Ranking Best Backfields in NFL After RBs Change Teams in 2024 Free Agency
Alex BallentineMarch 15, 2024Ranking Best Backfields in NFL After RBs Change Teams in 2024 Free Agency 0 of 9
Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs (26) and David Montgomery (5)Harry How/Getty Images
It didn’t take long for seismic shifts to happen in the NFL running back landscape. Once the legal tampering period began, the running back movement this offseason was fast and furious.
In the aftermath of the first wave of free agency, three of the backs who were top 10 in rushing yards last season (Derrick Henry, D’Andre Swift and Joe Mixon) have found new homes. That doesn’t even include Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Austin Ekeler, each of whom are stars at the position and will be donning new colors in the fall.
With such a huge shake-up, it’s worth evaluating the best backfields in the league. Based on overall talent, production and ability to impact the game as runners and receivers, these backfields figure to be the league’s best next season.
Honorable Mention1 of 9
Vikings running back Ty ChandlerStephen Maturen/Getty Images
There are a lot of talented backfields across the league, so it feels wrong not to at least highlight some of the groups that were considered but fell just short of the rankings. Whether it’s due to a lack of depth, too many unknowns or injury concerns, these backfields just missed the cut.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings didn’t waste much time scooping up Aaron Jones on a one-year deal when their division rival Packers released the veteran running back. He’ll pair with Ty Chandler to give the Vikings a high-variance backfield that could see them on the list by the time the season is over.
However, we still have a small sample size on Chandler, as he really didn’t get involved until November. Jones could be entering the downside of this career as he is 29 and dealt with injuries throughout his last campaign.
Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford quietly put together a strong second season with the Browns. He had 1,132 yards from scrimmage with nine touchdowns. The big question is what Nick Chubb will look like at 28 years old with 1,238 career carries and a serious knee injury that took two surgeries to repair.
New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lumping these three teams together because their backfields are similarly constructed at the moment. All three have talented young backs who are taking on the bulk of the work. Breece Hall (11th), Kyren Williams (1st) and Travis Etienne Jr. (7th) were all in the top 11 of opportunity share among running backs.
However, they didn’t have the supporting cast heading into the draft to crack the list.
8. Chicago Bears2 of 9
Khalil Herbert and Roschon JohnsonMichael Reaves/Getty Images
Notable Backs: D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson
Depth is the primary reason the Bears find themselves in these rankings. They might not have the top option that most of the featured backfields do, but they now go three-deep at a position where depth is important.
D’Andre Swift keeps finding a new home but remains productive everywhere he goes. He posted at least 878 yards from scrimmage in his first three season with Detroit and then enjoyed his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign with Philadelphia last season.
He’s also a proven pass-catching option with 1,412 yards and 195 receptions in his first four seasons.
He should be the lead back in Chicago, but a talented young duo in Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson will flank him.
Herbert ran into a ton of stacked boxes last season and still averaged 4.6 yards per carry with a 20.4 percent juke rate, per Player Profiler. Johnson played the part of pass-catching specialist well in the Bears offense last season, totaling 34 receptions for 209 yards on 40 targets.
Regardless of who is taking snaps for the Bears, they are going to have multiple productive running backs helping move the offense.
7. Washington Commanders3 of 9
Washington running back Brian Robinson Jr.Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr., Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Austin Ekeler has been a unique talent beloved by fantasy football managers everywhere for a long time. Now he’ll join Brian Robinson Jr. to form a new duo with the Washington Commanders.
If the Commanders were getting the 2022 version of Austin Ekeler, they’d be ranked higher on this list. Ekeler is just a year removed from a career-high 1,637 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.
However, those numbers saw a sharp decline in 2023. He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry and wasn’t used as a receiver nearly as often, totaling 51 receptions on 74 targets for 436 yards and a touchdown.
Fortunately, Ekeler is going to a situation in Washington where he can be paired with a promising runner. Brian Robinson Jr. was seventh in yards created per touch, per Player Profiler. In his second season he not only compiled 733 yards on the ground but developed as a receiver with 367 yards in Washington’s pass-heavy offense.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. showcased a tough running style and potential toward the end of the season.
The ceiling for this group remains tied to Ekeler’s durability and bounce-back potential from a down year, but new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has plenty to work with.
6. Philadelphia Eagles4 of 9
Saquon BarkleyMichael Owens/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell
The Philadelphia Eagles backfield is a work in progress. Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny remain free agents, but the Eagles handed out the biggest running back contract in free agency by annual average value when they inked Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.8 million deal.
It also moved them into these rankings.
When Barkley is healthy, he is still one of the best backs in the league. Last season he had 1,242 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns on a Giants offense that was 29th in EPA per pass and was 31st in run block win rate, per ESPN.
Suffice to say, he’s going to have a better shot to show off his incredible burst and quickness behind the Eagles offensive line that ranked first in the league in run block win rate.
The Eagles have some more work to do to round out this bunch. Kenneth Gainwell is a fine rotational back. He has averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 205 attempts and works as a pass-catching option with 86 receptions for 605 yards in his three years with the Eagles.
If the Eagles add a notable third back or even find one in the draft, that would raise the ceiling of this group. For now, it’s entirely dependent on Barkley staying healthy and living up to his potential.
5. Atlanta Falcons5 of 9
Bijan Robinson (L) and Tyler Allgeier (R)Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier
The Falcons offense as a whole was a letdown last season, but it’s hard to pin too much of that on their backfield. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were a productive duo.
There were a lot of expectations put on Robinson as the eighth overall pick in the draft. He mostly lived up to them when you consider that he was fifth in the league in yards created and 11th in juke rate, per Player Profiler.
Ultimately, he finished the season with 1,463 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. With improved quarterback play in 2024, Robinson should have even better production in his second season.
Robinson entered a talented backfield that featured Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier. It appears that Patterson won’t be back, but Allgeier has proved to be one of the most productive secondary backs.
Allgeier has over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his first two seasons. The 5’11”, 220-pounder is an ideal thumper to go with the more dynamic Robinson.
Inserting Kirk Cousins in this offense is only going to further unlock to the potential of the young running back duo.
4. Baltimore Ravens6 of 9
Keaton MitchellCourtney Culbreath/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Derrick Henry, Keaton Mitchell, Justice Hill
The Ravens already had one of the best rushing attacks in the league last season. Now they have one of the most unique talents at the running back position at their disposal.
Not only will teams have to worry about Lamar Jackson’s electric running, but they also have to worry about fitting the run against a 6’3″, 247-pound wrecking ball.
There are legitimate concerns about how much longer Henry can keep bulldozing NFL defenses. He’s 30 years old and has led the league in rushing attempts over the last two seasons.
But Henry’s new team situation allowed Gus Edwards to rush for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. While Henry and DeAndre Hopkins were the only threats left for the Titans last season, Henry’s career should be extended by the fact that he’s not going to have to carry the ball 300 times to give the Ravens a viable offense.
Instead, he’ll be able cede some of the carries to Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill.
Mitchell only played eight games and finished the season on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but when he played he was electric with an average of 8.4 yards per carry and seven breakaway runs, per Player Profiler.
Hill gives the group a reasonable floor. Even if Mitchell is out with injury and Henry has lost a step, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season while posting the 15th-highest juke rate and 18th breakaway run rate.
3. San Francisco 49ers7 of 9
Kyle Juszczyk and Christian McCaffreyGregory Shamus/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Kyle Juszczyk
When it comes to running backs, everyone is still chasing the 49ers. There isn’t a backfield in the league that is more important to its offense than the Christian McCaffrey-led unit for the Niners.
San Francisco was No. 1 in EPA per rush last season. The Ravens, Bills and Eagles were next up on the list and all three were aided by running quarterbacks that undoubtedly help lift those numbers. Brock Purdy only had 144 rushing yards on the season.
McCaffrey is the star of the show. He led the league in rushing DVOA as well as receiving DVOA and scored 21 touchdowns. He is the focal point of one of the best offenses in the league.
His supporting cast isn’t bad, either. Kyle Juszczyk is one of the few fullbacks remaining in the league who can impact a game. He’s the unsung hero of the offense constantly being used a chess piece who can move around the formation, clear the way for McCaffrey and make catches when called upon.
Elijah Mitchell hasn’t been used much, but he’s still the same back who had 963 yards rushing as a rookie in 2021. Jordan Mason hasn’t had a lot of opportunity but he’s been a strong runner who gets behind his pads when he’s had carries.
The running back room comes together to spearhead one of the best rushing attacks in the league, but it doesn’t have a second-best option as good as the top two teams.
2. Miami Dolphins8 of 9
De’Von Achane and Raheem MostertKevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Salvon Ahmed
Speed is the Dolphins’ modus operandi and their backfield brings plenty of it.
Rookie running back De’Von Achane hit the fourth-highest speed among all ball-carriers in the league last season when he hit 21.93 miles per hour on a 67-yard touchdown run in Week 3, per Next Gen Stats.
Raheem Mostert wasn’t far behind at No. 10 on the list with a speed of 21.62 mph on a 43-yard touchdown run in Week 2.
The Dolphins used that blazing speed to put together one of the most lethal rushing attacks in the league. Mostert and Achane combined for 2,184 yards from scrimmage and 32 touchdowns. That’s more offensive touchdowns than the the Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Giants, Titans, Steelers and Falcons scored all year.
Mike McDaniel earned his reputation as the running game coordinator in San Francisco. It’s no surprise that he has engineered one of the best in Miami with a running back room tailor-made for his offense.
There are a few reasons that the Dolphins backs didn’t take the top spot, though. They have limited passing game impact. Neither Achane nor Mostert cracked 200 yards receiving.
There are also durability concerns. Mostert will be 32 entering this season and he’s dealt with various injuries throughout his career. Achane was only on the field for 11 games last season. While that makes his numbers all the more impressive, it’s concerning that he missed multiple games and was on the injury report for shoulder, knee and toe ailments.
As long as they stay healthy, the Dolphins will be able to lean on their dynamic backfield, though.
1. Detroit Lions9 of 9
Jahmyr Gibbs (L) and David Montgomery (R)Ryan Kang/Getty Images
Notable Backs: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery
The Detroit Lions offense combined for 6,712 yards in 2023. They also scored 57 offensive touchdowns. Both were top-three marks in the league.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were pivotal in that effort. They combined for 34.5 percent of their team’s yards (2,393). That’s even more impressive when you consider that Gibbs and Montgomery both missed a few games.
The Lions raised plenty of eyebrows when they took Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in last season’s draft. It was also a bit surprising that they allowed Jamaal Williams to walk in free agency and traded away D’Andre Swift so they could sign Montgomery.
One year later, and Brad Holmes has earned a lot of respect for those decisions. This running back tandem was the motor for an offense that was one of the best in the league and nearly made it to the Super Bowl.
The best is likely still ahead for Gibbs. He didn’t quite hit 1,000 yards rushing (945) in his first campaign, but there are 1,000-yard campaigns on the horizon for the 21-year-old.
Montgomery isn’t likely to slow down in 2024 either. He’s still only 26, and the Lions have proved to be a great running team under head coach Dan Campbell.
Expect these two to dominate defenses again in 2024.
