Week 12 was a memorable week for the league’s best rushers as they put up memorable performances on the field, leaving many NFL fans wanting to see more in the remaining weeks. However, some running backs struggled to get anything going in the backfield as opposing defenses tightened up the reins and silenced their production. With only a few weeks left until the playoffs, who knows what else can happen in the backfield?
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ running backs after week 12.
Who are the top running backs in the NFL after week 12?
Arizona Cardinals: James Conner: D-
Conner and the Cardinals had a brutal afternoon in the Pacific Northwest, as they lost 6-16 against the Seattle Seahawks. Conner rushed for eight yards on seven carries and caught five receptions for 41 yards. Conner was more effective in the passing attack for the Cardinals, but the Seahawks’ defense prevented him from getting the ground game going.
Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson: Bye Week
Robinson had a rough week 11 for the Falcons against the Broncos but needs to find a way to bounce back in week 13 when the Los Angeles Chargers come to town.
Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry: A-
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Henry had a nice night on the ground for the Ravens, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23. Henry rushed for 140 yards on 24 carries but didn’t score any touchdowns. It would’ve been nice to see Henry score a touchdown, but his effective running on the field made the Chargers’ defense look silly for most of the night.
Buffalo Bills: James Cook: Bye Week
Cook was effective in the short ground game but needs to step it up against stronger opposing defenses for the remaining few weeks of the 2024 regular season. Cook and the Bills now have to focus on week 13 and get prepared to host the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
Carolina Panthers: Chuba Hubbard: C+
Hubbard had a decent afternoon for the Panthers, as the team narrowly lost 27-30 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Hubbard rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught a reception for two yards. Hubbard continued to show his reliability as a runner for the Panthers, as he battered his way into the end zone for them to tie the game in the fourth quarter before Chiefs’ kicker Spencer Shrader kicked the game-winning field goal.
Chicago Bears: D’Andre Swift: D-
Swift had a very quiet afternoon at Soldier Field as the Bears lost a very close and competitive 27-30 overtime battle against the Minnesota Vikings. Swift rushed for 30 yards on 13 yards and caught three receptions for 35 yards but didn’t score a single touchdown. The Vikings’ defense made things difficult for Swift and the Bears’ rushing attack, as they were held to 78 yards on the ground. Swift and the Bears have their work cut out for them in week 13 when the team travels to the Motor City and plays the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Brown: Bye Week
Brown has emerged as a very good running back for the Bengals in the absence of Zack Moss, who is out for the 2024 season due to a neck injury he sustained in practice back in early November.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Running Backs After Week 11 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb: B
Chubb had a nice Thursday night on the ground in a snow-covered game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the Browns came away with the 24-19 victory. Chubb rushed for 59 yards on 20 carries, scored two rushing touchdowns, and caught a reception for one yard. Chubb was very effective with short-distance runs, which ultimately sparked the Browns’ offensive momentum in the upset victory.
Dallas Cowboys: Rico Dowdle: B-
Dowdle had one of his better games for the Cowboys, as they stunned the Washington Commanders 34-26. Dowdle rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries and caught three receptions for 12 yards but didn’t score a touchdown and lost a fumble. Losing the fumble late in the first quarter had to hurt, but luckily, Dowdle made up for it with a strong afternoon on the ground, as he ran through the Commanders’ defense like the Road Runner thwarting Wile E. Coyote’s traps at every turn.
Denver Broncos: Jaleel McLaughlin: C-
The Broncos have had a rotating carousel of running backs lead their backfield, and it was McLaughlin’s turn in their wild game of musical chairs, who helped lead the Broncos to a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. McLaughlin rushed for 44 yards on seven carries but didn’t score a touchdown. It’s hard to tell who’ll be the face of the Broncos’ rushing attack, but McLaughlin led the team in rushing yards and helped his team secure the win against an AFC West rival.
Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs: A-
Gibbs had a great game for the Lions, as they crushed the Indianapolis Colts 24-6. Gibbs rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries, scored two rushing touchdowns, and caught three receptions for nine yards. Gibbs and David Montgomery commanded a strong ground game, which was too much for the Colts, and they were able to put points on the board for the Lions. Gibbs and company return home in week 13 for their annual Thanksgiving game as they get ready to host the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs: A
Jacobs had a wonderful day for the Packers as they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 38-10. Jacobs had 106 rushing yards on 26 carries and scored three rushing touchdowns. Jacobs was the offensive force that kept the Packers in it all game long and took advantage of the 49ers’ injury woes on defense since Nick Bosa was out due to an oblique injury.
Houston Texans: Joe Mixon: F
Mixon had a rough afternoon for the Texans, as they were stunned 27-32 against the Tennessee Titans. Mixon rushed for 22 yards on 14 carries and caught five receptions for 23 yards but didn’t score a touchdown. Mixon had his worst offensive outing for the Texans, as the Titans’ defense slowed him down in the backfield, but he was helpful in the passing attack. Mixon and the Texans travel to the Sunshine State for a week 13 divisional match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor: D-
Taylor had a rough afternoon for the Colts, as they lost 6-24 against the Detroit Lions. The Colts running back rushed for 35 yards on 11 carries but didn’t score any touchdowns. The Lions’ defense was too much for Taylor, as they shut him down for most of the game. Taylor and the Colts head to Foxborough, MA, for a week 13 showdown against the New England Patriots.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne Jr.: Bye Week
Etienne Jr. has had a rough 2024 season so far, as he hasn’t scored a touchdown since week two when the Jaguars lost to the Cleveland Browns. Etienne Jr. needs to find that right spark and step it up when the Jaguars return to action in week 13 and host the Houston Texans.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kareem Hunt: C
Hunt had a decent afternoon for the Chiefs, as they narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-27. Hunt rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three receptions for 19 yards but didn’t score a touchdown. It would’ve been nice to see Hunt score a touchdown, but it didn’t happen. On top of that, Isiah Pacheco is very likely set to return to the Chiefs’ lineup in week 13, when they square off against the Las Vegas Raiders. This certainly will help the Chiefs’ backfield, as both Pacheco and Hunt will form an excellent duo for the Chiefs’ rushing attack.
Las Vegas Raiders: Ameer Abdullah: D+
Abdullah and the Raiders’ rushing attack had a rough afternoon, as they were defeated 19-29 by the Denver Broncos. Abdullah rushed for 28 yards on eight carries, caught five receptions for 37 yards, and scored a receiving touchdown. Abdullah wasn’t that effective in the rushing attack but was more effective as a pass catcher, as he scored a touchdown to help keep the Raiders in the game against their AFC West rivals.
Los Angeles Chargers: J.K. Dobbins: C-
Dobbins had an okay night for the Chargers, as they suffered a tough 23-30 loss to his former team, the Baltimore Ravens. Dobbins rushed for 40 yards on six carries and caught three receptions for 19 yards but didn’t score any touchdowns. Unfortunately, Dobbins left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. If Dobbins is out long-term, Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins will need to take hold of the torch and step it up.
Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams: C+
Williams had a decent game for the Rams, even though they lost to a red-hot Philadelphia Eagles team 20-37. Williams rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown but lost a fumble in the first quarter, which was recovered by Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean. Although losing a fumble stung, the star running back rebounded from that and found his way into the end zone for the first time since week eight, when he scored a receiving touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
Miami Dolphins: De’Von Achane: C
Achane may not have done much in the rushing attack, but he managed to be effective in the passing attack as the Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots 34-15. Achane rushed for 32 yards on 10 carries, caught three receptions for 24 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Achane was very effective in catching short passes and runs, as the Dolphins decimated the Patriots’ defense for most of the game.
Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones: A-
Jones had a great game for the Vikings, as they defeated the Chicago Bears 30-27 in overtime. Jones rushed for 106 yards on 22 carries, scored a touchdown, and caught three receptions for 23 yards but lost a fumble early in the game. Jones had a very nice bounce-back game for the Vikings, as he commanded a strong ground game against a strong Bears’ defense. Jones and the Vikings return home in week 13 and will get prepared to welcome the Arizona Cardinals to town.
New England Patriots: Antonio Gibson: D-
Gibson and the Patriots had a painful afternoon in South Beach, as they lost 15-34 against the Miami Dolphins. Gibson rushed for 31 yards on six carries and caught a reception for 14 yards. Gibson stepped up while Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 13 yards on eight carries, but Gibson and the Patriots’ rushing attack were held to a combined 86 yards on the ground by the Dolphins’ defense. Gibson and the Pats return home for week 13 for a showdown against the visiting Indianapolis Colts.
New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara: Bye Week
Kamara has had a good 2024 season so far, as he looks to add another 1,000-plus rushing yard season under his belt. Kamara and the Saints have a big week 13 matchup coming up as they get ready to host the Los Angeles Rams.
New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy Jr.: D
Tracy Jr. had an okay afternoon for the Giants but couldn’t get into the end zone as the Giants fell flat in their 7-30 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tracy Jr. rushed for 42 yards on nine carries and caught four receptions for 28 yards, but didn’t score a touchdown and lost a fumble. It was not the worst afternoon for Tracy Jr., but it was not the best for him either, as his lost fumble led to the Bucs scoring a touchdown immediately after.
New York Jets: Breece Hall: Bye Week
Hall has been one of the few bright spots on a dysfunctional Jets team, who has been able to run and catch the ball well and score the touchdown Gang Green needs. Hall and the Jets will have a tough test in week 13 when the Seattle Seahawks come to town.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley: A+
Barkley had himself a night to remember as he and the Eagles defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-20. Barkley rushed for 255 yards on 26 yards, scored two rushing touchdowns, and caught four receptions for 47 yards. Barkley’s performance on Sunday Night Football was a night to remember, as it elevated the star running back to be an AP NFL Most Valuable Player candidate.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaylen Warren: C+
Warren had an okay night for the Steelers, even though they lost 19-24 against the Cleveland Browns. Warren rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries, scored his first touchdown of the 2024 season, and caught three receptions for 19 yards. Despite the loss, Warren truly stepped up for the Steelers and found his way into the end zone, even though the Steelers lost. Warren and company travel further into Ohio in week 13 for a divisional match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals.
San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey: D-
McCaffrey and the 49ers’ offense had a painfully tough afternoon in their 10-38 loss against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. McCaffrey rushed for 31 yards on 11 carries and caught three receptions for 37 yards. McCaffrey’s post-injury slump is tough to watch, and not having both Brock Purdy and Trent Williams out on the field also negatively affected the offense, as the team around McCaffrey struggled.
Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III: C-
Walker III had an okay day for the Seahawks, as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-6. Walker III rushed for 41 yards on 16 carries and caught four receptions for 52 yards. Although Walker III wasn’t that effective in the Seahawks’ rushing attack, he showed some promise in the Seahawks’ passing attack, as it helped the team defeat their NFC West rivals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving: A-
Irving had a very nice game for the Bucs as they tore the New York Giants apart in their 30-7 dominant victory. Irving rushed for 87 yards on 12 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught six receptions for 64 yards. Irving and the rest of the Bucs’ rushing attack all scored touchdowns against the woeful Giant’s defense, which helped snap the team’s four-game losing streak.
Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard: A
Pollard had a very productive afternoon for the Titans as they defeated the Houston Texans 32-27. The star running back rushed for 119 yards on 24 carries, scored a touchdown in the second quarter, and caught three receptions for 10 yards. Pollard had a very nice bounce-back game for the Titans after he was held to only 15 yards back in week 11.
Washington Commanders: Jeremy McNichols: F
McNichols had a rough afternoon for the Commanders, as they lost 26-34 stunningly to the Dallas Cowboys. McNichols rushed for 22 yards on three carries but didn’t score a touchdown. The Cowboys’ defense was too much for McNichols, as he struggled in the Commanders’ backfield, while Brian Robinson Jr. left the game with an injury scare before coming back on the field.
