Sportsnaut
Known for a hard-nosed brand of football, the AFC North continues to thrive on its elite ground games. From established superstars like Derrick Henry to rookies like Quinshon Judkins, here’s how the division’s best running backs rank heading into the 2025 season.
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King Henry was an unstoppable force for the Baltimore Ravens last season. He exploded for over 1,900 rushing yards, a number that would put him as the league leader if it weren’t for Saquon Barkley’s historic 2,000-yard season. He’s a workhorse that wears defenses down and has been one of the NFL’s most dominant backs for years. At 31 years old, you would expect Henry to be slowing down, but he’s still playing at an unbelievable level. Not to mention, he was tied for first with the most rushing touchdowns at 16.
The Ravens also have solid depth in the backfield, with Justice Hill being a legitimate RB2. The Ravens undeniably have one of the best run games in football. Depth combined with the consistency and durability that Henry provides, and you easily have the best running back room in the AFC North, and arguably the best in the entire AFC.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield provides a one-two punch with Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson. Warren will be entering his fourth season with the Steelers and has proven to be a reliable option. With Najee Harris gone, it will be exciting to see what Warren does with the likely massive increase in touches.
Johnson, the 21-year-old rookie out of Iowa, will make an immediate impact for the Steelers. He led the Big Ten in rushing last year, and his play style seemingly fits that of the Steelers’ offensive scheme. He’s been compared to the Raven’s Henry and Le’Veon Bell, so expectations will be high for the rookie in Pittsburgh.
The Cleveland Browns are saying an emotional goodbye to longtime back Nick Chubb after he signed with the Houston Texans. This means Jerome Ford is, for now, solidified as the Browns’ RB1. He’s a solid option for Cleveland, but the real attention is on the rookie out of Ohio State.
The Browns took the 21-year-old Judkins in the second round. Currently listed as RB2 on the depth chart, his powerful downhill running could easily move him up to being Cleveland’s primary back early into the season. He is one of the highest-ranked backs out of the draft, and the upside for Judkins and the Browns will be worth watching.
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The Cincinnati Bengals’ backfield is led by Chase Brown, who rushed for just...
