FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

David's Daily Digest

August 28th, 2025

Thursday Night Edition

MY 2025 FAVORITES: RUNNING BACK POSITION

I’ve been making my way through a few more fantasy football drafts of late (can’t seem to get enough these days) and as I am going through the process of selection, I am finding myself targeting a lot of the same players. At the top of the draft the easy favorites include the Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (likely a league winner this season), the Niners Christian McCaffrey, and the Bucs Bucky Irving.

In 2024, during the back stretch leading to and through the fantasy playoffs (week 12 thru week 17), Gibbs finished less than a fantasy point behind Saquon Barkley (fantasy RB1) in fantasy points per game. Irving also makes this list finishing as the fantasy RB7. McCaffrey missed 13 games during the 2024 season, but in 2023 (when he was healthy) CMC played in 16 and finished as the runaway fantasy RB1 (PPR scoring) averaging 24.5 fantasy points per game. He’s healthy this season, so I have no qualms about taking him early.

Looking ahead into the middles rounds and deeper into the fantasy drafts, these are my biggest favorites in the backfield for the 2025 fantasy football season. Just like CMC, the Commanders also possess a former number one fantasy running back in Austin Ekeler. 

While I am not calling for a return to the fountain of youth for Ekeler, despite missing time in 2024 to injury, when given the opportunity he performed. Last season Ekeler posted double-digit fantasy points in 8 of his 11 games played, including a three-game stint (weeks 9 thru 11) where he averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game, ranking as the fantasy RB8 during this stretch. With Brian Robinson being traded this preseason, a healthy Ekeler appears to have a great opportunity to resurge in 2025.

Another backfield fantasy favorite of mine in 2025 is the Bears running back D’Andre Swift. Reuniting with his former play caller (the Bears new Head Coach) Ben Johnson, Swift has an opportunity to run with the Jahmyr Gibbs role in the Chicago offense. 

While he may not be quite Gibbs, Swift is more than a capable back with (I believe) some juice left in the tank. In 2024 he showed some of his flash during a seven-game stretch (weeks 4 thru 11) where he averaged 18.3 fantasy points per game with only 5 rushing touchdowns. He totaled 764 yards of offense (567 rushing + 197 receiving) which ranked 4th behind Bijan Robinson 857, Alvin Kamara 808, and Jahmyr Gibbs 769. He also averaged 4.8 yards per carry during this stretch. 

I am a big believer the Ben Johnson effect can move Swift into RB2 country this season.

That’s My Take

~David G. Ortega