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 every AFC teams RBs grade for 2024:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.