The running back position is arguably the most replaceable in the NFL, as teams can use a variety of options to move the ball on the ground. But having a stable of capable running backs (or one great lead back) can elevate an offense even in today’s pass-happy version of the league. Here, we rank the running back groups for each NFL team so that bettors can use these rankings to help with their NFL betting in 2024.
32. Dallas Cowboys
Key Players at this Position: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman
The Dallas Cowboys are a mess at the running back position, plain and simple. They moved on from Zeke Elliott ahead of last season, replacing him with Tony Pollard as their lead back. Now Pollard is gone and the Cowboys have brought Elliott back as their starting back, which is not a good idea anymore given that Elliott’s production has fallen apart as his age has increased.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Key Players at this Position: Zack Moss
Another team that lost a productive starting running back going into the 2024 season is the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Mixon is gone, having left for the Houston Texans. While the team does have Zack Moss as its top back moving forward, Moss finished last season with fewer rushing yards than Lamar Jackson last year. So we are not exactly convinced that the running game of the Bengals will be fine with Moss out there instead of Mixon.
30. Las Vegas Raiders
Key Players at this Position: Alexander Mattison, Zamir White
The Las Vegas Raiders are 30th in our NFL running back rankings for this season. They had an elite back in Josh Jacobs over the last few years, but Jacobs is gone for Green Bay. As a result, we will see a lot of Alexander Mattison and Zamir White carrying the ball for this team. With the quarterback situation looking messy for the Raiders, the lack of a good running back will make it tough for the Raiders to move the ball consistently this year.
29. Los Angeles Chargers
Key Players at this Position: JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards
In case you didn’t sense a theme here, the teams at the bottom of these rankings are mostly teams that lost good running back talent from last season. The LA Chargers also fall into that category, after Austin Ekeler departed following last year’s disappointing campaign. JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards join the Bolts after spending last year in Baltimore, with the big question being whether or not they can stay healthy in 2024.
28. New York Giants
Key Players at this Position: Devin Singletary
Saquon Barkley was a very good running back for the New York Giants when he was healthy, despite the passing game around him being horrid over the last few years. But Barkley is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, as the Giants brought in Devin Singletary to try and replicate a fraction of Barkley’s production in their offense. Needless to say, we don’t think that is going to go particularly well for Brian Daboll’s team.
27. Denver Broncos
Key Players at this Position: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine
Denver had high hopes for its running game last year, with Javonte Williams returning from a knee injury. But Williams averaged under four yards per carry last season, playing 16 games but looking mediocre in the vast majority of them. There is certainly a potential for Williams and the Broncos running game to get back on track this season, but they will need to prove that they are capable of making that happen before they rise up our NFL running back rankings.
26. New England Patriots
Key Players at this Position: Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson
Every year, the New England Patriots have a stable of capable running backs and proceed to use them in a way that manages to confuse both opponents and fantasy football players alike. This year should be no different, as Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson will see the bulk of the touches for this team. This group should be hurt by the dismal quarterback situation in New England, but there is some potential for the running game to bail out Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye at times.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Players at this Position: Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Bucky Irving
We had low expectations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the running back position going into last season. But Rachaad White was more than respectable, coming up 10 yards shy of rushing for 1,000 yards for the year. White is back this year and will look to build on what was an encouraging season for him, as the Buccaneers look to get back to the postseason after making the Divisional round of the playoffs in 2023.
24. Buffalo Bills
Key Players at this Position: James Cook
The Buffalo Bills are a pass-heavy offense thanks to the presence of Josh Allen under center. But they did get a very good season out of James Cook last year, who finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage in 2023. The lack of depth behind Cook on this roster does hurt the Bills when ranking running back groups. As long as Cook continues to produce, though, the Bills could find themselves higher on this list going into next season.
23. Carolina Panthers
Key Players at this Position: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks
It was a little surprising to see Chuba Hubbard get used far more often than Miles Sanders in the Carolina Panthers backfield last season. But Hubbard was far more productive than Sanders was last year, making that look like a good decision. This group is absolutely hamstrung by the fact that the passing game of the Panthers is among the worst in the NFL. But there is potential for another productive year on the ground in Carolina, even if everything else on this roster is bad.
22. Seattle Seahawks
Key Players at this Position: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet
Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III finished just outside of the top-10 in rushing touchdowns last season, scoring on the ground eight times. But he only fumbled once last year and is a dependable back. You’d like to see some more dangerous help in the Seahawks backfield, but the group that they have here is fine, despite being unspectacular.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Key Players at this Position: James Conner, Trey Benson, Michael Carter
James Conner rushed for over 1,000 yards last season despite playing in only 13 games for the Arizona Cardinals. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry, which is certainly impressive, especially when you consider that Kyler Murray missed a good chunk of the season in 2023. If Conner can stay healthy this year, he could put up an even more impressive season in terms of yardage, even if he sees some regression in his yards per carry average.
20. Tennessee Titans
Key Players at this Position: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Coming in at number 20 in our NFL running back rankings will be the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee lost one of the great running backs in the recent history of the league at the end of last season, with Derrick Henry departing for the Baltimore Ravens. But they did a decent enough job of replacing him, bringing in Tony Pollard from the Dallas Cowboys. Nobody can replace the production of a Derrick Henry, but Pollard won’t be terrible in his place either.
19. Washington Commanders
Key Players at this Position: Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr.
The Washington Commanders made a big move to try and improve their running game going into this season. They brought in Austin Ekeler, who is a versatile and talented back and had a productive run with the Los Angeles Chargers over the last few years. With another rookie quarterback in the fold for the Commanders this season, the duo of Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. should be a dangerous one for a team that will need all the help it can get from its backs.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Key Players at this Position: Aaron Jones
Minnesota has a new top running back, bringing Aaron Jones in after his time with the Green Bay Packers. This is a positive move for the Vikings on two fronts, as they get better at the running back position while simultaneously making a division rival weaker at a key offensive position. That may not be enough to make the Vikings a contender given how bleak their quarterback situation looks, but you never know.
17. New Orleans Saints
Key Players at this Position: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams
One of the biggest surprises at the running back position in the NFL last year was how bad the New Orleans Saints were. Alvin Kamara was mediocre, while Jamaal Williams delivered a fraction of the production we saw from him in his final season with the Detroit Lions. There is still a ton of talent and potential from that duo in New Orleans this season, but they will need to deliver on it if the Saints are going to be a playoff team.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
Key Players at this Position: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Andy Reid has never been a coach to prioritize running back production and that is the case with his Kansas City Chiefs as well. From a talent standpoint, you can certainly do worse than having the duo of Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as your top running backs. But the top priority for this team on offense will always be letting Patrick Mahomes and the passing game do what they do best.
15. Chicago Bears
Key Players at this Position: D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert
Coming in at 15th in our NFL running back rankings are the Chicago Bears. Chicago has a new number one running back in D’Andre Swift, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. If Swift and number one overall draft pick Caleb Williams can function well together as a quarterback/running back combo, the Bears offense could get better in a hurry after another disappointing campaign last year.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Players at this Position: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson
In 2023, Najee Harris broke 1,000 yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns on the ground. This year, Harris and Jaylen Warren are back, only with Cordarrelle Patterson set to join them in the Steelers backfield. The hope will be that running the ball will be easier for Pittsburgh with an anticipated improvement at the quarterback position, but the Steelers should be fine moving the ball on the ground no matter how their quarterbacks play.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars
Key Players at this Position: Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, D’Ernest Johnson
Travis Etienne Jr. was healthy last season, playing 17 games for the Jaguars. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and exceeded 1,000 yards on the ground, catching over 50 passes along the way as well. Etienne and Tank Bigsby make up a formidable top-two at the running back position, as they can impact games both on the ground and with their ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
12. Houston Texans
Key Players at this Position: Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale
Houston figured out its problems with its passing game last season, with CJ Stroud emerging as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. This year, their goal is to improve their running game, with the acquisition of Joe Mixon being a huge statement of their intent to do just that. Mixon has been more of a high-volume contributor than an explosive one, but he is reliable and should work well in an explosive offense with his new team.
11. New York Jets
Key Players at this Position: Breece Hall
One of the best individual running backs in the NFL is Breece Hall, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season despite the Jets quarterback situation being a mess for the entirety of last year. This season, Hall should be productive once again and could be even better if the team can get more than one possession out of Aaron Rodgers.
10. Los Angeles Rams
Key Players at this Position: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Boston Scott
Starting off the top-10 in our NFL running back rankings will be the Los Angeles Rams. Kyren Williams was a revelation for the Rams in 2023, finishing third in rushing yards and seventh in rushing touchdowns. He has some reinforcements to help him out in the backfield this year, as former Michigan Wolverine Blake Corum comes off of a national championship season to provide some extra punch in the Rams backfield.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Key Players at this Position: Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon
Last season, Jonathan Taylor only played in 10 games, as there was a ton of doubt surrounding his future with the Indianapolis Colts. But Taylor still racked up 741 rushing yards without playing in seven of his team’s 17 games. Suppose he plays a full season in Indianapolis this year. In that case, Taylor should easily get to 1,000 yards and he should benefit from the return of Anthony Richardson at the quarterback position on top of that.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Key Players at this Position: Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell
One of the biggest improvements at the running back position in the NFL this season comes from the Philadelphia Eagles. They swiped Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants in the offseason, adding a dynamic rusher while also making the rival Giants an even weaker franchise in the process. Having a quarterback who can serve as a de facto running back in short-yardage situations is also helpful for the Eagles, even if Jalen Hurts doesn’t factor into these rankings.
7. Atlanta Falcons
Key Players at this Position: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Jase McClellan
It was a strong rookie season for Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, even if some confusing usage from former head coach Arthur Smith stopped him from reaching his true potential. More is expected out of Robinson this year as he should benefit from having a head coach that is not as easy to ridicule for his decision making.
6. Green Bay Packers
Key Players at this Position: Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon
After losing Aaron Jones, there were questions about how the Green Bay Packers were going to replace him. But the Packers answered those questions by acquiring former Las Vegas Raiders back Josh Jacobs to be their top option out of the backfield. Jacobs struggled with his yards per carry average last season, but that was a product of nonexistent quarterback play as much as it was anything else in Las Vegas. Jacobs should bounce back nicely as a part of a better offense this year.
5. Cleveland Browns
Key Players at this Position: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman
The Cleveland Browns are in the top-five in this year’s NFL running back rankings. Nick Chubb is the top running back on this roster, as he is set to return after missing nearly all of last season after suffering a knee injury just two games into the 2023 campaign. But in the games he did play, Chubb averaged 6.1 yards per carry and if he can be anywhere close to that this season the Browns will be in a good place offensively.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Key Players at this Position: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill
Injuries have destroyed the running back room of the Baltimore Ravens over the last few years. But they should be one of the best backfields in football in 2024 after the acquisition of Derrick Henry. Henry is a punishing runner, exactly the type of back the Ravens could use to be well-rounded next to Lamar Jackson’s combination of passing and finesse running. As long as injuries don’t get in the way again, the Ravens should be a handful to defend out of the backfield.
3. Detroit Lions
Key Players at this Position: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery
Last season, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined to score 23 rushing touchdowns for the Detroit Lions out of the backfield. The Lions are loaded offensively all over the field and their ability to finish drives with punishing runs is a big reason for their overall success on that side of the ball. We don’t expect much to change for the Lions rushing attack this year as they should pace another high-scoring season in Detroit.
2. Miami Dolphins
Key Players at this Position: Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane
De’Von Achane came out of nowhere last season to be one of the most productive running backs in football, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. But it was Raheem Mostert that did the bulk of the scoring for the Dolphins on the ground, as he led all rushers with 18 scores in the ground in 2023. That duo is going to be incredibly dangerous again in 2024, even if the top priority for the Phils will be moving the football with their aerial attack.
1. San Francisco 49ers
Key Players at this Position: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell
There is no doubt that the top team in our NFL running back rankings is the San Francisco 49ers. Christian McCaffrey led the league in rushing by a huge margin last season, as he nearly ended up with 1,500 yards on the ground in 2023. He will be the only running back that earns NFL MVP consideration once again this year, as he continues to lead one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Other NFL Position Rankings
Leading up to the 2024 NFL season, we will be ranking each team at each position group, to help you with your NFL handicapping. As each position group is ranked, links will be available below for your reading pleasure.
