Let’s just roll right into the regularly-scheduled programming here for fantasy football, shall we? We’ve already gotten concerning(/as of this morning, kinda reassuring?) news re. Christian McCaffrey’s “calf” (it’s his Achilles tendonitis, folks); we’ve seen an A.J. Brown dud; we’ve seen Jaydon Blue be a healthy scratch. Best laid plans, man. They’re toast already. But never toast are the Five Lists of Five, which feel a bit more important already before even the main slate of Week 1. We need to hunt for stashes, dart throws, breakouts, and, probably most importantly, running back sleepers.
The refrain remains the same—All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some.
I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The give-me-as-much-info-as-possible-as-fast-as-possible audience. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, ~250 words per player.
Below: Top five sleeper running backs in Week 1. These are guys ranked the RB3-5 ECR range that could make the leap already to weekly-winning RB2 performances.
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 1 edition:
- Top five sleeper wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 1
- Top five players to stash for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five WR/CB matchups to target in 2025 fantasy football Week 1
- Top five must-start players for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
Follow my handle @dansby_edits for all preseason and fantasy draft kit content—as well as plenty of NFL betting goodies—all summer long. All my other fantasy football draft kit content is at the bottom of this list!
Top five sleeper RBs to target for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins (Week 1 ECR: RB44)
Miami’s offense is tailor-made for Gordon’s contact-shattering style. At Oklahoma State, he tallied 1,632 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023, winning the Doak Walker Award. Though his 2024 college numbers dipped—finishing with a 4.63 YPC in a stacked backfield situation—they came under tough circumstances and still showcased a 4.45 speed and standout 80-inch wingspan.
Miami runs a wide-zone, jet-motion, RPO-heavy scheme that aligns perfectly with Gordon’s ability to hit cutback lanes and use second-level burst. The Colts meanwhile struggled defending stretch plays last year, allowing 4.6 yards per carry—dead-against the type of opener Gordon counters best. Miami could script 10–12 touches his way, even with De’Von Achane healthy, meaning a 50–60-yard day is entirely realistic. In PPR, a back of his build who can get chunk yardage on limited touches is pure gold.
Gordon’s a prime Week 1 flex in standard formats and a high-upside dart in PPR. If one of his carries walks into the second level, boom—a game is already made. In deeper formats or best-ball leagues, his ceiling morphs into weekly RB2 territory, making him one of the week’s most compelling sleeper options.
Woody Marks, RB, Texans (RB57)
With Joe Mixon sidelined and Nick Chubb absorbing early-down work, Woody Marks has emerged as Houston’s go-to passing-down back. At USC and prior at Mississippi State, Marks was a PPR standout—closing college with 5.0 YPC and a whopping 1,546 receiving yards on 261 catches, more than any RB in his class and by a wide margin. That pass-catching profile translated immediately in camp, and he logged routes on 39% of dropbacks with Stroud in preseason, earning targets on 27% of those—elite usage for a rookie RB.
The Rams’ defense allowed the sixth-most RB receptions in 2024, bleeding fantasy points underneath when blitzes failed to disrupt route timings. Houston’s offensive line looks healthier and more creative this year, too. In Week 1, Marks projects upward of 4–6 catches, and his proficiency as a blocker keeps him on third downs. Expect a floor of 8–10 PPR points with upside if game script tilts pass-heavy.
He’s the classic modern RB3: high target density, floor-based role, and WR2 upside on one explosive series. In PPR, that’s a legitimate flex ceiling. More importantly: he’s not reliant on snaps—or touchdowns—to matter, which makes him a very playable Week 1 dart.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (RB62)
Miller enjoyed a 2024 partial breakout. Though his numbers were modest—148 yards on 39 carries plus 33 receiving yards in six games—his per-touch quality mattered. In college, he averaged 3.8 YPA, six receptions, and had elite burst in tight windows. Late in 2024 action, his per-carry efficiency rose as the Saints leaned into his downhill explosiveness.
With Alvin Kamara set to carry the bulk of the work, but likely (eventually) aging into a specialized role, Miller is primed to become New Orleans’s early-down shutdown back. The Saints’ offensive line remains solid, and opening Day pits them against a Cardinals unit that allowed 22 RB touchdowns last year, including nearly one per game inside the 5-yard line. The only wrinkle: quarterback uncertainty looms in New Orleans, and if stability isn’t there, the offense may lean even heavier on Miller early. That volatility actually benefits his touch floor in Week 1.
That sets up RB2 upside right away. He’s not a home-run threat every week, but he racks PPR value via tough volume and goal-yardage work. In Week 1, expect 70–80 total yards and a serious scoring chance. In deeper leagues or RB-heavy formats, he’s a target for late-season value when volume truly cements.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (RB58)
Pierce’s 2024 was a rollercoaster—but the second half told the truth. While his mid-season slump dragged his three-year average YAC down, late-year production crept back toward his rookie form. Over the final four games, he averaged 2.9 YAC/attempt and showed renewed physicality, forcing missed tackles at a 23% rate.
Though Nick Chubb arrives, Houston hasn’t lowered Pierce’s stock completely. He still handles 58% of carries inside the 5-yard line and offers the kind of contact balance that matters in TD equity. We’ve already flagged Woody Marks as a sleeper here, and the point is clear: you want exposure to whoever emerges as the RB1 in this Texans backfield. If it’s Pierce hanging on to the lead role, he becomes the one worth investing in for volume and touchdowns. If Marks or even Chubb steal snaps, Pierce’s floor dips fast.
Facing the Rams Week 1, a team that gave up 13 rushing scores to backs last year, Pierce is a high-leverage Week 1 flex. Weighted toward early-down and red-zone, a 12–15 carry day opens the door to 70–80 yards and a touchdown. The ceiling mirrors his rookie profile, but the floor is murky. In standard formats, he’s risky—but in formats where TD equity outweighs ceiling, he’s a solid bet.
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (RB63)
Rookie Kyle Monangai is carving a legit niche in Chicago’s backfield. A seventh-round pick from Rutgers, he posted consecutive 1,200+ yard seasons and 27 rushing TDs in 2023/2024, while forcing 139 missed tackles—most in the Big Ten over that stretch. At 5’8”, 211, he’s compact but punishing in contact. He also logged strong pass-pro grades in camp, solidifying trust on passing downs. With Roschon Johnson injured and new head coach Ben Johnson committed to physicality, Monangai’s role matters right away.
The Bears open Week 1 against the Vikings, a unit that erased early-down momentum and leaned on game-management runs. Monangai’s raw power fits that narrative—he’s the “Knuckles” back if style is rotation-driven. Chicago’s RB depth behind D’Andre Swift now tilts shallow, creating immediate opportunity. In preseason, he shined in short-yardage and 3rd-down conversions.
Monangai likely won’t get 15 carries off the bat, but if he sees 6–8, especially in red zone, he fills a niche. In deep formats, he’s the type of dart you stash for Week 1 in case volumes tilt. 15 touches, 50 yards, and a goal-line score transform him from dart to steal.
