This season, we’ve seen some running backs put their teams on their shoulders and carry them into contention while others have struggled to make a dent.
The difference between playoff teams and those packing it in early often comes down to who can grind out tough yards in December when the weather—and the games—get colder. Some may say the running back… is back!
Let’s look around the NFL and stack rank them from worst to first.
Who are the top-ranking running backs in the NFL after week 13?
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne Jr. (Last Week: #30)
Travis Etienne Jr. was quiet again this week for the Jags, finishing with just 46 rushing yards on 13 carries.
31. Las Vegas Raiders: Ameer Abdullah (Last Week: #25)
Ameer Abdullah couldn’t get anything going on the ground this week, turning 10 carries into just 39 yards in the loss.
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30. Denver Broncos: Javonte Williams (Last Week: #32)
Javonte Williams has not been the game-changer running back for the Broncos offense that Sean Payton wanted him to be coming into the year. It looks like he may slide to second string going forward behind Jaleel McLaughlin, who took the lion’s share of the carries this week.
29. Los Angeles Chargers: Gus Edwards (Not Ranked)
The Chargers’ backfield-by-committee approach fell flat as the absence of J.K. Dobbins loomed large. Gus Edwards led the way with 32 yards on six carries.
28. San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey (Last Week: #26)
Not the best outing we’ve seen from Christian McCaffrey, as he got just seven carries in the blowout loss but managed to total 53 yards.
27. Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard (Last Week: #27)
Tony Pollard had a tough time finding any legitimate running lanes this week, turning eight carries into 35 yards. At least he managed to chip in four catches for 33 yards to salvage the game.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rachaad White (Last Week: #29)
It was another modest showing for Rachaad White this week, as Bucky Irving got a lot of the workload. Still, White came through in the clutch, delivering the longest run of the day to set up the game-winning field goal.
25. New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson (Last Week: #31)
Rhamondre Stevenson had an impressive showing in Week 13, turning 18 carries into 73 yards and adding another three catches for 21 yards in the process.
24. Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III (Last Week: #20)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker didn’t have his best game on Sunday at the Meadowlands. He managed just 49 yards on 16 carries.
23. Chicago Bears: D'Andre Swift (Last Week: #24)
D’Andre Swift had a solid showing on Thanksgiving, turning 13 touches into 74 yards from scrimmage.
22. New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy (Last Week: #23)
Tyrone Tracy didn’t see a ton of usage, but he did well to convert his nine carries into 32 yards and a touchdown. He also chipped in two catches for 33 yards.
21. Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb (Last Week: #19)
Nick Chubb’s return from injury has been a major shot in the arm for Cleveland, regardless of whether his running has been super impressive. He struggled to get much going on the ground during Monday Night Football but did snag a receiving touchdown.
20. Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones (Last Week: #18)
Aaron Jones’ two early fumbles put the Vikings in a tough spot, but his redemption arc was impressive, as he ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown amid an otherwise disappointing afternoon.
19. New York Jets: Breece Hall (Last Week: #10)
Breece Hall had a decent afternoon despite his limited usage. The well-known running back got 12 carries and turned them into 60 yards in the loss.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Rico Dowdle (Last Week: #22)
Rico Dowdle had a big game for Dallas on Thursday, taking the ball 22 times for 112 yards and one touchdown.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Brown (Last Week: #15)
Chase Brown had himself one of his best games as a pro, going for 100 yards from scrimmage with one touchdown on 15 touches.
16. Washington Commanders: Brian Robinson Jr. (Not Ranked)
With running back Austin Ekeler sidelined, Brian Robinson Jr. really made his return count, bulldozing his way to 103 yards and a touchdown.
15. Kansas City Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco (Not Ranked)
Isiah Pacheco saw limited action in his return but looked like he still had some burst, turning his seven carries into 44 yards.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris (Last Week: #21)
Najee Harris was a workhorse, grinding out tough yards and finding the end zone when Pittsburgh needed it. He finished with 75 yards and the score on 16 carries and added six catches for 54 yards.
13. Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor (Last Week: #16)
Big game for Jonathan Taylor this week. The Colts star turned 25 carries into 96 yards and added one touchdown catch for seven yards.
12. Arizona Cardinals: James Conner (Last Week: #11)
James Conner was his typical bruising running back self this week, turning 17 carries into 68 yards and adding three catches for 13 yards in the process.
11. Carolina Panthers: Chuba Hubbard (Last Week: #5)
Week 13 was far and away Chuba Hubbard’s worst game of the year—perhaps even his Panthers career. He finished with just 43 yards on 12 carries and coughed up a fumble in overtime that cost his team the game.
10. New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara (Last Week: #14)
Star running back Alvin Kamara had a vintage performance this week, turning 23 carries into 112 yards on the ground.
9. Miami Dolphins: De'Von Achane (Last Week: #7)
De’Von Achane couldn’t get anything going on the ground, taking the ball seven times for 14 yards. He did, however, manage to snag eight catches for 56 yards and a score.
8. Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams (Last Week: #12)
Week 13 was a big one for Kyren Williams, who turned 15 carries into 104 yards and a big score for Los Angeles.
7. Buffalo Bills: James Cook (Last Week: #13)
James Cook had a big game on Sunday Night Football, taking 14 carries for 107 yards and a score.
6. Houston Texans: Joe Mixon (Last Week: #9)
Joe Mixon, the Texans star running back, had another impressive week for Houston, turning 20 carries into 101 yards and a TD.
5. Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs (Last Week: #3)
Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t get a ton of work this week, but he still managed to contribute in impressive fashion, turning nine carries into 87 yards and two catches for 17 yards in the win.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson (Last Week: #6)
Another week, another big game from running back Bijan Robinson, who made up the bulk of the offense for the Falcons this week, turning 26 carries into 102 yards and a touchdown, plus six catches for 33 through the air.
3. Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry (Last Week: #4)
Derrick Henry did not have his best game but still managed to go for over 110 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches.
2. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs (Last Week: #2)
Josh Jacobs’ physicality was on full display in Week 13, with 117 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley (Last Week: #1)
While the much-hyped battle between running back Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry didn’t fully deliver, Barkley made his case for MVP with a clutch 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to close it out, finalizing a 23-carry, 107-yard, and one-touchdown performance.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Running Backs After Week 12 Games Of The 2024 Season
