There is a ton of talent at the running back position in the NFL. Who are the 10 best entering the 2024 NFL Season? The thing with running backs is they're proving to be quite replaceable. Teams are finding starting-caliber running backs in late rounds of the NFL Draft. Nonetheless, the best backs are still getting paid.
In the 2023 NFL Season, just 12 running backs hit the 1,000-yard mark, and only three backs averaged 75 yards per game, so perhaps the running back position is becoming a bit less prolific. Who are the 10 best running backs in the NFL?
10. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
James Cook, the brother of Dalvin Cook, had a nice year in 2023, rushing for 1,122 yards on 237 carries. Oddly enough, he rushed for just two touchdowns and did manage to have four receiving touchdowns. Cook also had 445 receiving yards and proved to be a crucial part of the Buffalo Bills offense.
With the Bills now having a below-average WR room, I would expect the offense to lean on Cook more. He's got the bandwidth to rack up the yards and could have a career-year in 2024.
9. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
Finishing 10th in the NFL in rushing yards at 31 years old, Raheem Mostert has been able to carve out a nice career for himself despite the plethora of injuries he's suffered. His first 1,000-yard rushing season, Mostert led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns.
He also did all of that in just 15 games. Mostert is 32 years old so you have to wonder if the 2024 season will be the beginning of a decline. I'd hate to see that, but for now, he's one of the 10 best running backs in the NFL.
8. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs was a huge part of the Detroit Lions offense during his rookie season. He was 55 yards short of 1,000, but did have 10 rushing touchdowns and averaged a stellar 5.2 yards per attempt. He was nice out of the backfield, hauling in 52 receptions for 316 yards.
With Gibbs entering year two, I would expect a natural uptick in production for the young back. Any NFL team would love him out of the backfield. He's got a lot of similarities to Alvin Kamara.
7. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
The rookie running back was quite productive as a 21-year-old in 2023, rushing for 976 yards and adding another 487 yards as a receiver. Robinson accumulated 1,463 yards and eight total touchdowns in year one. But to be fair to Robinson, he wasn't used nearly as much as he should have been.
With a new coaching staff, I would expect Robinson to explode in year two. He's already one of the most talented running backs in the NFL.
6. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
The 2023 season was another example of a running back not exactly being used to their full potential. Josh Jacobs rushed for 805 yards in 13 games. He added six touchdowns on the ground and put up 61.9 yards per game. However, in 2022, Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653.
He's got three 1,000-yard seasons through five years and has 46 touchdowns on the ground during his career. He signed a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers where he figures to have a huge load on the offense.
5. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor has played in just 21 games over the last two seasons, which is unfortunate, as his first two years were flat-out insane. Across the last two seasons where he's missed some time, Taylor has still rushed for 1,602 yards on 361 carries with 11 touchdowns.
Let's not forget that Taylor rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns in the 2021 NFL Season. He's still an elite running back.
4. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Leading the NFL in rushing yards per game last year with 95.3, Kyren Williams managed to rack up 1,114 yards on the ground in just 12 games. He also added 12 rushing touchdowns as well. Still just 23 years old, Williams is currently nursing an injury, but it's clear how good the young back is.
3. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Breece Hall doesn't have the production through two seasons, as he tore his ACL during his 2022 rookie season, but he's one of the best runners in the NFL. In 2023 with the lowly New York Jets, Hall rushed for 994 yards on 223 carries, averaging a nice 4.5 yards per attempt.
While that doesn't sound that special, you have to consider how bad the Jets offensive line and play-calling was. The second Aaron Rodgers went down, the season went down with him. Hall has the potential to be a 1,500-yard back and is one of the best in the business.
2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Quietly, Derrick Henry rushed for 1,167 yards in 2023, which ranked second in the NFL. He's clearly not his former 2,000-yard self, but Henry seems to be one of the rare running backs that hasn't yet totally fell off and declined. He's now with the Baltimore Ravens and could form an elite rushing duo with Lamar Jackson.
Henry also added 12 rushing touchdowns and had a long run of 69 yards in 2023, so he's got some juice left in those legs.
1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Ranking first in yards, fourth in rushing touchdowns, second in yards per attempt, and second in yards per game, Christian McCaffrey is the best running back in the game, and I'm not sure it's much of a discussion. Still 27 years old, CMC has enjoyed some insane injury luck with the San Francisco 49ers.
Traded to them from the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey was enduring some tough stretches where he could not stay healthy. He's not only the best back in the game, but he's got a Hall of Fame type of potential if he can string together a few more years of top-end production like he did in 2023.