Ranking the Top 10 Current NFL Running Backs

Key Takeaways

• The injured Christian McCaffrey and Nick Chubb have been removed from the top 10 due to their inactivity.
• Saquon Barkley has reemerged as arguably the league’s best back through two weeks.
• Kyren Williams continues to plummet after a shaky start to the season.

The 2024 NFL offseason was an unequivocal win for the running back position. Several premier rushers scored multi-year contracts in free agency, a stark contrast from 2023.

While teams may not value the running game the same way they did decades ago, it’s clear there is still a place for high-level running backs.

The biggest change to this week’s list is the removal of Christian McCaffrey and Nick Chubb, who were top five entries to start the year. While they are both talented players, they haven’t played yet this season and will be out for at least the next month or so. For this list to focus on the best running backs in the game today, there needs to be an emphasis on the ones currently suiting up on Sundays.

Additionally, performance from past seasons is still heavily factors into these rankings. As we begin to gather a larger sample of data from this season, early 2024 standouts, such as J.K. Dobbins and Jordan Mason may enter this list. For now, though, they are on the outside looking in.

1 Saquon Barkley

An improved offensive line may be the key to getting Barkley back to All-Pro form

Saquon Barkley grabs the top spot on this list after an impressive opening to the 2024 season. There were many questions about Barkley’s three-year, $37.75 million deal given his injury history, and while there are still valid concerns, the former Penn State Nittany Lion has shown exactly why the Philadelphia Eagles paid up for him.

Running behind a bad offensive line and dealing with injuries at the quarterback position forced the two-time Pro Bowler to do it all with the New York Giants. Luckily for him, that isn’t the case now. Barkley is working with the largest running lanes of his career and has become a featured part of the Eagles offense.

At 27, Barkley is still one of the most explosive and jittery athletes in the NFL and can easily shed tackles from linebackers and defensive backs.

Barkley delivered another strong performance in Week 2, though his third-down drop late in the fourth quarter cost Philadelphia the win.

2 Derrick Henry

Henry is taking on a new role in Baltimore

It’s been speculated that teams should limit a running back’s usage to preserve their bodies and prevent them from burning out by the end of their rookie deals. This theory may ring true for most but Derrick Henry has never been like the average runner.

He led the league in carries in four of his last five seasons with the Tennessee Titans, amassing 1,529 attempts on the ground, and would’ve done so for all five years had he not injured his foot in 2021.

There is no back as physically dominant and punishing as Henry. Even as he approaches 30 with plenty of tread on the tire, his body can absorb contact from defenders, seemingly without consequence. Henry is now with the Baltimore Ravens, who have the surrounding talent to manage his workload.

Henry ran for 84 yards on 18 carries against the Raiders on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to deliver the Ravens their first win of the season.

3 Josh Jacobs

Jacobs is an early riser due to his improved efficiency

Josh Jacobs is yet another reminder of why straight-line speed isn’t the end-all-be-all for running back play. He has an explosive first step and is a one-cut runner, who moves better than his athletic testing numbers suggest.

The splash plays aren’t in abundance, the same way they are for others on this list, but Jacobs is a high-level, north-south runner and falls forward to gain yardage.

The 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders was a noticeable step back for Jacobs, as he rushed for a career-low 805 yards in 13 games. The Green Bay Packers are hoping to get Jacobs get back to who he was in 2022 when he led the NFL in rushing with a career-high 1,653 yards.

Jacobs stepped up big time in the absence of Jordan Love in Week 2. He ran for 151 yards and allowed the Packers to maintain their run-first attack for most of the game.

4 Breece Hall

Hall is one of the league’s most intriguing young backs

Breece Hall wasn’t nearly as efficient or dynamic in 2023 as he was during his rookie season with the New York Jets. However, there is a plausible explanation for this.

One, Hall was coming off a torn ACL, and it has become increasingly common for running backs to return to 100% by their second season following the injury.

Secondly, the Jets’ offensive line was turnstile for much of the year. The fact that Hall was still productive given these circumstances is a testament to his ability. If his rookie-year burst returns, he could catapult himself into the top three.

Hall finished with 114 yards from scrimmage in the Jets’ first victory of the season. While rookie Braelon Allen has gotten some touches, it’s no secret that Hall is the team’s featured back.

5 Jonathan Taylor

Taylor enters 2024 with less controversy

It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like everyone has forgotten how good Jonathan Taylor was in 2021 for the Indianapolis Colts. His 1,811 rushing yards would’ve won him Offensive Player of the Year had it not been for Cooper Kupp’s historic season.

Taylor was hindered by injury in 2022, and held out for several weeks amid a contract dispute in 2023. He ultimately appeared in just 10 games this past year, as a thumb injury also kept him out of action for multiple weeks.

Still only 25, Taylor is one of the league’s best running backs when on the field. With a full offseason to work with Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson, he’s poised to return to his Pro Bowl ways. Taylor ran for 103 yards on 12 carries in the Colts’ Week 2 loss to Green Bay. With Richardson’s inconsistent play so far, leaning on the run in future weeks could be beneficial to Indianapolis.

6 Bijan Robinson

Robinson has all the tools to be an elite back

Bijan Robinson’s rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons wasn’t smooth or pretty, but with 976 yards on the ground and another 487 in the air, he did enough to prove that he’s on his way to becoming one of the best running backs in the league.

As a runner, Robinson possesses excellent lateral quickness and footwork, which allow him to maximize yardage. He also carved out a substantial role in the passing game and was a willing pass protector.

To take the next stop, Robinson will need a more consistent role. Too many times, he would see the sideline for plays or drives at a time following a miscue. Although the Texas alum was far from perfect, his coaching staff seemed unwilling to allow him to be a rookie.

With a year of experience under his belt and a new coaching staff, Robinson has a chance to have a breakout season. He had 122 yards of total offense against the Eagles and appears to be on the right track. Robinson will be vital to the offense’s performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.

7 Alvin Kamara

Kamara has made plays as a rusher and receiver early on in 2024

It didn’t take long for Alvin Kamara to make his return to the top 10. It was one thing when Kamara was forcing missed tackles and leading scoring drives for the New Orleans Saints against the woeful Panthers, but after running for 115 yards and scoring four touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys, Kamara’s resurgence is difficult to ignore.

He doesn’t run as much as he glides, displaying great balance and body control in the process. Kamara remains a great pass-catching threat and will likely see a greater target share as the season progresses.

8 James Cook

Cook is an unsung hero of the Bills’ offense

James Cook became a Pro Bowl running back in 2023 and was quietly one of the most important players on the Buffalo Bills offense. Cook is listed at 190 pounds, which stops him from being a great short yardage or inside zone runner. Still, he is a smooth, instinctive back with good foot speed and vision.

While Cook will never be a workhorse back, he can still make a difference with his efficient running and underrated pass catching ability. Cook’s skillset will come in handy for a Bills team that is still figuring out its receiver room.

Cook rushed for 78 yards and two scores in the Bills 31-10 victory over the Dolphins. He’ll face the Jacksonville Jaguars defense on Monday Night Football next week.

9 De’Von Achane

Achane’s speed makes him a bonafide playmaker

De’Von Achane is the latest of Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s favorite gadgets. Achane is part receiver, part running back, and part track star. He has 4.3 speed and can make quick cuts that leave linebackers in the dust.

Achane isn’t a very big back, and the lack of size prevents him from being a high-volume runner or short-yardage back, but the Dolphins’ offense is uniquely favorable to athletic players who can create in space.

He averaged 7.8 yards per carry on 103 carries as a rookie, and it’s only a matter of time until he gets back to generating explosive plays on the ground. Even without the rushing efficiency, Achane has made a difference as a receiver. He’s caught 14 passes for 145 yards so far this season.

10 Kyren Williams

Williams was excellent to close the 2023 season but has struggled to open up 2024

Puka Nacua might have been the Los Angeles Rams’ breakthrough player of the year, but Kyren Williams wasn’t too far behind him.

Williams rushed for 1,144 yards in 12 games, leading the league in yards per contest with 95.3. Despite lacking high-end athleticism, he consistently gained yardage as a runner and kept the Rams’ offense ahead of the sticks.

The key to improving his ranking will be to reduce miscues. The first-time Pro Bowler was in the top 10 in the league in fumbles and had a relatively high drop rate. Still, it’s easy to see the vision of Williams becoming a premier halfback.

It was another rough showing for Williams, who was outshone by Blake Corum in the Rams’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He caught some passes, but it wasn’t enough to salvage his performance. If these struggles persist, Williams will be off this list soon.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.