Top 10 NFL Running Backs (2023)

 

It's very unfortunate, but NFL running backs are slowly running (no pun intended) out of style. 

Just recently, two superstar running backs Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley (both of whom are on ESPN's list of top 10 running backs) were not able to get long-term contract extensions with the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants respectively (UPDATE: Barkley and the Giants agreed to a one-year deal worth 11 million dollars). This recent development continues the trend of running backs becoming devalued by teams all across the NFL, and it appears that this trend will only continue to grow until the league does something about it.

Nevertheless, for the second straight year, I will be ranking my top 10 running backs for the upcoming season. Let's get to it!

#10. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (last year's ranking: unranked)

After missing his entire rookie season in 2021 due to a Lisfranc injury, Etienne burst onto the scene in 2022, finishing with 1,441 total yards from scrimmage (1,125 rushing, 316 receiving) while rushing for 5.1 yards per carry. Etienne is often somewhat forgotten on a talented Jaguars offence that features ascending quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Etienne's college teammate at Clemson), wide receivers Calvin Ridley (who recorded 1,374 during his last full season back in 2020 and is expected to have a big year in his first season in Jacksonville), and Christian Kirk (the Jaguars leading receiver from last season), and tight end Evan Engram (who parlayed a great 2022 season into a 3-year contract extension). But look for Etienne to have another great season in 2023, and solidify himself as a top running back in the NFL.

Projected stats: 238 carries, 1,288 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs, 50 catches, 473 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs

#9. Dalvin Cook, Free Agent (last year's ranking: 4)

The only running back to run for over 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, Dalvin Cook is one of the league's most explosive and consistent players. He was released by the Minnesota Vikings back in June, but that had nothing to do with his play; in fact, Cook getting released just highlights how little value running backs have in today's NFL even more. Cook has yet to sign with a team (although it seems like every team in the AFC East is trying to sign him) but once he does, there's no doubt whichever team has him on their roster will be better as a result.

Projected stats (assuming he signs before Week 1 and doesn't sign during the season): 1,078 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 41 catches, 318 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs

#8. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (last year's ranking: 9)

One of the most underrated running backs in the NFL, Aaron Jones will look to have his 5th consecutive season of 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage. Jones might not have one particularly elite trait that "wows" you, but he's got great breakaway speed, runs hard between the tackles, and is an excellent pass catcher, both out of the backfield and out wide lined up as a receiver. With Aaron Rodgers gone, Jones is now the focal point of the Packers offence, and head coach Matt LaFleur would be wise to give him as many touches as possible to aid new quarterback Jordan Love.

Projected stats: 224 carries, 1,258 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs, 60 catches, 403 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs

#7. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (last year's ranking: 8)

Ekeler might not be an excellent runner between the tackles, but do you want to know what he definitely is? A touchdown machine. Ekeler scored 18 total (13 rushing, 5 receiving) touchdowns in 2022, a slight dip from 2021 when he lead the entire NFL with 20 total touchdowns (12 rushing, 8 receiving). Outside of Christian McCaffrey, Ekeler is definitely the best receiving running back in the league, and with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in town, Ekeler seems primed to have another productive year (in what could be his last season as a Charger).

Projected stats: 202 carries, 937 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 80 catches, 745 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs

#6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (last year's ranking: 1)

After running for a league-high 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, and 18 touchdowns in 2021, Taylor's production and efficiency dipped mightily in 2022, dropping all the way down to 861 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry (which is still very good), and 4 touchdowns. It was a rough year for Taylor (who missed six games) and the Colts in general last year, but the 2023 season could prove to be much different. Taylor has a new quarterback under center in rookie first-round pick Anthony Richardson, who is a crazy physical specimen and a new head coach in Shane Steichen, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator for the last two seasons and played a huge role in Jalen Hurts' (and the Eagles' offence as a whole) success last year. With all of these new (and hopefully improved) changes, I think Taylor has a great bounce-back season in 2023 (UPDATE: Taylor has requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts after a meeting with owner Jim Irsay).

Projected stats: 298 carries, 1,317 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs, 32 catches, 208 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

#5. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (last year's ranking: unranked)

After putting up solid, but unspectacular numbers during his first three seasons in the NFL, Josh Jacobs exploded in 2022, leading the league in rushing yards (1,653), and scoring 12 touchdowns. Along with Titans running back Derrick Henry (more on him in a bit), Jacobs is a "dying breed" in the NFL: a power back who runs tough between the tackles, doesn't have breakaway speed, and isn't a great receiver out of the backfield. But nonetheless, he gets the job done. As I previously mentioned, Jacobs was recently hit with the franchise tag by the Raiders rather than a new contract extension, and thus, he is currently holding out from training camp. In my opinion (and Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams would agree with me), Las Vegas should try to get this situation with Jacobs resolved as quickly as possible because they need him if they want to be successful in 2023.

Projected stats: 322 carries, 1,271 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs, 55 catches, 301 receiving yards

#4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (last year's ranking: 2)

Known as "King Henry", Derrick Henry has been nothing short of spectacular ever since the 2019 season, where he ran for 1,540 yards and helped lead the Titans all the way to the AFC Championship Game. He followed that up by running for 2,027 yards (becoming the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season in the process) in 2020, 978 yards (in only 8 games) in 2021, and 1,538 yards last season. However, one noticeable concern with Henry is that he has not been as efficient as he used to be; after averaging 5.1 and 5.4 yards per carry in 2019 and 2020 respectively, that average has fallen down to 4.3 and 4.4 yards per carry over the last two seasons (which is still solid but not what we were accustomed to seeing from Henry). Henry is now 29 years old, which is usually around the age where running backs really start to decline. But Henry is a different animal, and I still think he has a solid 2-3 years of high-level play left in the tank.

Projected stats: 342 carries, 1,389 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 22 catches, 128 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

#3. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (last year's ranking: unranked)

After missing basically all of the 2020 NFL season due to a torn ACL, and gutting through an injury-plagued 2021 season, Saquon Barkley came into 2022 looking to reclaim his spot as one of the best running backs in football. And that's exactly what he did last season as he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards (most in the NFC), scored 10 total touchdowns, got selected to his first Pro Bowl, and helped the Giants make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and win their first playoff game since winning Super Bowl 46 back in 2011. Barkley is a flat-out stud who can do it all on the football field, and at 26 years old, he still has a lot of great football left in him. Saquon is the engine that makes the Giants' offence go, and they would be wise to lock him up with a long-term contract extension.

Projected stats: 286 carries, 1,298 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 58 catches, 387 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs

#2. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (last year's ranking: 5)

If somebody has Nick Chubb as their top running back in the NFL right now, I wouldn't argue with them. Chubb is the best pure "running" back in the league right now. He's rushed for at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first five seasons, and for over 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons. He's also rushed for at least 8 touchdowns in every season of his career thus far. With Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in the fold for a full season, there's a chance that the Browns' offensive philosophy changes a bit and could become more of a pass-happy attack in 2023. But if anything, that will just open up more running lanes for Chubb behind an elite Browns offensive line. Pencil Chubb in for another elite, 1,000+ yard season in 2023.

Projected stats: 258 carries, 1,534 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 33 catches, 176 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

#1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (last year's ranking: 3)

After missing most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to various injuries, Christian McCaffrey had an excellent bounce-back season in 2022 (with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers). He rushed for 1,139 yards, caught 85 passes, and scored 13 total touchdowns (incl. playoffs). When the 49ers traded for McCaffrey, some said that it was a bad trade for the 49ers and that they gave up too much to get the star running back from the Panthers. Those who said that ended up eating their words as the 49ers went 10-1 with McCaffrey in the lineup and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season. There is literally nothing that McCaffrey can't do on the football field, and his overall talent and versatility are what make him my top running back entering the 2023 NFL season.

Projected stats: 231 carries, 1,228 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 96 catches, 803 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs

Honourable mentions:

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys: After spending years behind Ezekiel Elliott on the Cowboys' running back depth chart, Pollard finally had a breakout season in 2022, rushing for over 1,000 yards and making his first Pro Bowl. With Elliott no longer on the team, Pollard is now the undisputed lead back in Dallas and will look to have another great year while hoping to secure a long-term deal next year (whether it's with the Cowboys or somebody else).

Breece Hall, New York Jets: Hall was absolutely dynamic during his rookie season in New York, totaling 681 yards, and 5 touchdowns while rushing for 5.8 yards per carry. Unfortunately, his rookie season was cut short after he tore his ACL and meniscus during a Week 7 game against the Broncos. But he is super talented and once he makes his way back to the field, a Jets offence that now features four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and ascending wide receiver Garrett Wilson will be even better.

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: I know, I know, the guy hasn't even played a game yet. But have you seen him play? Barring injury, Bijan Robinson seems destined to be not just a star running back, but a star offensive weapon in general. He should have plenty of room to run through behind a stout Falcons offensive line and he's also a great pass catcher as well. To the rest of the NFL, good luck trying to stop him.