Standout Running Backs to Watch Ahead of Week 2

Several Minnesota running backs opened the 2025 season with standout performances. The backfield talent across the state is deep, with explosive playmakers and workhorse runners making their mark in Week 1.   Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how this group continues to grow and separate themselves as the season progresses.   Here are 13 running backs to watch ahead of Week 2:    In my opinion, the best running back in the state is a junior and hails from Hastings. Shatek opened his junior season with 215 yards on 35 carries and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with just over a minute left in Hastings' 20-17 win over New Prague. He has clearly gained good weight after a productive summer, which included attending multiple Dakota camps and performing notably at a Wisconsin Badgers prospect camp, where he received a gameday invite this fall. Shatek displayed impressive conditioning, improving throughout the game. He notched his first catch and target on the final drive and then scored the game-winner two plays later from 11 yards out. Shatek is a decisive runner with verified track speed that shows up on tape.He hits creases quickly, gets downhill with urgency, and runs with balance through contact. He wins between the tackles and on the perimeter. He is Minnesota's most complete running back and a home-run threat on every carry.     Swanson opened his senior year with 251 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard score on the first play from scrimmage, as Lakeville South defeated Mounds View 34-7. He later added a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, finishing with a statement performance in his first start as a captain. Swanson showed the ability to finish runs once he reached the second level. He displays solid burst through creases and a strong lower body that carries him through arm tackles. Swanson also shows vision and patience behind his blockers, pairing with South's massive line to consistently generate chunk gains. After waiting his turn in a deep backfield, Swanson's offseason work and leadership have positioned him to take on a heavy load in 2025. His blend of toughness, speed, and balance make him a reliable feature back and a dangerous playmaker with the ball in his hands.     Bjorgaard ran for 181 yards and a touchdown in Edina's opener, setting the tone with a 59-yard score on the second play of the game. On the run, he showed patience behind his line before making a decisive one-cut at the second level and outrunning the secondary to the end zone. At 210 pounds, Bjorgaard runs with power and balance, bouncing off tacklers while keeping his feet. He combines vision, quickness, and physicality with a downhill style that wears on defenses. He has the speed to beat defenders to the corner, but does his best work between the tackles, finishing runs with force. Bjorgaard brings a tough, physical element to the Edina backfield and profiles as a reliable inside runner with the ability to generate explosive plays when he finds daylight.     Nelson, a junior, opened his season with a long touchdown run late in Champlin Park's 21-12 win over St. Michael-Albertville. Earlier, he added a 17-yard carry that helped set up the Rebels' first touchdown. He also finished with a key score that sealed the victory, showcasing the speed and vision that already make him one of the most intriguing backs in the state. He finished the game with 160 rushing yards. At 6-foot, 190 pounds, Nelson combines verified athleticism (4.38 forty-yard dash) with natural running instincts. He is calm behind his blockers, but his sudden plant-and-go footwork and burst allow him to create when a play breaks down. His cuts are sharp, his change of direction is immediate, and once he hits the second level his top-end speed shows. Nelson also runs with balance and strength, capable of bouncing through low tackle attempts and finishing runs with force. His vision, versatility, and big-play ability make him a dangerous weapon in space and a rising prospect with real upside going into his upperclassman seasons.     Engle carried 24 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns in Maple Grove's 37-17 season-opening win at Stillwater. The senior stepped into the lead role for the defending Class 6A state champions and delivered, powering a Crimson offense that scored 24 unanswered points. Engle has 4.4 speed and combines it with explosive lateral quickness. He stops and starts well and makes sharp directional cuts. His balance and body control power him through contact. A versatile back, Engle can win between the tackles with toughness or outside with speed, and his skill set makes him a reliable every-down option. His blend of speed, balance, and versatility gives Maple Grove another playmaker capable of lots of carries. A productive back with the tools to make an impact at the next level.     Helfmann carried 32 times for 248 yards and three touchdowns in St. Louis Park's 27-21 overtime win over Minneapolis Southwest. He scored the game-winner one play after recovering a fumble on defense, capping a performance that showed both his production and competitiveness. At 5'10, 200 pounds, Helfmann runs with vision and patience, consistently finding holes as they open at the line of scrimmage. He cuts sharply in space and creates gains with sudden lateral movement. His leg drive fights through low tackle attempts, and his ball security stood out in a heavy workload performance. Helfmann also brings reliable hands out of the backfield, giving him value as a receiving option. A physical, durable back with strong vision and balance.     Becker rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries in Elk River's 50-42 win over Bemidji. His highlight was an 80-yard misdirection run that flipped momentum. He was named player of the game for his explosive performance. A senior, Becker is a dynamic runner who pairs speed with toughness. He runs behind his pads, keeps his feet churning, and consistently falls forward through contact. His vision helps him to find daylight quickly in Elk River's Power T attack, and once he reaches the second level, his speed separates him from pursuit. Despite limited touches, Becker maximizes each carry, showing both efficiency and big-play ability. Becker's blend of vision, toughness, and breakaway speed makes him a complete back and a dangerous playmaker in one of the state's most potent rushing offenses.     Holthaus rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns in Monticello's 34-18 win over Sauk Rapids, scoring twice in the second quarter to help the Magic build a halftime lead. The junior back carried the load behind a physical line and consistently punished defenders with his power running style. At 6'0, 210 pounds, Holthaus is a downhill runner who thrives through contact. He shows a strong one-cut burst, excellent contact balance, and the ability to carry defenders for extra yards. His leg drive and toughness make him difficult to bring down with arm tackles, and he finishes runs with authority. A year ago, Holthaus carried 187 times for 1,181 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, proving himself as one of the most productive young backs in Class 5A. Holthaus sets the tone for Monticello's offense with his physicality. He can enforce his will over four quarters and has the strength, balance, and vision to be a workhorse.     Kleffman rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in Elk River's 50-42 win over Bemidji. He broke free for a 59-yard score after a fake punt and followed with a 62-yard touchdown on the next possession, jumpstarting the Elks' offense in the first half. A junior, Kleffman is fast and physical, running with urgency and balance through contact. He keeps his feet driving, falls forward, and consistently turns small creases into explosive gains. His vision in Elk River's Power T attack allows him to hit lanes with confidence, and once he clears the second level, his speed makes him difficult to catch. Kleffman gives Elk River another dynamic option in a loaded backfield, pairing toughness with big-play ability to make the Elks' ground game one of the most dangerous in the state.     Buettner opened Hill-Murray's 52-15 win over Chisago Lakes with a 55-yard touchdown run and later broke free for a 65-yard score, finishing with multiple long plays that showed his speed and confidence as a ball carrier. The sophomore hit his holes decisively, protected the football, and consistently outpaced the defense once he reached the second level. At 5'10, 190 pounds, Buettner runs with precision and urgency. His one-cut burst allows him to glide into open space, and his acceleration makes him a threat to score on any touch. A year ago, he rushed for 262 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and he also caught 14 passes for 110 yards. That versatility shows up on tape. Buettner is sharp on cutbacks, fluid in space, and fights for extra yards on contact. His blend of vision, burst, and long speed make him one of the most dangerous young backs in the Metro.     Sleen rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries in Hermantown's 52-7 win over Duluth Denfeld. He opened the scoring with a 3-yard run and later broke free for touchdown runs of 37 and 32 yards in the third quarter, showing the acceleration and top-end speed that make him the centerpiece of the Hawks' offense. At 6'1, 170 pounds, Sleen combines speed, vision, and toughness. He presses the line of scrimmage with patience before exploding through openings, where his balance and power allow him to run through first contact. His ability to accelerate into space makes missed tackles inevitable, and one false step by a defender is often enough for him to take over a drive. Last year, Sleen rushed for 1,623 yards and 24 touchdowns at 12.4 yards per carry, production that established him as one of the most dangerous backs in the state. His speed and physicality make him a nightmare for defenses. A player who will continue to attract college attention.     Abdi carried 24 times for 163 yards and a touchdown in Stewartville's 25-6 win over Benilde-St. Margaret's. The senior stepped into the feature role after splitting time last year and delivered with a breakout performance that powered the Tigers' offense in their season opener. At 5'11, 185 pounds, Abdi runs with toughness and urgency, showing good burst through the line and the balance to finish runs through contact. He has the speed to break chunk gains and is dangerous in the open field, where his footwork and athleticism allow him to force defenders into poor angles. A multisport athlete with basketball quickness, Abdi flashes explosiveness when cutting and accelerates into space with purpose. His ability to pick up hard yardage while still threatening big plays gives Stewartville a versatile and reliable option at tailback.     Francois opened his senior season with 178 yards and three touchdowns in Minnetonka's 41-0 win over East Ridge, breaking free for a 70-yard score on the Skippers' third offensive play. The Iowa State commit, back at running back after a Class 6A Player of the Year season at quarterback, reminded everyone why he's one of the best running backs in the state. A natural runner, he has great burst through the hole and the ability to cut at full speed. He runs with balance that allows him to slip through arm tackles and finish runs with force and breakaway speed. He shows patience pressing the line of scrimmage before making a decisive cut, and once he hits daylight, he has the open-field acceleration to separate. A year of playing quarterback also sharpened his understanding of defenses and improved his decision-making with the ball in his hands. He is a tough assignment for any defense and a proven playmaker who consistently delivers in big moments.

Several Minnesota running backs opened the 2025 season with standout performances. The backfield talent across the state is deep, with explosive playmakers and workhorse runners making their mark in Week 1.