Ranking NFL's Best RB Rooms After Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne Change Teams

The 2026 NFL offseason has seen some massive changes hit running back rooms around the league. With several marquee free agents making moves—including reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III—the football landscape has been altered.

Squads that boasted elite ground attacks last season could take a step back after losing one of their key pieces, while others are poised to see their rushing game make a leap in 2026 after adding a premier starter.

While the power structure will continue to shift after the upcoming NFL draft—the class includes five running backs in the top-80 of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board, including No. 2 overall prospect Jeremiyah Love—it's still worth a look at how platoons around the league are faring early in the offseason.

With that in mind, here's a ranked list—based on a combination of skill, prior production, and potential amongst the platoon—of the NFL's best running back rooms.

Running back platoon projections are based on Ourlads depth charts.

Honorable Mentions

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Detroit Lions

Platoon: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Jacob Saylors

After ranking in the top six in rushing the previous two seasons, the Detroit Lions took a step back in 2025. The team finished near the middle of the pack, averaging a middling 120.1 yards per game on the ground—a regression that ultimately played a role in Detroit's missed playoff berth.

The Lions are at least trending back up after they found a new running mate for superstar starter Jahmyr Gibbs. Isiah Pacheco should thrive in this complementary role, with the two-time Super Bowl champ providing a strong between-the-tackles threat to augment Gibbs' more elusive style.

Expect Gibbs to continue dominating on the heels of his third consecutive Pro Bowl season, especially now that he has more support when he's taking a much-needed breather.

Seattle Seahawks

Platoon: Zach Charbonnet, Emmanuel Wilson, George Holani

The Seahawks had one of the NFL's best one-two punches last season with the combination of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet leading the way. The duo helped propel the team to its No. 1 seeding and eventual Super Bowl victory, but a 2026 regression now seems inevitable.

With Walker signing with the Kansas City Chiefs and Charbonnet working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in the Divisional Round of the playoffs—plus the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak—the Seahawks will struggle to replicate their ground-based successes of 2025.

While Seattle did help ease the blow of Walker's departure by signing Emmanuel Wilson, the team may still have to use one of its mere four selections in the 2026 draft to address the backfield.

Buffalo Bills

Platoon: James Cook III, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis

The Buffalo Bills led the league in rushing last year thanks to a career season from James Cook. The four-year veteran put up an NFL-best 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on a whopping 309 totes.

Cook has been one of the game's premier backfield weapons for three straight years, topping 1,000 yards on the ground and earning Pro Bowl nods in each of those seasons. He's likely to continue that streak in 2026 with the Bills keeping their platoon together for another run.

Ty Johnson and Ray Davis remain the depth options, although neither figures to see significant action without Cook suffering an injury or his fumbling issues—he did put the ball on the ground six times last year—growing far worse.

No. 5: New Orleans Saints

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Platoon: Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller,

The New Orleans Saints are looking to exit their rebuild and arrive as contenders for a wide-open NFC South race in 2026. A massive upgrade in the backfield in the form of Travis Etienne Jr. could help them reach that goal.

Although the Saints were a bottom-five rushing squad last year, they now have the pieces in place to make a significant move up the rankings. One of the biggest issues New Orleans encountered in 2025 was backfield injuries and a lack of depth to overcome them. Four different backs logged at least 45 carries for the team, but none had more than 131 totes nor appeared in more than 11 games.

Alvin Kamara remained the RB1 in the Big Easy last year, but he had the worst campaign of his career by a wide margin. Prior to suffering a season-ending MCL sprain in Week 12, the dynamic veteran was only able to pitch in 657 yards and one touchdown from scrimmage. It marked the first time Kamara failed to go over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his nine-year career.

While there have been rumblings that Kamara could be on his way out this offseason, the Saints may be better served keeping the shifty playmaker around as Etienne's backup. Going into an age-31 campaign, a reduced role and touch count could help Kamara remain a devastating weapon for opposing defenses to contend with.

Regardless of what happens with Kamara, Etienne will unquestionably lead the Saints on the heels of his bounce-back season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After an injury-shortened 2024 season resulted in concerns about his ability to remain a top-tier back, Etienne responded by putting up 1,399 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns from scrimmage in 17 games.

Etienne still has plenty left to offer after signing a four-year, $52 million deal in free agency. The 2021 first-rounder shouldn't have any issues putting up more impressive numbers now that he's paired up with head coach Kellen Moore—the architect behind Saquon Barkley's incredible 2024 campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles—in New Orleans.

No. 4: Miami Dolphins

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Platoon: De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II

The Miami Dolphins may have had a disappointing 2025 season, but the down year wasn't due to a lack of effort from star running back De'Von Achane.

Achane cemented his status as one of the NFL's top rushers with a scintillating campaign. The three-year veteran posted his first career 1,000-yard rushing season, finishing with a whopping 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on 238 carries. Although his receiving contributions regressed slightly from 2024, he still chipped in a solid 488 yards and four scores on 67 receptions.

While Achane missed six games as a rookie, he's only been sidelined for a single contest over the last two years. If he can stay healthy and find his footing in new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's system, Achane could potentially lead the league in both rushing and yards from scrimmage.

Although Achane logged a career-high 305 touches last season, there is a chance that usage could come down a tick in 2026. The 'Phins have plenty of depth behind Achane, including another dynamic playmaker in Jaylen Wright and a bruising between-the-tackles rusher in Ollie Gordon II.

Wright struggled with injuries last year, but still flashed the potential that made him one of the more exciting prospects in the 2024 draft during moments like Week 14, when he put up 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Gordon saw limited action as a rookie—finishing with just 199 yards and three touchdowns on his 70 carries—but could be the preferred goal line option in 2026 due to his immense 6'2", 225-pound size and bruising power.

No. 3: Kansas City Chiefs

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Platoon: Kenneth Walker III, Brashard Smith, Emari Demercado

The Chiefs overhauled their backfield this offseason, making moves that could help the fading dynasty re-emerge as a Super Bowl threat in 2026.

After struggling through the 2025 campaign with the tandem of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, both failing to breach even a modest four yards per carry, Kansas City parted ways with its incumbents. It secured Kenneth Walker III to lead their backfield.

Walker, fresh off a Super Bowl MVP performance, was arguably the top free-agent running back available this offseason. After racking up 3,555 yards on the ground in 58 games with the Seattle Seahawks, the four-year veteran should become the Chiefs' first 1,000-yard rusher since Hunt's breakout rookie campaign in 2017.

While Walker struggled with injuries and inconsistency in 2024, he returned to form in 2025. The 25-year-old started all 17 games for Seattle, tallying up a career-high 1,309 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns on 252 touches. He took his game up a notch in the playoffs, finishing his team's three-game romp to a Lombardi Trophy with 417 yards and four scores from scrimmage on 74 touches.

Working behind Walker will be some combination of Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado.

Smith had an underwhelming rookie season in 2025. The seventh-rounder failed to usurp Hunt and Pacheco on the depth chart, accumulating a meager 323 yards and one touchdown on 69 touches. He did show some potential—especially as a pass-catcher—and could make a leap in Year 2 as Kansas City's third-down back.

Demercado also figures to be in the mix after a solid season with the Arizona Cardinals. The three-year veteran averaged 7.2 yards per touch and might become the change-of-pace option for the Chiefs.

No. 2: Atlanta Falcons

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Platoon: Bijan Robinson, Nathan Carter, Carlos Washington Jr.

The Atlanta Falcons boasted the league's best back in 2025 and should remain a force on the ground for as long as they employ a healthy Bijan Robinson.

Robinson continued to live up to the immense hype surrounding him as a generational prospect taken No. 8 overall in the 2023 draft. While he failed to crack 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie, he's now eclipsed 1,456 yards on the ground in back-to-back seasons and just took a leap in the pass-catching department.

Largely due to the 820 yards he racked up on 79 receptions, Robinson shattered his previous best all-purpose yard mark by tallying a league-best 2,298 yards from scrimmage in 2026.

Robinson's prominent role and high volume—he's logged 731 touches over the last two seasons alone—doesn't leave much room for Atlanta's other backs to contribute, but the All-Pro will potentially be spelled by Nathan Carter and Carlos Washington Jr. in 2026.

With former backup Tyler Allgeier joining the Arizona Cardinals, Carter could see a vastly increased role this upcoming season. The undrafted rookie contributed 60 yards on nine touches across seven games in 2025, but would likely garner close to 100 more touches next season if he earns the RB2 role in Atlanta.

Washington has been with the team for three seasons but hasn't made any contributions outside of special teams, so don't be surprised if Atlanta opts to bring in more competition via the draft or free agency.

No. 1: Los Angeles Rams

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Platoon: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter

The Los Angeles Rams didn't make any adjustments to their running back room this offseason. That shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, as there was absolutely no reason for the team to shake things up in the wake of a collectively strong rushing performance in 2025.

After ranking a solid No. 7 in rushing—and No. 1 in both total offense and scoring—in 2025, the Rams can comfortably run it back with the tandem of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum leading their backfield.

Williams remained the starter and rushed for over 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns for the third consecutive season. His increased production as a receiver—amounting to 281 yards and three touchdowns on 36 catches—helped him reach a career-high 1,533 yards from scrimmage.

Corum's sophomore efforts began nearly as slowly as his unimpressive rookie campaign, but the 2024 third-rounder gained steam late in the year. He finished with career-best marks of 746 rushing yards and six touchdowns—five of which were scored from Week 12 on— across his 145 totes.

With both players complementing one another's style and head coach Sean McVay becoming more receptive to a two-headed backfield approach after years of leaning heavily on lead backs, the Rams figure to rate as one of the NFL's top rushing attacks in 2026.