Running backs are officially back in a big way, and NFL executives, coaches, and scouts just dropped their definitive rankings for 2025. After years of the passing game dominating headlines, these ground-pounders are reminding everyone why handing off the ball to your best athlete never goes out of style.
Seven teams averaged at least 140 rushing yards per game in 2024, up from just three the previous year. That’s not a coincidence – it’s a full-blown renaissance of old-school football mixed with modern athleticism. The message is clear: elite running backs can still change games and win championships.
Saquon Barkley’s Eagles transformation was absolutely perfect
Barkley didn’t just have a good season – he had a historically dominant one that made every voter except one put him at number one. His move from the Giants to Philadelphia wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was a complete resurrection of his career.
The numbers are absolutely staggering. Barkley’s 2,504 combined rushing yards (regular season and playoffs) plus seven scrimmage touchdowns of 60-plus yards are the most in a single season in NFL history. He hit 20 mph on nine touchdown runs, while no other player had more than two. That’s not just speed – that’s video game level dominance.
What makes this even more impressive is how this vindicated Dave Gettleman’s controversial decision to draft Barkley second overall in 2018. Everyone criticized taking a running back that high, but Barkley just proved that generational talent at the position is worth every penny when you put them in the right system.
Derrick Henry refuses to acknowledge Father Time exists
At 31 years old, Henry should be slowing down. Instead, he’s getting better, which is absolutely mind-boggling for a position where most players hit a wall around 30. His 830 rushing yards after contact were 191 more than the next-closest player, proving that tackling him is still a nightmare nobody wants to deal with.
Henry’s 5.9 yards per rush last season was the highest mark by any player with 250 carries since Adrian Peterson in 2012. He’s tied Jim Brown for the most games with 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns in NFL history. When you’re being mentioned with Jim Brown, you know you’re doing something absolutely special.
The Ravens knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Henry, and he delivered beyond their wildest expectations. Baltimore’s offense went from good to historically great with him anchoring the ground game.
Young stars Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are taking over
The future of the running back position is in excellent hands with these two 23-year-olds leading the charge. Gibbs earned the nickname “Sonic” for obvious reasons, leading the NFL with 20 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per touch – the highest mark by any player with 250 touches in the past decade.
Robinson bounced back from a disappointing rookie year to absolutely dominate in 2024. His 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 304 carries showed exactly why Atlanta drafted him so high. He’s already joined Hall of Famers Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players with 2,400 rushing yards and 100 receptions in their first two seasons.
Both players represent the evolution of the position – they’re not just runners, they’re complete offensive weapons who can line up anywhere and create mismatches. The league’s defensive coordinators are going to have nightmares about these two for years to come.
Christian McCaffrey’s durability concerns are getting real
The former number one dropped to fifth, and it’s not because his talent disappeared overnight. McCaffrey has missed 10 or more games in three of his past five seasons, which is a massive red flag for a position that relies so heavily on staying healthy.
When he’s on the field, McCaffrey is still absolutely elite. He’s got four seasons with at least 1,800 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Hall of Famers in exclusive company. But availability is the best ability, and teams are starting to factor injury history into their evaluations more heavily.
The 49ers know they have something special when McCaffrey is healthy, but they also know they can’t count on him being available for 17 games plus playoffs. That uncertainty is what dropped him from the top spot.
Josh Jacobs proved Green Bay made the right investment
The Packers shocked everyone by giving Jacobs a $48 million deal, breaking their long-standing tradition of not spending big on running backs. That investment paid off immediately with 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, showing that sometimes you have to pay for elite talent.
Jacobs is the only NFL player to eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns every year since 2019. That kind of consistency is exactly what championship teams need, and Green Bay recognized they had a Super Bowl window that required maximizing their offensive weapons.
His combination of balance, strength, vision, and availability makes him the perfect complement to Jordan Love’s development. Sometimes the best moves are the ones that seem obvious in hindsight.
Several big names fell short of expectations
The most surprising omissions from the top 10 include some players who were expected to be locks. Breece Hall, who looked like a future superstar before injuries derailed his momentum, received votes but couldn’t crack the top tier. His situation with the Jets’ struggling offense certainly didn’t help his case.
De’Von Achane’s explosive speed and big-play ability earned him honorable mention status, but concerns about his size and durability kept him from the top 10. The Dolphins know they have a weapon, but they’re still figuring out how to use him without breaking him.
Aaron Jones, despite a solid season with Minnesota, couldn’t overcome age and durability concerns to make the cut. At 30, voters are starting to question how much longer he can maintain his current level of production.
The running back position is experiencing a massive resurgence, and these rankings prove that teams are recognizing the value of elite ground games again. Whether it’s Barkley’s historic season, Henry’s ageless dominance, or the emergence of young stars like Gibbs and Robinson, the position has never been more exciting.
