The Return of the RB Card in The Hobby
Running backs are having a renaissance in the NFL, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is set to test just how far the renewed appreciation for the position can go – both on the gridiron and on cardboard.
After a record-breaking junior season that saw him finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist, Jeanty has officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. His decision follows a campaign in which he rushed for over 2,601 yards, making him one of this century’s most dynamic running back prospects. Jeanty fell 27 yards short of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record, set 36 years ago.
NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler, writing for The Athletic, has stated: “You could make the argument that after Travis Hunter, Jeanty is the best player in the draft.” That’s a remarkable compliment at a position that quarterbacks and wide receivers this century have often overshadowed.
Jeanty enters the draft at a moment when the value of running backs is climbing once again. Derrick Henry just capped a historic season for the Baltimore Ravens, helping them rack up 299 rushing yards in a playoff game—the most in 12 years. Henry’s 2024 season included over 2,000 scrimmage yards. And Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley became only the ninth back in league history to compile over 2,000 yards as a rusher.
The Detroit Lions, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, have also heavily invested in the position, with dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs and tough-nosed David Montgomery leading an offense built to dominate in the trenches. This renewed focus on the running game has card collectors speculating: Could running backs once again rival quarterbacks in Hobby appeal?
RBs Once Ruled the Football Hobby
For vintage collectors, Jim Brown, who once held the all-time rushing yards record, is arguably the most popular player. According to Card Ladder, his cards have a market cap of over $24 million, the highest of any NFL player who played before the year 2000.
According to Mock Draft Database, the consensus draft prediction is Jeanty landing with the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 overall. Playing for America’s Team would undoubtedly enhance his visibility and desirability in the trading card market, especially given the team’s storied history with great running backs. That includes current all-time leading NFL rusher Emmitt Smith. To understand how the market has shifted, Card Ladder has Smith’s current market cap at just $3.34 million, less than one-seventh of Brown’s.
Jeanty’s college career at Boise State was remarkable. As a freshman and sophomore, he rushed for 2,168 yards and 21 touchdowns, adding 724 receiving yards and five more scores through the air. His near-record-breaking junior season in 2024 made him a Heisman Trophy finalist—a rare feat in today’s pass-heavy college game.
Brugler’s scouting report highlights what sets Jeanty apart: “He’s built low to the ground. He has exceptional strength. He runs like he’s doused in Vaseline. He can cut and accelerate. His contact balance is exceptional. In terms of him as a pass catcher, that’s what I really think separates him as well. It’s kind of like LaDainian Tomlinson. What he’s done this past year with the big plays and the broken tackles, that’s going to translate to the NFL.”
