1. DERRICK HENRY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Even at 31 years old, King Henry is deserving of this list's No. 1 spot. He led the NFL in PFF rushing grade in 2024 (93.5), winning PFF’s Best Runner award.
Henry also boasts the highest PFF rushing grade in a three-year sample size going back to 2022 (94.2). Last season, he forced the most missed tackles (89) and ripped off the second-most runs of 10 yards or more (53).
2. SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Barkley is a big reason why the Philadelphia Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champions. He earned an 82.7 PFF rushing grade in 2024 and talied the most runs of 10 yards or more (55). He also led the NFL with 2,504 rushing yards.
3. BIJAN ROBINSON, ATLANTA FALCONS
Robinson not only recorded the second-best PFF rushing grade in the NFL last season (92.1), but he also flexed his talents as a receiver, earning an eighth-ranked 82.2 PFF receiving grade. That combination led him to be the league's most valuable running back in 2024, per PFF WAR.
4. JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS
Gibbs is a big play waiting to happen on every snap. He placed in the top five in forced missed tackles (68) and runs of 10 yards or more (46) in 2024. He also racked up the second-most receiving yards of any running back last season (587).
5. JOSH JACOBS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Jacobs’ 93.0 PFF rushing grade over the past three seasons trails only Derrick Henry. He earned a 91.3 PFF rushing grade in 2024, with an equally impressive and impactful 89.2 PFF receiving grade. He’s the total package.
6. BUCKY IRVING, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Irving was sensational as a rookie. He didn’t quite have the volume stats of other running backs in this list's range, but his efficiency scores were that of a top-10 back.
He earned a 90.0 PFF rushing grade with 62 forced missed tackles and led the NFL with 3.93 yards after contact per attempt (among running backs with at least 150 carries). He also posted a 90.2 PFF receiving grade, the second-highest mark at the position.
7. CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
We don’t need to tell you how good McCaffrey is when healthy. He owns a 91.0 cumulative PFF rushing grade over the past three years and led all running backs in PFF WAR in 2023. All of his fully healthy seasons have yielded incredibly high volume and efficiency numbers.
But 2024 was once again a season riddled with injuries. McCaffrey played in just four games due to calf, Achilles and knee ailments, and he will be 29 years old this year.
8. JAMES CONNER, ARIZONA CARDINALS
Conner’s 92.1 cumulative PFF rushing grade over the past three years is tied for fifth best in the league. His 0.20 PFF WAR mark in 2024 ranked seventh among running backs, and he forced 68 missed tackles.
9. DE'VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Achane in 2023 became one of just four running backs to ever record an elite PFF rushing grade as a rookie (93.1). He followed that up with an 82.1 PFF rushing grade and an 80.2 PFF receiving grade in 2024. He also racked up the most receiving yards at the position (592).
10. KYREN WILLIAMS, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Williams’ 2024 PFF rushing grade (74.3) wasn’t all that impressive, but he rushed for more than 1,400 yards and generated the fourth-highest PFF WARfigure among running backs, helped by having seven games where he earned a PFF pass-blocking grade above 80.0.
Sean Tucker should be #1
Sean Tucker should be #1
He was in EPA. Also offensive player of the week when Coen actually used him.
Hopefully Bucky can follow up his rookie season with another solid season.
Several points to make here but I will start with this. Bucky is already more valuable to the Bucs than Bijan is to Atlanta. More yards per carry, more yards per reception. Bucky's team wins divisions. Also, the top two here are older. If Baltimore's approach in 2025 is to hand the ball off to Henry, I will say with certainty, he either A) gets injured or B) he gets worn down. Same thing for Saquon. Gibbs is a monster. But he's the only RB i can see rated higher than Bucky.
If Baltimore's approach in 2025 is to hand the ball off to Henry, I will say with certainty, he either A) gets injured or B) he gets worn down. Same thing for Saquon.
Same was said last year too.
How'd that turn out?
I find Bijan to be overrated
What shape will Bucky be in at the end of the season? Isn't that what matters? His projection is for 1800 to 1900 total yards for the season. I'm OK if he goes under. If he has 2000 total yards and he's banged up and worn down for the playoffs then we know all the Bucs want to do is keep winning the division so they can keep they're jobs and winning in the playoffs is just a bonus. That's not want the fans want to see this year, nor is it what the Bucs want either IMO.
If you look at Jamyr Gibbs workload in his second season, he shared the load with David Montgomery for much of the season. From weeks 7-14 he had five games with 11 carries or less. Then in the last three games, when Montgomery was injured, Gibbs was ready and went over 150 total yards for each of those last three games.
But for much of the season the 230 lb Montgomery was used just as much as the 202 lb Gibbs. Hopefully we'll see the 214 lb White and 205 lb Tucker or even the 225 lb DJ Williams used liberally throughout the season so that the 195 lb Irving will be just as good at the end of the season as he is at the beginning.
Hopefully we'll see the 214 lb White and 205 lb Tucker
JC makes Tucker out to be a hidden gem. No one wants Tucker to be as capable all around as JC claims. That's what we be best for the Bucs. If he's not anything more than a 4th quarter closer it means he couldnt do the rest better than White.
The Bucs certainly hour he can replace White this season and yes a big part of that is reducing the load on Irving
Of the top 25 RBs in attemps/game you can count the under 210 on one hand. Kyren Williams was the outlier at 3rd at 202 pounds. He still did well in the playoffs. But other than that all the bellcow guys were usually heavier starting with Taylor, Barkley, Henry, Robinson, Jacobs, Mixon, Hubbard. Gibbs was 17th and the 190 pound James Cook came in at 25th. Am I making too big of a deal on the poundage? I don't think so. There's a reason smaller backs don't get the same amount of carries, a reason the Bucs shouldn't and probably won't ignore.Hopefully we'll see the 214 lb White and 205 lb Tucker
JC makes Tucker out to be a hidden gem. No one wants Tucker to be as capable all around as JC claims. That's what we be best for the Bucs. If he's not anything more than a 4th quarter closer it means he couldnt do the rest better than White.
The Bucs certainly hour he can replace White this season and yes a big part of that is reducing the load on Irving
But fans think the Bucs should trade White and give the ball to Irving all the time and lets get him 2000 yards. That's not what's going to happen.
