Making Sense of Every NFL Backfield After 2023 NFL Draft
Running back may no longer be the glamorous position it once was, but it's still a critical piece of the puzzle for any NFL offense.
Three-down featured backs have largely been replaced by a platoon approach, where multiple players split rushing and pass-catching duties. However, plenty of teams still revolve around their ground games.
With the 2023 NFL draft now over and most key free agents off the market, this is an ideal time to review each team's backfield and highlight how it should shake out this season.
Arizona Cardinals
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James Conner will be a driving force for the Arizona Cardinals offense in 2023, especially while quarterback Kyler Murray recovers from a torn ACL. The veteran racked up over 1,500 rushing yards and scored 22 touchdowns on the ground over the past two seasons in Arizona.
Conner became more of a threat in the passing game last year as well, tallying 46 catches for 300 yards and a touchdown. That was his best receiving output since his sophomore campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018.
However, the Cardinals' depth behind Conner is a bit murky.
Keaontay Ingram, a sixth-round pick last year, had only 27 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown as a rookie. His usage could increase in 2023, although he'll face competition from the likes of Corey Clement, Ty'Son Williams and undrafted rookie Emari Demercado for the backup role in training camp.
Atlanta Falcons
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The Atlanta Falcons secured the best running back in the 2023 draft class when it selected Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall. While spending a top-10 pick on any running back could be considered a reach, some scouts believe Robinson is the best prospect at that position in the past 10-plus years.
Robinson will be the focal point of Atlanta's offense while it tries to find out whether Desmond Ridder is its long-term answer at quarterback. He should receive not only see a high volume of carries, but he'll also see plenty of usage as a pass-catcher too.
The Falcons also had one of the surprise running backs of the 2022 draft class in Tyler Allgeier, who amassed over 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie. He'll give Atlanta one of the NFL's best one-two backfield combinations and should allow Robinson to get some rest when needed and stay fresh for the long season.
According to The Athletic's Josh Kendall, head coach Arthur Smith said he plans to utilize both his top backs for different purposes in 2023:
"Tyler is a very important part of this offense. They are different players. You can look at the advanced metrics and say (Allgeier and Robinson) are both yards-after-contact players, but how they do that is completely different. Tyler is like a sledgehammer as the game goes on, bludgeoning through there and wearing you down, where with Bijan it's contact balance, the way he doesn't go down, the way he is able to get explosives off that. It's different the way people will have to tackle them. Whoever is up on game day, they will have unique roles."
Working behind these two will be a gadget weapon in Cordarelle Patterson—who will likely see a handful of totes per game, but nowhere near the 10 or so he received each week for the last two seasons—and Caleb Huntley, who had a solid rookie year last season with 366 yards and a touchdown on 76 carries.
Baltimore Ravens
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The Baltimore Ravens are poised to make significant strides on offense with the offseason additions of wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie first-round pick Zay Flowers. The increased potency of the aerial attack could make their ground game more dangerous, too.
J.K. Dobbins remains the lead back in Baltimore. Injuries have limited him to only 23 games across his first three NFL seasons, but the 2020 second-round pick came on strong at the end of last season. He racked up nearly 400 rushing yards on only 57 carries between Weeks 14 and 17, which is a promising development for the upcoming campaign.
Ravens stalwart Gus Edwards will be Dobbins' primary backup. Edwards has been effective when called into action, averaging over 5.2 yards per carry since catching on with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Justice Hill should continue to rotate in as a third-stringer after he posted a career-best 262 yards on 49 carries in his usual depth role last year.
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Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills' backfield disappointed during the playoffs last year, but it has a brighter outlook in 2023 thanks to some personnel changes made in wake of that dismal showing.
The Bills allowed Devin Singletary to walk in free agency, opening the door for second-year back James Cook to take over as the starter. While Cook's usage was spotty last year, he still mustered an impressive 507 yards and two touchdowns on only 89 carries. The Georgia product was also a factor in the passing game, catching 21 of his 32 targets for 180 yards and another score.
Joining Cook in the backfield will be former New England Patriots tailback Damien Harris, who's looking to bounce back after an injury-ravaged season. Harris will try to get back into his 2021 form, when he amassed 929 yards and 15 scores on 202 totes.
Nyheim Hines is still in the picture as well. Although he failed to make an impact after coming over at the trade deadline, finishing with negative-three yards on six carries in his first nine games with Buffalo, he could become more of a contributor—especially in the passing game—with a full offseason to carve out a role.
Carolina Panthers
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The Carolina Panthers parted ways with two quality running backs over the past year, but they should still have a strong ground attack in 2023. After sending Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers at the trade deadline and letting D'Onta Foreman walk in free agency after a breakout year, the Panthers hit the open market this offseason to find replacements.
They came away with one of the best available veterans in former Philadelphia Eagles tailback Miles Sanders, who finally managed to stay healthy and eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career last year. While that production came as part of a deep platoon while working behind one of the league's top offensive lines, Sanders will have some help in Carolina.
Chuba Hubbard has been a reliable option for the Panthers over the last two years. He saw extensive action as a rookie filling in for McCaffrey, totaling 786 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. While his role diminished slightly last year, Hubbard posted a career-best 4.9 yards per carry and averaged over 12 yards per reception. Expect his role to remain similar in 2023.
The depth behind Hubbard and Sanders is still murky, but players like Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown and undrafted rookie Camerun Peoples will all compete for touches in training camp.
Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears backfield will look significantly different in 2023 than it has in recent years. Khalil Herbert is the lone holdover, and he's expected to complement free-agent acquisition D'Onta Foreman.
Foreman is coming off a career-best showing with the Carolina Panthers, amassing 914 yards and five touchdowns on only 203 carries. He'll try to build on that and post his first 1,000-yard season at the age of 27 in the Windy City.
Herbert showed promising growth in his sophomore season and solidified himself as the team's primary backup at worst. He rushed for 731 yards and four scores on only 129 carries and could soak up even more touches in 2023.
Roschon Johnson will be the wild card in this backfield. The fourth-round rookie spent much of his collegiate career at Texas in the shadow of Bijan Robinson, and he'll likely continue to serve in a complementary role early in his pro career. However, Johnson has a ton of upside and could end up eating heavily into Foreman's volume with a strong showing in camp.
Cincinnati Bengals
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Joe Mixon's tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals appeared to be in danger this offseason after his production dropped off last year and he had poor showing in the playoffs. However, head coach Zac Taylor recently said his future is "here with the team," which should quell concerns for now.
With that vote of confidence, Mixon may be locked into his usual role for the upcoming season. The 26-year-old has eclipsed the 200-carry mark in four of the last five seasons and eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark three times in his career. While Mixon has likely reached his ceiling in the NFL, he should continue to provide consistent production with heavy usage out of Cincinnati's backfield.
Pushing Mixon for carries will be rookie fifth-rounder Chase Brown. The Illinois product posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to cap off his collegiate career and scored 15 rushing touchdowns across those two campaigns. Brown can contribute as a pass-catcher as well last year, as he had a career-high 27 receptions for 240 yards and three touchdowns for the Fighting Illini.
Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans and undrafted rookies Jacob Saylors and Calvin Tyler Jr. will battle it out for depth roles behind these two key contributors.
Cleveland Browns
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It should come as no surprise that Nick Chubb will be the main source of production for the Cleveland Browns backfield in 2023. With Kareem Hunt out of the picture after his contract expired, the Browns will likely lean more heavily on Chubb than they have in the past.
Chubb has been a force for the Browns since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2018. He's coming off a career-high 1,525- yard campaign, and he matched his personal best last season with 12 rushing touchdowns. His 302 totes were also the most of his career, and could see even more work in 2023.
Jerome Ford will be Chubb's primary backup. The fifth-round rookie played sparingly last year, garnering only eight carries in 13 contests, but he should see a sharp uptick in volume due to Hunt's departure.
John Kelly Jr., Demetric Felton Jr., Nate McCrary and undrafted rookie Hassan Hall will be in the mix for touches behind Chubb and Ford.
Dallas Cowboys
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For the first time in seven years, the Dallas Cowboys won't have Ezekiel Elliott soaking up the lion's share of their backfield touches. They released Elliott due to his fading production and huge contract at the start of the offseason, opening the door for Tony Pollard to take on an even larger role in 2023.
Pollard has been steadily improving since joining the Cowboys as a fourth-round pick in 2019. He topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark and punched in a career-high nine scores last year while remaining a major receiving threat. He posted 39 receptions for 371 yards and three touchdowns as well.
The Cowboys' biggest question mark is the depth behind Pollard. Deuce Vaughn, a rookie sixth-round pick, may have the inside track for earning the No. 2 RB job right now. Vaughn was a highly productive talent at Kansas State despite being undersized and should provide Dallas with another home run threat.
Ronald Jones is worth keeping an eye as well. The veteran didn't make waves in his lone season with the Kansas City Chiefs last year, but he put up nearly 1,000 yards and scored seven touchdowns during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl-winning season in 2020. He'll be in the mix for a depth role, duking it out with Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle.
Denver Broncos
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The Denver Broncos will be pinning their offensive hopes not only on a resurgent season from quarterback Russell Wilson, but also a healthy and productive return by third-year tailback Javonte Williams.
Williams seemed poised to emerge as one of the league's leading running backs last year after tallying 903 yards and four touchdowns on 203 carries as a rookie in 2021. However, the 23-year-old played only four games before he tore both his ACL and LCL.
Denver must feel confident in Williams' ability to return to full strength, as it didn't select a running back in the 2023 draft. That leaves veteran free-agent pickup Samaje Perine to play the third-down and pass-catching role that he filled for the Cincinnati Bengals over the last three years.
Tony Jones Jr., Damarea Crockett, Tyler Badie and Tyreik McCallister will be among the running backs competing for the remaining touches.
Detroit Lions
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The Detroit Lions made one of the most surprising picks of the 2023 draft when they selected Alabama tailback Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall. While many mock drafts had him coming off the board on Day 2, Detroit's front office felt strongly enough about his potential to spend a top-15 pick on him.
Gibbs will be expected to produce at a high level for a Lions team that has serious playoff aspirations in 2023. He'll be the feature back in this offense, taking over the role from Jamaal Williams following the veteran's 1,066-yard, 17-touchdown campaign.
Also gone is D'Andre Swift, who had the second-most receptions on the team last year. His departure leaves a ton of pass-catching work vacant, some of which the dynamic Gibbs will fill. The rest will likely fall on David Montgomery, who signed in Detroit following four consecutive 800-plus yard seasons with the rival Chicago Bears.
With Gibbs and Montgomery set to dominate the touches, depth options like Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Greg Bell will likely see sporadic usage barring injuries.
Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers are in a state of transition following the departure of longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but their backfield will look quite familiar in 2023.
Aaron Jones is sticking around after he agreed to restructure his contract in mid-February. He'll likely remain the starter for a fifth consecutive campaign after posting 1,000-plus-yard seasons in three of the last four years. Jones may see heavier usage than ever as the team looks to ease Jordan Love into the starting quarterback role.
AJ Dillon remains Green Bay's primary backup behind Jones. Dillon has been a solid addition to the offense, putting up nearly 1,600 rushing yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns over the last two seasons while appearing in every game. He should also see an uptick in volume in 2023 if the Packers pivot to more of a ground-based attack.
Seventh-round rookie Lew Nichols will provide Green Bay with some injury insurance and depth while competing with Patrick Taylor and Tyler Goodson for the third-string role.
Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans have majorly renovated their roster this offseason, including a notable addition to the backfield in Devin Singletary. While Singletary was the Buffalo Bills' starting back for the last three seasons, he will likely work behind breakout rookie Dameon Pierce in his new role.
Pierce was one of the few bright spots for Houston last year, tallying 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 totes and reeling in 30 catches for 165 yards and a score. He accomplished that despite having little support from the passing game, which should change in 2023 with the addition of No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud under center.
Singletary should inject some veteran savvy and skills into Houston's backfield. He had nearly 1,700 rushing yards and scored 14 total touchdowns over the last two years, making him one of the NFL's better backups.
There likely won't be much work left behind him and Pierce, but Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale and Gerrid Doaks will be in the mix for depth roles.
Indianapolis Colts
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The Indianapolis Colts backfield begins and ends with Jonathan Taylor when he's healthy.
Taylor regressed in 2022 while battling injuries, but he still contributed 861 yards and four touchdowns on 192 carries in 11 games for a Colts team that underperformed across the board. If he can stay healthy and return to his rushing-crown-winning form from 2021, the fourth-year veteran should get this offense back on track.
Indianapolis will also allocate some work to Zack Moss after he came over via a trade with the Buffalo Bills last year. Moss had 365 yards and a touchdown on 76 carries in eight games with the Colts last year. He's a solid backup and has the talent to step in as a starter if Taylor goes down for a stretch.
Evan Hull will be Moss' primary competition for touches. The fifth-round pick is a well-rounded talent who projects to contribute as both a rusher and pass-catcher out of the backfield. He'll probably end up as the third-string back at worst during his rookie campaign, beating out the likes of Deon Jackson and Jake Funk for the job.
Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have an intriguing amount of backfield depth heading into 2023. While Travis Etienne is locked in as the starter following a strong debut campaign—he had 1,125 yards and five scores on 220 totes and chipped in another 316 yards on 35 receptions—there is some real talent behind him right now.
Tank Bigsby will likely emerge as Jacksonville's RB2 after the organization selected him in the third round of the draft. The 21-year-old was a major contributor for Auburn, finishing his three-year run with the program with 2,903 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. He has great size at 6'0" and 210 pounds and has the versatility to succeed in Jackonsville's offensive scheme.
Former Cleveland Browns tailback D'Ernest Johnson may also get a little run after signing with the Jaguars in free agency. Johnson didn't see the field much last year in Cleveland, but he was highly effective when called into action due to injuries ahead of him in 2021. The unheralded back had a pair of 123-yard-plus performances on the ground that season and will now give the Jags some fantastic injury insurance.
Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs just won the Super Bowl with a seventh-round rookie working as their starting tailback, but they still have some backfield questions to sort out this offseason.
While Isiah Pacheco has done enough to clinch the starting job for the upcoming campaign thanks to a strong finish to his rookie season and subsequent playoff run, there are some concerns about Kansas City's depth behind the Rutgers product. Clyde Edwards-Helaire would likely be Pacheco's backup if the season started today, but there's still a chance that the Chiefs elect to part ways with the disappointing 2020 first-round pick.
Jerick McKinnon should continue his pass-catching role after he re-signed with the defending champions on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Field Yates. McKinnon was a key contributor last season, catching 56 balls for 512 yards and nine scores.
La'Mical Perine, who hasn't played a snap since his release from the New York Jets last August, and undrafted free agent Deneric Prince will also battle for playing time.
Las Vegas Raiders
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The Las Vegas Raiders have at least one more season of backfield stability ahead of them after franchise-tagging Josh Jacobs. Jacobs was one of the team's few consistent performers during a disappointing 2022 season, posting a league-leading 1,653 yards to go with 12 touchdowns on a career-high 340 carries.
With Jacobs likely to handle a herculean amount of volume before hitting the open market next year, there won't be much room for other ball-carriers to shine. There's a slew of aging veterans and unheralded young backs competing for a role behind the star, including Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden, Zamir White, Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick and Austin Walter.
Barring an injury to Jacobs, none of these players will receive a notable amount of work. Quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jarrett Stidham were the Raiders' Nos. 2 and 3 rushers last year, while White was the team's second-most productive running back with 70 yards on 17 carries.
Los Angeles Chargers
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The Los Angeles Chargers appear to be set at running back at least for the 2023 season.
While Austin Ekeler still hasn't reached a long-term agreement that would keep him in L.A. beyond this campaign, he should get plenty of usage in the final year of his deal. Ekeler is coming off his heaviest workload as a professional, having racked up a combined 311 carries and receptions for a career-high 1,637 yards with 18 touchdowns.
The 27-year-old should generate similar volume this year, with Joshua Kelley the only real threat to eat into it. Kelley was the backup last year, which resulted in 69 carries for 287 yards and two touchdowns and 14 catches for 101 yards.
He should perform the same role again unless he is surprisingly shown up in camp by Larry Rountree III or Isaiah Spiller, two depth options who didn't provide anything of note last season.
Los Angeles Rams
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The Los Angeles Rams have work to do to sort out their running back depth chart.
Cam Akers has the inside track for the starting job after he assumed that role last year. Akers showed some of the flash he provided as a rookie in 2020 again, shaking off the effects of a torn Achilles that sidelined him for most of the 2021 season. Though he requested a trade, Akers remained with L.A. and finished with 786 yards and seven touchdowns on 188 carries plus 117 yards on 13 receptions.
Head coach Sean McVay believes the best is yet to come for Akers (via Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons):
"He was able to have over 500 in the last [six] games and really be able to be a bright spot for us, and let's continue to build on that. Excited about [new running backs coach] Ron Gould and what he'll be able to do with that room, but I know Cam's had a great look in his eye. [I] expect him to continue to build on the way that he finished."
Kyren Williams, a fifth-round pick last year, could push Akers for carries. Williams' first season wasn't special—he totaled 139 yards on 35 carries with 76 yards on nine catches—but the Notre Dame product has untapped potential and could be a contributor in Year 2.
Zach Evans will also be in the mix after the team spent a sixth-round pick on the Ole Miss running back who averaged nearly seven yards per carry over 27 collegiate games.
Expect Akers to open the year as the starter and Williams and Evans to compete for the backup job in camp.
Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins were a popular pick to land one of the potential feature backs in the 2023 draft. While they didn't do that, they did add one of the most potent weapons in the class when they selected Devon Achane in the third round.
Though Miami still lacks a three-down talent with 1,000-yard potential, it has a respectable platoon in place. Veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. will continue to shoulder most of the load, but Achane should cut into their volume with head coach Mike McDaniel scheming up ways to spring the speedster for big plays.
It looks like a crowded backfield with those three, and Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin are also in the picture and could contest for depth roles.
Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings have one of the league's most enviable running back situations. With a star in Dalvin Cook leading the way and an ideal backup in Alexander Mattison, they have all the rushing power they need to mount a defense of their NFC North title.
Cook is coming off his fourth consecutive campaign with 1,100-plus rushing yards. He's scored a whopping 46 total touchdowns in that span and has been a capable pass-catcher as well, amassing 1,399 receiving yards.
Mattison is an overly capable backup who showed he could be a feature back if given the opportunity. His usage was down in 2022, but he's had multiple 100-yard performances while filling in for Cook and will be ready if necessary.
With those two penned in as RB1 and RB2, the pickings will be slim for whomever wins the RB3 job. Keep an eye on seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride, though, as the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year could make a splash in camp.
New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots unearthed a solid first-string back in Rhamondre Stevenson, who showed he could fill the role with his first 1,000-yard campaign last year. The 2021 fourth-round pick won't be tasked with a massive amount of volume, however, as Bill Belichick is known for rotating his backs and has a strong group of veterans to lean on.
The Pats signed a solid No. 2 rusher in James Robinson, another proven option who figures to be in the mix on a weekly basis. Robinson was one of the surprise players of the 2020 season, tallying 1,070 rushing yards as an undrafted rookie, but fell out of favor with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being traded to the New York Jets in October.
Robinson's Jets career never took off—he finished with 29 rushes for 85 yards in four games—but the 24-year-old could find new life with New England.
Ty Montgomery is also back for another round after he played just one game in his first season with the team because of a shoulder injury. The 30-year-old could have a role as a pass-catching back this season.
New Orleans Saints
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Alvin Kamara has been the key piece of the New Orleans Saints backfield for the last six years, but he may have a hard time hanging on to that role.
Kamara is still a game-changer, but he could be suspended. He pled not guilty in March to charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm after the assault of a man in Las Vegas early last year. His potential unavailability likely led the Saints to not only sign veteran Jamaal Williams following his incredible season with the Detroit Lions but also to draft Kendre Miller at No. 71 overall last week.
The door is open for a competition in training camp, and Miller has his eyes on the lead role, per Jeff Nowak of WWL Radio.
"I don't sit too well at backup," he said. "Even though I respect Kamara and everything he got the Saints and everything that he did, but I'm coming for that No. 1."
If all three backs are available, it could be a challenge for head coach Dennis Allen to allocate touches to each. Expect training camp results and a decision from the league office regarding Kamara's status to bring more clarity later in the offseason.
New York Giants
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The New York Giants' decision to franchise-tag Saquon Barkley did not sit well with the star. The 26-year-old has declined to sign the tag and has not participated in voluntary offseason workouts with the club.
The situation could resolve soon, however, as general manager Joe Schoen planned to "reconvene" with Barkley after the draft. The G-Men should be desperate to work out a deal with their lead back, as he shouldered a huge load for the offense last season and is projected to do the same in 2023.
While Big Blue have a few options at their disposal if Barkley holds out—namely veteran backup Matt Breida and rookie fifth-rounder Eric Gray—neither brings as much skill and big-play ability to the table as the No. 2 pick in 2018.
If Barkley signs the tag or a contract extension, he will be the clear-cut No. 1. He'll get some support from Breida and Gray, but don't expect too many plays to be called for either of the depth backs.
New York Jets
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The return of Breece Hall will be a huge boon for a team with championship aspirations. Hall was one of the most impressive rookies in the league last year before a torn ACL cut his season short after seven contests. The Iowa State product rushed 80 times for 463 yards and four scores and added 218 yards and another touchdown on 19 receptions.
Fortunately for the New York Jets, Hall is on track to return by Week 1. He'll round out a new-look offense led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His presence will open lanes and allow Hall to shine so long as he can regain his rookie form.
Gang Green have plenty of depth to lean on if Hall isn't 100 percent early in the season. Both Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter are back, while rookie Israel Abanikanda figures to earn playing time regardless of Hall's health. The Brooklyn-born Pitt product is a good bet to win the primary backup job in training camp after the Jets utilized a fifth-round pick to acquire him.
Philadelphia Eagles
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Despite coming up just short in their quest to win the Super Bowl last season, the Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly have a lot of questions related to their running back platoon.
Losing Miles Sanders after his career year was a major blow. While he was replaced with free-agent signing Rashaad Penny and trade acquisition D'Andre Swift, it remains to be seen how the pecking order will shake out.
There's a strong chance these two will be the main backs in Philly's high-octane offense, splitting time. It's far from guaranteed that both will be available regularly, however, as Penny has missed a lot of time with injuries. Swift has also been sidelined for at least three games in each season since he entered the league in 2020.
Kenneth Gainwell is still in the fold as well. It's possible he could assume a bigger role because of his familiarity with the system and the trust the coaching staff has in him. While he has yet to play more than 29 percent of the offensive snaps in a season, that could change—especially if Penny or Swift misses significant action.
Outside of those three, the Eagles also have Boston Scott, Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a pair of strong backs and should take full advantage of them in 2023.
Najee Harris is still the lead rusher despite an inefficient start to his career. The 2021 first-round pick has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in both of his professional campaigns, but he's failed to average four yards per carry. The promising development of Kenny Pickett as a potential franchise quarterback could help Harris increase that mark this season, however.
Jaylen Warren will once again back up Harris after a great rookie showing. The undrafted free agent was highly efficient with his touches last year—he picked up 379 yards and a score on 77 carries—and flashed the skills to be a good option on third downs and in passing situations, catching 28 of his 33 targets for 214 yards.
With those two hogging the available work, there won't be much room for a third back. Anthony McFarland Jr., Jason Huntley and Master Teague will vie for that limited depth role in training camp.
San Francisco 49ers
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The rest of the league should be worried about the impact Christian McCaffrey will have with the San Francisco 49ers now that Kyle Shanahan has a full offseason to integrate his dynamism into the offense.
The Niners acquired McCaffrey near last year's trade deadline and became a much more dangerous team. The 26-year-old rushed 159 times for 746 yards and six scores and caught 52 of his 65 targets for 464 yards and four touchdowns in 11 regular-season games. McCaffrey made the most of the team's playoff appearance too, popping off with 238 yards and two scores on a mere 40 carries and reeling in 12 catches for 61 yards and another touchdown.
McCaffrey should shine, but there should still be enough volume for Elijah Mitchell to eat as well. Mitchell exploded as a rookie two years ago—tallying 963 yards and five scores on 207 totes—but was limited to just five regular-season games last year because of injuries. If the 25-year-old is back to full strength, the Niners will have a potent one-two punch.
Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price and a pair of undrafted rookies in Ronald Awatt and Khalan Laborn will be in contention for deep roster spots and injury insurance roles.
Seattle Seahawks
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No team may have a more impressive group of young running backs than the Seattle Seahawks.
Ken Walker III had a great rookie campaign, posting 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns across 228 carries while helping the Seahawks secure a playoff berth. The Michigan State product finished the year exceptionally well, averaging 118 yards over the last three weeks of the regular season.
Walker will be augmented by Zach Charbonnet, one of the most well-rounded rookies in the class. The second-round pick out of UCLA has the ability to contribute in every facet and could be a lead back for several teams. Instead he'll split time with Walker, keeping both fresh and forming a nightmare duo for opposing defenses.
Veteran DeeJay Dallas and rookie seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh are also in the picture and will likely contest for a third-string role.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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It's Rachaad White's time to shine. With Leonard Fournette's release, the second-year back should have complete control of this backfield.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need White to perform his best to stay afloat in the wake of Tom Brady's retirement. With Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask competing for the starting quarterback job, it's likely Tampa Bay will lean on the ground game. The Arizona State product should be able to answer the call after he showed lead back potential as a rookie, rushing 129 times for 481 yards and a score and chipping in another 290 yards and two scores on 50 receptions.
Chase Edmonds will provide a veteran presence to spell White. The Bucs came to terms with the 27-year-old early in free agency and should give him run as the primary backup.
Edmonds will be pushed for touches by incumbent backup Ke'Shawn Vaughn, while Patrick Laird and a pair of undrafted free-agent rookies in Sean Tucker and Ronnie Brown will also compete for a role in camp.
Tennessee Titans
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Though the Tennessee Titans may have missed the playoffs last year, they are once again running it back with an offense led by Derrick Henry. The superstar has shown no signs of slowing down despite logging plenty of mileage. He missed half a season with a foot injury in 2021 but returned last year to amass 1,538 yards—the second-most in the league—and 13 touchdowns.
Henry has become a bigger part of the passing attack as well. He finished 2022 with 398 receiving yards—almost double his previous career high of 206—on 33 receptions, up significantly from the 15.7 catches he averaged over the first six years of his career.
Despite his continued dominance, the Titans may try to manage Henry's workload more than they have in the past. They expended a third-rounder to land Tulane's Tyjae Spears, which not only shows Tennessee is preparing for a post-Henry era but also indicates this backfield could feature more of a time share than it has during the last half-decade or so.
The third-string role has almost close to zero value in the Tennessee offense, but Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut, Jonathan Ward and undrafted rookie Charles McClelland will be in the running.
Washington Commanders
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The Washington Commanders' platoon will look familiar this season, but there's one new face who could inject some firepower.
Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson are set to continue splitting time as the team's primary options, but sixth-round rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. has a chance to carve out a role as well. The Kentucky product has the coaching staff—which added longtime Kansas City Chiefs assistant Eric Bieniemy this offseason—excited about his potential, per SI.com's Adam Schultz.
"Adding a physical player in Christopher ... will fit what [Bieniemy] wants," head coach Ron Rivera said. "We're pretty excited about being able to pick him. We had a higher grade on him too as well. So, we thought we got a lot of value here."
While Robinson and Gibson will likely take on the lion's share of volume, Rodriguez should be active and earn at least a few snaps each Sunday. Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson are also under contract and will contest for a roster spot in camp.
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