As the 2024-2025 NFL season comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the outstanding performances of the league’s top running backs.
This season saw a renaissance in the running back position, with both rookies and veterans alike putting up impressive numbers. Here’s our ranking of the 15 best NFL running backs based on their performances throughout the season.
15. Chase Brown – Cincinnati Bengals
Brown emerged as the Bengals’ primary back in the latter part of the season, becoming a weekly RB1 and averaging over 100 yards per game in his last eight games.
14. Tony Pollard – Tennessee Titans
Pollard continued to be a reliable option for the Titans, recording 622 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 142 carries by midseason.
13. Aaron Jones – Minnesota Vikings
In his first season with the Vikings, Jones averaged over 100 yards per game from scrimmage, providing a veteran presence in the backfield.
12. Kenneth Walker III – Seattle Seahawks
Despite facing challenges with the offensive line and an early-season injury, Walker managed to contribute significantly to the Seahawks’ offense.
11. Brian Robinson Jr. – Washington Commanders
Robinson provided a physical presence in Washington’s offense, averaging very close to 5 yards per carry. His punishing running style was crucial to the team’s success.
10. Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers
Hubbard stepped up for the Panthers, recording 665 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 133 carries by the midseason mark.
9. James Cook – Buffalo Bills
Despite his quarterback taking away some rushing touchdowns, Cook still had an incredible number of rushing touchdowns surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive season.
8. Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts
Taylor finished strong, delivering a phenomenal fantasy performance with over 300 rushing yards.. He wrapped up the season with a total of 1,431 yards.
7. Kyren Williams – Los Angeles Rams
Williams had a solid season as the Rams’ workhorse back. His ability to handle a big workload behind a makeshift offensive line was particularly impressive.
6. De’Von Achane – Miami Dolphins
Achane stood out in a challenging year for Miami, participating in every game and accumulating close to 1,000 rushing yards. Despite not making the playoffs, he proved his worth to the Dolphins.
5. Josh Jacobs – Green Bay Packers
Despite annual speculation about his role, Jacobs consistently proved himself as one of the league’s most effective backs. He played every game for the Packers, amassing over 1,500 scrimmage yards.
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4. Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions
Gibbs proved to be a big-play machine for the Lions and was a major reason why they were so dominate all season long. His ability to contribute in both the running and passing game made him a versatile threat.
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3. Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons
In his sophomore season, Bijan Robinson took a significant leap forward. He improved across the board, showcasing his ability as both a runner and receiver. Robinson’s elusiveness in the open field, combined with his improved inside running, put him on pace for over 1,700 yards from scrimmage.
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2. Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens
The former Titan found new life in Baltimore, leading one of the most dominate offenses in the league. Henry’s powerful running style and ability to break tackles made him a perfect fit for the Ravens’ offense.
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1. Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
In his first season with the Eagles, Saquon Barkley has been nothing short of phenomenal. He set a new franchise record for rushing yards in a season and became extremely close to breaking the NFL single season rushing record. Not to mention, Barkley’s consistency and explosiveness were key factors in the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX.
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