A lot has happened at the running back position over the first three quarters of the 2025 NFL season, so there was a lot to unpack when assembling this ranking of the league's best ball-carriers. I've seen some great things from this year's rookie class, but you won't find any first-year pros on this updated list, with many top players (Cam Skattebo and Omarion Hampton) missing time to injury or (Ashton Jeanty and Quinshon Judkins) being stuck on poor-performing teams.
Who did make my top 15? Let's jump into it, with up/down arrows reflecting movement from my rankings back in October:
2025 stats: 13 games | 247 att | 1,356 rush yds | 5.5 ypc | 16 rush TD | 35 rec | 304 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Taylor is having one of the best seasons of his career -- which is saying a lot, considering he's already had a handful of great ones. He currently leads the NFL in rush yards, rush TDs, rush yards per game (104.3), scrimmage TDs (18) and, perhaps most impressively, rush yards after contact, generating an astonishing 1,046 in that category, per Next Gen Stats. Taylor is on track to run for both 100-plus rush yards per game and at least 10 rush TDs in the same season for the third time in his career; the only players in NFL history with more such seasons are Derrick Henry and Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Eric Dickerson (all with four). Taylor and the Colts now must navigate the stretch run without Daniel Jones (Achilles). If anyone is built to carry a team being quarterbacked by sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard (or Grandpa Rivers?) in 2025, it's the two-time Pro Bowl running back, who also logged the NFL's two longest runs of the season so far.
2025 stats: 13 games | 237 att | 849 rush yds | 3.6 ypc | 8 rush TD | 85 rec | 806 rec yds | 5 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
McCaffrey has been outpaced in rushing production and touchdowns by Taylor and thus ranks below the Colts' workhorse. But do not sleep on what the Niners' dual-threat powerhouse is doing; McCaffrey is seemingly a shoo-in to hit 1,000 rush yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the second time in his career. (He last did it in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers.) Heading into Week 15, McCaffrey ranks third in the NFL in carries and fifth in receptions. No player has ever led the league in both categories in the same season. McCaffrey could be the first, because Kyle Shanahan doesn't shy away from leaning on his star playmaker, who has scored five TDs in the last three games. And with the 49ers sitting at 9-4 and in third place in the NFC West, CMC will no doubt be asked to do even more as the team pushes to overtake the Rams and Seahawks in the standings. We are still seeing the 29-year-old at his best.
2025 stats: 13 games | 215 att | 1,081 rush yds | 5.0 ypc | 5 rush TD | 56 rec | 602 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
The last time I did these rankings, the Falcons featured a top-two overall offense. With one month to play, that unit has been without its starting quarterback (Michael Penix Jr.) and top receiver (Drake London) and now ranks 16th in total yards. Despite all of the hurdles, Robinson continues to be an absolute terror out of the backfield, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the Falcons' offensive yards this season. The third-year pro leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 1,683 and rounds out the elite trio at the top of my list. His lack of TDs keeps him from rising higher than No. 3.
2025 stats: 13 games | 187 att | 1,062 rush yds | 5.7 ypc | 13 rush TD | 58 rec | 474 rec yds | 3 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
For the second straight season, Gibbs is dominating opposing defenses on the ground and through the air. He has posted five games with multiple touchdowns (three with at least three scores) and ranks second in scrimmage TDs, behind only Taylor. The Lions are 8-0 in games in which Gibbs scores a TD and 0-5 in contests when he doesn't reach the end zone. A heavy dose of Sonic should be on tap down the stretch, given that Detroit will face three opponents in the playoff picture and another with a top-three overall defense (Minnesota) over its last four games. Gibbs finished with nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 TDs last season. I won't be surprised if he hits those marks again.
2025 stats: 13 games | 249 att | 1,308 rush yds | 5.3 ypc | 8 rush TD | 29 rec | 267 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
The Bills are finally utilizing Cook at a high rate, and good things are happening. The fourth-year pro is averaging a league high 19.2 carries per game (his previous personal high was 13.9 in 2023), and his 100.6 rush yards per game have helped power the NFL's top rushing attack. Cook has 10 games with 100-plus scrimmage yards, resulting in a personal best in scrimmage yards (1,575) through 13 games. Overall, he's been exceptional after signing an extension in August, but his recent fumbling issues must subside.
2025 stats: 13 games | 193 att | 1,126 rush yds | 5.8 ypc | 7 rush TD | 55 rec | 383 rec yds | 4 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Achane has been otherworldly over the last month-plus. He has at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of the last five games and leads the league with 147 scrimmage yards per game since Week 9. It's no coincidence that the Dolphins have won four straight, with Mike McDaniel pivoting the offensive game plan to heavily feature a red-hot Achane and the ground attack. The third-year back -- who injured his ribs in Sunday's game but avoided fractures -- has already rushed for a career high in yards in a season and is one rush TD from tying his rookie season total. The NFL leader in yards per carry (5.8) has been so explosive, recording a league-high 35 runs of 10-plus yards, per NGS. He faces two top-10 run defenses over the final month in the Buccaneers and Patriots. I'll be eager to see how he fares against those units.
2025 stats: 13 games | 222 att | 1,025 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 10 rush TD | 15 rec | 150 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
The Ravens' offense has had a lot of issues, and Henry hasn't been perfect. Of course, even in a "down" season, the five-time Pro Bowler still eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards with four games to go, becoming the fourth player in NFL history to have 1,000-plus rush yards and 10-plus rush TDs in at least seven career seasons, along with Adrian Peterson (seven) and Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (eight) and Emmitt Smith (seven). With the Ravens getting some up-and-down play from Lamar Jackson, they'll need Henry to take over -- like he has so many times before -- in the final month of the season to make a real playoff push.
2025 stats: 13 games | 215 att | 1,022 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 9 rush TD | 33 rec | 128 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
Williams has resurrected his career in 2025, showing why he was regarded as one of top rushers as a rookie in 2021. Williams is generating the highest yards-per-carry mark of his career, has rushed for 1,000 yards for the first time and is providing some balance within the explosive Cowboys offense. Williams will again be a free agent this offseason and should have plenty of suitors after what he's put on tape this year.
2025 stats: 13 games | 201 att | 877 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 3 rush TD | 30 rec | 309 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
It feels like Hall is the only thing the Jets have going for them offensively right now, the lone constant on an otherwise lost unit. He's the only player on the team with at least 400 scrimmage yards and is on pace to reach 1,000 rush yards for the first time in his career, which would be something, considering the state of these Jets.
2025 stats: 13 games | 192 att | 929 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 5 rush TD | 29 rec | 254 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Like the team around him, Dowdle started slow -- but then he helped pull the Panthers out of a 1-3 hole. His explosiveness and ability to move the chains is partly why Dave Canales' offense ranks in the top 10 in rushing. Taking pressure off Bryce Young has also allowed the young passer to further develop. Dowdle has cooled off in recent weeks, with Chuba Hubbard coming on strong, but the Panthers wouldn't be knocking on the postseason door without Dowdle. Worth noting: Carolina is 6-1 in games this season in which Dowdle has 15-plus carries and 1-5 in games where he has fewer than 15 totes.
2025 stats: 13 games | 196 att | 952 rush yds | 4.9 ypc | 8 rush TD | 26 rec | 197 rec yds | 3 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
Yes, he's splitting carries with Blake Corum, who has impressed in recent weeks, but Williams' efficiency has increased from last season. He's nearly averaging 5 yards per carry heading into the stretch run, which is when he has traditionally become a huge focal point for the Rams offense. Last season, Williams posted three of his four 100-yard rushing performances in December. There's a good chance his most productive 2025 outings are ahead of him.
2025 stats: 13 games | 201 att | 917 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 7 rush TD | 26 rec | 181 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
No one knew quite what the Jaguars offense would look like under the direction of first-year head coach Liam Coen. Etienne has been a clear focal point, benefitting from Coen's zone run schemes, and he's having his most efficient season since 2022, when he averaged 5.1 yards per attempt. One year after finishing second on the team in carries behind the since-traded Tank Bigsby, Etienne has far and away been the go-to option in 2025 -- even accounting for more than 60 percent of the team's carries in three games. Etienne, whose pass-catching ability has also been an asset for Trevor Lawrence, is a big reason the Jags have climbed to the top of the AFC South standings.
2025 stats: 12 games | 206 att | 817 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 12 rush TDs | 31 rec | 251 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
Jacobs is about 10 yards per game short of the pace he'd need to hit to match his 2024 totals. In fact, the veteran has the most carries and rush yards among all players without a game with 100-plus rush yards this season. Still, he continues to give Green Bay's offense a physical presence and serve as an asset in the red zone. This is the time of year when Jacobs' hard-nosed style will become a real strength for this offense, something we'll likely see Matt LaFleur lean on as the Packers aim to stay atop the NFC North.
2025 stats: 12 games | 173 att | 837 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 5 rush TD | 28 rec | 256 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
The Bears have gone from zero to hero in one season, thanks to Ben Johnson and his willingness to pound the rock to control the clock. Swift is on pace to earn his second 1,000-yard rushing campaign; he's also having his most efficient season since 2022, when he was last with Johnson in Detroit. The veteran back has had to share the load with rookie Kyle Monangai, but I like what I'm seeing from this physical duo.
2025 stats: 13 games | 218 att | 862 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 35 rec | 259 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
There's a lot that's gone wrong for the Eagles offense this season, so it's quite impressive Saquon is even ranked in this list at all. Play-calling has been an issue. So has the offensive line. This all leads to a lack of explosive plays. Barkley is averaging nearly 2 yards per carry fewer than he did last season. His 122-yard, one-TD rushing performance in Week 15 reminded everyone what Barkley is capable of. He'll need to find a way to keep playing like that if Philly intends to defend its Super Bowl title.
DROPPED OUT: Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (previously No. 13); Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 14).
