Running Backs (RB11-RB17)

This tier includes running backs with potential upside but also notable concerns such as injury history, offensive line performance, or shared backfield duties.

Ryan Warmley introduces the Tier 3 list:

• Kyron Williams
• Chase Brown
• Breece Hall
• James Cook
• Joe Mixon
• Kenneth Walker
• Alvin Camara

Andrew Erickson focuses on Breece Hall, discussing his explosive talent but concerns over integration with the new Jets coaching staff and his tendency to force touchdowns, which may limit his utility.

Andrew Erickson [24:51]: "I think it's a great example of a guy that you don't draft but you try to buy low on in like week seven."

Derek Brown advocates for Kenneth Walker, arguing that his comprehensive skill set as a three-down back and improved offensive line should merit a higher ranking than consensus suggests.

Derek Brown [27:06]: "Why do we hate Kenneth Walker?... I have him in tier 2. He's my RB8 of the season."

6. Tier 4 Running Backs (RB18-RB28)

This broader tier comprises a mix of veterans and rookies with varying degrees of appeal. The hosts discuss undervalued players, potential breakout stars, and those with questionable roles.

Ryan Warmley lists the players:

• Chuba Hubbard
• James Connor
• David Montgomery
• Omarion Hampton
• Aaron Jones
• RJ Harvey
• Travion Henderson
• Tony Pollard
• DeAndre Swift
• Quinn
• Sean Judkins
• Isaiah Pacheco

Derek Brown highlights RJ Harvey as a hidden gem, praising his role in the Chargers' offense and dismissing concerns about competition within the backfield.

Derek Brown [38:12]: "I have RJ Harvey as a locked in top 15 back this year... stop trying to bring up Audrey and Julia McLaughlin."

Andrew Erickson emphasizes the potential of second-year running backs, suggesting that players like Trey Benson and Ray Davis could emerge as reliable contributors.

Andrew Erickson [65:52]: "Those traditionally are one of the best bets to make especially when they don't do anything as rookies."

7. Player-Specific Deep Dives

Saquon Barkley

The primary question of the episode revolves around whether Saquon Barkley will "bust" in the upcoming season. Despite concerns raised by Derek Brown regarding his tackle-breaking metrics and volume management, the general consensus leans towards his continued high performance, albeit not securing the RB1 spot.

Derek Brown [06:55]: "Saquon's another year older. Volume is piling up."

Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson is lauded as a league-winning talent, with Ryan Warmley predicting his potential to dominate fantasy leagues when selected in the top three picks.

Ryan Warmley [11:33]: "Bijan is going to be the number three pick in a lot of drafts and he's going to be like a league winner at that spot."

Jameer Gibbs

Gibbs is discussed as a strong contender for RB2 but faces competition from players like David Montgomery, whose health could cap his fantasy upside.

Derek Brown [09:48]: "If David Montgomery stays healthy the entire season, it will cap Gibbs's upside."

Kenneth Walker

Kenneth Walker's undervaluation is a significant talking point, with Derek Brown arguing for his inclusion in higher tiers based on his all-around game and efficiency.

Derek Brown [27:55]: "Kenneth Walker goes out last year and he's the RB12 in fantasy points per game."

Javante Williams

Javante Williams receives considerable attention, with the hosts debating his potential resurgence in Dallas. Derek Brown conducts a statistical analysis highlighting his missed tackle rates and the sudden improvement mid-season, suggesting that a similar pattern could unfold in 2025.

Derek Brown [58:38]: "From weeks one through eight, Javante Williams had a 20 missed tackle rate... nothing after that season."

8. Conclusions and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reiterating their rankings and strategies for drafting running backs in the 2025 season. Emphasis is placed on balancing early investments in high-upside running backs with the flexibility to capitalize on undervalued players later in the draft. The discussion underscores the importance of monitoring player health, offensive line performance, and evolving team dynamics to make informed drafting decisions.

Ryan Warmley encourages listeners to utilize the FantasyPros rankings and tiers available at fantasyprose.com to aid in their draft preparations. Additionally, listeners are reminded of an ongoing contest to win a signed Nico Collins Texans jersey by subscribing and engaging with the FantasyPros YouTube channel.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Derek Brown [01:11]: "Honestly, it's another great year for 0rb... probably waiting on running back."
• Andrew Erickson [02:13]: "... it's smart to draft a running back with one of your high picks... lock him in as your RB1."
• Derek Brown [06:55]: "Saquon's another year older. Volume is piling up... Bijan Robinson is my RB1 this season."
• Andrew Erickson [07:17]: "... Genti as three... is McCaffrey too, right?"
• Derek Brown [09:48]: "If David Montgomery stays healthy... caps Gibbs's upside."
• Ryan Warmley [11:33]: "Bijan is going to be the number three pick in a lot of drafts and he's going to be like a league winner at that spot."
• Derek Brown [15:29]: "Derek Henry is a locked in RB1 straight up until he decides to hang up the cleats."
• Derek Brown [27:55]: "Kenneth Walker goes out last year and he's the RB12 in fantasy points per game."
• Derek Brown [38:12]: "I have RJ Harvey as a locked in top 15 back this year... stop trying to bring up Audrey and Julia McLaughlin."
• Derek Brown [58:38]: "From weeks one through eight, Javante Williams had a 20 missed tackle rate... nothing after that season."

Key Takeaways

1. Zero-RB Strategy Viability: With a strong pool of running backs available both in veterans and rookies, the 0 RB strategy remains viable, allowing managers to capitalize on depth and avoid early investment.

2. Top-Tier Focus: Securing a "hero" running back in the early rounds is recommended to ensure high performance and reliability in fantasy lineups.

3. Undervalued Players: Players like Kenneth Walker and RJ Harvey present significant undervalued opportunities that could yield high returns relative to their draft positions.

4. Injury and Team Dynamics: Continuous monitoring of player health and team offensive strategies is crucial, as these factors heavily influence running back performance and fantasy value.

5. Rookie Potential: The influx of a strong rookie class provides ample opportunities for breakout performances, making late-round picks or deep-dive evaluations worthwhile.

This comprehensive analysis equips fantasy football enthusiasts with the necessary insights to navigate the running back rankings for the 2025 season, balancing proven talent with emerging potential to optimize their fantasy squads.