Top 10 Best Running Backs Going Into the 2026 NFL Season

The Top Ten

Derrick Henry

Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. (born January 4, 1994) is an American professional football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "King Henry," he is known for his imposing style of play and larger build compared to the average running back.... read more

Yeah, until further notice, Henry is still the king. He just doesn't slow down. He rushed for almost 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, at an age when running backs tend to hit a wall. He should remain the focal point of a run-heavy Ravens offense.
Bijan Robinson

Bijan doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves, owing to the fact that he plays for the Falcons. Yet he's played himself well into conversations about the elite running backs of the league. Not only is he a productive runner, but he also showed his receiving prowess last season, amassing 820 yards in the air. He should be in OPOY talks before this upcoming season.
Jonathan Taylor

Taylor started off last season white-hot and, like his team, tapered off down the stretch. However, it was still enough to finish third in the league in rushing yards and to lead the entire league with 18 touchdowns on the ground. Taylor's been a workhorse his whole career, dating back to college, and with a hobbled Daniel Jones to start next season, there's no reason to stop feeding him the ball now.
Jahmyr Gibbs

Like fellow draftmate Bijan Robinson, Gibbs has separated himself as one of the elite runners in the league. He's got insane top speed and is an absolute burner who can also, like Bijan, be a dynamic receiving back. He won't be sharing the workload now with David Montgomery gone, so Gibbs might finally be fully unleashed this season.
James Cook

Cook led the NFL with 1,621 yards in 2025, topping even his brother's best season. Now that he's been paid, he and Josh Allen get to continue to wreak havoc on opposing linebackers and defensive linemen.
Christian McCaffrey

Christian Jackson McCaffrey (born June 7, 1996) is an American professional football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall pick in the 2017... read more

McCaffrey, when he stays healthy, remains arguably the best dual-threat running back in the NFL. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and nearly went for 1,000 in the air, which would've been the second time in his career he's done that. If the electrical substation spares him, McCaffrey will continue being a top running back.
Saquon Barkley

Saquon Rasul Quevis Barkley (born February 9, 1997) is an American professional football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he set several school records for offensive production over... read more

It's incredibly hard to top what Barkley did in 2024, so naturally, this past season was a step down from that historic year. Even still, he's cemented himself as an elite running back, and he gets the luxury of playing behind that nasty offensive line. Unfortunately for him, his red zone touches are likely going to keep getting vultured by Jalen Hurts.
De'Von Achane

The Dolphins underwent a fire sale this offseason, and the only offensive weapon that remained after all that was Achane, which is a testament to how vital he is to their success in the short and long term. He's a very fast and shifty runner who also has that dual-threat prowess. The Dolphins clearly see him as a cornerstone of their future plans, and he'll continue to show it this season.
Josh Jacobs

Jacobs has been nothing short of a touchdown machine during his two seasons in Green Bay, scoring 28 touchdowns on the ground since 2024. He's an incredibly tough runner who always seems to manage to slip past first contact with a defender, no matter his run blocking. He's also shown himself to be a sneakily underrated receiver as well.
Kenneth Walker III

The reigning Super Bowl MVP has found a home in Kansas City, a team that has been vying for a high-end running back for years now. Now that he doesn't have to share a backfield with Zach Charbonnet, expect more touches and more production from him.