Sportsnaut
Over the last decade-plus, the NFL has made a major shift on offense to the passing game and away from rushing. While the ground attack has lost a ton of value in this era of football, there are still backs in the league who can ruin Sundays for opposing teams. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 best RBs in the NFL heading into the 2026 season.
Javonte Williams was a solid back during his four seasons in Denver. However, he saw his role in 2024 diminished, so he made the move to the Dallas Cowboys a year ago to replace Rico Dowdle. Expectations weren’t high for the former second-round pick. However, he continued a surprising trend in Big D by being a third straight different running back to run for over 1,000 yards.
But Williams actually outperformed his predecessors by rumbling for a career-high 1,201 yards in 2025. While he still has doubters, the 26-year-old seems to finally be delivering on his potential, now in a Cowboys uniform.
There is a big reason why the Miami Dolphins held on to De’Von Achane but traded or cut the other top stars from their 2025 offense this past offseason. While he had mixed results his first two seasons, he showcased the heights of his potential in 2025.
Last year, the former third-round pick posted career highs of 1,350 rushing yards and 8 TDs on the ground. He also added 488 yards and 4 more TDs through the air. The big question is: can he mirror those numbers with lesser weapons around him this season?
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams is the sort of star that proves NFL general managers are making the right move by taking RBs late in the draft. He is a fifth-round pick who is only 5-foot-9. Not a classic profile for a top back. But he is going for a fourth straight season of over 1,100 yards rushing in 2026.
While reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and the passing game get all the attention, Williams has been a reliable star for LA’s elite offense for three straight seasons.
Throughout much of the Josh Allen era with the Buffalo Bills, they lacked a reliable rushing game. Former second-round pick James Cook III has proven over the last few years that it is no longer a problem, and put a stamp on the fact in 2025 when he ran for a career-best 1,621 yards.
Cook is explosive, helps in the passing game, and is a high-level threat in the red zone. He is a classic bell-cow back.
Derrick Henry will go down as one of the greatest running backs of all-time, and the 32-year-old still isn’t showing signs of slowing down after he rumbled for over 1,500 for the Baltimore Ravens last...
