The NFL is a passing league — but having a sound ground attack remains an asset for franchises with Super Bowl dreams.
In some cases, they’re a mechanism to create space for the dynamic throws of an MVP quarterback. In others, they’re the balm to soothe a shaky passer and keep defenses from jumping all over his dropbacks. In either case, finding the right running backs can be the difference between a playoff bid and sadly trudging to beautiful vacation destinations come January.
With that in mind, let’s take a too-early look at where each team stands when it comes to their running back rotations. While we don’t know exactly how each team’s handoff share and passes from the backfield will work out, we’ve got a solid, if rough, estimation of what each group will be. And now we’re gonna rank them based on talent and depth.
A stud Pro Bowl at the top of the depth chart helps, but in these rankings experience and mileage matters. Having a stable of younger, more explosive and less likely to be injured tailbacks gave several teams an edge over more established backfields.
Please note there’s not a lot of separation between teams. Several platoons, particularly those loaded with young backs, will rise up the ranks throughout 2023. There’s a glut of running back talent in the NFL right now, which is how a player like Austin Ekeler can hold out for a contract extension or trade and only walk away with an extra $1.75 million in incentives.
That means your favorite team’s tailback rotation is probably pretty dang good. But some are better than others. That’s what we’re here to work out.
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32
Arizona Cardinals
Primary backs: James Conner, Keaontay Ingram, Corey Clement
Conner is a bruising lead back whose yards after contact and broken tackle rate each dipped worryingly last season. Ingram has 27 NFL carries to his name and a 2.2 yards per rush average. Clement hasn’t played more than 12 percent of his team’s snaps in any of the last four seasons.
31
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Primary backs: Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Whatever talent White brought to the table as a rookie was obscured by a massively disappointing offensive line. Edmonds is capable of being a useful change of pace. Vaughn has seen his snap share drop each of the last two seasons after peaking at 15 percent as a rookie.
30
Los Angeles Rams
Primary backs: Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Zach Evans
Is Akers all the way back from his 2021 Achilles’ tear? He finished 2022 with three straight 100-yard performances but also had seven games in which he averaged 3.5 yards per carry or worse. Williams has potential to be a proper rotation mate and this pairing could wind up great — or it could crash and burn in what could be a frustrating year for the rebuilding Rams.
29
Cincinnati Bengals
Primary backs: Joe Mixon, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams
Mixon puts up big numbers as the primary back in an offense happy to give him 15-plus carries per game. But he’s been largely average over the past four seasons and his 1.5 yards after contact per carry (YAC) ranked seventh-worst among all full-time running backs in 2022. Brown is an intriguing rookie talent and Williams might shine now that Samaje Perine is gone, but this group has the capacity to underwhelm.
28
Pittsburgh Steelers
Primary backs: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland
It’s a “prove it” year for Harris. He’s racked up nearly 600 handoffs in two NFL seasons but has yet to top 4.0 yards per carry over the course of a full year and averaged -0.3 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) per carry last fall. An upgraded offensive line and a hopefully improved Kenny Pickett could help, but if Harris can’t break through his year three his days as a Steeler are numbered.
27
Denver Broncos
Primary backs: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Tony Jones Jr.
Sean Payton is betting high on Williams’ recovery from last year’s ACL tear. If he’s the same player he was to begin 2022, that’s great. If not, rushing duties will fall on a player who averaged fewer than 60 carries per season over the prior four years (Perine) or a young journeyman who had 15 touches last fall.
26
Dallas Cowboys
Primary backs: Tony Pollard, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn
Pollard is great, but faded as his first season as the team’s primary back wore on and comes into 2023 rehabbing a broken leg. Davis was useful last season but played fewer than 10 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Vaughn is capable of burst plays, but his size could prevent him from being more than a change-of-pace presence, particularly as a rookie.
25
Washington Commanders
Primary backs: Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Robinson and Gibson should be capable of so much more, but both were mostly average in 2022. Of course, Robinson was playing his way back from a gunshot wound and Gibson had to step in after being placed in Ron Rivera’s doghouse. There’s room for a revival with a more reasonable, normal offseason.
24
Kansas City Chiefs
Primary backs: Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The Chiefs’ backfield has the capacity to surprise. Edwards-Helaire hasn’t lived up to his first round status, but when he’s on the field he’s a perfectly useful back (2.4 yards after contact per rush in 2022). Pacheco exceeded his seventh-round draft slot and runs like he’s trying to stab the ground with his feet. Now he’s got to keep that pace for a full season.
23
New Orleans Saints
Primary backs: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller
Kamara had a bounce-back 2022 but turns 28 this season and may miss time thanks to a league suspension related to a felony battery charge. Williams was a hammer for the Lions but his big numbers were more about his opportunity in Detroit than any sustained excellence. Miller is an interesting addition to the mix; a powerfully built runner who averaged just under 100 rushing yards per game in his final season at TCU.
22
Los Angeles Chargers
Primary backs: Austin Ekeler, Josh Kelley, Isaiah Spiller
Like in Cleveland and New York (the Giants’ side), this is a rotation buoyed by a Pro Bowl talent who’d better not get injured. Kelley has been soundly sub-par as a pro and Spiller has yet to live up to the potential he showed at Texas A&M. If the second-year pro can take a big step forward in 2023, it’ll be a tremendous asset to Justin Herbert’s offense.
21
Miami Dolphins
Primary backs: Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Devon Achane
How long can Mostert keep this up? He’s coming off his best, most complete season as a pro in 2022, but that was at age 30 — long after most running backs have waved their best years goodbye. Wilson and rookie Achane provide valuable insurance in case he succumbs to decline or injury. Keep an eye on the rookie especially; his track star speed could make him an otherworldly asset in Mike McDaniel’s offense.
20
New England Patriots
Primary backs: Rhamondre Stevenson, Pierre Strong, James Robinson
Stevenson is a 1,000-yard rusher and beeftank of a human being. Strong was bottled electricity at South Dakota State who is primed for a bigger role in his second season as a pro. Robinson was a runaway train pre-Achilles tear with the Jaguars and has struggled since. If he can regain his form he’ll be yet another buy-low veteran success story for Bill Belichick.
19
Minnesota Vikings
Primary backs: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu
Minnesota was allegedly looking for an out when it came to Cook’s contract this offseason. It’s understandable; his 2022 yards after contact was down from 2.4 in 2020 to 1.8 and his RYOE fell from 250 to -41 in the same stretch. Mattison hasn’t done much to prove he can be a top option in Cook’s stead, however, and Nwangwu’s biggest contributions come on special teams.
18
New York Jets
Primary backs: Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight
If Hall can return to form after last year’s torn ACL, he may be enough to make the Jets a top 10 backfield. But his recovery and Carter’s backslide after a promising rookie season (-0.51 RYOE/carry) throws New York into a state of flux. Get the guy who crushed defenses through Weeks 2 through 7 (620 total yards, five touchdowns) and it may not matter that Aaron Rodgers is coming off his worst season as a pro.
17
Las Vegas Raiders
Primary backs: Josh Jacobs, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah
Jacobs topped 2,000 total yards in 2022 — over 700 more than his previous career high. Is that an outlier, or merely a sign of things to come in Josh McDaniels’ offense? He’ll need to step up if the Raiders are going to make the playoffs this winter; the depth behind him is either untested (White) or underwhelming (Abdullah).
16
Green Bay Packers
Primary backs: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor
Jones is approaching a tipping point at age 28, but it didn’t slow him down last year in a 1,121-yard campaign. Even if he slows, Dillon is capable of picking up the slack — even if his efficiency has dropped in each of the last two seasons (from 3.1 yards after contact per carry to 2.2 to 1.7). It’s ultimately possible this duo underwhelms in 2023, especially with more stacked boxes to contend with thanks to a first-year starting QB. Consider this the toughest platoon to accurately predict.
15
Houston Texans
Primary backs: Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary, Mike Boone
Pierce lived up to the Texans — and fantasy owners’ — expectations with a solid rookie year that included 929 rushing yards across 13 games. He’s now flanked by former Bills RB1(ish) Singletary, whose advanced stats sunk last season but could be primed for a bounce-back at age 25. Boone is perpetually stuck in “why isn’t this guy getting more carries” mode, and while third-string may be his ceiling he’s a potent depth option.
14
New York Giants
Primary backs: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell
Barkley didn’t crush opponents with efficiency. His RYOE and yards after contact numbers are merely good, not great. But he’s a workhorse who can carry an offense even when opponents know he’s getting the ball. Brightwell showed promise in limited reps and Breida is a consistent, if unexciting, veteran. With new additions up front and in the receiving corps, those three should each find a little more room to run in 2023.
13
Carolina Panthers
Primary backs: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear
Sanders broke out for Philadelphia last season, but he’s always been an efficient runner (5.0 yards per carry, 2.0 yards after contact per carry for his career). He’ll share the load with Hubbard, who was roughly as efficient as his backfield mate Foreman last season. Blackshear is a variable; he’s capable of big performances but was markedly inconsistent over five college seasons.
12
Philadelphia Eagles
Primary backs: D’Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny
The Eagles replaced Miles Sanders with two explosive talents … who are also significant injury risks. Swift and Penny missed a combined 15 games last year and neither has ever had more than 151 carries in a single season. But that’s fine, because Gainwell and Boston Scott remain on the roster and capable of filling in whenever and wherever pressed into action.
11
Jacksonville Jaguars
Primary backs: Travis Etienne, JaMycal Hasty, Tank Bigsby
Etienne showed out in his long-awaited rookie season — his 263 RYOE ranked second to only Chubb last season. Hasty is a useful backup and Bigsby is a wild card — a strong, explosive runner who could get the ball at the goal line.
10
Chicago Bears
Primary backs: Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson
The Bears lack an alpha dog in their backfield. While that’s going to drive fantasy managers insane it’s going to create several different looks to throw at opponents in 2023. Herbert averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season in relief of David Montgomery. Hubbard’s 0.78 RYOE/carry was seventh-best in the NFL. And Johnson was an occasionally devastating presence behind Bijan Robinson at Texas.
9
Cleveland Browns
Primary backs: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Demetric Felton
Will Cleveland regret losing two valuable support posts in Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson? Those two experienced backs are gone, replaced by a duo who combined for nine carries and eight yards last season. Still, Chubb is an absolute monster who led the league in most advanced rushing statistics despite being saddled with a low-octane passing offense. That’s enough to keep the Browns in the top 10.
8
Tennessee Titans
Primary backs: Derrick Henry, Tyjae Spears, Hassan Haskins
Henry is showing signs of wear, but still put up a top-four yards after contact number and 152 rush yards over expected (RYOE) as his odometer ticked over 1,900 career carries. If he slows, Spears is there to carry some weight. The Tulane star was one of draftniks favorite rookie prospects and he’s capable of playing an immediate role, albeit in a much different fashion, in place of the Titans’ RB1.
7
Baltimore Ravens
Primary backs: JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill
The Ravens seem to be perpetually stocked with running backs who can emerge from the ether and gash defenses for big gains. Dobbins was the least efficient member of this triumvirate in 2022 and he still averaged 5.0 yards per carry in his return from a torn ACL. Granted, that’s the product of one of the league’s best run-blocking offensive lines, but the concept remains the same. Baltimore is loaded with guys who can crush you out of the backfield.
6
Buffalo Bills
Primary backs: James Cook, Damien Harris, Nyheim Hines
Buffalo has leaned hard into a platoon behind center and 2023 will be no different — it’s even got Latavius Murray waiting in the wings. The team’s top three pairs an explosive young runner (Cook, who averaged 6.0 yards per carry his final seven games as a rookie), an established AFC East scoring threat (Harris, who had 15 touchdowns in 2021) and a lightning-fast receiver in Hines.
5
Seattle Seahawks
Primary backs: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, DeeJay Dallas
Seattle has invested heavily in revamping its backfield, spending second round picks on explosive runners with Michigan ties each of the past two Aprils. Walker rebounded from a slow start to rush for 992 yards over the final 12 games of his rookie campaign. Charbonnet notched 7.0 yards per handoffs at UCLA in 2022 and topped the 1,000-yard mark each season after transferring from Michigan. Dallas, behind them, remains a rock solid third option who adds value as a runner and receiver while showcasing improved pass blocking chops.
4
Detroit Lions
Primary backs: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds
Montgomery found a way to make hay even behind a patchwork Bears offensive line and now gets the chance to thrive behind Detroit’s much more stable unit. But he’ll just be part of a platoon thanks to the presence of Gibbs. The 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft averaged 6.1 yards per carry for Alabama last season while adding 44 receptions in 12 games.
3
Indianapolis Colts
Primary backs: Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Deon Jackson
Taylor is the headliner, but there’s meaningful depth behind the All-Pro tailback. Moss’s yards after contact rose to 2.3 per carry after joining the Colts last season — which would have been a top five mark — and he’s never averaged fewer than 2.1 YAC. Jackson brings solid utility as a pass catcher from the backfield (88 percent catch rate, 30 receptions in 250 snaps last year).
2
San Francisco 49ers
Primary backs: Christian McCaffrey, Eli Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price
At the top of the depth chart is the most complete running back in the NFL. Behind him is a 25-year-old who ran for 963 yards in 11 games as a rookie two years ago. The third-stringer is a 2022 third round pick which, granted, hasn’t been John Lynch’s strong suit as of late. That just means there’s an undrafted free agent waiting in the wings to be the next unheralded player to rush for 100 yards in a game as a 49er.
1
Atlanta Falcons
Primary backs: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson
Atlanta has made its plan for 2023 thoroughly clear. It hopes to contain you with a veteran-laden defense, then smother you with a clock-draining run game.
Robinson, the eighth pick of this year’s draft, is set to make an immediate splash and could spring for 1,500-plus total yards. The only reason that number isn’t higher is because of Allgeier, who had 711 yards and 5.6 yards per carry over the final nine games of his rookie season. The change of pace behind all that? Cordarrelle Patterson, who is still capable of ripping off a 100-yard game when needed.
