Jordan James | Oregon 5’9 ½” 205 lbs. 03/29/2004 (20)
Jordan James was drafted 147th overall by the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the 13th running back and 147th overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Attempt | TDs |
| 2022 (FR) | 10 | 46 | 189 | 4.1 | 5 |
| 2023 (SO) | 14 | 107 | 759 | 7.1 | 11 |
| 2024 (SR) | 14 | 233 | 1,267 | 5.4 | 15 |
James committed to Oregon as a four-star recruit out of Murfreesboro, TN. Buried on the depth chart behind Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, James only managed to receive 46 carries in 10 games. In his reserve role, James managed to find the end zone five times while producing 189 yards on the ground. Entering his Sophomore season, James leapfrogged Whittington on the depth chart and served as a nice second option next to Irving in the backfield. James averaged 7.1 yards per attempt en route to 759 rushing yards and a team-leading 11 rushing touchdowns. Entering his Junior season, James took on a much larger role with the departure of Irving. He started all 14 games for the Ducks and managed to turn 233 carries into 1,267 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. His efforts landed him on the Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference team.
FILM
STRENGTHS
Physical runner who has an ideal, compact frame. Drives through contact and shows off power through his lower half. Thrives as an inside zone runner, often navigating through traffic while leaning forward to earn the extra yard. Shows creativity with the ability to cut and make decisive decisions before the defense collapses. Shows great decisiveness and timing as a patient runner. Allows the holes to develop in front of him before exploding forward. Exceptional red zone efficiency. Willing to take on defenders and initiate contact as a pass protector.
WEAKNESSES
Lacks ideal top-line speed and agility for a back of his size, often getting tracked down from behind in foot races. Lacks creativity in the open field to make defenders miss. Although he is a willing pass protector, his form and technique need a lot of work. Unreliable as a pass-catcher. Shows limited skill as a route runner and had too many concentration drops during his limited time as a receiver out of the backfield. Below average athlete for a pro running back.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At the NFL combine, James measured in at 5’9 ½” and 205 lbs, which equates to a BMI of 29.4. He ran a sluggish 4.55-second 40-yard dash (62nd percentile), equating to a 95.7 speed score (47th percentile). James finished his collegiate career with a college dominator score of 24.6 percent (56th percentile).
James shows solid strength and physicality, but he’s a below-average athlete for a pro running back. His disappointing 4.55-second 40-yard dash placed him 18th out of 24 running backs at the combine. His lack of great agility skills was on display as he tied for the slowest 10-yard split with Kaleb Johnson (1.62 seconds) out of that same group of 24 running backs. James neglected to participate in the vertical jump, but his broad jump showcased his lack of ideal leaping abilities. His 117” broad jump placed him tied for last in the group as well.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
James was selected with the 147th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners bring in James to add to their running back room that already includes Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo. James will likely battle Israel Abanikanda and Patrick Taylor for the RB3 role.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
James received a sixth-round grade from me before the draft, and I had him as the 18th-ranked running back.
There is no need to draft James in your rookie drafts unless you play in a deep/large roster league. Because of his landing spot, it’s hard to imagine James turning into a productive fantasy asset early on in his career.
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