From explosive breakaway runs to grinding out tough yards in the trenches, starting running backs have shown their ability to carry their NFL teams — or leave them searching for answers.
It’s time to rank all 32 NFL starting running backs from worst to first and see how they stack up!
Who are the top starting running backs in the NFL after week 7?
32. New England Patriots – Rhamondre Stevenson (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Rhamondre Stevenson was back in action this week, but his production wasn’t, as he managed a measly 18 yards on seven carries.
31. New York Giants – Tyrone Tracy (Last Week: #6)
Tyrone Tracy’s six-carry, 23-yard outing on Sunday was abysmal and only made worse by his predecessor waltzing into town and exploding for nearly 200 yards on the Giants.
30. New Orleans Saints – Alvin Kamara (Last Week: #22)
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Tough week for Alvin Kamara against a staunch Broncos defense. The Saints star netted just 10 yards on seven carries… yikes!
29. Cincinnati Bengals – Chase Brown (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Chase Brown has taken over lead responsibilities in Cincinnati and did just enough to keep the Browns d-line from bearing down on Burrow entirely, turning 15 carries into 44 yards.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – J.K. Dobbins (Last Week: #21)
It was tough sledding on Monday Night for J.K. Dobbins, who managed just 14 yards on six carries in the first half before the Chargers all but abandoned the run after the intermission.
27. Dallas Cowboys (bye) – Rico Dowdle (Last Week: #26)
While it hasn’t been perfect, Rico Dowdle has shown a knack for breaking tackles and creating yards after contact, which has added a dynamic element to the Cowboys’ offense, as Ezekiel Elliott’s days of doing that are long past him.
Also Read: How Are The NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Backs Performing In 2024?
26. Cleveland Browns – Nick Chubb (Last Week: Not Ranked)
It wasn’t exactly the Nick Chubb of old yet, but he showed flashes in his return from injury, including a touchdown run that had the Browns fans buzzing!
25. Las Vegas Raiders – Alexander Mattison (Last Week: #24)
Alexander Mattison had a nice afternoon for the Raiders, turning 23 carries into 92 yards and tacking on three catches for 31 yards to boot.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sean Tucker (Last Week: #2)
Sean Tucker was very quiet in the follow-up to his breakout performance, as he couldn’t find much room to run at all against a stout Ravens front on Monday. He finished with just five carries for 29 yards, getting out-touched by Rachaad White.
23. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Goodson (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Goodson had a nice week filling in for Jonathan Taylor, turning 14 carries into 51 yards and a touchdown.
22. Tennessee Titans – Tony Pollard (Last Week: #16)
Tony Pollard had a respectable afternoon, turning 16 carries into 61 yards against a strong Bills defense.
21. Buffalo Bills – James Cook (Last Week: #14)
Counting numbers wasn’t huge, but James Cook led Buffalo’s rushing attack with efficiency and contributed to the second-half surge with a touchdown run that helped put the game out of reach.
20. Arizona Cardinals – James Conner (Last Week: #19)
James Conner is old reliable for the Arizona Cardinals. While they have some explosive playmakers on the outside now, he continues to be a force through the middle of the field, finishing with 19 carries for 101 yards.
19. Denver Broncos – Javonte Williams (Last Week: #25)
Week 6 was a good one for Javonte Williams, the Broncos lead back racked up 88 yards and two touchdowns on his 14 carries.
18. San Francisco 49ers – Jordan Mason (Last Week: #17)
Jordan Mason had another reasonably impressive performance standing in for Christian McCaffrey, turning 16 touches into 69 yards from scrimmage.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Tank Bigsby (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Tank Bigsby had a great game in Travis Etienne’s stead, going for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
16. Miami Dolphins – De'Von Achane (Last Week: #31)
De’Von Achane looked good this week, taking 15 carries for an explosive 77 yards, albeit in a losing effort.
15. Carolina Panthers – Chuba Hubbard (Last Week: #8)
Chuba Hubbard had another impressive game despite the Panthers being an absolute dumpster fire. He took 17 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, Carolina’s only score.
14. Seattle Seahawks – Kenneth Walker III (Last Week: #18)
Seahawks lead back Kenneth Walker did a nice job on Sunday, taking 14 carries for 69 yards and a score on the ground, adding two catches for 24 yards and another score through the air.
13. Green Bay Packers – Josh Jacobs (Last Week: #13)
Josh Jacobs had a historic moment, finally getting his first career receiving touchdown after a record 212 catches without one. He also helped his team to a big win on the strength of 12 carries for 76 yards.
12. Washington Commanders – Brian Robinson Jr. (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Brian Robinson Jr. looked good in his return to action this week. The bruising running back turned 12 carries into 71 yards and a touchdown.
11. Minnesota Vikings – Aaron Jones (Last Week: #20)
Aaron Jones surprised a lot of people by playing on Sunday and did so with emphasis. The veteran NFL starting running back turned 14 carries into 93 yards and a score. He also chipped in three catches for 23 yards.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers – Najee Harris (Last Week: #12)
Najee Harris continues to impress, taking 21 carries for 102 yards and one touchdown against a strong Jets defensive line.
9. Detroit Lions – Jahmyr Gibbs (Last Week: #11)
Jahmyr Gibbs was the star for Detroit on Sunday, rushing for 116 yards and two touchdowns while totaling 150 yards from scrimmage. Gibbs’s contributions in both the run and pass game showcased why the Lions drafted him.
8. Houston Texans – Joe Mixon (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Joe Mixon returned to action in grand fashion, carrying the ball 25 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns, almost single-handedly leading his team to victory.
7. New York Jets – Breece Hall (Last Week: #15)
Breece Hall was, frankly, the Jets only source of offense on Sunday night. He only netted 38 yards on the ground, but he managed to find the end zone and took his six receptions for a massive 103 yards.
6. Kansas City Chiefs – Kareem Hunt (Last Week: #7)
Kareem Hunt’s renaissance in Kansas City continued in full force on Sunday, as his physical running style really seems to be working in their offense. He finished with 78 yards and two scores on the ground.
5. Baltimore Ravens – Derrick Henry (Last Week: #1)
Derrick Henry is a force of nature. Plain and simple. He took his 15 carries for a massive 169 yards on the ground and added one catch for 13 yards and a touchdown. The future Hall of Famer’s second act in Baltimore is off to a great start!
4. Chicago Bears (bye) – D'Andre Swift (Last Week: #5)
D’Andre Swift struggled to find running lanes early in the year, but he has managed to re-establish himself as one of the most dynamic backs in the league.
3. Los Angeles Rams – Kyren Williams (Last Week: #3)
Kyren Williams was money for the Rams on Sunday, turning 21 carries into 76 yards and two touchdowns.
2. Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson (Last Week: #4)
Bijan Robinson had himself another nice afternoon this week, taking 21 carries for 103 yards and a score while also managing to add three catches for 40 yards in the passing game.
1. Philadelphia Eagles – Saquon Barkley (Last Week: #10)
Saquon Barkley had an absolutely monster game against his former team in front of their home crowd. The Eagles running back took 17 carries for a total of 176 yards in the convincing win.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Running Backs After Week 6 Games Of The 2024 Season
