Best NFL running backs 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL running backs right now
The 2024 NFL season demonstrated the value of running backs with the likes of Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and even rookie Bucky Irving proving incredibly valuable to their offenses. Heading into the 2025 season, the question becomes, who is the best running back in the NFL?
Here, we're ranking the 10 best NFL running backs heading into the regular season.
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Saquon Barkley stats (2024): 2,005 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 13 rushing touchdowns, 33 receptions, 278 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 2,283 scrimmage yards, 6 yards per touch
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley excelled in the perfect environment last season. He certainly benefited from running behind the best offensive line in football, but he was also the best all-purpose back in the NFL. He led the NFL in scrimmage yards with a 169-yard edge over Derrick Henry and he averaged 12.3 more rushing yards per game than Henry. While he didn't break Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL record for rushing yards (2,105), he did record the 12th-most scrimmage yards (2,283) in a single season.
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2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Derrick Henry stats (2024): 1,921 rushing yards, 5.9 yards per carry, 16 rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 193 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 2,114 scrimmage yards, 6.1 yards per touch
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The Baltimore Ravens had coveted Derrick Henry for a while before finally landing him in NFL free agency. He immediately exceeded expectations, proving to be the only active running back who is defying Father Time. Last season, Henry led the NFL in yards after contact (909), yards after contact per attempt (2.8) and broken tackles (42). As a 31-year-old, Henry finished first in Player Profiler's Explosive Rating (31.9) and he led the NFL in breakaway runs (25). Heading into the 2025 season, ranked 19th on the all-time rushing yardage list, Henry has a legitimate chance at a 2,000-yard season. If he does so, it will catapult him ahead of Eric Dickerson (13,259) for the ninth-most rushing yards in NFL history.
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Jahmyr Gibbs stats (2024): 1,412 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, 16 rushing touchdowns, 52 receptions, 517 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 1,929 scrimmage yards, 6.4 yards per touch
Many questioned the Detroit Lions for the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. All he's done since is become one of the best NFL running backs, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections and finishing as the co-leader in rushing touchdowns last season. While splitting touches with David Montgomery 'limited' him to only recording the third-most scrimmage yards (1,929), Gibbs led the NFL in yards per touch (6.4) among all players with 300-plus touches and he recorded the most scrimmage touchdowns (20). Before you give too much credit to the Lions' offensive line, note that Gibbs' yards before contact per attempt (3.3) just narrowly ranked ahead of Derrick Henry (3.1). With new offensive coordinator John Morton, we should see even more of Gibbs' playmaking ability as a pass-catcher in 2025.
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4. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Bijan Robinson stats (2024): 1,456 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 14 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions, 431 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1,887 scrimmage yards, 5.2 yards per touch
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson looked like the caliber of offensive weapon in 2024 that many thought he could become when he entered the NFL Draft. He recorded the fourth-most scrimmage yards (1,887) in the NFL, while leading the league in yards created (1,392). Robinson also generated the third-most evaded tackles (83) and his work in the passing game – 72 targets (4th among RBs) and 294 routes run (5th) – highlights his exceptional three-down ability. If quarterback Michael Penix Jr. breaks out this year, we could see improved efficiency from Robinson with a shot at averaging over 5 yards per carry for the first time as a pro.
5. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Christian McCaffrey stats (2024): 202 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 15 receptions, 146 receiving yards, 348 scrimmage yards, 5.4 yards per touch in four games
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Christian McCaffrey is coming off an injury-marred season, which unfortunately could become a trend as he nears his age-30 season. When healthy, he's been a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan's scheme and is the centerpiece of the San Francisco 49ers offense. In his last full season, he had the third-highest yards after contact per attempt (2.2) among running backs with 200-plus carries. McCaffrey also led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,023) with no other running back clearing 1,600. However, the All-Pro offensive weapon has missed double-digit games three times since the 2020 season.
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6. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Josh Jacobs stats (2024): 1,329 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 15 rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions, 342 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1,671 scrimmage yards, 5.0 yards per touch
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The Green Bay Packers opted to replace fan-favorite Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs last offseason. While it was a risky movie at the time, it worked out. Not only did Jacobs start all 17 games, but he also ranked third among backs with 200-plus touches in yards after contact per attempt (2.4). He also had the third-most attempts per broken tackle (8.6) while finishing with the second-most evaded tackles (88) and the 11th-most breakaway runs (11). Heading into his age-27 season, Jacobs' yards-per-carry average (4.4) could climb even higher next season if the improved physicality of the Packers' interior offensive line generates a few more positive runs.
7. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Bucky Irving stats (2024): 1,122 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 8 rushing touchdowns, 47 receptions, 392 receiving yards, 1514 scrimmage yards, 6.0 yards per touch
No one expected a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to become one of the best NFL running backs in 2025. Yet, Bucky Irving truly helped fix the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' ground game. Consider that in 2023, Tampa Bay averaged 3.4 yards per carry (32nd) and 88.9 rushing yards per game (32nd). With Irving in the backfield a year later, the Buccaneers' offense averaged 5.3 yards per carry (2nd) and 149.2 rushing yards per game (4th). Irving also averaged the second-highest yards after contact per attempt (2.7) among running backs with 200-plus carries, just behind Derrick Henry (2.8). In addition, the 5-foot-10 running back ranked sixth in true yards per carry (4.9), third in juke rate (29.5 percent), second in yards created per touch (4.94) and fifth in evaded tackles (75). We can't wait to see what Irving can do as the featured back in 2025.
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8. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
De'Von Achane stats (2024): 907 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns, 78 receptions, 592 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 1,499 scrimmage yards, 5.3 yards per touch
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane received an expanded role in 2024 following a promising rookie season. He didn't come close to his absurd yards-per-carry average (7.8) as a rookie, but he did set career-bests in scrimmage yards (1,499) and first downs (67) while recording double-digit total touchdowns for the second consecutive year. What makes some of Achane's numbers so impressive 4.5 ypc, 57 evaded tackles and 907 rushing yards – is that he did it behind the second-worst offensive line in the NFL in terms of run blocking. If Miami's run blocking is even marginally better this season, paired with Achane's work as a pass-catching weapon, he'll be a Pro Bowl selection in 2025.
9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kyren Williams stats (2024): 1,299 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 14 rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 182 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 1,481 scrimmage yards, 4.6 yards per touch
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A few of the best NFL running backs have been found on Day 3 and that includes Kyren Williams. Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft, Williams has been electric in the last two years. From 2023-2024, he's totaled 2,443 rushing yards with 31 total touchdowns, all while averaging 4.6 yards per touch. Williams finished last season with the third-most broken tackles (27) and he ranked eighth in stuff rate (14.6 percent) despite running behind a banged-up Rams offensive line.
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10. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It certainly might seem premature to label a rookie as one of the best NFL running backs right now. Ashton Jeanty doesn't even have a great offensive line blocking for him with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he is legitimately in that same class of talent entering the league as Saquon Barkley. Jeanty is an excellent fit in Chip Kelly's system and the Raiders' passing game is good enough to keep defenses honest. By the end of the 2025 NFL season, we believe Jeanty could be in the mix to be viewed as a top-six running back.
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