NFL's top 20 RBs: Jahmyr Gibbs' stock is skyrocketing in front of our eyes, Ashton Jeanty and another rookie crash the party
Two years ago, the biggest storyline surrounding the RB position was about how they were being devalued across the NFL. And the 2025 season told us that they took it very personally, with multiple players having fantastic seasons from proven veterans like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry to young players like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan […]
Two years ago, the biggest storyline surrounding the RB position was about how they were being devalued across the NFL. And the 2025 season told us that they took it very personally, with multiple players having fantastic seasons from proven veterans like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry to young players like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson ,whose stocks have skyrocketed right in front of our eyes.
In order to find the official consensus 2025 A to Z Sports NFL positional rankings, 16 of our staff members ranked their Top 20 RBs in order. If a player was ranked 1st, they received 20 points. Ranked 2nd? 19 points. And so on, down to the 20th, where players received just one point. Why use this method? If we simply used the average ranking, we may errantly include outliers that were ranked too highly by just one or two staff members. This method allowed us to find a more true collaborative consensus that properly represented where the majority of our staff felt players belonged in overall positional rankings from 1st to 20th in the NFL.
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 1
Lowest ranking: 2
"Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is arguably the best running back in the NFL. His God-given talent speaks for itself. Last fall, Barkley carried the Birds with 345 rushes for 2,005 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He added another 278 yards and two scores in the air. Not to mention, Barkley was the key engine behind Philly's Super Bowl LIX run. He then topped off the season with AP Offensive Player of the Year and First‑team All‑Pro honors, ultimately proving to his old team, the New York Giants, that they made a huge mistake." – Kelsey Kramer
2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Highest ranking: 1
Lowest ranking: 4
"King Henry continues his reign of terror over the rest of the NFL after posting perhaps his best season yet in 2024. Henry posted a career best 5.9 yards per attempt on 325 carries — a hilariously good figure for such a high-volume workload. Henry continues to showcase himself as a true unicorn at the position with his ageless blend of speed and power. He's getting added benefits from Lamar Jackson's threat as a runner in the backfield and a passing attack that has blossomed in Baltimore over the past two seasons.
Henry will look to somehow top his 2024 season after being given a contract extension this offseason. At age 31, he's firmly at risk of falling off at any point. But based off last year, you'd be a fool bet on it happening in 2025." – Kyle Crabbs
3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Highest ranking: 2
Lowest ranking: 6
"After inconsistent usage during his rookie year, Robinson put it all together in his second NFL season, rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, also adding 431 yards and one TD as a receiver. He earned a Pro Bowl nod for his efforts, which will likely be the first of many. His 365 total touches in 2024 ranked second only to Saquon Barkley's 378. Robinson is also one of just three players in NFL history to record 2,400 rushing yards and 100 receptions in his first two seasons, joining former great RBs Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson. Robinson is the total package, possessing an awesome blend of speed, power, and receiving skills. As long as he stays healthy, he'll be a mainstay within the top five of this list for years to come." – Nick Roesch
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Highest ranking: 2
Lowest ranking: 6
"Gibbs is arguably the most important piece of the Lions offense. The whole operation runs well when he plays well. He’s coming off one of the best seasons a Lions running back not named Barry has ever had, with nearly 2,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns. With the addition of his former running backs coach Tashard Choice to the Lions staff, the expectation is that the team is going to rely on him even more in 2025." – Mike Payton
5. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 2
Lowest ranking: 7
"Christian McCaffrey truly has it all and is an elite running back in the league. When he gets going, there's no stopping him. But the one issue is health. McCaffrey was the NFL offensive player of the year in 2023 after recording over 2,000 yards and 21 touches. But just one season later, he spent finished with 348 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns in four games, being sidelined for the majority of the year with injuries. That's always been his issue and what is keeping him from being a top three. But as long as he's healthy, there's no stopping him." – Sophie Weller
6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 2
Lowest ranking:9
"Jonathan Taylor continues to be one of the most underappreciated star RBs in the NFL. This past year, he finished fourth in rushing with 1,431 yards, with each of the players ahead of him appearing in at least 16 games, while Taylor only played in 14. He finished with the third-best yards per game average with 102.2, which was nearly 20 more yards than Bijan Robinson, who finished in fourth place.
Taylor showed the world he is still one of the best RBs in the NFL, yet someone he falls to sixth in our rankings. A couple of my colleagues even dropped him to eighth and ninth in their rankings. In my opinion, there was a clear top three RBs in 2024: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Jonathan Taylor. If he is healthy, he deserves to be a top-three back in these rankings, but I guess he will have to prove to the world again in 2025 just how great he truly is." – Destin Adams
7. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 5
Lowest ranking: 12
"Josh Jacobs is everything the Packers could have hoped for when they made the tough decision to move on from Aaron Jones last offseason. The difference, and what drove the Packers' sequence of moves, is that Jacobs is more reliable to carry a heavier workload. In 2024, Jacobs had 337 touches, more than Jones has had at any season of his NFL career. Josh Jacobs finished his first season on the Green Bay Packers with 1,671 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns. Despite the workload and the pounding style, Jacobs was still pretty efficient.
The Pro Bowler was eighth (3.45) in yards after contact per attempt, ahead of players like Jahmyr Gibbs (3.34), Saquon Barkley (3.17), and Aaron Jones (3.00). Jacobs was also fourth in missed forced tackles (67), only behind Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, and James Conner. He's reliable, efficient, and he generates more than what the offensive line gives him. It's everything Matt LaFleur wanted for his offensive scheme." – Wendell Ferreira
8. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 6
Lowest ranking: 13
"Kamara has been a model of consistency at the running back position in the NFL. Even while dealing with banged-up offensive lines, a less-than-ideal QB situation, and a lack of a reliable backup at his position in recent years, Kamara hasn’t slowed down. He may not have quite the burst he did to begin his pro career, but his patience, receiving ability, and contact balance are all still elite attributes to his game. The veteran RB accounted for 26% of New Orleans' scrimmage yards last season, the seventh-highest percentage in the NFL. You can mark Kamara down for at least 1,000 scrimmage yards annually, and that’s not an easy assumption at the RB position nowadays." – Adam Holt
9. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Highest ranking: 7
Lowest ranking: 17
"James Cook broke out in his second season in 2023 but didn’t have the touchdown numbers to match his production, finishing with just two rushing scores despite racking up 1,122 rushing yards. In 2024, the two-time Pro Bowl running back put it all together, delivering a monstrous season with 16 rushing touchdowns and 1,259 total yards from scrimmage. Cook has firmly established himself as a top-10 running back—and he should only continue to rise.
Now, the Buffalo running back is seeking a new contract, but if a deal doesn’t get done before the season, he may have to earn it in 2025. With one of the weakest wide receiver rooms in the league, the Bills’ offense will once again lean heavily on Josh Allen and Cook. The 25-year-old back is poised for another huge season—and eventually, a big payday." – Brandon Little
10. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 6
Lowest ranking: 16
"Bucky Irving might be the NFL's most underrated running back going into he 2025 NFL season. Not only is he good, he's got some of the best numbers in the entire league. He had the league's fifth-best EPA per attempt, eighth best success rate, and ranked 11th in explosive play rate, per *Sports Info Solutions*. Now granted, the Bucs have a top-tier offensive line, but what we saw from Irving in 2025 is more than that. He's got great vision, is explosive, and can break tackles. He generated the seventh-most yards after contact among NFL running backs as a result. I don't think Irving is falling out of the Top 10 anytime soon. He'll only climb the rankings." – Mauricio Rodriguez
11. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Highest ranking: 6
Lowest ranking: 16
"Ashton Jeanty at No. 11 on this list is actually quite high. You can make the argument that he will be a top-ten running back by the time the season is over, and I will agree with you. In fact, I think he could be a top-five guy at the position if all goes well with the Raiders. But we are talking about a guy who hasn't taken a single snap in the NFL yet, or even had a training camp. He has no idea what he's about to see in the NFL, and neither do we. We have no idea if his game will even translate well to the NFL due to his size.
He's jacked and shredded, sure, but he's still small. And yes, you can throw out names of all of the extremely small guys that have worked out, but the reality is, there are a handful, maybe two, and there have been thousands who have tried. Not to mention, the Raiders have the same offensive line they had last season in terms of their starting group, and that same line was part of the worst running game in the league last year. Scheme and coaching could change that, but 11 is high. I do appreciate the respect he is getting, because make no doubt about it, Jeanty will be a top guy at the position in due time." – Justin Churchill
12. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 7
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"A jack of several trades but master of none, Kyren Williams has proven himself to be in the upper echelon of solid backs who don’t quite inspire you to get excited with his splashy moments, but coaches love his well-roundedness. Williams’ toughness and footwork combine to make a difficult play for defenders hoping to make a solo tackle. However, Williams’ balance and ability to dodge direct hits helps him fall forward more often than not. He’s underrated to the point where upgrading on him is hoping for a true franchise star." – Ian Valentino
13. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Highest ranking: 7
Lowest ranking: 19
"Achane has the potential to be the best dual-threat running back in football. His game comes with some obvious limitations as a smaller player, and the size of his workload as a ball carrier will likely always be a point of emphasis. But few backs are more explosive on the perimeter or play in an offense more committed to getting their runs outside.
Achane has an elite second gear with light feet to make cuts on the fly. He was challenged at times with some limited point of attack work from his teammates on his outside rushes, muddying his reads and ultimately leaving some yards on the table — he said so himself during the spring. If Achane can get cleaner reads and commit to taking singles and doubles more often, his production may look closer to his 2023 profile than what we got in 2024. If that comes to pass, expect him higher on this list next season." – Kyle Crabbs
14. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 8
Lowest ranking: 17
"Stop me if you heard this one about a New York Jets player: he had a down year last year. Breece Hall was poised to be one of the top backs in the NFL in 2024, but it was not to be. A knee injury that affected the same left knee he had surgery on in 2022 to repair a torn ACL all but ended his season in Week 11, but he still tried to play through it. He missed only one game, but the injury lingered and impacted his performance for the rest of the season.
Couple the injury with the mismanagement of the offense from the coaching staff to the quarterback, and Breece was often running into a wall of defenders. This year, the Jets are going to focus on running the ball and even upgraded their offensive line with the number 7 overall pick, Armand Membou, to play right tackle. Breece will share the backfield more in 2025 with Braelon Allen, but I imagine the fresh legs and commitment to running game will have him looking more like his 2023 self." – Mike Antoniou
15. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Highest ranking: 10
Lowest ranking: 18
"15th is about right for Aaron Jones, who had one of the best seasons of his career. The touchdowns were not there compared to other seasons, but he finished the year with the most rushing yards (1,138) and second most scrimmage yards (1,546) in his career in his age 30 season.
Jones continued to get banged up throughout the course of the season, which has been par for the course during his career. It's evident that Jones hasn't lost what makes him great: vision. His athleticism is still there and can make an impact on all three downs. The addition of Jordan Mason should make a difference for his durability throughout the course of the season." – Tyler Forness
16. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Highest ranking: 9
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"At 30 years old, Conner is still quietly one of the NFL’s elite running backs. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2023 and 2024, despite playing for a team that is still rebuilding under Jonathan Gannon. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry a season ago, rushing for eight touchdowns, which tied for 15th in the NFL. His 68.4 average yards per game ranked 11th in the NFL, but his real secret weapon is the ability to get the toughest yards for his team.
He’s an elusive, tackle-breaking runner who rarely goes down on first contact. And if he does go down on first contact, you can bet that he’ll fall forward for extra yards. His 67 first-down conversions ranked 8th in the league last season, rounding out the best-of-the-best at the running back position. His pass-catching ability won’t get the credit that it deserves, but he’s also proven to be dynamic as a pass-catcher in Arizona. His 414 receiving yards last season ranked sixth in the NFL among all running backs." – Charles Goldman
17. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Highest ranking: 11
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"Montgomery is the perfect second punch to the 1-2 pinch that is he and Gibbs. While Sonic brings the speed and shiftiness, it's Knuckles' hard downhill running that powers through lines in the red zone. But that doesn’t mean that Montgomery can’t break a big run here and there. He’s dangerous with agility, too." – Mike Payton
18. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 12
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"Kenneth Walker is the definition of a competent running back. Even though the Seahawks have never fully given him a heavy workload, especially after taking Zach Charbonnet in the second round a year after selecting Walker, he is a solid all-around back. Last year, the volume numbers weren't there because he missed five games dealing with an ankle injury, but he was third in PFF elusiveness rate, eighth in missed tackles forced, and 14th in yards per route run amongst 57 qualifying running backs. With a quarterback who depends on his environment even more in Sam Darnold this season, Walker has the space to be even more impactful for Seattle." – Wendell Ferreira
19. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Highest ranking: 14
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"If it feels like Joe Mixon has been in the league for a while, well, it’s because he has. Headed into what will be year nine, he still looked as strong as ever in 2024, going for over 1,000 yards and double digit Touchdowns for the Houston Texans. The Bengals moved on from Mixon, thinking he didn’t have much left, and instead, he proved to still be worthy of a top 20 ranking in the league.
Making things more impressive, the Texans’ line was a mess, and the offense as a whole regressed. It shows that Mixon can still be utilized as a lead back in the league and offers one of the best goal line utilization rates in the NFL. Still somehow only 28 years old, there is a chance Mixon remains a mainstay around this time next year." – Rob Gregson
20. Omarion Hamption, Los Angeles Chargers
Highest ranking: 13
Lowest ranking: Unranked
"Including rookies in this sort of list is always a bit bold. That being said, Hampton landing right at the tail end makes sense to me when you consider the logjam of somewhat “replaceable” running backs once you get a little farther down the list. Hampton’s upside is pretty exciting, and there’s a reason a Jim Harbaugh-led squad spent a first-round pick on him. Najee Harris is the other piece to the Bolts backfield, but I’d be surprised if the rookie doesn’t emerge from this season as a key offensive weapon and future building block for their rushing attack." – Adam Holt
Other players receiving votes
- Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (5)
- Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (5)
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (3)
- TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (2)
- Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (2)
- Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers (1)
- D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (1)
- Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (1)
- Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (1)
- Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (1)
- Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (1)
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