Ranking all 32 NFL RB groups from worst to best
With the NFL draft and the major part of free agency in the rearview mirror, rosters around the league are taking shape. In a four-part series, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at quarterback, pass-catcher, running back, and defense. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.
Next up are rushing groups.
Position Group Rankings
QB l REC | RB l DEF
| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Ronald Jones II | N/A |
| Ke'Shawn Vaughn | |
| Dare Ogunbowale | |
| T.J. Logan | |
| Raymond Calais |
The Bucs may have the top receiving corps and arguably the best quarterback of all time, but they enter 2020 with the most unproven backfield. In his first two seasons, Jones was unable to wrest the starting job from Peyton Barber. In his nine career starts, he has just one 100-yard rushing game, and it came in Week 17 last season. Joining him now are Vaughn, a pass-catching rookie, and Ogunbowale, who has 11 career carries.
31. Philadelphia Eagles| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Miles Sanders | N/A |
| Boston Scott | |
| Corey Clement | |
| Elijah Holyfield | |
| Michael Warren | |
| Adrian Killins Jr. |
As injuries mounted late in 2019, Sanders and Scott were pressed into action and both fared adequately, helping Philadelphia win its division. But none of the six options elicit great confidence entering 2020. Sanders, a 2019 second-round pick, will get the first opportunity to hold down the starter's job. The other five backs will be fighting for playing time and to remain on the roster.
30. Chicago Bears
Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images Sport / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| David Montgomery | N/A |
| Tarik Cohen | |
| Ryan Nall | |
| Napoleon Maxwell | |
| Artavis Pierce |
The Bears intend to use Montgomery like the feature back he was drafted to become. However, the Iowa State product needs to produce in 2020 after a disappointing rookie season. Montgomery finished 13th in the league in carries but was unable to crack 900 yards. There isn't much in the form of depth behind him, either.
29. Arizona Cardinals| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Kenyan Drake | N/A |
| Chase Edmonds | |
| Eno Benjamin | |
| D.J. Foster | |
| Jonathan Ward |
The Cardinals paid top dollar to keep Drake after he impressed with eight touchdowns and 800 yards over his eight games following a midseason trade. It'll be a lot to ask for him to keep up his 5.2 yards per carry average. If he turns back into a pumpkin, there's a lean group behind him, led by rookie seventh-round pick Benjamin.
28. Miami Dolphins| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Jordan Howard | Chandler Cox |
| Matt Breida | |
| Kalen Ballage | |
| Myles Gaskin | |
| Malcolm Perry | |
| Patrick Laird | |
| De'Lance Turner |
The worst rushing team a year ago, Miami signed Howard in free agency and acquired Breida via trade in an effort to rejuvenate the backfield. Though improved, the Dolphins still don't have a true bell cow, and the depth behind those two veterans is utterly abysmal.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Leonard Fournette | Connor Slomka |
| Chris Thompson | |
| Devine Ozigbo | |
| Ryquell Armstead | |
| Tavien Feaster | |
| Nathan Cottrell | |
| James Robinson |
Fournette emerged as a receiver out of the backfield with 76 catches last year, yet something about him still screams "one-dimensional" - perhaps its his lack of elusiveness. With a career average of four yards per carry, Fournette hasn't lived up to his billing as a No. 4 overall pick. His backups are relatively anonymous, except for Thompson, who had a decent stint with the Redskins.
26. Los Angeles Rams| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Malcolm Brown | N/A |
| Cam Akers | |
| Darrell Henderson Jr. | |
| John Kelly | |
| James Gilbert | |
| Xavier Jones |
In the post-Todd Gurley era, the starting running back job could go to any of Brown, Henderson, or Kelly. They each flashed promise in limited opportunities as Gurley's backup. However, Akers is likely to become the new lead dog. He's a home run hitter, and with other capable backs surrounding him, he may not have to handle the lion's share of the carries.
25. Washington Redskins
Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Derrius Guice | N/A |
| Adrian Peterson | |
| Antonio Gibson | |
| Peyton Barber | |
| Bryce Love | |
| J.D. McKissic | |
| Josh Ferguson |
Well, Washington certainly has the depth - a necessity after Guice missed his entire rookie season and only played in five games his sophomore year. He's penciled in as the starter, but 35-year-old Peterson might have to take on the majority of the workload again. If Gibson or Barber see a significant amount of carries, something has likely gone very wrong.
24. Los Angeles Chargers| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Austin Ekeler | Bobby Holly |
| Justin Jackson | Gabe Nabers |
| Joshua Kelley | |
| Darius Bradwell |
Ekeler is versatile but has to show he's capable of grinding between the tackles for an entire season before he can be considered a legitimate starter. He'll get a chance to prove his worth in 2020 as he takes over top duties from Melvin Gordon. Jackson has been adequate when pressed into duty, but nobody after Ekeler sparks much excitement.
23. Atlanta Falcons| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | Keith Smith |
| Brian Hill | |
| Ito Smith | |
| Qadree Ollison | |
| Craig Reynolds | |
| Mikey Daniel |
The inclusion of Gurley alone - the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year - would normally warrant a spot much higher in the rankings, but his troublesome left knee has to be a concern. The Rams ultimately released him and the Falcons signed him to a one-year deal without being able to put him through a physical. If his touches have to be monitored, career backups Hill, Smith, and Ollison may be exposed.
22. Buffalo Bills| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Devin Singletary | Patrick DiMarco |
| Zack Moss | |
| T.J. Yeldon | |
| Taiwan Jones | |
| Christian Wade |
As a rookie, Singletary averaged 5.1 yards per carry and was a tackle-breaking machine. He also added value in the passing game. The Bills replaced backup Frank Gore with a rookie in Moss, who carries more upside but also more uncertainty. For a third running back, Yeldon is adequate.
21. Houston Texans| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| David Johnson | Cullen Gillaspia |
| Duke Johnson | |
| Buddy Howell | |
| Karan Higdon Jr. | |
| Scottie Phillips |
If David Johnson returns to 2016 form - the year he totaled over 2,000 yards of offense - the Texans will be sitting pretty. Unfortunately, the sample on him over the last three seasons has been discouraging. Duke Johnson may be the best running back on this roster, but he won't be the one taking most of the snaps.
20. Detroit Lions
Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Kerryon Johnson | Nick Bawden |
| D'Andre Swift | Luke Sellers |
| Bo Scarbrough | |
| Ty Johnson | |
| Jason Huntley | |
| Wes Hills |
Johnson was thought to be the answer to the Lions' persistent problems at running back when he was a second-round selection in 2018, so it was an eye-opener when Detroit used another second-rounder on Swift in 2020. At best, the Lions will have two backs with the ability to take the load off Matthew Stafford. At worst, they have a committee headed by a 21- and 22-year-old.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| James Conner | Derek Watt |
| Jaylen Samuels | Trey Edmunds |
| Benny Snell | Spencer Nigh |
| Anthony McFarland Jr. | |
| Ralph Webb | |
| Kerrith Whyte |
Without a viable passing game to lessen the burden in 2019, Conner struggled to run against loaded boxes. Granted, injuries played a factor, and running against extra defenders isn't easy for anyone. But the tailbacks behind him have shown to be nothing more than replacement-level, with the exception of McFarland, who's entering the fold as a rookie.
18. Cincinnati Bengals| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Joe Mixon | N/A |
| Giovani Bernard | |
| Rodney Anderson | |
| Trayveon Williams | |
| Samaje Perine | |
| Devwah Whaley |
Mixon got going in the final month of the 2019 season, salvaging what would have been a substandard campaign. Bernard is coming off his worst season but has been a solid backup throughout his career. Beyond those two, we're looking at late-round picks and former college standouts who have been plagued by injuries since turning pro.
17. Indianapolis Colts| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Marlon Mack | Roosevelt Nix |
| Jonathan Taylor | |
| Jordan Wilkins | |
| Nyheim Hines | |
| Darius Jackson | |
| Bruce Anderson III |
Quietly, Mack has developed into one of the most effective rushers in the league, though his success is aided by Indianapolis' terrific offensive line. The Colts drafted Taylor, a decorated collegian at Wisconsin who figures to steal some of his carries. Wilkins and Hines serve as useful depth, but aren't game-breakers.
16. Kansas City Chiefs| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Anthony Sherman |
| Damien Williams | John Lovett |
| Darrel Williams | |
| Darwin Thompson | |
| DeAndre Washington | |
| Elijah McGuire |
The Chiefs are ripe with potential contributors, even if none of them stand out individually. Williams doesn't do anything great, but is solid at everything. Edwards-Helaire is more of the same and is in line to share time with Williams in 2020. Running backs tend to maximize their talents in Andy Reid's spacious offense.
15. Las Vegas Raiders
Daniel Shirey / Getty Images Sport / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Josh Jacobs | Alec Ingold |
| Jalen Richard | |
| Lynn Bowden Jr. | |
| Rod Smith | |
| William Stanback |
Jacobs thrived as a rookie, but there isn't much behind him to get excited about. While he averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2019, Richard posted a career-worst 3.7 yards per attempt. Bowden is the wild card: Las Vegas plans to use him as a utility player after he scampered for 1,468 yards in his final year at Kentucky - as a wide receiver who converted to quarterback.
14. Tennessee Titans| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Derrick Henry | N/A |
| Darrynton Evans | |
| Senorise Perry | |
| Shaun Wilson | |
| Dalyn Dawkins | |
| Khari Blasingame |
The presence of Henry, the 2019 rushing champion, automatically puts Tennessee in the top 15. But the lack of depth behind him is concerning. The Titans drafted Evans to replace Dion Lewis, who was released after a couple of disappointing campaigns, but left themselves without a receiving tailback or any proven options behind their leader.
13. New York Jets| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Le'Veon Bell | N/A |
| Frank Gore | |
| Trenton Cannon | |
| Lamical Perine | |
| Kenneth Dixon | |
| Josh Adams | |
| Jalin Moore |
Bell is better than the numbers he registered in 2019 when he played behind a broken offensive line. He should look more like the Steelers version of himself in 2020. The Jets added Gore to help manage his workload, and even at 36, the veteran can still get the job done in short-yardage situations.
12. Carolina Panthers| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | Alex Armah |
| Reggie Bonnafon | |
| Mike Davis | |
| Jordan Scarlett | |
| Rodney Smith |
The Panthers have arguably the best running back in all of football, and Bonnafon is a better backup than most. Nonetheless, should McCaffrey slip on a banana peel, everything comes crashing to a halt in Carolina.
11. New England Patriots| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Sony Michel | Dan Vitale |
| Damien Harris | Jakob Johnson |
| James White | |
| Rex Burkhead | |
| Brandon Bolden |
New England has a little bit of everything in its backfield - but no star leading the way. Although Michel is looking to rebound from a poor sophomore year, he did help power the Patriots to a Super Bowl title in 2018. White is one of the best pass-catching tailbacks in the league, though he doesn't break many tackles. Burkhead can be useful in spurts as a rusher, receiver, or blocker.
10. Dallas Cowboys
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel Elliott | Jamize Olawale |
| Tony Pollard | |
| Jordan Chunn | |
| Darius Anderson | |
| Rico Dowdle | |
| Sewo Olonilua |
Trivia question: Who's the player that caused Jerry Jones to exclaim, "Zeke who?" That would be Pollard. His preseason performance allowed the Cowboys owner to be comfortable with Elliott's holdout. Zeke is one of the league's best rushers and is coming off a 1,357-yard, 12-touchdown season. Now that's a top-10 backfield.
9. Green Bay Packers| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | Elijah Wellman |
| A.J. Dillon | Jordan Jones |
| Jamaal Williams | |
| Dexter Williams | |
| Damarea Crockett | |
| Patrick Taylor Jr. |
The decision to use a second-round pick on Dillon certainly was a head-scratcher, but it helps make the Packers' backfield one of the deepest in the NFL. He'll be joining Jones, who shared the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 16 a year ago. If the RB1 needs a breather in 2020, there are many capable options.
8. Seattle Seahawks| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Chris Carson | Nick Bellore |
| Rashaad Penny | |
| DeeJay Dallas | |
| Travis Homer | |
| Patrick Carr |
Despite injury concerns - both Carson and Penny are questionable for the start of the 2020 season due to major injuries - the Seahawks employ a pair of running backs who could both be starters. Carson's coming off a career year (1,230 yards, 7 TDs) and Penny has a career 5.3 yard per carry average. Their uncertain status going into training camp is likely what led to the fourth-round selection of Dallas.
7. New York Giants| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | George Aston |
| Dion Lewis | |
| Wayne Gallman | |
| Elijhaa Penny | |
| Jon Hilliman | |
| Javon Leake |
The Giants get a top-10 spot based on Barkley alone. New York has a number of insurance policies should something happen to its superstar as well. However, Lewis is coming off of two lost years in Tennessee and Gallman has done little with his opportunities over the past three seasons. Nonetheless, it's a deeper group than most.
6. New Orleans Saints| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Alvin Kamara | Michael Burton |
| Latavius Murray | Ricky Ortiz |
| Dwayne Washington | |
| Tony Jones Jr. |
Kamara's first season as the lead back in the Saints' backfield was somewhat of a disappointment. Still, he remains one of the game's most dynamic players. Murray has started at least six games in each of the past five seasons and is one of the best backup options in the league.
5. Minnesota Vikings
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Dalvin Cook | C.J. Ham |
| Alexander Mattison | Jake Bargas |
| Mike Boone | |
| Ameer Abdullah | |
| Tony Brooks-James |
Although Minnesota's rushing attack is fronted by a 2019 Pro Bowler, Cook's career has been beset by injury. He's played in 29 of a possible 48 games over his three years in the league. As such, he's supported by a trio of running backs who could start at a moment's notice.
4. Denver Broncos| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Melvin Gordon | Andrew Beck |
| Phillip Lindsay | |
| Royce Freeman | |
| Khalfani Muhammad | |
| Jeremy Cox | |
| LeVante Bellamy |
Gordon and Lindsay are both capable starters and former Pro Bowlers who can live between the tackles, on the edges, and contribute as pass-catchers. Those two have pushed Freeman, previously a quality No. 2, down the depth chart. Even at fullback the Broncos are strong, as the emergence of Beck - a college tight end - allowed the team to trade Andy Janovich months after signing him to a three-year extension.
3. Baltimore Ravens| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Mark Ingram | Patrick Ricard |
| J.K. Dobbins | |
| Justice Hill | |
| Gus Edwards | |
| Ty'son Williams | |
| Bronson Rechsteiner |
If it feels like the Ravens add another weapon to their backfield every year, it's because they do. While Ingram is the bell cow who is coming off a 1,018-yard, 10-touchdown campaign, Edwards pitches in as a power back. Hill showed promise as more of a slasher, but Dobbins is likely the centerpiece of the future. Oh, there's also Lamar Jackson, who rushed for over 1,200 yards as a quarterback.
2. Cleveland Browns| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Nick Chubb | Andy Janovich |
| Kareem Hunt | Johnny Stanton |
| Dontrell Hilliard | |
| D'Ernest Johnson | |
| Ben LeMay | |
| Brian Herrien |
Chubb might be the best in the league at his position. His career average of 5.1 yards per carry is astounding given the deficiencies of the offensive line in Cleveland. His effectiveness usually keeps Hunt, a former rushing champion in his own right, glued to the bench. No other team can rival what the Browns have atop the depth chart.
1. San Francisco 49ers
MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / Getty| RB Depth | FB Depth |
|---|---|
| Raheem Mostert | Kyle Juszczyk |
| Tevin Coleman | |
| Jeff Wilson Jr. | |
| Jerick McKinnon | |
| Jamycal Hasty | |
| Salvon Ahmed |
The deepest rushing group in the NFL is the unit that made Matt Breida expendable. Not only do the Niners own a quartet of backs who could start and flourish, Juszczyk is also the best fullback in the game. Mostert deserves to enter 2020 as the full-time starter after his career year was capped by a four-touchdown performance in the NFC title game and an appearance in the Super Bowl. However, should he falter, the Niners won't be afraid to sub in one of their many big bats off the bench.
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