5 RBs Who Could Win Their First NFL Rushing Title in 2025
The list of rushing title contenders should be a short one because few NFL teams lean on bell-cow running backs. We narrowed down that list even further to potential first-time league-leading rushers.
Derrick Henry is the last NFL player to win the rushing title in consecutive years, 2019 and 2020.
Still in his prime, 2024 rushing champion Saquon Barkley can accomplish that feat, but a handful of players can disrupt his reign. One of them is a rookie from this year's talented running back class.
Our five candidates to win the rushing title for the first time in their careers have a few things in common. They're all set to handle massive workloads, are in their prime or early stages of development and play for teams or coaches that have featured the run game in recent years.
Here are the top running backs who could win their first rushing title in 2025.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
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Despite the Carolina Panthers' instability in recent years, Chuba Hubbard has steadily improved to become a featured ball-carrier.
For consecutive seasons, Hubbard has led the Panthers in rushing. Last season, he registered career highs in carries (250) and rushing yards (1,195) while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
During Hubbard's breakout 2024 term, Carolina signed him to a four-year, $33.2 million extension. With that contract and the absence of Jonathon Brooks, who will miss the 2025 season because of a second torn ACL in 13 months, he's primed for another busy year on the ground.
Rico Dowdle, whom the Panthers signed to a modest one-year, $2.75 million deal, won't steal a ton of carries from Hubbard. Instead, he's likely to take on a significant role in the short passing game, where Hubbard has lacked efficiency, averaging four yards per catch last year.
In 2024, the Panthers lost nine of their 12 games by double-digit margins. They ranked 27th in rush attempts but finished 10th in yards per carry (4.6). If Carolina is more competitive and maintains its efficient rushing attack in the upcoming term, Hubbard can win the rushing title. He's a dark-horse candidate who deserves more buzz for his recent growth.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was the last rookie to win the rushing title. For the first time in eight years, we could see another ball-carrier come straight from the collegiate ranks to lead the league in rushing yards.
Skeptics wonder if Jeanty can continue to rack up gaudy numbers as he transitions from a non-power college conference to the NFL. Well, Hunt came from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and quickly adjusted to pro competition.
Jeanty is the early favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he landed in an ideal spot to hit the ground running for a standout campaign.
Since his four-year run in the NFL, Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has evolved as a play-caller and designed plays for a more physical offensive attack that gashed defenses on the ground. While at UCLA between 2020 and 2023, his teams ranked 17th or better in rushing yards.
Jeanty was a workhorse at Boise State, racking up 3,948 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground over the last two years. As the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, expect him to take on a massive workload. He's the clear-cut lead ball-carrier in the Raiders' backfield.
Behind Jeanty, Las Vegas has shaky depth at running back. Raheem Mostert turned 33 in April and battled injuries last year. Zamir White is coming off a forgettable, injury-riddled campaign. Sincere McCormick has appeared in just five career games. Dylan Laube has one regular-season rush attempt, and he fumbled it.
Assuming Jeanty takes on the featured role, he could win the rushing title.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
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Bijan Robinson made the rushing title candidate list last year and finished third in yards (1,456). At 23, he's still an ascending player, and last season, his role in the Atlanta Falcons offense grew exponentially under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Last offseason, head coach Raheem Morris said he wanted to give Robinson the ball "as much as possible," and the Falcons' coaching staff followed that command. Robinson finished fourth in total carries (304) for the 2024 term, and he could handle that many rush attempts in the upcoming season.
From the pocket, second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will help the Falcons balance their offense after Kirk Cousins struggled to push the ball downfield last year. Still, Atlanta must feed its most dynamic playmaker on the ground.
Robinson has averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry in both his seasons, and despite heavy involvement in the passing attack (119 catches for 918 yards and five touchdowns), he's yet to miss a game.
Even with Tyler Allgeier in the backfield as a serviceable No. 2 running back, Robinson's workload, coupled with his durability, makes him a prime candidate to lead the league in rushing for the 2025 season.
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D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
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D'Andre Swift had a rotational role with the Detroit Lions, including one year in Ben Johnson's offense, before the team traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Over the last two years, Swift has led the Eagles and Chicago Bears in rushing, averaging more than 14 carries per game. Last season, he recorded a career-high 253 rush attempts.
Johnson moved on from his offensive coordinator position in Detroit to become the head coach of the Bears, and this time, he seems primed to use Swift in a featured role.
According to Marquee Sports Network's Scott Bair, Swift is preparing for a ton of work in the upcoming term.
"He's putting in the work to be physically ready for a heavy workload. If the running back room stays the same, he'll be in line for one. This upcoming campaign will have some advantages, including a revamped interior offensive line full of productive veterans."
In Detroit, Johnson's offenses ranked seventh and third in rush attempts for the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, respectively. So, Swift will likely see a high volume of carries. As Bair pointed out, the Bears made changes along the interior of the offensive line that should benefit the team's ball-carriers.
Swift will be running behind two-time All-Pro Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, who's an ascending center, and Jonah Jackson, a former Lion familiar with Johnson's system.
Swift battled injuries early in his career, missing 10 games between 2020 and 2023, which may explain his limited role in those years. However, if the 2023 Pro Bowler stays healthy, he's in line for a big year on the ground.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
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In 2023, Kyren Williams finished third in rushing with 1,144 yards despite missing four games. He led the league in rushing yards per game (95.3) that year. Last season, Williams ran for a career-high 1,299 yards, but he fell to seventh on the yards list in a renaissance season for running backs.
Based on the Los Angeles Rams' recent draft additions, Williams could see a lighter workload than in years past.
In back-to-back drafts, the Rams selected running backs in the third and fourth rounds, indicating they may want to lessen Williams' workload by incorporating a backup to spell him on the ground.
However, head coach Sean McVay told reporters there's been "positive progress" on extension talks with Williams' camp.
Based on Williams' production over the last two years, he should be one of the three highest-paid running backs, which means a salary that pays him at least $16 million annually.
With a big-money extension on the way, Williams will continue to be the Rams' featured tailback even if Blake Corum or rookie Jarquez Hunter takes on a complementary role out of the backfield.
Until one of the Rams' backup running backs earns a notable number of touches, Williams will be among the top rushers in carries and yards.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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