In 2024, Saquon Barkley took home the rushing yards crown for the first time in his career. His record-breaking 2024 season led to him earning Offensive Player of the Year. The last back-to-back winner of the rushing crown came in the 2019 and 2020 seasons by none other than Derrick Henry. Barkley has a good chance to hold onto his crown, but players like Henry, Bijan Robinson, and others pose as the biggest threats to dethrone him in 2025.
5 Running backs who Can Lead the NFL In Rushing In 2025
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs is an electric playmaker in the backfield for the Detroit Lions as he finished with 1,412 rushing yards last season, finishing fifth in the league. Gibbs was also eighth in the league with touches, with 302 last season. The former Alabama standout clearly showed he was one of the best running backs in the league in just his second season.
Detroit has finished in the top ten of rushing attempts in each of Gibbs’ two seasons. Though offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for a head coaching job, the Lions will take an if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it approach with their offense that has been among the best in the league over the last couple of seasons.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
The last rookie to lead the NFL in rushing yards was Ezekiel Elliot in 2016, and Ashton Jeanty has as good of a chance as anyone to be the next rookie to do so. Jeanty was taken with the sixth overall pick in the draft, which immediately signals that he will get plenty of chances to tote the rock, and there is a good chance the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense runs through him. Last year at Boise State University, Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards, which included 14 games of at least 100 yards rushing.
With the hype surrounding Jeanty for his rookie season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson finished third in the league in rushing yards in 2024 and finished second in the league in touches. With second-year quarterback Michael Penix starting his first full season, it will be essential for the Falcons to lean on Robinson to take pressure off Penix as he seeks to get comfortable as a full-time starter.
Robinson’s all-around game at running back with explosive moves and solid hands not only makes him a good candidate to lead the league in rushing, but Robinson could also be a candidate for Offensive Player of the Year in 2025
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor won the rushing crown in 2021 after he rushed for 1,811 yards and could win his second in 2025, if he is healthy. Last season, Taylor finished fourth in rushing yards with 1,431 and only played in 14 games. The quarterback situation in Indianapolis will be the talk of training camp and will be a story all week long with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson battling for the spot. Whoever gets the job will likely steer the Colts into a run-heavy offensive approach as neither Jones nor Richardson will be tasked with winning games with their arms each week if the Colts can help it.
Taylor had 321 touches last season despite missing three games and finished third in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 102.2. Since being drafted in 2020, Taylor has been one of the best running backs in the league during that span, and with a second rushing title in six seasons, it will only continue to solidify his resume.
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Henry has already been a two-time rushing crown winner, and if it weren’t for a season of the ages from Barkley, Henry would undoubtedly have won his third in 2024. King Henry finished second in rushing yards with 1,921 yards, which seems like it was overshadowed because Barley rushed for over 2,000; however, Henry rushed for over 400 yards more than the third-place rusher.
Running backs in their thirties don’t do the things Henry has done, so it’s safe to say he could keep up this type of production until he can’t. The Ravens believe Henry can sustain his production as well signing him to an extension this offseason. With another season with Lamar Jackson, Henry could come back to reclaim his crown in 2025.
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