Ranking Best Backfields in NFL After RBs Change Teams in 2025 Free Agency

Running backs returned to the spotlight in 2024. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Jahmyr Gibbs stood out among the star ball-carriers, though several teams fielded prolific backfields stacked with playmakers.

How do the NFL's top backfields stack up, and how did free agency impact the those units?

Even though this year's free-agent running back class doesn't compare to last year's crop that included Barkley, Henry and Josh Jacobs, a few teams acquired tailbacks who will provide a significant boost to the ground game and the short passing attack.

Looking across the depth charts, we ranked the NFL's top 10 backfields based on rushing and receiving production, accolades and the collective talent of each unit.

First, let's start with a few honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

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Jaguars RBs Tank Bigsby (left) and Travis Etienne (right)

These backfields have the potential to be top-10 units if coaching changes help young, talented running backs develop in the upcoming season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Notable RBs: Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby

The Jaguars' backfield was in disarray under former head coach Doug Pederson last season. Jacksonville's new head coach, Liam Coen, fielded the fourth-ranked rushing attack as Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator last season, using three tailbacks. He will get Etienne back on track while mixing in Bigsby, who led the Jaguars in rushing for the 2024 season. 

New York Jets

Notable RBs: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis

Hall seems capable of a big breakout year in which he battles for the rushing title. While that hasn't happened yet, the Jets' new coaching staff, which brings some influence from the Detroit Lions, could feature the run game to take pressure off quarterback Justin Fields. Even in a disappointing 2024 campaign, Allen and Davis flashed in limited roles, giving us a glimpse of a young ascending three-man platoon.

Seattle Seahawks

Notable RBs: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet

The Seahawks have two running backs who can be lead ball-carriers. In his rookie season, Walker rushed for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns. He accumulated 1,164-plus scrimmage yards and scored nine touchdowns in 2023. But the 24-year-old missed six games last season because of injuries. In his absence, Charbonnet showed he can carry the lion's share of the workload, finishing with a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns.

10. Buffalo Bills

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Bills RB James Cook

Notable RBs: James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

In 2024, Cook tied with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. He should get a much deserved pay raise this offseason. The Buffalo Bills' lead running back has racked up 1,267-plus scrimmage yards in back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.

Cook had help in the backfield last year. Davis and Johnson complemented him on the ground and in pass-catching roles. They combined for 1,128 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Davis rushed for the third-most yards (442) among rookie running backs. He could take on a more significant workload in his second season. 

The Bills signed Johnson to a two-year extension. Entering his third year with the team, he has solidified his multipurpose role as a ball-carrier and pass catcher.

With a two-time Pro Bowler in their three-man rotation, the Bills cracked the top 10.

9. Carolina Panthers

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Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard

Notable RBs: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Jonathon Brooks

Hubbard has worked his way up the depth chart from a backup to the featured tailback. In 2024, he emerged as a workhorse ball-carrier, finishing eighth in rushing yards (1,195). The Carolina Panthers rewarded him with a four-year, $33.2 million extension.

Last December, Brooks tore his ACL for the second time in nearly 13 months. Because of his extended absence, Hubbard will retain the lead role, though he will have more help in the upcoming term.

Carolina signed Dowdle in free agency. He's coming off his most productive season, rushing for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns with 39 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns. 

On a one-year deal, Dowdle can prove he's an ascending running back who deserves a multiyear contract in a featured role. 

The Panthers rank ninth over the Buffalo Bills because they have two running backs who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season.

8. Atlanta Falcons

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Falcons RBs Tyler Allgeier (left) and Bijan Robinson (right)

Notable RBs: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier

The Atlanta Falcons topped the Carolina Panthers because they have star power at running back. Robinson racked up decent numbers in his rookie year, though new head coach Raheem Morris followed through on his words to feed the 2023 first-rounder.

Robinson finished the 2024 campaign with the fourth-most carries (304). In his second season, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod, rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 61 passes for 431 yards and a touchdown.

To take pressure off quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his first full season as a starter, the Falcons could lean heavily on the run game. Robinson recorded the third-most rushing yards last year. He's a prime candidate to win the 2025 rushing title.

Don't forget about Allgeier, though. He's a quality No. 2 running back with a 1,000-plus rushing yard season on his resume. Allgeier is also efficient with his carries, averaging at least 4.7 yards per rush attempt in two out of three campaigns.

7. Indianapolis Colts

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Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

Notable RBs: Jonathan Taylor, Khalil Herbert, Salvon Ahmed, Tyler Goodson

Taylor has Pro Bowl, All-Pro and rushing title accolades, which propels the Indianapolis Colts to the No. 7 spot. Though he's missed 16 games over the last three years, the accomplished ball-carrier finished fourth in rushing yards (1,431) last season.

Regardless of who wins the quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, Taylor will have a significant role in a physical offense built to run the ball between the tackles.

Indianapolis signed Herbert who can give the backfield a boost. In 2023, he led the Chicago Bears running backs in rushing with 611 yards, second to Justin Fields on the team.

If Taylor has to come off the field or miss time, Herbert can keep the Colts' ground game going in stretches. Goodson and Ahmed have experience in backup roles as well.

The Colts backfield ranks one spot higher than the Atlanta Falcons' unit because of Taylor's rushing title.

6. San Francisco 49ers

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49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

Notable RBs: Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor Jr.

McCaffrey recently won a rushing title, so the San Francisco 49ers backfield gets a notable push in the rankings. He's arguably the league's best dual-threat running back when healthy because he can accumulate 100-plus yards as a ball-carrier or pass-catcher.

McCaffrey has 22 100-plus-yard rushing performances, and he's racked up 100 or more receiving yards in five career games.

Though McCaffrey's star power helps the 49ers, he has some durability concerns coming off an injury-riddled season with a lot of wear and tear on his body through eight campaigns. Head coach Kyle Shanahan may have to dial back on his workload.

If McCaffrey handles fewer touches, Guerendo could be in line for his most productive term. As a rookie, Guerendo rushed for 420 yards and four touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 152 yards. He logged 10 or more carries in four games and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in three of those outings.

Guerendo can provide quality depth with his efficiency. He needs to prove he can build on the previous year though.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Buccaneers RBs Rachaad White (left) and Bucky Irving (right)

Notable RBs: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker

While the San Francisco 49ers may have to limit Christian McCaffrey's touches because of his injury history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield is young and trending up despite losing offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

The Buccaneers promoted pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator after losing Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He can implement some of the same principles as his predecessor to maintain Tampa Bay's fourth-ranked rushing attack.

Regardless of the play-calling, the Buccaneers have a talented backfield capable of gashing defenses on the ground and forcing linebackers and safeties to cover in the short passing game.

In 2024, Irving led all rookies in rushing (1,122) and finished with a team-leading 1,514 scrimmage yards. In three of the last six weeks of the campaign, he rushed for 113-plus yards. 

Irving shared the workload with White, who ceded a significant number of touches to his rookie running mate. Still, the versatile tailback eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards, averaging a career-high 4.3 yards per carry. 

While Irving and White led the backfield, Tucker filled in the gaps, accumulating 417 scrimmage yards and scoring three touchdowns.

If Grizzard pushes the right buttons with his play-calling, Tampa Bay's backfield will continue to garner leaguewide respect.

4. Green Bay Packers

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Packers RB Josh Jacobs

Notable RBs: Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd

The Green Bay Packers backfield is one spot above the Tampa Bay Buccaneers unit because of Jacobs' accolades and accomplishments in his prime.

Jacobs is a three-time Pro Bowler and 2022 rushing champion. He's also been relatively durable, suiting up for all 17 contests in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders and 2024 with the Packers.

Green Bay has more than a one-man show in its backfield, though. 

Last season, Wilson took on an expanded role, rushing for 502 yards and four touchdowns. For now, he's the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, but Lloyd, a 2024 third-rounder, could push him for backup duties in the upcoming term.

If Lloyd doesn't surpass Wilson on the depth chart, he can still become the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. 

Green Bay has quality depth at running back. The unit could produce more in the short passing game with some development.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

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Eagles RB Saquon Barkley

Notable RBs: Saquon Barkley, AJ Dillon, Will Shipley

Barkley is the reigning rushing champion and Offensive Player of the Year. He also brought respect back to the running back position with one of the most productive years for a ball-carrier, coming within 101 yards of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record.

Barkley did break Hall of Famer Terrell Davis' record for most rushing yards in a campaign between the regular season and playoffs.

Before Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, he had two Pro Bowl campaigns on his resume. Now, behind one of the league's best offensive lines, he's performing at his peak, which helped lead the team to a Super Bowl victory in February.

The Eagles lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, but they signed AJ Dillon, who, according to Fox Sports Jordan Schultz, is "fully cleared" by multiple doctors to play after suffering a stinger and missing the entire 2024 season. 

On fresh legs, Dillon could be a short-yardage specialist for a team that's perfected its signature Tush Push play. Between 2021 and 2023, he complemented Aaron Jones in the Green Bay Packers backfield. The 6'0, 247-pounder is also a capable pass-catcher, with 86 receptions for 763 yards and two touchdowns in his career.

If the Eagles ease Dillon into his workload, Shipley can be the primary receiver out of the backfield on passing downs.

2. Baltimore Ravens

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Ravens RB Derrick Henry

Notable RBs: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Patrick Ricard

The Baltimore Ravens rank near the top because of Henry, who has two rushing titles (2019 and 2020). He's made the AFC Pro Bowl roster in three consecutive terms. Last season, the 31-year-old ran for the second-most yards (1,921) and tied two other ball-carriers for a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns.

Going into his 10th season, Henry is still running over and through defenders for one of the league's top ground attacks.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has done a good job of developing Hill as a complementary pass-catching running back. In 2024, Hill recorded career highs in catches (42), receiving yards (383) and touchdown receptions (three).

The Ravens also have a unique feature in their backfield: They involve their Pro Bowl-All-Pro fullback, Ricard, in the action. 

Ricard doesn't stuff the stat sheet every week, but he has scored a touchdown in five of the previous six seasons and plays an integral role in the Ravens' run-blocking schemes.

If Mitchell rebounds from a forgettable year mostly recovering from a torn ACL, he could produce chunk gains with his speed on the ground. 

Collectively, the Ravens have a star ball-carrier, who's on a Hall of Fame pathway, arguably the league's best fullback, a speedy tailback and a reliable pass-catcher in their well-rounded backfield.

1. Detroit Lions

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Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs (left) and David Montgomery (right)

Notable RBs: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs

The Detroit Lions have the NFL's best backfield duo. Gibbs and Montgomery don't have any rushing titles, but they're both proven No. 1 running backs in their prime years, which separates them from the pack.

Montgomery led the Chicago Bears in rushing for three out of his four seasons with the team. He also finished the 2023 campaign as the Lions' top rusher. Montgomery has eclipsed 1,115 scrimmage yards in five consecutive seasons.

Gibbs only has two years of experience, but he's already one of the league's most electric tailbacks. 

As a rookie, Gibbs racked up 1,261 scrimmage yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Late last season, he took on a more prominent role while Montgomery nursed a knee injury and finished with eye-popping numbers. 

Gibbs led the league in touchdowns from scrimmage (20) and finished third in scrimmage yards (1,929), proving he's more than a complementary playmaker.

If Gibbs and Montgomery stay relatively healthy, both can finish within the top 10 in rushing and scrimmage yards for a season, which is rare for a backfield duo. The running back tandem known as Sonic and Knuckles reigns supreme in the No. 1 spot.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.