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Ranking NFL's 2024 running back platoons, from the Cowboys' shrug to the Dolphins and 49ers on top
The NFL is a passing league, but running backs still matter.
Getting the right tailbacks to tote the ball can create a rolling thunder to accompany an offense's downfield lightning. While the league may no longer default to run-first playbooks, the handoff remains a risk-averse way to pick up yardage and both wear down and spread thin opposing defenses.
Some teams are better equipped for this than others. So today, with the 2024 NFL season looming to make our observations look totally foolish, we're going to rank each franchise's backfield.
We'll use some advanced stats to help quantify these backs as runners. Rushing yards over expected (RYOE) measures a tailback's yardage vs. what an average back would be expected to get in the same situation. Yards after contact measure how far he goes after being hit for the first time, which helps negate some of the disadvantages created by poor blocking. Expected points added (EPA) is a tool that helps gauge how impactful a certain play was on the final score. These stats come sourced from a combination of Sumer Sports and NFL's Next Gen Stats.
Depth matters, though it's less of an issue with a dependable, consistent runner at the top of the pecking order. With that in mind, let's look at each team's prospective top three tailbacks, starting at the bottom.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Top backs: Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Chase Edmonds
Tampa's 3.4 yards per carry in 2023 ranked last in the NFL. Tampa's 3.4 yards per carry in 2022 ranked… last in the NFL. White has yet to crack 3.8 yards per carry over a full season in his career. Edmonds has averaged 3.6 in each of his last two seasons. Maybe Irving (and first round offensive lineman Graham Barton) can be the balm to soothe this wicked burn, or maybe the Bucs' offense will fall squarely on their passing game once more.
31. Houston Texans
Top backs: Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Jawhar Jordan
Mixon is no longer very good, but he's dependable after missing just three games the last three seasons. He can contribute as a runner, receiver or pass blocker. Pierce nearly ran for 1,000 yards as a rookie before falling apart in 2023 en route to fewer than three yards per carry. His -0.28 EPA/rush was second only to Dalvin Cook when it came to last season's worst runners.
30. New York Giants
Top backs: Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy, Eric Gray
Singletary is a perfectly cromulent running back who brings consistency and workhorse capabilities to the lineup (four games with at least 22 carries in 2023). Tracy is a wild card, a converted wideout who was lightning after transferring to Purdue but who is still learning the position. Gray averaged 2.8 yards per carry in limited snaps as a rookie. This group may exceed expectations, but from 10,000 feet their ceiling appears to be "below average."
29. New Orleans Saints
Top backs: Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams
Kamara is 29 years old and has failed to crack 4.0 yards per carry in two of his last three seasons; his -0.56 RYOE per carry in 2023 was fourth worst among full time backs. Miller is explosive but even head coach Dennis Allen has cursed his injury issues this preseason. Williams is a tremendous teammate and former goal line threat who ran for 306 yards on 106 carries in his first season as a Saint. These guys might be a problem.
28. Denver Broncos
Top backs: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Samaje Perine
Someone's gotta go between Williams and Perine, particularly with rookie Audric Estime waiting in the wings. It will be interesting to see if McLaughlin, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a rookie but weighs fewer than 190 pounds, can claim a full-time role. There's talent here, but getting it to shine on a weekly basis will be difficult.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Top backs: Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn
It's a new day in Dallas. Which looks a lot like the old day. Elliott was valuable to the Patriots as a veteran change of pace in 2023, but his effectiveness waned as the season went on. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry in the first eight games of the year and 3.3 after, neither of which are especially comforting. That sets the stage for Dowdle and Vaughn to outshine expectations. Fortunately, Dowdle had a top 15 yards after contact average in limited carries last season, which could prime him for a breakthrough.
26. Los Angeles Chargers
Top backs: Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins, Kimani Vidal
If everything breaks right, Jim Harbaugh could have one heck of a stable as he attempts to establish the run on Sundays. Edwards and Dobbins each shined across moments in their Baltimore careers. Each also dealt with significant injury over the last two years. If anything happens to them, Vidal could cut through the fog as the team's unexpected lighthouse. He ran for nearly 2,800 yards and added 44 receptions across his final two seasons at Troy.
25. Carolina Panthers
Top backs: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Jonathon Brooks
Hubbard was slowed by stacked boxes with little to fear from the Carolina passing game and still fended for himself (at least better than Sanders, who was a disaster in year one as a Panther, did). Brooks was the first running back drafted in 2024 but is coming off a torn ACL suffered in November and may have a slow start to his career even before considering the general weakness of the lineup around him. This unit is better that its numbers suggest, but not good enough to prop up a terrible quarterback on its own.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Top backs: Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams
Moss had his most efficient season as a pro, but he ran against some of the lightest boxes in the NFL (6.43 defenders, third lowest among tailbacks) and still averaged only 4.3 yards per carry. Brown was awesome at Illinois but managed only 44 carries as a rookie. One of those two will have to backfill the reliability Joe Mixon brought to Joe Burrow's backfield.
23. Tennessee Titans
Top backs: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Hassan Haskins
Pollard never ascended to stardom in Dallas but is a capable back who can handle a steady diet. Spears was solid as a rookie but ran against some of the lightest boxes in the league. Together they should be perfectly fine, though it would be nice if Spears could either up his receiving efficiency or cede some of those duties. His 34.3 percent success rate when targeted was third-worst in the NFL among 139 qualified players.
22. Las Vegas Raiders
Top backs: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, Dylan Laube
White proved viable in relief of an underwhelming Josh Jacobs in 2023, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 0.33 RYOE/carry over 104 handoffs thanks, in large part, to a top 10 yards after contact number. He'll have to prove he can do that on a full time basis in 2024. Laube, a rookie out of New Hampshire, could be a boon to the Raiders' passing game from the backfield.
21. New England Patriots
Top backs: Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, JaMycal Hasty
Things get real dicey here if Stevenson gets hurt. The Patriots' RB1 has averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his three-year career, but he was mostly just "OK" in 12 2023 games. Gibson has failed to match the potential of his 2020-2021 NFL debut and could shine in a supporting role or flop in a larger one. Hasty will battle with Kevin Harris for snaps as the team's tertiary back, though he could see additional reps as a receiving threat.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
Top backs: Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson
Etienne was much more efficient as a receiver than a runner last season. That, theoretically, gives Bigsby room to shine, except he averaged 2.6 yards per carry as a rookie. Etienne still brings potential to the position after averaging better than five yards per carry in 2022, but last year's results are troubling at the very least.
19. Washington Commanders
Top backs: Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez
The hope is Tyler Biadasz's arrival will help to clear space for Robinson on the ground and Ekeler's arrival can take some strain off him in the passing game. He was an above average runner in his second season as a pro (0.22 RYOE/carry) but also played in an offense that ran the ball less than anyone in the NFL and, as such, saw some of the lightest boxes in the league. Ekeler is 29 years old and coming off his least efficient season. We'll see if parting from the Chargers has energized him or if Father Time is ready to claim another running back's production.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
Top backs: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince
Pacheco proved he could continue to thrive with a heavier workload in 2023, and while his yards per carry went down his yards after contact increased, showcasing his ability to finish runs. Edwards-Helaire has gotten worse as a pro but is fine as a depth option. Prince was a bruiser in college but has yet to record an NFL carry; he may cede his roster spot to a converted Kadarius Toney.
17. Indianapolis Colts
Top backs: Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull
Things could get pernicious is Taylor is hurt or unable to match his old standard. Hull has one NFL carry to his credit and Sermon has been waived three times in a three-year NFL career. Taylor has only played 21 games since leading the league in rushing yards in 2021 and his -0.06 EPA/rush ranked between Rico Dowdle and Joe Mixon at 35th overall. If he can't bounce back, Indianapolis may be in trouble when it comes to establishing the run.
16. Green Bay Packers
Top backs: Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, MarShawn Lloyd
Which Jacobs are the Packers getting? 2022's rushing leader, or the guy whose -0.37 RYOE/att and -0.19 EPA per run ranked among the bottom 10 when it came to 2023 running backs? If it's somewhere in the middle, Lloyd is going to need to have a big impact as a rookie; Dillon's yards per carry have declined every year since his rookie campaign and fell to a brutal 3.4 last fall.
15. Seattle Seahawks
Top backs: Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh
Walker and Charbonnet are both babies; they're a combined 46 years old headed into 2024. Charbonnet was the more effective runner (higher RYOE, yards after contact) in fewer snaps and could see his role expanded in his second season as a pro. This is a medium floor, high ceiling situation -- though concerns with the interior of Seattle's offensive line could lower it.
14. Minnesota Vikings
Top backs: Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu
Jones turns 30 in December but finished his 2023 with five straight 100-plus yard games, so it seems safe to say he isn't feeling his age quite yet. Injury may be the more valid concern after he was limited to 11 regular season games. Chandler quietly ranked among the top 20 running backs when it came to efficiency metrics like EPA/rush and yards after contact, even if his RYOE fell onto the negative side of things. The third year back may be in line for a breakthrough if Jones misses any time.
13. Buffalo Bills
Top backs: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis
Cook took his projected leap forward in 2023 and emerged as one of the league's top runners. Johnson is a decent enough complementary piece but Davis could be special after a productive college career that included stops at Temple, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. This group will have to shine to help Josh Allen overcome his lack of established wideout talent.
12. Arizona Cardinals
Top backs: James Conner, Trey Benson, DeeJay Dallas
Conner's age 28 season was his finest as a pro, even if it meant a diminished role in the passing offense. His 5.0 yards per carry, 3.1 yards per carry after contact and 1.02 RYOE were top five marks among running backs in a season where he lost zero fumbles. If he begins to slip, third round rookie Benson -- arguably the top tailback prospect in his draft class -- is there to pick up the slack.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
Top backs: Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris, Cordarrelle Patterson
After declining Harris' fifth-year option, 2024 could be the season in which Warren finally takes over primary rushing duties. Which makes sense, since he's averaged more yards per carry and yards per target each of the last two seasons -- in fact, his 3.29 yards after contact per carry in 2023 was tops in the NFL. Patterson is a part-time lightning bolt who'll still find ways to wow us, just not every week.
10. Baltimore Ravens
Top backs: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell
Henry's longevity is supposed to fix Baltimore's ongoing injury concerns at tailback. He's also 30 years old and coming off his least efficient season as a pro -- albeit one in which he was still above average as a runner (32nd in yards after contact, 0.31 RYOE per attempt). If he's bogged down, Hill and Mitchell are proper replacements who can fill in and rip off big gains in a pinch.
9. Cleveland Browns
Top backs: Nick Chubb, D'Onta Foreman, Jerome Ford
How will a torn ACL affect Chubb's ability to make cuts? His running game is special thanks to his ability to grip the turf and shake defenders unlike anyone else on the field. Cleveland has built depth to survive if he's limited; Foreman remains quietly solid and Nyheim Hines and Pierre Strong are among the backs competing for a roster spot this preseason.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Top backs: Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley
Going from the Giants' offensive line to the Eagles' is like growing up only knowing McDonald's, then going to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. He wasn't especially efficient in 2023, but now gets buttressed by an actual by-god passing attack and should still have some gas left in the tank despite his odometer clicking over 1,200 carries. Gainwell is a useful, reliable RB2 and all three backs bring utility as both runners and receivers.
7. Chicago Bears
Top backs: Khalil Herbert, D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson
Signing Swift to a $36 million contract with Herbert and Johnson already on the roster was a curious move, but Chicago had some cash to burn and a rookie quarterback to prop up. 2023 saw him set career highs in snaps played and rushing yards, but he'll hopefully have to shoulder less of the load as a Bear in deference to his injury history. Both Swift and Herbert ranked in the top 15 among running backs when it came to expected points added (EPA) per rush last fall.
6. Los Angeles Rams
Top backs: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Boston Scott
Corum's arrival could push this group from good to great, but the Rams' floor seems pretty stable even if he struggles as a rookie. Williams' play speed is significantly faster than his 4.6-second 40 time suggests and he enters his third season in the NFL as a top five back; his 0.1 EPA/rush was second only to De'Von Achane among RBs. Corum has workhorse bonafides but may get the chance to shine with fresher legs in LA's platoon.
5. New York Jets
Top backs: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Israel Abanikanda
Hall brings a top six RYOE and the capacity to haul in 75-plus catches in a single season. He's now a full season-plus removed from ACL surgery and a worthy top three fantasy pick. Abanikanda was a monster at Pitt who failed to do much as a rookie but still has plenty to contribute. Allen isn't quite the bruiser his frame suggests, but he's a big back who can pick up tough yards. This is a varied, young, explosive attack that should help the Jets if Aaron Rodgers looks like a 41 year old man coming off a torn Achilles.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Top backs: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Wiliiams
Robinson's stats didn't match his rookie hype, but his game film did. He'll set his sights on his first 1,000-yard season knowing he's got one of the league's best platoon backs next to him in Allgeier, who took a step backward in 2023 but ran for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2022.
3. Detroit Lions
Top backs: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds
Montgomery's 0.06 EPA/rush tied with Christian McCaffrey for sixth-best among tailbacks. Gibbs' 0.4 RYOE/attempt ranked 11th in the NFL. Together they had nearly 2,000 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns and added another 68 receptions through the air.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Top backs: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason
McCaffrey remains very much "the guy," averaging 120 total yards and 1.15 touchdowns per game since becoming a Niner. He also hasn't missed a game due to injury in two years. If he's laid up, Mitchell remains "a guy" who had 963 rushing yards in 11 games as a rookie in 2021, though he's only had 120 carries in the years since. All Mason has done in a rotational role is average 5.6 yards per carry as a pro.
1. Miami Dolphins
Top backs: Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright
If the center holds, this is the most explosive group in the NFL. Achane led the league, averaging 2.9 RYOE -- more than double second place Christian McCaffrey. Mostert ranked eighth at 0.45. But Mostert is 32 years old and Achane played only 300 snaps as a rookie thanks to injury. This could be incredible, or it could all disintegrate like a saltine skyscraper in the rain. That's why the team drafted Wright in the fourth round this spring.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ranking NFL's 2024 running back platoons, from the Cowboys' shrug to the Dolphins and 49ers on top
