If you spent any time watching the league this past year, you know the "running backs don’t matter" crowd has been awfully quiet lately. Honestly, the 2024 season felt like a fever dream for anyone who misses old-school, downhill football, but with a modern, explosive twist. We saw a guy cross the 2,000-yard mark, a 30-year-old "washed" veteran look like he was shot out of a cannon, and a bunch of sophomores basically break the logic of how backfields are supposed to work.
When people look back at the NFL running back rankings 2024, they usually just stare at the rushing yardage leaderboard. That’s a mistake. If you only look at the raw totals, you’re missing the context of who actually moved the needle and who just benefitted from a massive workload.
The Absolute Apex: Saquon’s Revenge
Kinda wild how a change of scenery changes everything, right? Saquon Barkley didn't just play well; he set the league on fire. He finished with 2,005 rushing yards in the regular season. Just let that sink in for a second. He’s only the ninth player in history to hit that 2k milestone.
The narrative in New York was always about his health and whether he lost his burst. In Philly? He looked like a superhero. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry, which is an absurd number for a guy taking 345 handoffs. Most people get wrong the idea that the Eagles' "Tush Push" or their elite offensive line did all the work. Sure, the line was great, but Barkley accounted for nearly 35% of the Eagles' total offensive yardage. He was the engine. Without him, that team isn't even in the Super Bowl LIX conversation.
King Henry Didn't Age
Derrick Henry is 31. In running back years, that’s basically 100. Yet, he finished 2024 with 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He and Lamar Jackson formed a duo that honestly looked unfair at times.
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There's this weird thing where critics say Henry is one-dimensional. Maybe. But when that one dimension is a 250-pound locomotive running a 4.4, does it even matter? He led the league in rushing touchdowns and became the first player ever to have two different seasons with over 1,900 yards. He didn’t just follow blocks; he created 14 of his 16 touchdowns against "stacked boxes"—those defensive looks where everyone and their mother knows the run is coming.
The "Sophomore Surge" is Real
If you want to know where the position is heading, look at Detroit and Atlanta.
Jahmyr Gibbs is a problem. He’s basically a wide receiver playing in the backfield, but with the toughness to run between the tackles. He put up over 1,400 yards on the ground and another 500-plus through the air. What’s truly insane is he did this while sharing the ball with David Montgomery. Gibbs had 20 total touchdowns. That’s elite production for a guy who isn't even the "sole" starter.
Then there's Bijan Robinson.
Under Zac Robinson’s new offense in Atlanta, Bijan finally got the volume he deserved. 1,456 rushing yards. 14 touchdowns. He looked way more decisive this year.
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2024 Performance Leaders by the Numbers
| Player | Team | Rush Yards | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | PHI | 2,005 | 15 |
| Derrick Henry | BAL | 1,921 | 18 |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 1,456 | 15 |
| Jonathan Taylor | IND | 1,431 | 12 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 1,412 | 20 |
What Happened to CMC?
It feels weird writing a list about the best backs and not having Christian McCaffrey at the absolute top. He’s still the "cheat code," as some guys call him, but 2024 was a bit of a statistical dip compared to his historic 2023. He dealt with some nagging stuff early on, and while he still racked up over 1,200 rushing yards and a ton of catches, he wasn't the undisputed #1 this time around.
Actually, his receiving usage is what saved his season for most analysts. He led all RBs in targets per game. If you’re playing PPR fantasy or just valuing "all-purpose" threats, he’s still top three. But in terms of pure, dominant rushing, he took a back seat to the Saquon and Henry show this year.
The Under-the-Radar Grinders
We have to talk about Kyren Williams and Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs went to Green Bay and everyone thought he might be done. Nope. 301 carries later, he had 1,329 yards and 15 scores. He was the focal point for Matt LaFleur while Jordan Love dealt with his own ups and downs.
And Kyren? The guy is just a touchdown magnet. 14 rushing TDs in 16 games. He’s not the biggest or the fastest, but his vision is probably top three in the league.
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Surprising Rookie Impacts
- Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay): Basically took Rachaad White’s job by mid-season. Averaged over 5 yards per carry.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG): A converted wide receiver who actually gave Giants fans something to watch after Saquon left.
- Breece Hall (NYJ): Okay, not a rookie, but his recovery was the big story. The Jets' offense was a mess, yet he still managed to be one of the most productive dual-threats in the game.
The PFF vs. Reality Debate
There was a huge blowout on social media this year regarding how PFF (Pro Football Focus) graded these guys. They actually had Saquon ranked lower than guys like James Cook or Kenneth Walker at certain points because of "expected yardage" metrics.
Basically, the nerds argued that the Eagles' line was so good that any decent back could've done what Saquon did.
That is... a take.
Players and fans alike pushed back. You can't ignore 2,000 yards. You can't ignore the fact that Barkley was tackled at the one-yard line eleven times—meaning he was inches away from a 25-touchdown season.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Horizon
If you're looking at these NFL running back rankings 2024 to figure out what happens next, keep these three things in mind:
- Workhorse Volume is Dying (Mostly): Only two players (Barkley and Henry) really hovered near that 350-touch mark. Most teams are moving to the Gibbs/Montgomery "Lightning and Thunder" model. Look for teams with high-end "RB2s" to actually have more efficient offenses.
- Age 30 is the New 28: Derrick Henry and Aaron Jones (who was great for Minnesota this year) proved that if you're a freak athlete with a disciplined recovery program, the "cliff" doesn't happen at 30 anymore.
- The Receiving Floor: If a back doesn't catch 40+ balls, he's becoming a liability in the modern NFL. Even Henry started seeing more targets this year because you just can't be one-dimensional anymore.
The 2024 season proved that the running back position isn't dead; it’s just evolving. We are moving away from the era of the "plodder" and into an era of elite hybrids who can win in the slot just as easily as they can win between the tackles. If you're building a roster or just placing a bet, prioritize the guys who can create their own yardage when the blocking breaks down. That’s what separated Saquon from the rest of the pack this year.