NFL Running Back Futures – Rushing Props: All in on Ashton Jeanty?

The 2024 NFL season was a big one for workhorse running backs as Saquon Barkley (Eagles), Derrick Henry (Ravens), Josh Jacobs (Packers), Aaron Jones (Vikings), and Joe Mixon (Texans) all rushed for over 1,000 yards and helped their new team to the postseason.

We actually had 6 running backs exceed 300 carries in 2024, which is more than the last 3 seasons combined (5 in 2021-23). For his effort in helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl, Barkley became the 1st running back to make $20 million annually on his contract.

We’ll see if last year was an outlier or if teams are really going to commit more carries to lead backs instead of using such a committee approach that has taken the league by storm since 2007 or so.

Workhorses are great for NFL prop bets, and you can start betting on those soon at top-rated sportsbooks for the 2025 NFL season. For now, we’re going to highlight some of the early betting lines at Bet365 for running backs that look like good value on futures bets this season.

The Picks

• Breece Hall (Jets) – Over 925.5 Rushing Yards
• Derrick Henry (Ravens) – Over 1375.5 Rushing Yards (-110)
• Omarion Hampton (Chargers) – Over 6.5 Rushing Touchdowns (+100)
• Ashton Jeanty (Raiders) – Over 999.5 Rushing Yards (-130)

*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)

Breece Hall (Jets) – Over/Under 925.5 Rushing Yards

Things have never quite gone as planned for Breece Hall with the Jets:

• In 2022, he may have had a shot at Offensive Rookie of the Year if he didn’t suffer a season-ending injury in his 7th game.
• In 2023, he was supposed to have Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, only to see Rodgers rupture his Achilles on the opening drive as Hall finished with 994 rushing yards in an offense that had no passing attack.
• In 2024, Rodgers didn’t elevate the offense as much as expected, and Hall rushed for 876 yards after his yards per carry slipped to 4.2, down from 4.5 in 2023 and 5.8 as a rookie.

Maybe Hall will never be as explosive as he was pre-injury as a rookie. But he can still be a competent starting back in this league, and under new coach Aaron Glenn, the 2025 Jets may need to rely on him more than usual.

First, the Jets signed Justin Fields as their quarterback, and you have to have a solid running game to insulate him. It’s also true that a mobile quarterback like that can help elevate the running back to better rushing lanes with read-option looks. Fields could be good for Hall’s production.

The Jets also used the No. 7 pick on Armand Membou, who was considered the best right tackle prospect in the draft and could help improve the run blocking this year for Hall.

The Jets should move to more of a run-based offense with the arrivals of Fields and Membou, so maybe this is an opportunity for Hall to have his 1st season with over 1,000 rushing yards. We’ll take the over 925.5 yards here.

NFL Pick: Breece Hall Over 925.5 Rushing Yards at Bet365

Derrick Henry (Ravens) – Over/Under 1375.5 Rushing Yards

The NFL is fortunate the Ravens stumbled in so many close games and that Mark Andrews flubbed the playoff loss in Buffalo. Letting Lamar Jackson pair with Derrick Henry was an insane move by the other 31 teams, as they are a perfect duo that complement each other so well.

Sure enough, Henry looked reignited at 30 years old last year, rushing for 1,921 yards and a career-high 5.9 yards per carry. You’re not supposed to hit your best average ever at 30 years old at this position, but that’s the value of playing with Jackson, who usually helps the Ravens to an elite running game with his unique talents.

It’s true that Henry is inevitably going to slow down, and the track record for 31-year-old running backs, especially in the 21st century, is not great. But when the line is just 1375.5 yards, it’s hard not to trust King Henry to gallop his way over that line by early December. One you shouldn’t have to sweat out in Week 18.

Sure, injuries are the downside to these types of bets, especially for running backs. But Henry has been very durable in his career, and the Ravens are not going to suddenly start throwing for 5,000 yards this year. They are still going to build around the rushing attack, and Henry is a great weapon for them.

NFL Pick: Derrick Henry Over 1375.5 Rushing Yards (-110) at Bet365

Omarion Hampton (Chargers) – Over/Under 6.5 Rushing Touchdowns

Most people had the Denver Broncos taking a running back in the 1st round, and that back was usually North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. Instead, the Broncos opted for a corner while the Chargers used the No. 22 pick on Hampton, a bit of a surprise after they signed Najee Harris from the Steelers in free agency.

But the Chargers plan to run the ball more for Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, and they already said goodbye to backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, last year’s duo.

Hampton enters an offense with a great quarterback in Justin Herbert, who will hopefully have a little more receiving help this year with the return of Mike Williams and more draft investment to go along with their big hit last year in Ladd McConkey. That could help the offense get above average in the red zone (ranked 18th in touchdown rate last year) and in the top 10 on 3rd down, leading to more scoring opportunities.

Dobbins (9) and Edwards (4) combined for 13 rushing touchdowns last year, so that could be the number (a minimum) that needs to be replaced this year by Hampton and Harris. While Harris is the veteran, Hampton is a talent who could handle a big load himself.

That’s why it looks like a good bet that Hampton can go over 6.5 rushing touchdowns for this offense as they feed their 1st-round pick who scored 15 touchdowns in each of his last 2 collegiate seasons.

NFL Pick: Omarion Hampton Over 6.5 Rushing Touchdowns (+100) at Bet365

Ashton Jeanty (Raiders) – Over/Under 999.5 Rushing Yards

The big prize at running back in this year’s draft was Ashton Jeanty from Boise State, the runnerup for the Heisman Trophy last year. He went to the Raiders with the No. 6 pick, giving new coach Pete Carroll another dynamic back like he had at USC when he had Reggie Bush in the early 2000s.

Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last year, but the NFL isn’t the Mountain West Conference, and Jeanty will have to step up at a smaller size against NFL competition.

But his speed and vision are incredible, and we know running back is a position where many players had instant success as rookies. However, college hype doesn’t always translate to an instant 1,000-yard rushing season in the NFL as Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft by Atlanta, finished with 976 yards just 2 seasons ago.

But the Falcons also fed Tyler Allgeier 186 carries that year to 214 for Robinson, which is why coach Arthur Smith has the reputation he does about misusing his talent. Will the Raiders follow suit? Carroll is used to a workhorse like when he had Marshawn Lynch in his best days in Seattle, but he also used a dual-back approach at USC with Bush and LenDale White.

However, a big reason the Raiders used such a high pick on Jeanty despite maybe not having the best offensive line to make use of him is because they don’t have much credibility at running back after losing Josh Jacobs to Green Bay last year. The 2024 Raiders were led in rushing by Alexander Mattison, who had just 420 yards. They were giving carries to Sincere McCormick late in the season, which sounds like a created player in Madden.

That’s why it feels like Jeanty has a great shot to get well over 200 carries this year. Who is going to steal carries from him? Also, the Raiders could be an improved team with Carroll’s coaching and the addition of quarterback Geno Smith, who has some weapons with tight end Brock Bowers and wideout Jakobi Meyers. Maybe the Raiders don’t need to abandon the run as much this year.

With Jeanty’s speed and ability to hit the big plays, he should get to over 1,000 rushing yards in 2025.

NFL Pick: Ashton Jeanty Over 999.5 Rushing Yards (-130) at Bet365