Everyone thought the "running back is dead" era was here to stay. Then 2024 happened.
Honestly, if you looked at the box scores from three years ago and compared them to the final running back leaders 2024 list, you’d think you were looking at a different sport. We saw a resurgence of the "bell cow" that nobody predicted. Veterans who were supposed to be "washed" ended up putting the league on notice, while young stars proved that the position still has plenty of juice if you're in the right system.
It was a year of massive contracts and even bigger yardage totals.
The 2,000-Yard Renaissance
Saquon Barkley basically broke the internet and the NFL's defensive schemes simultaneously. Moving to Philadelphia was the spark he needed, and he didn't just lead the league; he dominated it. Barkley finished the 2024 regular season with a staggering 2,005 rushing yards.
He became only the 9th player in NFL history to cross that 2k threshold.
What’s wild is how he did it. He wasn't just a volume guy. Barkley averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 345 attempts. Most backs start to crumble after 300 touches, but Saquon looked faster in December than he did in September. He added 13 rushing touchdowns for good measure, helping the Eagles secure a 14-3 record and an eventual Super Bowl ring.
Then there's Derrick Henry.
"King Henry" in a Ravens uniform felt like a cheat code. He finished second on the list with 1,921 yards. He was so close to his second career 2,000-yard season that you could almost feel the frustration through the TV screen. Even at 30 years old, he led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns, tied with Jahmyr Gibbs and James Cook.
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Why the 2024 Stats Look Different
Usually, you see one or two guys dominate and then a massive drop-off. Not this time.
The middle of the pack was incredibly crowded. Bijan Robinson finally had the "breakout" everyone expected in Atlanta, racking up 1,456 yards. He’s sort of the prototype for the modern back—shifty, reliable, and a nightmare in the open field.
- Saquon Barkley (PHI): 2,005 yards, 13 TDs
- Derrick Henry (BAL): 1,921 yards, 16 TDs
- Bijan Robinson (ATL): 1,456 yards, 14 TDs
- Jonathan Taylor (IND): 1,431 yards, 11 TDs (in only 14 games!)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET): 1,412 yards, 16 TDs
If Jonathan Taylor had stayed healthy for all 17 games, the top three would have been a bloodbath. He averaged over 100 yards per game. That’s vintage JT.
The "Old Men" Still Got It
People love to talk about the "running back cliff."
You know the one. The imaginary wall players hit the second they turn 27.
Well, Joe Mixon and James Conner didn't get the memo. Mixon crossed the 1,000-yard mark again with Houston, proving that a change of scenery can revive a career faster than any training camp. Conner, meanwhile, remains the most underrated player in the league. He quietly put up 1,094 yards for Arizona.
He’s basically the human equivalent of a four-yard gain. You know it’s coming, you try to stop it, and he still gets it.
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The Rookie Surprise: Bucky Irving
While the veterans grabbed the headlines, Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving was the surprise of the year. He wasn't even the clear-cut starter at the beginning of the season. By the end, he had 1,122 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
He runs with a low center of gravity that makes him nearly impossible to arm-tackle. If you were playing fantasy football, he was probably the waiver wire addition that saved your season.
Beyond Just the Yardage
When we talk about running back leaders 2024, we have to look at the "hidden" value.
Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels weren't "running backs" by title, but they played like them. Lamar finished with 915 rushing yards. Daniels, the rookie, had 891. Having a quarterback who can run for nearly 1,000 yards changes how a traditional RB produces.
Look at the Ravens.
Because defenses had to spy Lamar, Derrick Henry saw lighter boxes than he ever did in Tennessee. That’s how you get 5.9 yards per carry from a 250-pound man.
Touchdown Machines
Yardage is great for the ego, but touchdowns win games.
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Jahmyr Gibbs and James Cook both finished with 16 rushing scores. Cook’s season was particularly interesting because he was often criticized for not being a "goal-line" back in the past. In 2024, the Bills leaned on him heavily in the red zone, and it paid off.
Gibbs, on the other hand, shared a backfield with David Montgomery and still managed to be a top-5 producer. That Detroit offensive line is arguably the best in football, and Gibbs hit the holes they created like he was shot out of a cannon.
What Most People Get Wrong About 2024
The biggest misconception is that the "workhorse" back is gone.
It’s actually the opposite.
Teams realized that to beat the "two-high safety" looks that every defense is running now, you have to be able to run the ball 25 times a game. You can't just pass your way out of every situation. The 2024 season proved that an elite running back is still the best way to keep a defense honest.
Barkley, Henry, and Taylor didn't just "get yards." They dictated the tempo of the game. They forced defensive coordinators to move safeties into the box, which opened up the passing lanes for their quarterbacks.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season
If you're looking at these 2024 leaders and trying to predict what happens next, keep a few things in mind.
- Watch the Offensive Line Moves: Saquon didn't just get better; he got a better line. If a top-tier back moves to a team with a top-10 O-line in the offseason, buy the hype.
- Touchdown Regression is Real: James Cook and Jahmyr Gibbs had outlier years with 16 TDs. Don't be surprised if those numbers dip toward 10 next year even if their yardage stays the same.
- The Age 30 Factor: Derrick Henry is an anomaly. Most backs don't do what he did at his age. Be cautious with veteran backs who had 300+ carries in 2024; the "hangover" season is a documented phenomenon.
- Dual-Threat Impact: Always value RBs paired with mobile QBs. The "read-option" threat creates massive lanes that simply don't exist for backs playing with pocket passers.
The 2024 season was a masterclass in ground-and-pound football. It was a reminder that while the league is pass-heavy, the guys carrying the rock still decide who holds the trophy at the end of the year.
Stop looking for the "next big thing" in the draft and start appreciating the guys who are currently redefining the position. The numbers don't lie: the running back is back.