The 2024 NFL season is officially here, and we at TPS are very excited to have it back after a long offseason. With the NFL season back, we also get to see many of our favorite running backs command the ground game as they look to open the season with a bang and a strong impression against their opponents. However, some running backs have some things to fix in practice for week two, and hopefully, they can bounce back in week two and beyond.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ starting running backs after week one.
Who are the top running backs after week one of the games?
Arizona Cardinals: James Conner: C+
The Cardinals may not have gotten the win, but they played a competitive game against the Buffalo Bills. Kyler Murray led the Cardinals in rushing yards with 57 yards, but James Conner had the better game. Conner rushed for 50 rushing yards on 16 carries and scored a rushing touchdown. Conner and the Cardinals will bounce back from this loss, but they’ll have to play exceptionally well against the Los Angeles Rams in week two.
Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson: C
The Falcons may have been shut out in the second half of their 10-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Bijan Robinson had a solid game on the ground. Robinson rushed for 68 yards on 18 carries and caught five receptions for 43 yards. It would’ve been very nice to see Robinson score his first touchdown of the season in week one, but those elusive touchdowns will happen as the regular season progresses.
Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry: B-
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Derrick Henry had an alright night, production-wise, in his Ravens debut. Henry rushed for 46 yards on 13 carries and scored a rushing touchdown. Henry was also targeted twice for a couple of reception attempts but never caught the ball. Henry made some noise with his first rushing touchdown as a Raven, but he still has some adjusting to do in the Ravens’ offense as they try to establish a stronger running game than what they had in the 2023-24 AFC Championship game.
Buffalo Bills: James Cook: B-
The Bills came back against the Arizona Cardinals after being down 17-3 in the first half thanks to the heroics of Josh Allen scoring a rushing touchdown before halftime, but it was James Cook who commanded a strong running attack. Cook rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries and caught three receptions for 32 yards. Despite not scoring a touchdown, Cook looked good on the field, and undoubtedly, his first touchdown of the season is just around the corner.
Carolina Panthers: Miles Sanders: F
It was a very brutal Sunday for Sanders and the Panthers, as they were blanked 10-47 to the New Orleans Saints on the road. Sanders rushed for 22 yards on five carries. The Panthers need more than regrouping for week two. If they continue to drop games, they may need to hit the reset button and tank for the 2025 season. Sanders may be questioning his decision to leave Philadelphia for Carolina in the 2023 season. He may also be questioning his decision to become a Panther, as they are such a struggling team.
Chicago Bears: D’Andre Swift: D
Despite the Bears getting the 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, the running attack was nonexistent. D’Andre Swift rushed for 30 yards on 10 carries and missed a pass from Caleb Williams. If game one is any indication, it looks like Swift isn’t going to have the same productive season he saw with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. There’s still time to right the ship.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zack Moss: C
After a very productive 2023 season with the Indianapolis Colts, Zack Moss joined the Bengals and proved he could be just as productive with them, despite the team getting dropped 10-16 against the New England Patriots in week one. Moss rushed for 44 yards on nine carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught two receptions for 17 yards. Moss and the Bengals will bounce back from this loss, and Moss will certainly flourish in offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher’s system.
Cleveland Browns: Jerome Ford: C
Despite a brutal 17-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Jerome Ford had a decent game. Ford rushed for 44 yards on 12 carries and scored a rushing touchdown. Ford may not be Nick Chubb production-wise, but he is still a serviceable running back. When Chubb returns to action, Ford should be a very good number-two option in the rush attack.
Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliot: C
The Cowboys got the 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns, with Ezekiel Elliot having a somewhat decent day on the ground. Elliot rushed for 40 yards on 10 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught two receptions for nine yards. Elliot may be considered a past prime running back, but it’s only been one week of football, and Elliot is so far getting well-readjusted to the Cowboys’ offensive scheme and should have a very productive season ahead of him.
Denver Broncos: Jaleel McLaughlin: D
It was a rough day for the Broncos rushing attack, as they fell to the Seattle Seahawks 20-26. Jaleel McLaughlin led the running backs in rushing yards with 27 yards on 10 carries. The Broncos need to step it up on all fronts of the ball if they want to have a somewhat respectable 2024 season. The ground attack is vital, as the Broncos haven’t had a Pro Bowl running back since Phillip Lindsay in the 2018 season.
Detroit Lions: David Montgomery: A-
Montgomery and the Lions had an impressive opening to the 2024 season in their 26-20 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Montgomery rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries and scored the game-ending touchdown for the Lions in overtime. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are an incredible duo for the Lions at running back. They will look to wreak havoc against opposing defenses as the 2024 season continues.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs: B
Despite a slow and sloppy start in Brazil due to some turf issues, the Packers have found their main runner in Josh Jacobs. Jacobs rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries and caught two receptions for 20 yards but didn’t score any touchdowns. Even though the Packers lost a tough 29-34 battle to the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacobs will flourish in the Packers’ offensive scheme as the season continues.
Houston Texans: Joe Mixon: A-
Mixon had a very strong showcase in his Texans debut, as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-27. Mixon rushed for 159 yards on 30 carries, scored a touchdown, and caught three receptions for 19 yards. Mixon is going to flourish under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense as the season continues and will have excellent chemistry with C.J. Stroud.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor: C-
Despite the Colts losing a very intense 27-29 battle with the Houston Texans, Jonathan Taylor was shut down for the majority of the game. Taylor rushed for 48 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown on the day. The Texans’ defense played rough and kept Taylor’s ground attack on ice for large parts of the game. Taylor will unquestionably bounce back from this loss and have a productive season.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tank Bigsby: C
Despite the Jaguars losing 17-20 to the Miami Dolphins, Tank Bigsby had a productive day on the ground. Bigsby rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries but didn’t score any touchdowns. Travis Etienne Jr. scored a rushing touchdown. Bigsby is a decent running back who’ll have a good sophomore season with the Jaguars and hopefully improve from his rookie year.
Kansas City Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco: B+
Pacheco returned to action strongly, as he and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-20. Pacheco rushed for 45 yards on 15 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught two receptions for 33 yards. Pacheco looked solid and driven in the Chiefs’ offensive attack. Despite not topping 50 rushing yards, he looks to have another strong season with the defending Super Bowl champions.
Las Vegas Raiders: Zamir White: D+
The Raiders are definitely missing Josh Jacobs, as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers 10-22. Zamir White rushed for 44 yards on 13 carries and caught two receptions for two yards. White is no Josh Jacobs. He has to step it up as the Raiders’ main rusher if the Raiders want to have anything close to a somewhat successful season.
Los Angeles Chargers: J.K. Dobbins: B+
One year after injuring his Achilles, J.K. Dobbins had a strong return to action, as he and the Chargers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 22-10. Dobbins rushed for 135 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown. Even though Dobbins got to face Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines when he was an Ohio State Buckeye, it was very exciting to see Harbaugh and Dobbins work very well together.
Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams: C+
Even though the Rams played a hard-fought game and ended up coming up short in their 20-26 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, Kyren Williams performed well. Williams rushed for 50 yards on 18 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught three receptions for four yards. Williams will continue to play well and potentially earn another Pro Bowl nod as the season progresses.
Miami Dolphins: Jeff Wilson Jr.: D
Even though the Dolphins got the 20-17 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the running attack wasn’t the x factor. Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed for 26 yards on five carries while his teammate De’Von Achane scored a rushing touchdown. Wilson Jr. is going to have to step it up, for the Dolphins’ week two matchup against the Buffalo Bills, with Raheem Mostert out recovering from a chest injury.
Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones: B+
Jones, the former Green Bay Packer, had a strong showcase as he and the Vikings took care of business in their 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. Jones rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries, scored a touchdown, and caught two receptions for 15 yards. If Jones continues to produce and have a strong season with the Vikings, he could potentially return to the Pro Bowl and more.
New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson: B+
The Patriots stunned the football world as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 on the road. A large part of that was by Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed for 120 yards on 25 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught three receptions for six yards. Regardless of how the Patriots will finish the 2024 season, Stevenson showed he and the Pats have a lot of fight in them and will run right through opposing defenses to win at the end of the day.
New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara: B
Kamara had a very strong Sunday, as he and the Saints secured a 47-10 blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers. Kamara rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught five receptions for 27 yards. If Kamara continues to play like he did in week one, he and the Saints can return to the playoffs and wreak some havoc against opposing defenses.
New York Giants: Devin Singletary: D
After the Giants’ 6-28 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, it is obvious that Devin Singletary is no Saquon Barkley. Singletary rushed for 37 yards on 10 carries and caught four receptions for 15 yards. If the Giants hadn’t compensated Daniel Jones with all of that money, maybe they would’ve kept Barkley and signed Singletary as a number two or number three running back on the roster instead of being stuck in the predicament they find themselves in now.
New York Jets: Breece Hall: B-
Despite the Jets tough 19-32 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Breece Hall played well in his 2024 season debut. Hall rushed for 54 yards on 16 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught five receptions for 39 yards. Even if the Jets come up short, Hall should have a solid 2024 season with Rodgers leading the way and potentially earn a Pro Bowl nod, depending on how the season plays out.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley: A
After dealing with some turf issues in the first quarter, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles got to work, as they defeated the Packers 34-29 in Brazil. Barkley had an electric debut as an Eagle, with 109 rushing yards on 24 carries, scored two rushing touchdowns, caught two receptions for 23 yards, and scored a receiving touchdown. Giants fans look away because Barkley is going to dominate on the ground, thanks to the second-best offensive line in the league, ranked by Pro Football Focus.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris: C
The Steelers got the 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but Najee Harris didn’t meet the end zone all game. Harris rushed for 70 yards on 20 carries and caught one reception for nine yards. Like Robinson, Harris will eventually score that elusive touchdown, as this was the first game of the season. There’s a lot more football to be played and touchdowns to be made before the regular season concludes.
San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Mason: A-
No Christian McCaffrey? No problem. Jordan Mason and the 49ers defeated the New York Jets 32-19. Mason rushed for 147 yards on 28 carries, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught one reception for five yards. When McCaffrey returns, Mason will be a great number-two running back on an already talented 49ers roster.
Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III: B
Kenneth Walker III had a productive afternoon in his 2024 season debut as the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 26-20. Walker III rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown in the victory. However, Walker III missed practice with an oblique injury, making his status for week two’s matchup against the New England Patriots questionable. Either way, Walker III should have a productive season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving: B-
Bucky Irving had a somewhat good afternoon in the Buccaneers’ 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. Irving rushed for 62 yards on nine carries and caught two receptions for 14 yards. Even though Irving is a rookie, he should have a respectable season, with Baker Mayfield as the offensive leader of the team. Irving should be a nice number two running back, on the roster, behind Rachaad White.
Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard: B
Even though the Titans got dropped by the Chicago Bears 17-24, Tony Pollard played very nicely on the day. Pollard rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries, scored a touchdown, and caught three receptions for 12 yards. The Titans may have lost Derrick Henry to the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason, but so far, Pollard will fill in quite nicely for them as the season churns on. Even though it’s only been one game, Pollard looks to be a good fit.
Washington Commanders: Brian Robinson Jr.: D+
Robinson Jr. and the Commanders had a rough day in Tampa, as they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-37. Robinson Jr. rushed for 40 yards on 12 carries, scored a touchdown, and caught three receptions for 49 yards. With the Commanders’ offense looking like a complete mess, Robinson Jr. is not the only one who needs to find a way to step it up and win games. Otherwise, it’ll be a long, cold winter in the nation’s capital.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ No. 1 Running Back For The 2024 Season From WORST To FIRST
