The NFL running back position has been through a renaissance in 2024. With offensive coordinators leaning heavily on versatility, we’ve seen backs who can do it all—pound the rock, catch passes, and even contribute as blockers—rise to the top.
Here comes the fun part, let’s get in there and rank every team’s top option out of the backfield from worst to first.
Who are the top-ranking running backs in the NFL after week 12?
32. Denver Broncos: Javonte Williams (Last Week: #19)
Javonte Williams had an afternoon to forget in Sin City this week. Denver’s lead running back took eight carries for a stunning -2 yards.
31. New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson (Last Week: #24)
Rhamondre Stevenson was a complete non-factor this week, as the veteran running back totaled just 13 yards on eight carries.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (bye): Travis Etienne Jr. (Last Week: #30)
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Travis Etienne hasn’t lived up to expectations, struggling to find running lanes behind an inconsistent offensive line. For a player once seen as a cornerstone of the offense, it’s definitely been a challenging season.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rachaad White (Last Week: #29)
Rachaad White had a respectable afternoon with just under 50 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches with a score.
28. Washington Commanders: Austin Ekeler (Last Week: #13)
Not the best outing we’ve seen from Austin Ekeler this season. The veteran running back totaled just 22 yards on nine carries.
27. Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard (Last Week: #31)
Tony Pollard finally broke out, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. His explosive 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Titans some much-needed momentum.
26. San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey (Last Week: #21)
Christian McCaffrey was bottled up all afternoon, a rare sight for one of the league’s most dynamic running backs. Limited to just 31 yards on the ground, he was a non-factor in both the running and passing game.
25. Las Vegas Raiders: Ameer Abdullah (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Ameer Abdullah got the lion’s share of the work for an admittedly horrendous Raiders rushing attack this week. He turned eight carries into 28 yards on the ground, though he did at least chip in five catches for 37 yards and a score.
24. Chicago Bears: D'Andre Swift (Last Week: #23)
D’Andre Swift was quiet on the ground this week, totaling just 30 yards on 13 carries, but did well to chip in the passing game with his three catches for 35.
23. New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy (Last Week: #22)
Tyrone Tracy ran hard despite a stout showing from the Tampa Bay defense. He totaled 42 yards on the ground and an additional 28 on four catches.
22. Dallas Cowboys: Rico Dowdle (Last Week: #26)
Rico Dowdle had one of his better games of the year, finishing with 98 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris (Last Week: #17)
Najee Harris was not at his best on Thursday Night Football this week. His 16 carries amounted to just 41 yards in the loss.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III (Last Week: #25)
Kenneth Walker had a nice afternoon, contributing over 40 yards rushing and receiving in the win.
19. Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb (Last Week: #28)
In the snow on Thursday Night Football, it was vintage Nick Chubb—powerful, determined, and exactly what the Browns needed. If nothing else, his performance should give Cleveland fans something to feel good about moving forward.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones (Last Week: #27)
Aaron Jones looked like his old self, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown. The star running back’s ability to find lanes and keep the chains moving added a crucial element to Minnesota’s offense.
17. Kansas City Chiefs: Kareem Hunt (Last Week: #20)
Kareem Hunt provided just a solid enough outing with 68 yards on 16 carries, offering the consistency this offense needs.
16. Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor (Last Week: #10)
Jonathan Taylor was essentially a nonfactor this week, as Detroit dared Indy to beat them through the air. He finished Week 12 with just 35 yards on 11 carries.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (bye): Chase Brown (Last Week: #16)
While he hasn’t been Joe Mixon, Chase Brown has been a pleasant surprise for Cinci, providing some energy to the backfield and balance to the offense.
14. New Orleans Saints (bye): Alvin Kamara (Last Week: #15)
Alvin Kamara has been, as advertised, consistently providing a spark for the offense. His ability to create mismatches as a receiver has been invaluable and he remains the centerpiece of this unit despite a number of nagging injuries and his relatively advanced age.
13. Buffalo Bills (bye): James Cook (Last Week: #18)
James Cook has developed into a key piece of Buffalo’s offense, showing versatility as a runner and receiver. He and Josh Allen seem to have a great working rapport.
12. Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams (Last Week: #11)
Kyren Williams, one of the NFL’s well-known running backs, had a respectable showing on Sunday, turning his 16 carries into 72 yards and a touchdown.
11. Arizona Cardinals: James Conner (Last Week: #4)
James Conner was rendered invisible by a dominant Seahawks defensive front, managing just eight rushing yards on seven carries.
10. New York Jets (bye): Breece Hall (Last Week: #9)
Breece Hall has been quietly having a fantastic year in spite of the Jets’ best efforts. He possesses a unique combination of speed, vision, and agility that makes him an instant offense for a team that desperately needs it.
9. Houston Texans: Joe Mixon (Last Week: #7)
Joe Mixon had one of his worst games as a Texan, in part because Tennessee really sought to bottle up his running lanes. He managed just 22 yards on 14 carries.
8. Los Angeles Chargers: J.K. Dobbins (Last Week: #12)
J.K. Dobbins has turned in one of the better seasons to date among the league’s running backs. He can make plays both on the ground and as a receiver, and his toughness really seems to meld with the team’s identity. The Chargers will need to hope that his apparent injury from Monday Night Football isn’t that serious.
7. Miami Dolphins: De'Von Achane (Last Week: #14)
De’Von Achane struggled to get much going on the ground, netting just 32 yards on 10 carries, but he found the end zone twice in the passing game.
6. Atlanta Falcons (bye): Bijan Robinson (Last Week: #8)
Bijan Robinson has been one of the most explosive players in the league this year. He opens up all sorts of options for the Falcons’ offense.
5. Carolina Panthers: Chuba Hubbard (Last Week: #5)
Chuba Hubbard didn’t have any gashing runs, but his power running was impressive down the stretch with his late touchdown and two-point conversion to draw the game even in the final minutes.
4. Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry (Last Week: #3)
What a year for Derrick Henry, who has defied not only age but also the expectations that most folks in and around the NFL had for him coming into the year.
3. Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs (Last Week: #6)
Jahmyr Gibbs was a force to be reckoned with on Sunday, turning 21 carries into 90 yards and two touchdowns.
2. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs (Last Week: #2)
Josh Jacobs was a monster on Sunday. He looked like every bit of the bell cow running back Green Bay wanted him to be, turning 28 carries into 106 yards and three touchdowns.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley (Last Week: #1)
What more can you say about Saquon Barkley? The star running back delivered a monster performance with 255 rushing yards and two jaw-dropping touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Running Backs After Week 11 Games Of The 2024 Season
