NFL Power Rankings 2020: Ranking every starting running back

The NFL is flooded with talented running backs and we’re ranking every starter.

The 2020 NFL Draft shook up the running back market by injecting yet another talented rookie class into the league. As many as four rookies could win starting jobs within the opening weeks of the upcoming season. Along with several veteran free agent signings from earlier in the spring, the 2020 draft class dramatically altered the running back power rankings.

The best 32 running backs in the NFL aren’t starting. Instead, some of the best backs are preparing for seasons as backups. For instance, Kareem Hunt in Cleveland or Phillip Lindsay in Denver could serve as feature backs on several teams. Instead, they’ll probably serve as backups this year. Some former starters and Pro Bowlers, like Devonta Freeman, remain unsigned.

However, these power rankings are only concerned with the projected starters for each team in Week 1, which puts rookies in competitive situations, like Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, at a disadvantage. Even if the rookies take over as starters by Week 4 or 5, they don’t qualify for this article.

I assembled the following group of running backs under the assumption that all 32 will be ready for Week 1. This premise primarily relates to any potential injuries or recovery problems, which rehabbing backs like Seattle’s Chris Carson could encounter. It also covers potential contract holdouts, which refers mainly to Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook.

While the quarterback power rankings article took supporting casts into account, this article relies almost solely on individual skill. Even if I mention offensive lines during a player’s slide, their performances did not play a role in the player’s ranking. Last year’s performances impact a running back’s positioning, but the rankings aren’t based solely on how the back played last year.

As the offseason rolls on, there’s a slim chance the running back power rankings will change. Most teams already know who their starters are for the season opener. Nevertheless, this is how the 32 projected starting running backs rank heading into the long summer stretch of the offseason.

32. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers used the 38th overall pick on Jones in 2018. At the time, the selection made perfect sense. Despite some flaws, Jones seemed primed for a long and successful NFL career. After all, he did produce 1,550 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns in his final season at USC.

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Unfortunately, Jones didn’t play much as a rookie and found himself riding the bench several times last season for failing in pass protection. With Tom Brady joining the team, it’s unsure how much Tampa Bay can afford to leave Jones on the field in protection scenarios.  He did run well in 2019, gaining 724 yards on only 172 attempts, but the Buccaneers need a complete back.

Dealing with a depleted backfield, the Buccaneers could search for a veteran in the free agency market. With the first wave of NFL free agency over, Tampa Bay won’t land a bonafide star, but the team could sign Devonta Freeman or LeSean McCoy.

Head coach Bruce Arians recently confirmed during a conference call that the Buccaneers did take a long look at Freeman. However, Arians also told reporters that the former Pro Bowl running back is asking for more money than Tampa Bay is willing to spend given the team’s shrinking cap space. Tampa Bay ranks among the bottom five teams in the league for available cap space.

The Buccaneers drafted Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn with a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Vaughn ran for 2,272 yards and 21 touchdowns during his final two collegiate seasons. While he offers an alternative to Jones, Vaughn is hardly a standout player. Tampa Bay’s backfield largely remains a mystery.

31. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams

Akers entered the 2020 NFL Draft as one of the most underrated prospects available. The soon-to-be 21-year-old battled behind a porous offensive line at Florida State for three seasons. Despite the football program descending into chaos amidst Jimbo Fisher’s departure, Deondre Francois’ struggles at quarterback, and scandals, Akers remained a pillar for the Seminoles.

In his final season with the team, Akers ran for 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per attempt. He even increased his role in the passing game, catching 30 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns. For his production under pressure, the Rams selected Akers with a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

NFL Network’s Analytics Expert, Cynthia Frelund nearly classified Florida State’s offensive line as “well below average” last season. Yet, Akers performed at a superb level, gaining 904 of his 1,144 rushing yards after contract. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), 3.9 of Akers’ yards per carry last season came after contact. He also forced 74 missed tackles, which tied for ninth-most in FBS.

Los Angeles needs to replace Todd Gurley quickly. The team parted ways with the former All-Pro when he battled injuries and mediocre production last season. While Akers seems destined for the starting role, Los Angeles could employ a running back by committee approach.

The Rams used a sixth-round pick on Josh Kelly in 2018 and a third-round pick on Darrell Henderson last year. With Malcolm Brown providing a veteran presence, the Rams could experiment with their running back room this season.

30. Jordan Howard, Miami Dolphins

Howard entered the NFL as a lowly fifth-round pick with plenty to prove. The Chicago Bears initially believed they’d found their running back of the future when Howard took over in 2016. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,313 yards on 5.2 yards per attempt. In his second season, Howard rushed for 1,122 yards and made the Pro Bowl.

Unfortunately, Howard flamed out in Chicago. In his third season, the Indiana product only ran for 935 yards and averaged 3.7 yards per attempt. He still produced over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, but the writing was on the wall. That offseason, Chicago traded Howard to Philadelphia for a conditional 2020 sixth-round draft pick.

Howard’s one season with the Eagles ended unceremoniously. He played a role in each of the team’s first nine games before he took a hit late in Philadelphia’s Week 9 matchup against the Bears. Howard told NBC Sports he thought it was just a stinger. However, the former Pro Bowler didn’t dress again for the Eagles until Week 16.

During his time off, Miles Sanders took over as Philadelphia’s starter, and Howard’s role on the offense disappeared.

This offseason, Howard signed a two-year deal worth $9.75 million with the Dolphins. He’ll compete with Matt Breida, who the Dolphins acquired for a fifth-round pick, for starting snaps. The workhorse running back can still grind down defenses, but Breida could steal Howard’s job before the season ends.

29. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers

Conner is entering a make or break season for his role as a starter in the NFL. The fourth-year running back went through some high peaks and deep valleys since committing to the University of Pittsburgh. Coming off a year where he couldn’t stay healthy and struggled to make an impact on Pittsburgh’s crippled offense, Conner needs to at least double his production from last season.

Conner arrived at Pitt in 2013 for his freshman season. After a decent first season, Conner erupted onto the collegiate scene as a sophomore, rushing for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns. He led the ACC in both categories and won the conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards. However, Conner tore his MCL during the first game of Pitt’s 2015 season, and doctors made a shocking discovery during his rehab.

Doctors informed Conner that they found tumors surrounding his heart. It was Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Last year, Conner went on rapper Mike Stud’s podcast “Ya Neva Know: You Know What I Mean?” and revealed how close he came to dying.

“The doctor told me, ‘You had about a week left,'” Conner told the rapper. “‘You had about a week at the rate it was growing.’ I think about that every day. Like, I got to go hard.”

Conner did defeat cancer and triumphantly returned to Pitt, leading the team with 1,092 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2016. The Steelers picked him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In the NFL, Conner played behind Le’Veon Bell for a year before assuming the starting role.

In his first season as a starter, Conner amassed 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in 13 games. He made the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistent play ruined Conner’s 2019 campaign. Now, fans wonder if he can even stay healthy for a full 16-game season.

28. David Johnson, Houston Texans

Johnson didn’t enter the NFL with All-Pro expectations. The Cardinals used a third-round pick on the Northern Iowa product in 2015. As a rookie, Johnson did get his fair share of carries, but the Cardinals relied mostly on Chris Johnson. The veteran received 71 more carries than the rookie, but the younger Johnson did lead Arizona with eight rushing touchdowns.

In 2016, Chris Johnson landed on injured reserve early in the season, paving the way for David Johnson. The younger back delivered, rushing for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns. Johnson also made 80 receptions for 879 yards and four more scores. He finished second on the team in receiving yards, only trailing the legendary Larry Fitzgerald.

Overall, Johnson finished 2016 with more touches (373), yards from scrimmage (2,118), and touchdowns (20) than any other skill player in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl and earned a First-Team All-Pro selection. Things seemed bright for the young running back, but his career took a sharp downturn in 2017.

Johnson suffered a wrist injury in Arizona’s opening game in 2017, which ended his season before it even began. He returned in 2018 but only averaged 3.6 yards per attempt and failed to cross the 1,000-yard threshold on the ground. In 2019, the Cardinals benched Johnson midway through the season in favor of Kenyan Drake.

This offseason, Arizona traded Johnson to the Texans in a package deal for DeAndre Hopkins. Maybe Johnson can turn his career around in Houston, but the 28-year-old used up most of my belief over the past three years.

27. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs selected Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 21-year-old walked into a terrific situation. A few months after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship with the LSU Tigers, Edwards-Helaire joined the reigning Super Bowl champions.

While Edwards-Helaire did see some playing time behind Nick Brossette in 2018, the 5-7 running back saw the first full-time starting action of his college career last season. In 15 games, Edwards-Helaire ran for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. He also flashed versatility, recording 55 receptions for 453 yards and another touchdown.

Edwards-Helaire should fit perfectly in Kansas City’s offense. Besides serving as a lethal receiving option out of the backfield, the LSU product is quick and can make defenders miss in a phone booth. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy told reporters, per the team’s official website:

"I think the kid [Edwards-Helaire] is just a special kid. You’ve seen some of the things he’s done on tape as far as running the ball, having the ability to get outside in the open field and make some plays as a receiver. You can create matchups with him. He’s one of those ideal kids that fits in with what we do."

As a rookie, Edwards-Helaire might split starting time with Damien Williams at the start of the season. Williams split starting snaps with LeSean McCoy last year and led the Chiefs with 498 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. However, Williams is in the final year of his contract, and teams don’t spend first-round picks on backup running backs. Edwards-Helaire should at least take over the starting job by the middle of the 2020 season.

26. Sony Michel, New England Patriots

The Patriots said goodbye to Tom Brady this offseason. With Jarrett Stidham preparing to take over as New England’s starter, the Patriots could become a one-dimensional offense in 2020. According to Pro Football Reference, Stidham only played 15 snaps as a rookie. If he flounders this coming season, Michel and his fellow backs could see a massive increase in touches.

Despite serving as New England’s second-best skill player behind Julian Edelman, Michel finds himself at a crossroads in 2020. The third-year running back performed well as a rookie, averaging 71.6 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per attempt, but he took a step back last season.

In his second year, Michel only averaged 57.0 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per attempt. Most starting running backs want to average at least 4.0 yards per carry. With New England possibly degrading into one of the worst offenses in the NFL this coming season, it doesn’t matter if Michel sees more carries. He’s not in a position to succeed and could be on a new team by the time New England is winning division titles again.

The Patriots drafted Michel with the 31st overall pick in 2018, meaning there’s a fifth-year option on the Georgia product’s rookie deal. Michel has not earned that fifth year yet, and he could see New England decline the option if he performs poorly in 2020.

James White also plays a significant role in New England’s offense. White produced 2,084 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. Most of his production comes on passing plays, and he isn’t a regular starter. However, White could see more success alongside Stidham because the former fourth-round pick’s game is extremely quarterback-friendly.

25. Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins

The Redskins and new head coach Ron Rivera probably want Derrius Guice or Bryce Love starting at running back this season, but Peterson should have the opportunity to defend his job. As a former second-round pick, Guice might have an inside track on the spot, but his failure to stay healthy through two seasons could give Peterson the advantage.

After the Redskins fired Jay Gruden last year and named Bill Callahan interim head coach, Peterson saw his role on the offense increase. During Gruden’s five games as head coach, Peterson made four appearances and averaged 27 yards on ten attempts per game. He produced a measly 2.7 yards per attempt.

Under Callahan, Peterson’s production skyrocketed. In 11 games, the former NFL MVP averaged 71.8 yards and 15.5 attempts per appearance. He also gained 4.6 yards per attempt. Overall, Peterson finished the season with 898 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 4.3 yards per attempt.

Until Guice or Love prove they can stay healthy for at least half a season, Washington should continue relying on Peterson. Riding a 35-year-old workhorse might seem silly in the modern NFL, but the Redskins experienced far more success while relying on Peterson last year than when the team rolled with Guice and the passing game.

24. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers

Mostert played his college ball at Purdue, where he split time between playing running back and wide receiver. While he served as the team’s primary kick returner for the majority of his four collegiate seasons, Mostert didn’t play a significant role on the offense until his senior season, when he rushed for 529 yards on 93 attempts.

The Purdue product went undrafted in 2015. That year, he appeared in games for the Browns, Dolphins, and Ravens. In 2016, Mostert spent some time on New York’s practice squad before the Jets cut him. He then appeared in two games for the Bears before Chicago sent him packing as well. Luckily, Mostert landed with the 49ers next, and he’s been with the franchise ever since.

However, Mostert still faced an uphill battle in the league. The running back landed on injured reserve in both 2017 and 2018. The 49ers showed faith in Mostert, giving him a one-year deal for 2018 and a three-year $8.7 million contract last offseason. Finally, Mostert got his shot to shine in 2019.

As the 49ers battled to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance, Mostert ran for 772 yards and eight touchdowns on only 137 carries (5.6 yards per attempt). He also played a role in the passing game and finished the season with 952 yards from scrimmage and ten total touchdowns.

However, Mostert’s most impressive performance came in the NFC Championship game. Against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, Mostert ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns while averaging roughly 7.6 yards per attempt. Even with Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon on the roster, Mostert should win the starting job.

23. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

After parting ways with Jordan Howard, the Bears drafted Montgomery in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Montgomery produced passable totals, but concerns about his efficiency and ceiling remain. While he’s only 23rd in this article, Montgomery could jump into the top 15 running backs with a productive second season.

The Iowa State product turned in two impressive seasons with the Cyclones. He amassed 2,362 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns during that time. In each of those years, Montgomery finished in the top three among Big 12 running backs in both categories. He also finished in the top five for yards from scrimmage.

In his rookie season, Montgomery posted 100-yard performances in Week 7 and Week 17. Some analysts, like NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha, believe the young running back can take the next step in Year 2. In an article identifying Year 2 breakout candidates, Chadiha praised Montgomery.

"He [Montgomery] had a solid rookie season (889 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns), but he’s capable of so much more with a better offense. The Bears ranked 29th in the NFL in total offense last year, largely because embattled quarterback Mitch Trubisky struggled so mightily. That all could change if Nick Foles wins the job or simply pushes Trubisky to play at a higher level."

Most of what Montgomery can accomplish in 2020 comes down to the pieces around him. If Mitchell Trubisky continues struggling, that places more pressure on the running game. If the offensive line can’t pull together, Montgomery’s work becomes exponentially harder. With so many questions surrounding the Bears this coming year, it’s hard to tell how Montgomery’s second season will go.

22. Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos

In 2018 Gordon was in a similar situation to where Dalvin Cook is now. The Wisconsin product wanted a contract extension before his rookie deal ended, and he wanted to get paid like a top running back. Gordon watched Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, and Todd Gurley all get paid like kings, and he wanted a piece of the pie.

Unfortunately, Gordon found out the hard way that NFL teams didn’t believe he belonged in the conversation with the league’s elite running backs. He held out into the 2019 season, but the Chargers new gave him a high-paying offer. Eventually, Gordon ended his holdout and reported to the team.

Gordon appeared in 12 games for the Chargers, producing 612 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He also played a role in the passing game but saw his overall production suffer. After averaging 114.6 yards from scrimmage per game in 2018, Gordon only averaged 75.7 this past season.

While he can put up raw numbers, Gordon is one of the least efficient running backs in the NFL. In four of his five seasons, the former Pro Bowler averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per attempt. Gordon also fumbled four times last year.

With a new deal not forthcoming, Gordon entered free agency this offseason and signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Broncos. He and former undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay will battle for starting snaps in 2020. While Lindsay is arguably the better pure running back, Denver doesn’t seem sold on him long-term, which is disappointing.

Gordon will make $7 million next year while Lindsay will make $755,000 in the final year of his current contract.

21. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts

Mack’s time in Indianapolis seems limited. Despite Mack producing back-to-back seasons of averaging over 75 rushing yards per game, the Colts selected Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Teams don’t draft backup running backs that high.

In his three seasons at Wisconsin, Taylor set the record books on fire. He totaled 6,174 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns in 41 games. As a junior, Taylor also expanded his role in Wisconsin’s passing game, producing 252 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Taylor won the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s most outstanding running back, in 2018 and 2019. He became the first running back to win the award in back-to-back seasons since Darren McFadden in 2006 and 2007. The only other back-to-back winner is Ricky Williams, who took home the award in 1997 and 1998.

With Mack entering the final year of his rookie deal, Taylor seems destined to succeed the former fourth-round pick. This year, Mack will earn over $1 million in a single season for the first on his current deal. As a rookie, Taylor will make over $1.4 million.

Indianapolis should at least start Mack for the first part of the 2020 season. If Taylor plays well, he could replace the USF product. However, Mack did rush for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last year. He’s a capable back who could sign a big paycheck next offseason.

20. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills

The Bills selected Singletary in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. At Florida Atlantic, the 5-7 running back amassed 4,287 rushing yards and 66 rushing touchdowns in only three seasons. With Frank Gore serving as the team’s only other legitimate option at running back in 2019, Buffalo jumped at the chance to add Singletary.

As a rookie, Singletary split starting time with Gore and enjoyed the future Hall of Famer’s mentorship. The rookie appeared in 12 games and finished his first season with 775 rushing yards on only 151 carries (5.1 yards per attempt). He only reached the end zone four times and fumbled four times as well, but Singletary put together a promising rookie campaign.

Unlike David Montgomery, Singletary flashed desirable efficiency with his carries. The rookie also posted six games with at least 70 rushing yards. Montgomery only posted four such performances despite appearing in four more games.

A recent article on Sports Illustrated’s PatriotMaven ranked Singletary second among all key running backs in the AFC East. He only trailed Le’Veon Bell.

With a larger workload and fewer fumbles, Singletary could reach a Pro Bowl level in 2020. However, a lot of his success might hinge on Josh Allen’s development and the young quarterback’s ability to mesh with Stefon Diggs.

19. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

One of 13 blue-chip prospect on my draft board in 2020, Swift should be a game-changing player from the moment he takes the field for Detroit. Swift became the second running back taken in the draft when Detroit selected him with the 35th overall pick. He joins a running back room featuring the often-injured Kerryon Johnson and the criminally underrated Bo Scarbrough.

While some fans may question whether or not Swift starts in Week 1, the answer is obvious. While Detroit used the 43rd overall pick on Johnson in 2018, the Lions felt Swift offered a terrific alternative to the injury-prone Auburn product. Why else would the team invest two second-round picks on running backs in such a short span?

When healthy, Johnson is a starting-caliber running back. Despite battling injuries throughout 2019, Johnson still flashed his potential several times. For instance, in Week 4, he ran for 125 yards against the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson should still have an opportunity to compete for starting snaps, but his best bet at a starting job might come with a new team in a few years.

As for Swift, he put up great film at Georgia. In his final season, Swift averaged 6.2 yards per attempt on his way to 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns. Compared to other college backs, Swift didn’t produce ground-breaking numbers, but he possesses all of the skills to develop into a Pro Bowl back.

18. Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons

Gurley is one of the greatest mysteries entering the 2020 NFL season. It’s tempting to put him higher, but the former All-Pro is no longer a top-15 back in the league based on his performance last season. Among running backs to suffer career-altering injuries in the past decade, I believe Gurley has a high chance of fully rebounding and putting up great numbers in Atlanta, but that’s just a gut feeling.

In the spring of 2019, a series of reports attempted to explain why Gurley played so poorly and saw limited snaps during the final stretch of Los Angeles’ run to Super Bowl LIII. According to the reports, Gurley suffers from arthritis in his left knee, which the Georgia product injured in previous incidents.

It wasn’t clear what the injury meant for Gurley until the 2019 season. After amassing 2,556 rushing yards on 535 attempts in his previous two seasons, Gurley only carried the ball 223 yards for 857 yards (3.8 yards per attempt). Some of the blame for Gurley’s drop in production belongs on the offensive line and coaching staff, but the former All-Pro never looked right last year.

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t completely implode last season. The team finished with a 9-7 record and narrowly missed making the playoffs. Under the new playoff format, where seven teams make the postseason from each conference, Los Angeles would’ve qualified last year. However, watching the Rams, it felt like the team was falling apart.

In March, the Rams cut Gurley. Less than a month later, he signed a one-year deal worth $6 million with the Falcons. Hopefully, a fresh start can help Gurley re-capture some of his previous glory.

17. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler might be a surprising pick at this point, but the 5-10 back proved his worth last season. When Melvin Gordon held out early in the year, Ekeler stepped up for the Chargers. While his rushing numbers won’t blow anyone away, Ekeler is one of the best receiving backs in the entire NFL. Whoever wins the starting job in Los Angeles, whether it’s Justin Herbert or Tyrod Taylor, will reap the rewards of playing with such a talented back.

Ekeler entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent after playing for Western Colorado, an NCAA Division II program, in college. Ekeler is only one of four alumni from Western Colorado who appear in Pro Football Reference’s encyclopedia on the school, which details all of the program’s players who made it to the NFL.

According to Western Colorado’s official athletics site, Ekeler dominated during his 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Mountaineers. In 2015, he ran for 1,637 yards and 19 touchdowns in only ten games. One of his performances included 33 carries for 344 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 7.2 yards per attempt during the season.

As a senior, Ekeler put together another solid performance, generating 1,495 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. However, that wasn’t enough to get him drafted. Luckily for the Chargers, they scooped Ekeler up in 2017. After playing a minor role in the offense as a rookie, he produced 958 yards from scrimmage in 2018.

Ekeler’s growth played a significant role in the Chargers moving on from Gordon. This past season, Ekeler generated 557 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also caught 92 passes for 993 yards and eight touchdowns, giving him 1,550 yards from scrimmage on the year. Ekeler signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension with the Chargers this offseason.

16. Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals

Drake began the 2019 season playing for the woeful Miami Dolphins. While Miami initially had high expectations for the 2016 third-round pick, the franchise and fanbase quickly soured on Drake when he failed to become a legitimate top threat. After six miserable games, during which Drake averaged 3.7 yards per attempt, the Dolphins sent Drake to Arizona for a conditional 2020 sixth-round draft pick.

When Drake arrived in Arizona, his fortunes immediately turned around. Drake made his first appearance as a Cardinal in Week 9, receiving the start in place of the injured David Johnson. Against the stacked San Francisco 49ers defense, Drake averaged 7.3 yards per attempt on his way to 110 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 52 more yards.

Drake took over as Arizona’s starting running back and generated two more 100-yard rushing performances before the season’s end. During his eight starts with the Cardinals, Drake averaged 5.2 yards per attempt and 80.4 rushing yards per game. All eight of his rushing touchdowns came with the Cardinals along with 643 of his 817 total rushing yards.

Shortly after the season ended, Arizona shipped Johnson to Houston, leaving the lead position in the backfield open for Drake. In March, the Cardinals assigned their one-year, $8.483 million transition tag to the Alabama product.

15. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2017, the Jaguars selected Fournette with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft. The LSU product entered the league to unrealistically high expectations. He received about as much hype as Trent Richardson and Saquon Barkley. Each of the trio possessed “generational” talent and earned comparisons to Hall of Famers before they even played an NFL snap.

The hype surrounding Fournette stemmed from his 2015 season at LSU. As a sophomore, Fournette bullied his way for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns. He finished sixth in the Heisman voting but earned a Consensus All-American selection. Injuries hampered Fournette as a junior, but scouts still viewed him as the second coming of Adrian Peterson.

It was a comparison even Fournette wasn’t comfortable with, telling NFL Network’s Mike Mayock:

"Adrian Peterson is one of the best running backs in the league. Someone who dominates the game as a single player, who wins one-on-ones, who makes guys miss. I wouldn’t mind, but to me, that’s a little too much credit because he’s who I want to be."

However, nothing slowed the hype train down, and Fournette found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to play savior for a struggling Jaguars team. It worked for one season, as Fournette and Jacksonville’s defense carried the team to the AFC Championship game in 2017.

Unfortunately, things came undone from there. Fournette battled injuries in 2018, only appearing in eight games and averaging a measly 3.3 yards per attempt. He bounced back in 2019, producing 1,152 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Fournette also recorded 76 receptions for 522 yards, giving him the sixth-most yards from scrimmage in the NFL.

Despite his production, Fournette is getting beaten into the ground on a lousy team. His injury history is frightening, and it’s hard to tell what’s next for the 25-year-old.

14. Le’Veon Bell, New York Jets

Once a top-three running back in the NFL, Bell’s stock took a dive when he decided to sit out for the entire 2018 season rather than play for the Pittsburgh Steelers under the franchise tag for a second straight year. Bell forfeited just over $14.5 million by not playing and signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets last offseason.

Bell currently makes the third-most money annually among running backs, raking in an average of $13.125 a year. He only trails Ezekiel Elliott ($15 million) and Christian McCaffrey ($16,015,875) in this category, but Bell did not play like one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL last year. Instead, he struggled along with the rest of New York’s offense.

After earning a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2017, Bell averaged a career-low in rushing yards per game (52.6) and yards per attempt (3.2) with the Jets. Granted, New York’s offensive line ranked among the worst last season, and the team’s quarterback play didn’t exactly help out, but Bell still severely underachieved.

In his 15 appearances, Bell generated 789 rushing yards, 461 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. The Jets did overhaul their offensive line this offseason and added some new faces to the running back room. The team agreed to terms with future Hall of Famer Frank Gore and drafted Florida’s La’Mical Perine in the fourth round.

Hopefully, New York’s offseason additions can help Bell find his rhythm in 2020.

13. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones spent his college days at UTEP, producing 1,773 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2016. Despite ranking ninth in Conference USA history in rushing yards, trailing former Pro Bowlers like Matt Forte and DeAngelo Williams, Jones didn’t hear his name called in the 2017 NFL Draft until the fifth-round.

The Packers selected Jones with the 182nd overall pick, less than 50 selections after taking BYU’s Jamaal Williams with the 134th pick. The two rookies combined for 1,004 rushing yards in 2017, with Williams seeing the majority of carries. However, Jones took over as Green Bay’s top running back in 2018. Now, he’s a driving force in the team’s offense.

This past season, Jones rushed for 1,084 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns. He contributed another 474 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Alongside Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers, Jones lifted the Packers to their best regular-season record since 2011.

Jones is entering the final season of his rookie deal, but he’s still focused on improving. In a recent call with reporters, Jones said, per ESPN:

"I’m really not looking at the market. I’m just focused on myself. I feel like I can play at a really high level and elite level for a very long time, so I’m just going to do what I can, and hopefully that leads to me being a Packer for life. That’s my goal."

Green Bay drafted Boston College’s AJ Dillion in the second round of this year’s draft, which could signal the team’s willingness to move on from Jones if he asks for too much money.

12. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle spent years trying to find a replacement for Marshawn Lynch before stumbling onto Carson in the seventh-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In college, Carson led Oklahoma State with 517 rushing yards in 2015, but Justice Hill quickly replaced him as the team’s lead back the following season.

While he never stood out in college, Carson is one of the most consistent backs in the NFL today. Following an injury-shortened rookie season in 2017, Carson became Seattle’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Lynch in 2014. In the past two seasons, the Oklahoma State product produced 2,381 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Carson did suffer a hip fracture in Seattle’s Week 16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the team fully expects he’ll start in Week 1. The same can’t be said for Rashaad Penny. The 2018 first-round pick tore his ACL in Week 14. Penny could open the upcoming season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he’d miss at least Seattle’s first five games.

Carson finds himself in the same situation as James Conner, Leonard Fournette, Aaron Jones, and Marlon Mack. The running back’s rookie contract ends after the 2020 season. After making under $1 million in each of his first three seasons, Carson will earn $2,149,283 this year. That’s the 38th most money a running back will make this coming season. Recently signed backup Carlos Hyde ($2.75 million) and Penny ($2.936 million) will make more money than Carson in 2020.

11. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

The son of a former Super Bowl champion, Ingram entered the NFL as the 28th overall pick in 2011. Ingram won the Heisman Trophy in 2009, and he led the Alabama Crimson Tide to an undefeated record and the BCS National Championship. Injuries hampered Ingram in 2010, but the New Orleans Saints still used a first-round pick on him.

Ingram experienced mixed success in New Orleans. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2017 while rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2016 and 2017, but Ingram never asserted himself as a superstar running back.

After a suspension-shortened season in 2018, Ingram signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Ravens last offseason. The pairing worked perfectly. Behind Baltimore’s dominant offensive line, Ingram averaged 5.0 yards per attempt as he racked up 1,018 yards and ten rushing touchdowns. He also scored a career-high five receiving touchdowns.

Ingram faces an interesting predicament. He could win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens soon, but Baltimore might release the 30-year-old after the 2020 season.

There’s an out in Ingram’s contract after this coming season that would generate just over $1.3 million in dead cap. Baltimore drafted Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins with 55th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

10. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Based on his production last year alone, this spot is a little high for Sanders, but he’ll grow into it. Entering the 2019 season, most football fans knew Sanders as the running back who faced the daunting task of replacing Saquon Barkley at Penn State. While Sanders didn’t vault into the Heisman conversation, he did rush for more yards as a junior (1,274) than his predecessor (1,271).

The Eagles selected Sanders with the 53rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Early in the season, Sanders sat behind veteran Jordan Howard. However, when Howard got injured, Sanders took over the starting role and never gave it back. In his final nine regular-season games, the PSU product averaged 97.4 yards from scrimmage.

Sanders brings rare versatility to the table that could help keep Philadelphia’s offense in balance, even if Carson Wentz gets injured. In 11 starts, Sanders produced 818 rushing yards and 509 receiving yards last season. He reached 1,327 yards from scrimmage on 229 touches. In comparison, it took Josh Jacobs 262 touches to reach 1,316 yards from scrimmage.

The only thing preventing Sanders from rising higher on the list is his limited sample size. I want to see a full season of Sanders as a feature back before placing him in the same conversation as perennial Pro Bowlers.

9. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

After several years of ultra-talented running back classes, Jacobs was the only player at his position to go in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Raiders selected Jacobs with the 24th overall pick, making him the latest Alabama running back to hear his name called in the top 32 selections.

Jacobs never dominated in college. In his final year at Alabama, he finished third on the Crimson Tide in rushing yards, trailing Damien Harris and Najee Harris. However, scouts fell in love with the tape Jacobs put up and his raw physical characteristics. So, Jacobs, who only carried the ball 120 times during his final collegiate season, came off the board before Miles Sanders, who recorded 220 carries during the same year.

As a rookie, Jacobs didn’t disappoint. He averaged 4.8 yards per attempt on his way to 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. The Alabama product ran for over 100 yards five times and over 80 yards in eight games. His 88.5 rushing yards per game ranked third in the NFL, only trailing Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry.

Controversially, Jacobs did not win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Instead, that honor went to Arizona’s Kyler Murray, despite the quarterback turning in an overall mediocre performance that landed him at 19th in our quarterback power rankings. Jacobs put together a better season and deserved the award.

8. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Mixon and the running backs ranked in the seventh and sixth spots all fit into the same category, and you can rearrange them in any given order depending on the day. Mixon falls to eighth after failing to improve on a borderline Pro Bowl campaign in 2018, but the Bengals deserve a lot of blame for his shortcomings in 2019.

The Bengals easily won the Joe Burrow sweepstakes in 2019, going 2-14 in their first season under head coach Zac Taylor. The offense played horribly, with the exceptions of Tyler Boyd and Mixon. Behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Mixon still ground out 1,137 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 287 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Behind a better offensive line and a balanced attack, Mixon averaged 83.4 rushing yards per game in 2018. That average dipped to 71.1 yards this past season, but it’s still impressive considering the pieces around Mixon. Remember, the Bengals even benched Andy Dalton for Ryan Finley for three games in the middle of the season.

In the first eight games of the 2019 season, Mixon averaged roughly 3.2 yards per attempt and 40 yards per game. In contrast, he caught fire during Cincinnati’s final eight games. During that stretch, Mixon averaged 4.6 yards per attempt and 102 yards per game. He ran for over 130 yards three times in the season’s final four weeks.

7. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Cook built a legacy for himself at Florida State. The former Seminole finished in the top ten for Heisman voting twice, and he broke a significant number of school records. Cook’s 4,464 rushing yards, 46 rushing touchdowns, and 5,399 yards from scrimmage are all records that surpassed even the legendary Warrick Dunn’s totals.

Minnesota jumped on Cook when he fell to 41st overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Cook averaged 88.5 rushing yards per game as a rookie before landing on injured reserve after four appearances. Cook played in 11 games in 2018 but never found his rhythm. Then, the former Heisman candidate caught fire last season.

In 14 starts, Cook amassed 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. He also added 519 yards in the passing game, giving him 1,654 yards from scrimmage, the seventh-most in the NFL. However, fans still wonder if Cook can stay healthy in the long run. He’s got the talent, but Cook’s injury history is frightening.

Sources recently told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Cook will no longer participate in team activities until he and the Vikings reach a contract extension. Cook’s rookie deal ends after the 2020 season. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Cook’s holdout stems from a disagreement over his new deal. Fowler told ESPN’s SportsCenter,

"I’m told he’s planning to hold out simply because he felt, quote, disrespected by the offer that the Vikings put on the table. This is a player that believes he’s one of the best at his position, but he wasn’t asking for Christian McCaffrey money, which is $16 million per year. He would probably take less than that."

If Cook does not report to camp and possibly even holds out into the season, Minnesota will turn to backup running back, Alexander Mattison.

6. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

The Saints selected Alvin Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He immediately made an impact, leading the league in yards per carry and winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Kamara saw more touches in his second season, and the Tennessee product amassed 1,592 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.

Kamara is a fantasy football player’s dream, especially in PPR (points per reception) leagues. However, he took a step back this past season. Perhaps missing Drew Brees for five games had a larger impact than expected. Whatever changed, Kamara’s yards per reception tanked from 2017 to 2019.

Kamara recorded 81 receptions in each of his first three seasons. Despite keeping that consistency, his receiving numbers continue declining. He produced 826 receiving yards as a rookie followed by 709 in 2018 and 533 last season. Since he doesn’t get a feature running back’s workload on the ground, the loss of receiving yards made a significant dent in his yards from scrimmage.

While the Saints still went 13-3 this past season, Kamara totaled the fewest yards (1,330) and touchdowns (six) of his career. In previous seasons, he might still qualify for a top-five spot in the running back hierarchy. However, the emergence of several new superstars pushed the versatile running back down to sixth in my rankings.

5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

An old-fashioned bruising back, Henry looks like a man amongst boys on the football field. At 6-3 and 247 pounds, it’s almost impossible for defensive backs and even some linebackers to bring down Henry alone. While he’s not a versatile threat like Alvin Kamara, Henry is a reliable bulldozer capable of plowing through defensive lines.

The Titans added Henry with the 45th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Alabama product won the Heisman Trophy in 2015, amassing 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns on 395 carries. Worries about Henry’s durability after such a massive workload in college, along with concerns about his vision and power, dropped him to the second round of the draft.

Henry played Robin to DeMarco Murray’s Batman during his first two seasons in the NFL. Then, Henry took over as the full-time starter in 2018. After producing only 474 yards and five touchdowns through the team’s first 12 games (39.5 yards per game), Henry caught fire. The former Heisman winner piled up 585 yards and seven touchdowns in the final four weeks (about 146.3 yards per game).

The offseason didn’t slow Henry down. He entered the 2019 season with all of his momentum from the previous year. The behemoth led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards (102.7 yards per game) and 16 touchdowns. Henry served as the engine for Tennessee’s offense, which carried the Titans to a surprising AFC Championship appearance.

Based on last season, Henry is one of the best running backs in the NFL. However, how long can he keep grinding down defenses at a high level? At some point, all of the hits and carries will catch up to the Alabama product.

4. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Teams made a mistake when they let Chubb slide into the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After his freshman season at Georgia, fans and analysts recognized Chubb as one of the best running backs in the county. Unfortunately, a horrible knee injury in his sophomore year, which consisted of a knee dislocation and three ligament tears, put Chubb’s NFL future in jeopardy.

Chubb returned to Georgia for his junior and senior seasons, attempting to resurrect his draft stock. While the second-round pick never reproduced the statistical success of his freshman season, he did prove himself worthy of the 35th overall selection.

Two years into his career, Chubb leads all running backs from the 2018 draft class, including Saquon Barkley, in rushing yards with 2,490. He’s also averaging a miraculous 5.1 yards per attempt, which should only rise this year considering some of Cleveland’s offseason additions to the offensive line.

After an impressive rookie season where he rushed for over 100 yards four times while only making nine starts, Chubb took his game to another level in 2019. He finished second in rushing yards, trailing Derrick Henry by 46 yards. Chubb also finished third in yards from scrimmage with 1,772, trailing Ezekiel Elliott for second place by only five yards.

It’s still early, but Chubb is already asserting himself as one of the best backs in the NFL.

3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Elliott became a top-five running back the moment he took the field for Dallas in 2016. While he didn’t receive the same hype coming out of college as Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette, or Trent Richardson, Elliott proved he’s a generational talent who should finish his career with an interesting Hall of Fame case.

As a rookie, the former fourth overall pick led the NFL in carries (322), rushing yards (1,631) and rushing yards per game (108.7). His 1,994 yards from scrimmage finished second in the league, and his 16 total touchdowns ranked third.

Despite Dallas’ evolving offense and Elliott’s increasing experience, the Ohio State product hasn’t eclipsed the grandeur of his rookie season yet. He did produce more yards from scrimmage in 2018, but the back’s rookie season is still the gold standard for his career. Entering his age 25 season, and the final year of his original rookie contract, we’ll see what Elliott has in store for Cowboys fans.

Dallas signed Elliott to a six-year, $90 million extension last year. The contract runs through the 2026 season, meaning Elliott is going to spend the remainder of his prime with the Cowboys. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and avoid the pitfalls that hurt Todd Gurley and David Johnson after they signed massive extensions.

Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards per game in each of his first three seasons. However, his per-game averages continue declining. While Elliott is still one of the undisputed best running backs in the league, it’s worth wondering how much longer he can play at an All-Pro level.

2. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

After an electrifying rookie season, Barkley endured a sophomore slump. He missed three games, and New York’s offense underwent the slow transition from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones. Barkley still averaged over 110 yards from scrimmage per game, but he didn’t have the same aura of invincibility that he flashed as a rookie.

Several factors contributed to Barkley’s struggles in 2019. Besides missing time, New York’s offensive line remained incomplete. Adding Andrew Thomas in the 2020 draft should help Barkley rebound this coming fall. The transition at quarterback also played a role in Barkley’s slump. While Jones didn’t have a bad rookie season, he fumbled often and still went through the same challenges most rookie quarterbacks face.

Barkley is hardly the first superstar running back to take a step back in his second season. Todd Gurley went through a massive sophomore slump in 2016 before rebounding and winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. Ezekiel Elliott faced a six-game suspension entering his second season, which resulted in how own drop-off in production.

The Giants continue adding pieces to their offense, which makes me believe Barkley is in for a big year. In terms of talent, he’s one of the most complete running backs in the NFL. Barkley needs to improve in pass protection, but he has all of the physical traits to succeed in this area. If New York ever maximizes Barkley’s potential, he could win the league MVP.

1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

While New Orleans’ Michael Thomas won the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019, Christian McCaffrey could’ve easily taken the award home. The third-year running back broke into the NFL record books and earned a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2019. As a reward for his incredible production, Carolina signed McCaffrey to a four-year, $64 million contract extension.

After producing 3,051 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns during his first two seasons, McCaffrey broke out last year. He amassed 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns, which both led the NFL. He also became the third running back to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season, joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk.

McCaffrey entered the record books for several other feats last year. He broke his own single-season record for receptions by a running back, amassing 116. That mark set Carolina’s single-season franchise record. McCaffrey also became the fourth player overall in league history with 100 or more receptions in two of his first three seasons, according to NFL Research.

McCaffrey is currently producing 1,814 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns per season, which is an insane pace. For comparison, during the best three year stretch of his career (2017-19), Todd Gurley averaged 1,662 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns per season. However, Gurley ran into a wall this past year. Now that he’s the highest-paid running back in NFL history, we’ll see if McCaffrey can maintain his production.

The Panthers could give McCaffrey another large workload in 2020. The team did sign free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Robby Anderson to fix the passing game, but neither are truly reliable players. With Luke Kuechly retiring and Cam Newton getting cut, McCaffrey is the alpha dog in Carolina.