PFF Running Back Rankings Ahead of the 2025 Season

[River Dog]

Here are PFF's running back rankings prior to the 2025 season:

1. DERRICK HENRY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
2. SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
3. BIJAN ROBINSON, ATLANTA FALCONS
4. JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS
5. JOSH JACOBS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
6. BUCKY IRVING, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
7. CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
8. JAMES CONNER, ARIZONA CARDINALS
9. DE'VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
10. KYREN WILLIAMS, LOS ANGELES RAMS
11. KENNETH WALKER III, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
12. JAMES COOK, BUFFALO BILLS
13. ASHTON JEANTY, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
14. JONATHAN TAYLOR, INDIANAPOLIS
COLTS
15. BREECE HALL, NEW YORK JETS
16. CHUBA HUBBARD, CAROLINA PANTHERS
17. JOE MIXON, HOUSTON TEXANS
18. TONY POLLARD, TENNESSEE TITANS
19. AARON JONES, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
20. ALVIN KAMARA, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
21. DAVID MONTGOMERY, DETROIT LIONS
22. TYLER ALLGEIER, ATLANTA FALCONS
23. ISIAH PACHECO, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
24. OMARION HAMPTON, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
25. CHASE BROWN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
26. NAJEE HARRIS, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
27. QUINSHON JUDKINS, CLEVELAND BROWNS
28. TREVEYON HENDERSON, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
29. RHAMONDRE STEVENSON, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
30. TYRONE TRACY, NEW YORK GIANTS
31. BRIAN ROBINSON JR., WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
32. TRAVIS ETIENNE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

I expected Zach Charbonnet to crack the top 32. I thought he had a solid season last year.

[Stream Hawk]

I mostly agree with the top 20. Connor seems extremely too high, though. CMC could be as well. I’d also swap Gibbs with Bijon. Would love to see K9 finally break out, without breaking anything.

[NorthHawk]

I think Najee Harriss might have a good year with San Diego and Jim Harbaugh's Offense and OL emphasis.
It's hard for me to put Ashton Jeanty in the top 15 considering he's not yet played a down in the NFL and we don't know what to expect offensively from the Raiders with Chip Kelly as OC.
Bucky Irving at 6 is a bit of a surprise. To me he's flown under the radar so I don't know much about him.
With all RB's though the older they get the quicker they lose their edge and I wonder about James Connor and if he has another good year in him.

[Oly]

I think Najee Harriss might have a good year with San Diego and Jim Harbaugh's Offense and OL emphasis.
It's hard for me to put Ashton Jeanty in the top 15 considering he's not yet played a down in the NFL and we don't know what to expect offensively from the Raiders with Chip Kelly as OC.
Bucky Irving at 6 is a bit of a surprise. To me he's flown under the radar so I don't know much about him.
With all RB's though the older they get the quicker they lose their edge and I wonder about James Connor and if he has another good year in him.

I was surprised that any rookies made this list. I thought PFF was mostly stat-driven, and college stats seem so different that I'm not sure you can make an accurate comparison between the rookies and guys already in the league.

My other thought was just how pedestrian this list looks to me. RB clearly isn't a premium position any more. I mean, Bijan Robinson had only 5 runs all year over 20 yards with a long of 37. Kyren Williams had only 2 rushes over 20 in 316 attempts with a long of 30. The running game just isn't a place where most teams are looking for home run plays or players.

[NorthHawk]

I think it’s the place in the cycle of today’s game and it will eventually change. Over the years we’ve seen the pass game rise to dominance but some teams are looking at the run game as an important change of pace and teams seem to be moving toward it as a more important part of the Offense. Will we ever get back to the days like when players like Jim Brown or Gale Sayers played? Probably not, but I would think a more balanced attack or at least a more prominent run game amongst most teams will end up being the result. The progress is hampered by the lack of good run game coaching and focus at the College level so teams who end up with good run games will be the ones with excellent scouting staffs and probably a dollop of good luck.

[4XPIPS]

I mostly agree with the top 20. Connor seems extremely too high, though. CMC could be as well. I’d also swap Gibbs with Bijon. Would love to see K9 finally break out, without breaking anything.

Well he already has a reported ankle injury. Probably nothing at this point, but ankle injuries can linger. So hopefully he stays in shape, and skips pre-season and is ready for the start of the season.