NFL running backs are still valuable commodities, despite their contracts not being as high as other positions. The key to the modern back is versatility and explosiveness that can be a strong supplement or complement to busy passing games.
The reigning No. 1, Christian McCaffrey, is the epitome of that workhorse role. With every touch, he can score, whether inside or outside the red zone. He is coming off his best overall season yet and has time left in his prime.
Although CMC is joined by several other potential Hall of Fame veterans, there are lot of young rising stars in the league’s RB hierarchy. Here’s ranking the top 30 backs going into the 2024 NFL season with an equal emphasis on recent past production and near-future upside:
NFL RANKINGS: QBs | WRs | TEs | Defense
1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (age: 28)
McCaffrey matched the previous year with a league-leading 2,023 scrimmage yards along with his league-leading 21 touchdowns. His second massive season in five years put him on track for the Hall of Fame if he can put up a couple more top campaigns in the ideal offense for his skill set.
2. Breece Hall, Jets (age: 23)
Hall can be the heir apparent to McCaffrey’s all-around sizzle after delivering 1,585 scrimmage yards and nine TDs in a much lesser overall offense while coming off a torn ACL. He is an ace receiver and a dangerous big-play runner who is ready for another spike.
3. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (age: 22)
Robinson falls into that same rising dual-threat category after posting 1,463 scrimmage yards and eight TDs last year. He will be treated more like the feature back while helping out a much-improved passing game.
4. Derrick Henry, Ravens (age: 30)
Henry was supposed to slow down at age 29 in what ended up being his last season in Tennessee. Instead, he revved back up to 1,381 scrimmage yards and 12 TDs, his sixth consecutive season in double digits. Now, he joins the best power rushing attack in the league to help Lamar Jackson.
5. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (age: 25)
Taylor has had a tumultuous two seasons since leading the league in rushing yards, scrimmage yards, and TDs. Now, he’s back healthy, gotten paid, and ready to rumble for a full season playing well off Anthony Richardson in Shane Steichen’s offense.
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (age: 22)
Gibbs saw a gradual expansion of his explosive rookie role to support David Montgomery last season. He is a great receiver with room to grow as a straight-up power runner. He was worth every bit the early first-round pick for this blocking system.
7. Kyren Williams, Rams (age: 23)
Williams battled some durability issues but came through as a sturdy, compact runner for Sean McVay to help clean up the backfield last season. He should be pushed well to keep producing as a third-year fifth-round pick with rookie Blake Corum behind him.
8. James Cook, Bills (age: 24)
Older brother Dalvin has faded from the NFL, but it’s James’ turn to be a chunk runner and ace receiver. He thrived getting a more regular workload in Joe Brady’s offense and will be counted on more all-around with some big passing game changes.
9. De’Von Achane, Dolphins (age: 22)
Achane needed only 130 touches to produce 997 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs as a rookie, as his speed seemed to be shooting out of a cannon in Mike McDaniel’s wide-open rushing attack. He should push into more of a lead role over veterans going into Year 2 at full health.
10. Rachaad White, Buccaneers (age: 25)
White was a shaky, inefficient runner with 3.6 yards per carry on his way to 990 rushing yards last season, but part of that also was the Buccaneers’ continued blocking issues. He showed off key receiving skills to be a different type of durable workhorse. He also hinted at stronger power running to come in the playoffs.
11. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars (age: 25)
Etienne had a similar season to White in the sense that he had to do a lot of damage in the passing game with 58 catches for 476 yards after getting to 1,008 yards on 3.8 yards per carry. His 12 TDs were a little anomalous, but he should become a more efficient 20-touch back overall.
12. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (age: 27)
Barkley goes from being the centerpiece of the Giants’ offense as a receiver and runner to a team with a lot of diverse weapons and a strong blocking foundation for the running game. The result will be the Eagles keeping him versatile but also limiting his wear much more than the Giants did to maintain his healthy, big-play flair.
13. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (age: 25)
Pacheco has unique big-rush burst for a hard-charging, relentless power runner. He sees favorable lanes because of top blocking and Patrick Mahomes’ downfield passing threat. He’s also a good red-zone finisher and is capable of stepping into a busier short-area receiving role.
14. Josh Jacobs, Packers (age: 26)
Jacobs remains on the younger side despite having high volume on his first team, the Raiders. He looked a little worn after his massive 2023 and will be looking to be revved up and rejuvenated in a rising Green Bay offense.
15. Alvin Kamara, Saints (age: 29)
Kamara was a bit rusty coming off early suspension last season, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, second-worst in his career. But he stayed active in his signature short-area receiving role to easily break 1,000 scrimmage yards for a seventh consecutive season. The team decided to keep him because he remains their most reliable back in a new, 49ers-like system.
16. James Conner, Cardinals (age: 29)
Conner has missed chunks of time during his previous three seasons in Arizona, but he’s transitioned well to whatever his team needs, from consistently finishing power runs to being a key receiving outlet when needed. He also averaged a career-high 5.0 yards per carry last season. He has one more solid year left.
17. Najee Harris, Steelers (age: 26)
Harris has been rather up-and-down as a first-round pick in 2021. He just got above 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in 2024 and also has seen a diminishing receiving role since his rookie season. But blocking and limited offense has hurt him, as he proved he can be a proficient scorer. Some schematic improvements should help him be more than an early-down banger again.
18. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (age: 23)
Walker almost had identical rookie and sophomore seasons as a runner, and the only key drop was his yards per carry from 4.6 to 4.1. The new offense should feature him more to set up Geno Smith for more comfort in the downfield passing game.
19. Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (age: 32)
While wearing No. 31, Mostert had a career year at 31. As a former 49ers special teams ace and sometimes busy backup, he had less wear than most backs who stick around as long as he has. The reward was 1,012 rushing yards and 21 TDs at 4.8 yards per carry. He’s bound to come back down to earth behind the ascending Achane.
20. David Montgomery, Lions (age: 27)
Montgomery also got his key touches to support a dynamic rookie, as the former Bear shot up to an easy career-high 4.6 yards per carry off the best run blocking in his career. He is also bound to see some TD regression after popping into the end zone 13 times.
21. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (age: 26)
Stevenson cooled off, going from 5.0 yards per carry to 4.0 with lesser blocking and a shaky QB situation. He still was a top-notch receiver when healthy and will be key to take pressure off a limited passing game once again.
22. Zamir White, Raiders (age: 24)
White was a terrific workhorse supersub down the stretch when Josh Jacobs was out for his final few games with the Raiders. The team didn’t move much on getting him competition, so it has big plans for him carrying the load in a run-friendly and run-heavy attack.
23. Joe Mixon, Texans (age: 28)
The former long-time Bengal has never been an efficient runner or game-changing receiver, but he’s solid and durable when called upon in either capacity. He also has racked up 37 TDs the past three seasons. He will hope to extend that finishing role from Joe Burrow to C.J. Stroud.
24. Tony Pollard, Titans (age: 27)
Pollard saw his rushing yardage drop from 1,007 to 1,005 despite being a full-season workhorse with almost a spike of 60 carries. He was above 5.0 yards per carry until he was put into an uncomfortable, high-usage situation for his change-of-pace skill set in 2023. That should return more as the Titans use him better in his intended role as they transition to a lot more passing.
25. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (age: 25)
Warren supplied the juice to Harris’ plodding, but like Harris, he would have diminishing returns in a bigger role as a diminutive dasher. He has averaged more than 5.0 yards per touch, kind of the same effective change-of-pace whether he’s catching or carrying. He should also produce better playing off a popping Harris.
26. D’Andre Swift, Bears (age: 25)
Swift has averaged a robust 4.6 yards per carry in his combined four healthy seasons with the Lions and Eagles. He slowed as a dynamic receiver in Philadelphia, but it looks like he will see more of that role in Chicago again to help Caleb Williams. Swift isn’t the best power runner, but he remains dangerous with each touch when durable.
27. Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders (age: 25)
The team signed faded Austin Ekeler to help with the receiving aspect, but Robinson proved he could handle the passing game more when needed last season. He is also a tough runner hoping for more big chunks with some line and overall offensive improvements to support running Jayden Daniels. He is a younger version of Conner.
28. Aaron Jones, Vikings (age: 29)
The one-time Pro Bowler battled injuries to keep him on the field for consistent top production for rival Green Bay, but Jones proved he had some pop left when back healthy in the playoffs. He might go back to being busier as a checkdown receiver for Sam Darnold, and his 4.6 yards per carry last season has been his career floor.
29. Jerome Ford, Browns (age: 24)
With a lot of uncertainty over Nick Chubb’s status coming back from knee injury, the Browns star isn’t included here. Enter his strong fill-in from last season, when Ford produced 1,132 scrimmage yards and nine TDs to keep the offense balanced. With Chubb turning 29 in December, this might end up being a backfield transition year in Cleveland.
30. Tyjae Spears, Titans (age: 23)
The Titans wanted to keep the Henry explosiveness but now get it in more traditional change-of-pace form with Pollard and Spears looking like fun, interchangeable parts to provide a few key chunk plays for Will Levis in Brian Callahan’s offense. Spears is too dynamic to keep off the field as Tennessee’s version of Warren.
