The running back position was the highlight of the NFL offseason. Many feel that the top players are being severely underpaid because running backs are considered the NFL’s most “replaceable” position. While front offices refuse to pay running backs a lot of money, they are an essential part of a football team. The days of a running back getting a workload of carries are over as offenses don’t want to overload a runner. Nonetheless, there are still many elite runners in the backfield. Here are my top five running backs in the NFL.
(Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson)
5. Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)
There is no doubt McCaffrey is the best receiving back in the league. His receiving grade (92.6) was the best in the league at the running back position. However, his rushing skills are not the best compared to other runners on this list. McCaffrey can get yards that are blocked for him but in terms of doing it himself, it’s not impressive. He can get into the open field and get through the holes his line makes for him, but he can’t do much after contact or make guys miss like the other players on this list can. McCaffrey averaged 4.7 yards per carry last season and finished with over 1,800 scrimmage yards. If he can stay healthy, McCaffrey should have a massive impact, especially with Kyle Shanahan as head coach.
4. Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders)
Jacobs took a big leap during the 2022 season. While he did eclipse over 1,000 yards in two of his first three NFL seasons, Jacobs’ production skyrocketed in 2022. He had a league-leading 1,653 rushing yards along with a career-high in carries (340). Jacobs is a tough runner. He’s not afraid to lower his shoulder and put his body at risk. He also averaged more than three yards after contact for the second straight season. Jacobs has shown what he can do in a Josh McDaniel offense, after having five games with at least 140 rushing yards. He accounted for over 80% of the Raiders rushing yards last year.
3. Saquon Barkley (New York Giants)
Barkley had a bounce-back year in 2022 after multiple injury-riddled seasons. When talking about talent, he may be the best in the league. Barkley showed the NFL what he’s capable of last season, totaling 1,650 all-purpose yards and 10 TDs while leading the Giants to a Divisional Round appearance in the playoffs. One of his flaws is that he tries to do too much sometimes, like trying to juke unnecessarily. I know Barkley has had some bad luck with injuries, rotating offensive coordinators, and bad offensive line play. With head coach Brian DaBoll’s revamped offense, these next few years could be his best.
2. Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans)
Even though Henry’s best years are behind him, he has shown no signs of slowing down or being “washed.” As long as he has his acceleration, speed, and size, he will be a workload for opposing defenses. Every year, people predict that Henry will fall off, and so far that has not happened. Until it does, he will remain a top running back in the league. Henry has been one of the most dominant players in the NFL. Since 2018, he ranks first in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrimmage yards, and scrimmage TDs. Henry has shown a little decline in breaking tackles. In the past two years, Henry had 3.5 yards after contact per attempt. In the previous two seasons, he was at four. A knock on Henry is that he is a big running back. He is not able to slither through tight gaps like other running backs. Henry only had four games where his opponents held him under three yards per carry (Denver, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Buffalo).
Chubb takes the top honor on my list. I think he’s been the best for a few years now. He is the best pure rusher in the league. Chubb is very difficult to tackle. He has strength, stiff arms, jukes, and agility. Chubb is excellent at pass blocking and is a good receiving back. His receiving game could see a jump with Kareem Hunt out of the picture. Chubb’s game does not have a weakness, aside from his speed, but he makes up for it with his other skill sets. The 2022 season was Chubb’s fifth consecutive season averaging over five yards per carry and he posted a career-high 1,525 rushing yards on 302 attempts.
