Grading RBs can be difficult sometimes because there are other factors to consider beyond their talent. Do they have a good offensive line? Do they have good coaching? Can their team effectively pass the football so they aren’t constantly facing a stacked box? All of these things need to be considered. With that being said, here is each teams RBs grade for 2024:
Denver Broncos: F
Primary contributor(s): Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin
Another mess of a room. This team never established an identity on the ground other than Bo Nix. McLaughlin seems best suited for the scheme, but this three-headed monster wasn’t good in any capacity.
Detroit Lions: A+
Primary contributor(s): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery
Imagine having two AMAZING backs in your room, and each hitting their potential. Gibbs and Montgomery combined for well over 2,000 all-purpose yards and find themselves in the rarified company on my list.
San Francisco 49ers: B
Primary contributor(s): Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo
I’m still pissed at the 49ers for what they did to us regarding McCaffrey. The crazy thing, though, is this team just kept piling up the RB injuries but never really missed a beat. Plug and play, and just outside the top 10 rushing offenses in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
Primary contributor(s): Bucky White, Rachaad White
I wrote about this earlier in the season and then went back to the well multiple times. Bucky Irving is a STUD and should have been RB1 on Day 1. White hung around and was moderately productive as well.
Tennessee Titans: C+
Primary contributor(s): Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Another backfield where I had higher expectations, Pollard did just enough, but wasn’t special. We all expected more from Spears as well, though he may actually have taken a step backward. I like both guys, but the results are lackluster.
Washington Commanders: D
Primary contributor(s): Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler
The QB led this team in rushing. You feel me here? Robinson was hurt for a few games but wasn’t exceptional when he played. Ekeler is cooked, and the room is fairly empty after that.
Green Bay Packers: A+
Primary contributor(s): Josh Jacobs
Super surprised by this, but the results don’t lie. The Packers transformed into a run-first team, and Jacobs shined in the role of alpha-dog. Only Henry, Barkley, Robinson, and Gibbs graded higher individually.
Houston Texans: B
Primary contributor(s): Joe Mixon
Speaking of a renaissance season, Mixon looked fantastic on his new team and was derailed only by injury. There just really isn’t any depth here, either.
Indianapolis Colts: B+
Primary contributor(s): Jonathon Taylor
I go back and forth on Taylor. The results speak to an “A” rating. But if you watch the games, he’s just not terribly efficient – outside the explosive runs.
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Primary contributor(s): Chase Brown, Zack Moss
Should have been Chase Brown from the git. I hate backfields that split carries, and this highlights why. Over his 10 stars, Brown put up near-elite numbers.
Cleveland Browns: F
Primary contributor(s): Jerome Ford, Nick Chubb
Dumpster fire. Ford flashed, and Chubb didn’t. They didn’t get much help from the o-line, and the passing game was an absolute mess. Translation – not all their fault, but the backs weren’t great in their own right.
Dallas Cowboys: C
Primary contributor(s): Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliot
Another mishandled backfield; Rico should have been RB1 from the jump and looked really good as the season wore on. If only they could have had a shot at a guy like Henry… oh wait.
Arizona Cardinals: B-
Primary contributor(s): James Conner
Conner alone would get an A from me, but the utter lack of support from the rest of the room drives this grade.
New York Giants: D
Primary contributor(s): Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary
How does the saying go… if you have two RB1s, then you don’t really have one (disregard Detroit). Tracy took over for Singletary and was much more impressive, but the Giants offense is also a big trash receptacle on fire.
New York Jets: C
Primary contributor(s): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen
Is this the most disappointing backfield of 2024? It certainly makes the case for it (on one of the most disappointing teams of the season also.) Hall is all-world, but injuries appear to be a regular thing.
Philadelphia Eagles: A+
Primary contributor(s): Saquon Barkley
Barkley deserves a lot of credit, he surely does. The guy activated another level in 2024 and became just the ninth member of the 2,000-yard club. But we can all agree the Philly line should be illegal and it helped Saquon tremendously. Just behind Henry for the top spot. Just.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B-
Primary contributor(s): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren
Najee looked a bit better this season, and Jaylen kicked in as expected. These guys would be soooooo much better with an offensive line in front of them.
Seattle Seahawks: C
Primary contributor(s): Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet
Both flashed, and I do think both Walker III and Charbonnet could impact in better situations (brutal o-line play). Mediocre results truly drive this grade, but both backs are much better than this.
Atlanta Falcons: A+
Primary contributor(s): Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier
Bjian leveled up in 2024, and comes in just behind Henry (1) and Barkley (2) on my list of top backs for 2024.
Baltimore Ravens: A+
Primary contributor(s): Derrick Henry
A historic season at the elder age of 31, Henry ranks as my top back (and the metrics support it). The only RB in NFL history with two 1,900-yard seasons. Did I mention he was 31? Somebody tell Jerry Jones.
Buffalo Bills: B+
Primary contributor(s): James Cook, Ray Davis
James Cook was more impressive as the season wore on, and you can’t deny the touchdown production. Solid depth also, as Ray Davis looks like he can handle a three-down workload.
Carolina Panthers: B
Primary contributor(s): Chuba Hubbard
Chuba really shined this year in a feature role, and let’s face it – they need him. Brooks may be done, and they’ve got nobody else.
Miami Dolphins: C+
Primary contributor(s): De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert
Achane could be soooooo special, but this room lost it’s identity in 2024. The explosive production and touchdowns all but disappeared due to the struggles of the offense as a whole.
Minnesota Vikings: B
Primary contributor(s): Aaron Jones, Cam Akers
Love the look from Aaron Jones this season. A few costly fumbles aside, he was a steady all-purpose contributor all season long. Solid depth here as well.
New England Patriots: C
Primary contributor(s): Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre was absolutely one of the biggest disappointments of the 2024 season across all positions. He would get a “D” from me as a standalone, but the depth in the room (Gibson) brings this up a bit.
New Orleans Saints: B
Primary contributor(s): Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller
Kamara was gangbusters to start the season, and then the tread on the tires started to show. Kendre Miller is fun, but his bones are made out of tortilla chips (the ones that break in salsa). Oh, and Taysom Hill is fun, though probably done with this team.
Chicago Bears: D+
Primary contributor(s): D’Andre Swift
Swift had his moments, but this room was brutal. Could have easily been an “F”, but Swift’s all-purpose value pushes it just above that level.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C
Primary contributor(s): Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby
Two talented backs, this offense was derailed and just never got going. Could have easily been a D, but the collective of Etienne Jr.’s and Bigsby’s talent pushes it up a bit.
Kansas City Chiefs: C
Primary contributor(s): Kareem Hunt, Isiah Pacheco
Mediocre backfield after Pacheco went down early. Hunt carried the torch but wasn’t super efficient. This backfield always does the job Andy Reid asks them to do, it’s just not generally sexy.
Las Vegas Raiders: F
Primary contributor(s): Alexander Mattison, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah
Dumpster fire, the sequel. Not one impressive back on this roster. And the offensive line struggled also, mainly due to an abundance of injury. This room definitely needs help.
Los Angeles Chargers: C-
Primary contributor(s): J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards
The entire world thinks Dobbins is a stud-in-the-making, but don’t catch me in that bunch. Aside from the early success he had this season, injuries and inconsistency once again popped up to say hello. As they always have. I do like Edwards, but could honestly make the same argument against him.
Los Angeles Rams: B
Primary contributor(s): Kyren Williams
I’m not overly impressed with Williams as a runner, but the results are there. One of a few workhorses in the league, I think his production is more slow and steady instead of game-changing and explosive.
