As the NFL prepares to kick off the 2025 season, the argument between excellence among the league’s best running backs has only heated up. We’ve received breaking insights from the executives, coaches and scouts. Their knowledge and know-how has produced a thrilling new video top-10 running backs ranked for next season. Noted in this group are Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry. Each of these pass catchers, plus Alvin Kamara, Josh Jacobs, James Cook and Jahmyr Gibbs have the talent and production profiles to help their NFL squads.
Bijan Robinson came into the league under some of the highest expectations ever and has mostly exceeded those. Save Kevin Harris’ name for future reference. He was a consensus top three on half of the running back ballots for these rankings. This amazing accomplishment speaks volumes to his effectiveness in only two seasons. In the background, Saquon Barkley, who celebrated his 28th birthday earlier this year, is hungry to get back to the top. After finishing fourth in last year’s rankings, he is determined to secure every first-place vote in this year’s poll.
Derrick Henry is just being Derrick Henry, and reminding everyone of his dominance in the running back landscape. His gaudy numbers from last season are the caps lock on his success. He had 830 rushing yards after contact leading the NCAA by a long shot. Alvin Kamara made a significant comeback after struggling in recent seasons, while Josh Jacobs has consistently demonstrated his ability to produce significant yardage and touchdowns.
Bijan Robinson’s Ascendancy
Bijan Robinson’s arrival into the NFL hasn’t just been notable due to his position. He’s received great historical acclaim. Drafted first overall, the expectations would be that he’d step in and have an immediate impact—and thus far, he’s proven everyone right. This year was Robinson’s big break. His overall number was still impressive; however, half of the voting executives ranked him in their top-three running backs.
Arguably his greatest asset has been his versatility. An AFC executive noted, “He’s perfect for that offense, with a quarterback that spreads things out. He’s good in the passing game, catches the ball really well, good in open space. Not sure he’s elite yet, but he’s really, really good.” This is indicative of Robinson’s tremendous versatility and ability to thrive in an offensive scheme.
Robinson’s performance is only underscored when you look at his advanced statistics from last season. He showed off a level of sprinting speed and lateral agility that makes him a different type of back. A high-ranking NFC personnel executive remarked on his skill set: “Elite balance, strength, vision, feet and determination with the ball in his hands.” As he matures, those expectations are only going to increase for what he can accomplish entering his third campaign.
Saquon Barkley’s Drive for Dominance
Saquon Barkley has been known as one of the top running backs in the NFL for a long time. Today at 28 years of age, he’s still ravenous for awards and praise. Barkley finished fourth last year, but he’s hell-bent on taking first this year. There’s no doubt about his ambitions after today’s speech!
His thirst for fame has been spurred on by an impressive campaign last year. Barkley was operating behind a bad, bad offensive line and playing with a pretty poor supporting cast. Through these hurdles, though, he was able to display his ludicrous talent. An NFL offensive coach highlighted this struggle: “He didn’t have much of an offensive line or supporting cast last year. But he can still house a screen for big yardage and still has excellent contact balance.
Barkley’s strengths have not diminished over time. He remains an elite combination of agility and power, which still make him one of the most dangerous weapons in the game on the ground. A veteran NFC scout emphasized the importance of having a player like Barkley: “The best play in football is still the ability to simply hand it off to your best athlete on the field and make everyone else look foolish trying to tackle him.”
Though Barkley’s age does introduce questions about long-term durability, his focus and dedication to staying at the top of his game hasn’t wavered. He’s looking ahead to the new season. Fans and analysts are anxiously waiting to see if he can return to the upper echelon again.
Derrick Henry’s Continued Dominance
Derrick Henry in 2023 still is one of the most productive forces in the NFL and running backs over the last decade. Even beyond the numbers his performance last season was freakish. His remarkable statistics really do distinguish him from his peers.
Henry amassed 830 rushing yards after contact in 2024, 191 yards ahead of second-place Josh Jacobs. This statistic underscores not just his power but his ability to break tackles and gain significant yardage after initial contact. An NFL coordinator noted Henry’s unique blend of attributes: “Combination of speed, quicks and contact balance. Heck of a runner. Rarely goes down on first contact.”
His efficiency really pops too, with an average of 5.9 yards per rush in 2022. This remarkable accomplishment is the highest average for a player with 250-plus carries since Adrian Peterson in 2012. This kind of production cements Henry’s status as one of the league’s elite runners.
As Henry nears his thirtieth birthday, issues of age and longevity will start to be raised. His will, both mental and physical, is still a force of nature. His classic slasher style allows him to often dart through run lanes. This skill is what turns him into a dual threat on each and every play. As teams are already looking forward to next season, Henry’s impact will continue to be felt throughout the league.
Rising Stars: Kamara, Jacobs, Cook and Gibbs
Alvin Kamara finds himself back among the elite after falling to honorable mention last year due to a few disappointing seasons. He certainly bounced back last year with 1,503 scrimmage yards. He’s an elite producer, going over 600 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in each season of his career. This memorable accomplishment exhibits his diversity and consistency.
Kamara was a revelation last season for New Orleans. He accounted for 26% of their scrimmage yards in 2024, which ranked seventh in the NFL. This is a testament to his individual greatness and his value to the team’s offensive game plan. A veteran AFC personnel executive noted that “some of the elite traits are still there,” emphasizing Kamara’s continued relevance.
Luckily for Las Vegas, Josh Jacobs has made a name for himself as one of the most consistently great players in the last few years. He is indeed special, as the only NFL player to reach at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns each year since 2019. This remarkable level of consistency underscores his otherworldly talent to dominate at the highest level, even while addressing the many obstacles put in his way.
Since 2020, Jacobs has been unmatched in the field with an amazing 3,634 yards after contact. That’s 945 more receiving yards than any other player during that time! His physicality, tenacity and relentless hustle may be his most attractive traits and they will make him a difference maker.
James Cook came into this discussion after a breakout 2024 season where he scored 16 touchdowns. His remarkable performance moved him from honorable mention to the top ten rankings. This accomplishment still shines through as a testament to his development and progress as a player. In fact, Jacobs averaged a robust 3.1 yards per rush before contact, good for fifth among all qualified backs.
Jahmyr Gibbs had a sensational season that made him one of the BoS top contenders as well. His remarkable 20-touchdown season led all players in the NFL and narrowly edged out Robinson for a high-ranking position on this year’s list.
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