Dynasty Rankings: 3 Veteran RBs to Fade
As the rookie season heats up and Dynasty Football enthusiasts prepare for the next season, now is an excellent time to trade off aging veterans. Selling players for draft capital is a time-honored tradition in dynasty formats. These Dynasty Rankings: 3 Veteran RBs to Fade will allow you to cash out high or know which veteran backs to ignore in start-up drafts. This feature is courtesy of Frank Taddeo. Christian McCaffrey (RB) San Francisco 49ers Last summer, Christian McCaffrey was the near-unanimous No. 1 pick in fantasy football drafts following a stellar 2023 season, where he racked up 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. However, after appearing in just four games last year, the San Francisco 49ers running back left fantasy managers disappointed. Looking ahead to 2025, fantasy players should hesitate before using a first-round pick on the three-time Pro Bowler, who has now missed substantial playing time in three of his past five seasons. The seasoned running back struggled to stay healthy last season, sidelined by Achilles and knee issues. Fantasy managers who selected McCaffrey early were let down, especially as the 49ers appeared to downplay the severity of his injuries during the preseason. After finishing as the RB69 in PPR leagues last season, fantasy managers should approach McCaffrey with caution rather than slotting him as an RB1 for the upcoming year. His recent injury history and the physical toll of eight NFL seasons make him a questionable value, despite an ADP that still places him among the top five running backs. 2025 CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK Rookie Isaac Guerendo stepped up for the 49ers, delivering four double-digit PPR performances after Week 7. The ex-Louisville star is currently the direct backup to McCaffrey on San Francisco’s depth chart. Grant Cohn, OnSI’s 49ers reporter, recently noted that head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted at the NFL League meetings about adding another running back in this month’s draft: “We’ll see if we add one in the draft, but you’d like to add one every year.” Though McCaffrey is only one year removed from a historic 2023 season—where he scored a touchdown in 16 straight games—the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year carries significant risk as a first-round pick. With injury concerns and potential competition for the lead role, McCaffrey stands out as an overvalued selection who may not deliver the elite RB1 numbers fantasy managers expect. Check out Frankie’s 3 Underrated Veteran RBs to Target. Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs Due to lingering injury risks and a crowded Kansas City Chiefs backfield, Isiah Pacheco shapes up as a precarious fantasy football selection in 2025. Last summer, Isiah Pacheco emerged as a breakout star in fantasy football redraft leagues, climbing into the late first round of many high-stakes drafts at the Fantasy Football World Championships (FFWC). Yet, fantasy managers who spent premium draft picks on the two-time Super Bowl winner were left wanting, as a fractured fibula restricted him to just seven games, delivering a poor return on investment. Heading into 2025, fantasy players should think twice before splurging on the former Rutgers standout. Despite his impressive tally of 15 touchdowns across 38 regular-season games, his current price tag may not match the payoff. The Chiefs’ explosive offense naturally attracts fantasy managers to skill-position players with big roles. However, as Pacheco enters his fourth NFL season, his top-15 RB ADP could be tough to justify. After a promising start to his career with two strong seasons, Pacheco’s 2024 output was underwhelming. He managed only 310 rushing yards and one touchdown, complemented by a modest 12 catches for 79 yards. Following a 2023 season where he finished as RB14 with 1,179 total yards and nine scores, the 5’10”, 216-pound back plummeted to RB64 in 2024, averaging a mere 8.1 PPR points per game due to his limited availability. Upon his Week 13 return, Pacheco couldn’t regain his form, never exceeding 55 rushing yards or scoring in his final five regular-season games. His postseason struggles persisted, with just 42 combined yards in playoff matchups against Houston and Buffalo. In the Chiefs’ 40-22 Super Bowl LIX defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Pacheco mustered a scant seven rushing yards. ISIAH PACHECO 2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK Pacheco’s 2025 prospects hinge not only on his ability to stay on the field but also on his capacity to fend off growing competition. Kareem Hunt and newly acquired Elijah Mitchell are poised to challenge him for significant carries in Kansas City’s backfield, clouding his fantasy value further. Breece Hall (RB) New York Jets Despite boasting a 2.6 ADP in 2024, New York Jets running back Breece Hall ended last season as the RB17 in PPR leagues. Can he rebound in 2025, or will he once again leave fantasy managers wanting more? Last summer, Breece Hall generated intense buzz in fantasy football redraft leagues, with managers clamoring to snag him within the top five overall picks. Yet, for high-stakes players at the Fantasy Football World Championships (FFWC) who poured valuable draft capital into the ex-Iowa State star, the payoff fell short of expectations. With an impressive 22 touchdowns across 40 career regular-season games, Hall remains a tantalizing talent but enters the 2025 fantasy season as one of its biggest uncertainties. Hall burst onto the scene in his 2022 rookie year, dazzling over his first seven games as the RB7 overall (16.4 PPR points per game) before a devastating ACL injury against the Broncos cut his season short. In 2023, he bounced back from the injury with gusto, securing the RB2 spot in PPR leagues (290.5 points), trailing only Christian McCaffrey’s record-breaking haul (391.3). With Aaron Rodgers steering the Jets’ offense, expectations soared for Hall in 2024, propelling him into the earliest draft slots. But the season proved a letdown—he landed at RB17 overall and ranked 24th among running backs in rushing yards (876). 2025 BREECE HALL FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK Hall’s 2025 fantasy prospects grow murkier with the Jets’ acquisition of quarterback Justin Fields as the team’s starter. Fields,
