Fantasy football owners love a good narrative, but honestly, the nfl rb rankings 2025 don't care about your feelings or where you drafted a guy. If you spent the last year screaming at your TV because Bijan Robinson didn't get enough goal-line carries or watching Christian McCaffrey somehow defy the aging curve again, you aren't alone. This season was a weird mix of "the old guard refuses to die" and "the new kids are officially taking over."
Basically, the 2025 season proved that the running back position isn't dead—it just evolved. We saw James Cook turn Buffalo into a ground-and-pound juggernaut, while rookie Ashton Jeanty hit the league like a freight train. If you’re looking for a simple list, you’ve come to the right place, but we’re going deeper than just rushing yards. We're talking about who actually moved the needle.
The Elite Tier: When 2,000 Yards Is the Entry Fee
At the very top of the nfl rb rankings 2025, it’s a dogfight. We aren't just looking at who had a good year; we’re looking at who became the entire identity of their offense.
Bijan Robinson finally had the breakout everyone's been waiting for. No more "Arthur Smith holding him back" excuses. Robinson ended the 2025 campaign with a massive 2,298 yards from scrimmage. That’s not just a team record; it’s the 12th-highest total in the history of the NFL. He’s only 23. Let that sink in. He’s currently chasing ghosts like LaDainian Tomlinson and Eric Dickerson, and through three seasons, he's actually keeping pace.
Then there's the ageless wonder, Christian McCaffrey. People keep waiting for the wheels to fall off. Instead, CMC just keeps racking up 2,000-yard seasons. In 2025, he carried a 49ers offense that was absolutely decimated by injuries. He led the league with 413 scrimmage touches. That is a punishing workload for a guy in his ninth year, yet he still finished second in scrimmage yards with 2,126.
Why James Cook Is the Real MVP of Buffalo
Most people expected Josh Allen to do everything in Buffalo. But James Cook had other plans. He quietly led the NFL in pure rushing yards with 1,621. The Bills were 11-1 in games where Cook had 100-plus scrimmage yards. When he struggled? They went 1-4. That’s not a coincidence. Cook is the engine now.
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Breaking Down the Stat Leaders
If you just want the raw numbers, here is how the top of the board shook out for the 2025 regular season.
Top 5 Rushing Yardage Leaders (2025)
- James Cook (BUF): 1,621 yards | 12 TDs | 5.2 YPC
- Derrick Henry (BAL): 1,595 yards | 16 TDs | 5.2 YPC
- Jonathan Taylor (IND): 1,585 yards | 18 TDs | 4.9 YPC
- Bijan Robinson (ATL): 1,478 yards | 7 TDs | 5.1 YPC
- De'Von Achane (MIA): 1,350 yards | 8 TDs | 5.7 YPC
Wait, look at Jonathan Taylor. He missed some time and still led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18. He’s still the gold standard for goal-line efficiency, even if the Colts' offense felt a bit clunky after Daniel Jones went down with an injury.
The Rookie Revolution: Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders
It's rare for a rookie to jump straight into the top ten of the nfl rb rankings 2025, but Ashton Jeanty isn't exactly "normal." Coming out of Boise State with a legendary college resume, he stepped into a Raiders backfield that desperately needed a pulse.
Jeanty finished his rookie year with nearly 1,000 rushing yards (975 to be exact) and looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone. He doesn't have the blazing 4.3 speed of a De'Von Achane, but his contact balance is absurd. He’s the type of back who turns a 2-yard loss into a 4-yard gain just by sheer refusal to fall down.
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What Most People Get Wrong About "Efficiency"
You'll hear analysts talk about "yards per carry" like it's the only stat that matters. It isn't.
Take Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia. His 4.1 YPC looks "meh" on paper compared to Achane's 5.7. But look at the context. Saquon is running into stacked boxes and grinding out the tough yards that keep Jalen Hurts clean. He finished with 1,140 yards and was a massive reason why the Eagles stayed balanced.
On the flip side, De’Von Achane is a human highlight reel. 5.7 yards per carry is video game stuff. But he also deals with soft-tissue injuries that keep him sidelined for stretches. In the nfl rb rankings 2025, availability is a skill. You'd rather have 17 games of Saquon than 11 games of Achane, even if Achane is more "efficient" when he's actually on the grass.
The "Under the Radar" Guys
- Kyren Williams (LAR): He’s basically a touchdown machine. 10 rushing TDs and over 1,200 yards. He doesn't get the hype of the first-rounders, but Sean McVay clearly trusts him more than his own family.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET): He took a slight step back in pure rushing yardage (1,223) but became a monster in the passing game. 77 receptions! He’s basically a wide receiver who happens to line up in the backfield.
- Jaylen Warren (PIT): The Steelers finally let Najee Harris walk, and Warren flourished. 958 yards and 40 catches. He’s the definition of a "modern" lead back.
Addressing the Derrick Henry "Cliff"
Every year, people say Derrick Henry is going to hit the wall. Every year, King Henry laughs and stiff-arms a linebacker into the shadow realm.
In 2025, at 31 years old, Henry still put up 1,595 rushing yards. He tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league. Is he as fast as he was in 2020? No. Does it matter when he weighs 250 pounds and runs with bad intentions? Also no. He’s the last of a dying breed—the true volume power back.
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Moving Into 2026: The Next Steps
If you’re looking at these nfl rb rankings 2025 to prepare for your 2026 dynasty draft or just to win an argument at the bar, here is the actionable reality.
First, Bijan Robinson is the undisputed RB1 going into next year. The volume, the age, and the receiving upside are just too high to ignore. If you have the 1.01 in a startup, don't overthink it.
Second, keep an eye on the 2026 Free Agent class. Guys like Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, and Travis Etienne Jr. are entering contract years or hitting the market. This always changes how players run. They’re playing for that one big second contract, and history shows that "contract year" RBs often put up career-high numbers before the wear and tear sets in.
Lastly, don't sleep on the incoming rookies like Jeremiyah Love or Nicholas Singleton. The 2026 draft class looks deep at running back, which might actually hurt the trade value of the veterans you currently hold.
Your Move:
- Trade High: If you own James Cook or Kyren Williams, their value will likely never be higher than it is right now.
- Hold: Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are foundational pieces for the next three years.
- Buy Low: Look at Breece Hall. He had a "down" 2025 by his standards, but a new play-caller in New York could spark a massive 2026 bounce-back.
The 2025 season was a wild ride, but it confirmed one thing: the elite running back is still the most exciting player on the field. Whether they're catching 80 passes or bruising through the middle for 15 touchdowns, these guys are the heartbeat of the league.