Top 10 Running Backs In The NFL
The running back position is one of the weirdest positions in sports. Everybody values it differently, it’s all in how your offense works. They’ll tell you running backs grow on trees, but we still have not found that tree. It feels like the pendulum has swung too far and these guys are getting disrespected. Who are the 10 best ball carriers in the NFL?
10) Nick Chubb
Although we don’t know when or if he will be able to get back to his old self after the horrific knee injury, Nick Chubb still deserves to be on this list. The injury to his knee put his entire career in jeopardy when it happened, but luckily it looks like he’ll be able to play again.
Chubb is a six-year NFL veteran. He’s posted over 1,000 rushing yards every season of his career, except for two. In his rookie season, he just missed the mark, going for 996 yards that year and obviously, last season where he played just two games.
The Browns running back has made four Pro Bowls and in all four of those seasons, he was top 10 in the NFL in rushing touchdowns and top three in rush yards per game. He’s also finished top 10 in rushing yards every year of his career besides last year.
9) Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson’s rookie season was a weird one. He and Arthur Smith didn’t seem to be on the same page, but now under new coach Raheem Morris, it seems like Robinson will be a key part of the Falcons offense going forward. We might even see Atlanta try to use him how San Francisco uses Christian McCaffrey.
Last year, Robinson was able to put up 1,463 yards from scrimmage on 272 touches for eight touchdowns. He averaged 5.4 yards per touch in an odd rookie season. Although he finished fifth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, Robinson was still able to finish the season on the NFL All-Rookie Team and finish tenth in the league in yards from scrimmage.
8) Dolphins Duo
The Dolphins’ one-two punch of Raheem Mostert and Devon Achane proved to be one of the best backfields in the league last season. Mostert led the way with 1,012 rushing yards for 18 rushing touchdowns with three more on the receiving side. The 32-year-old Mostert led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and finished tenth in rushing yards. He also finished the season as ninth in rush yards per game with 67.5 yards.
Achane struggled to stay healthy, but when he played he was sensational. In his 11 games, he was able to rush for 800 yards on 103 attempts for eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. Achane averaged 7.8 yards per rush attempt and 72.7 rush yards per game, good for fifth in the NFL. He’s only 22 with a ton of room to grow. If this duo can stay on the field, they will be a problem for defenses.
7) Alvin Kamara
Although Alvin Kamara missed some time last season, he still found a way to make it a good one. Theres only room for growth for him in the newly hired Klint Kubiak’s offense. The Saints were trying to push Kamara up the gut too much in recent years, instead of using him the way he should be, bounced outside or watching passes.
In his 13 games last season, Kamara was able to rush for 694 yards and five touchdowns. In the receiving department, he also went for 466 yards and another touchdown. That put Kamara up to 1,160 yards from scrimmage on the season, keeping his streak of 1,100+ yard seasons alive. Something he has done every year of his career. The five-time Pro Bowler turns 29 in July.
6) Breece Hall
Breece Hall is entering year three of his NFL career, and it is time for him to turn it up a notch. He’s been good, but you know theres another level in there that he’s going to unlock. Especially if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy this season, the Jets as a whole should be able to reach another level.
Last season, Hall rushed for 994 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per rush and 58.5 yards per game on 13 attempts a game. He also caught 76 passes for 591 yards and four more touchdowns. He had the NFL’s longest rush on the year as well, an 83-yard scamper. Hall finished his second season fourth in yards from scrimmage.
5) Derrick Henry
Although it will be odd to see Derrick Henry in a new uniform, the decision to go to Baltimore might pay off handsomely for him. We know the Ravens can run the ball, now they just added one of the best running backs of our lifetime. Sure, he’s getting up there in age, but they should be able to get at least two good seasons out of him. Not a bad thing when you’re the Ravens and want to win right now.
Last season, Henry was able to pull in 1,167 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt and 68.6 yards per game, leading the NFL in rush attempts for the past two seasons. In his prime in 2019 and 2020, Henry led the NFL in attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and rush yards per game. He may be 30 years old, but he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down quite yet.
4) Lions Duo
Much like the Dolphins, the Lions used a two-headed rushing attack last season with David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. The only difference is that they might’ve perfected the method. Montgomery and Gibbs were easily the best running-back duo in the league last season.
Montgomery led the way on the ground with 1,015 rushing yards for 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt and 72.5 yards per game. Montgomery’s first season in Detroit was a good one. It saw him finish fifth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, sixth in rush yards per game, and ninth in rushing yards.
Gibbs put together a great rookie season, being named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns. The rook also caught 52 passes for another 316 yards and another touchdown, really rounding into his Alvin Kamara archetype. Gibbs finished his rookie campaign tenth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns and fifth in rush yards per attempt, oh yeah and he was a Pro Bowler.
3) Jonathan Taylor
Although Colts star Jonathan Taylor has been banged up the past two seasons if he can stay healthy, he’s one of the best running backs in football. Last season, Taylor only played 10 games, putting up 741 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He was playing great, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 74.1 yards per game on 17 attempts.
The last time Taylor was fully healthy was 2021 when we saw him rush for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt and 106.5 yards per game. That season, Taylor finished second on the Offensive Player of the Year vote and made the Pro Bowl, and was named a First Team All-Pro. He’s also still just 25 years old. Lots of room for him and the Colts to grow.
2) Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley has been one of the best running backs in football for some time now, the only problem was that he was wasting it as a New York Giant. Now, Barkley is with his hometown team the Philadelphia Eagles. As a Giant, Barkley had three seasons over 1,000 rushing yards and he even went over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season.
Last season, Barkley was only able to play 14 games, but he still brought in 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 41 passes for 280 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. He finished seventh in the NFL in rush yards per game with 68.7 yards. Now that he’s in Philly, he should be better protected by his offensive line and playcalling. Expecting Barkley to have some fun with it this season.
1) Christian McCaffrey
This one doesn’t feel like it needs a ton of explaining, but Christian McCaffrey has been the NFL’s premiere running back for a while now. It’s just been that much more important now that he’s on a good team. Although he is hitting his thirties and on the Madden cover…A running back’s worst nightmare?
Last season saw McCaffrey win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Award, rushing for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 67 passes for 564 yards and seven more touchdowns. He averaged 91.2 rushing yards per game on 17 attempts. McCaffrey finished third in the MVP vote after going over 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the second time in his career and leading the league in rushing yards and total touchdowns.
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