Isaiah Pacheco is a no-nonsense downhill running back. He runs behind his pads and, with no intention of being tackled, has an angry running style. He displayed good burst and acceleration through open lanes to hit the second level of the defense. Pacheco falls forward on impact and contact with defenders. He offers average pass-catching ability and strong hands to bring in the ball. He is an underneath checkdown option and works well in that role. Pacheco's best third-down attribute is pass protection. He blocks with a similar intensity as a runner. He lacks elusiveness to force missed tackles. He doesn't take games over as a runner or receiver.

Tank Bigsby went from rushing over 700 yards in 2024 to receiving 105 less carries and rushing for 356 yards last season. He started the season in Jacksonville before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after week one. He's proven to have a downhill physical running style. Bigsby trusts his blockers and runs with the patience to be led to daylight. He will pile up yards as the offensive line blocks up, but he lacks elusiveness and quickness to consistently create for himself. He isn't a receiving threat in the passing game either. As a starter, he's a volume runner and a functional player who can take advantage of plus-level blocking up front.

Jordan Mason is a consistently solid running back when given opportunities. He's rushed for over 700 yards in consecutive seasons. The Vikings RB runs patiently behind the offensive line with solid vision to find open lanes. He is a densely built runner with power and a good stiff arm to fend off defenders. Mason is not an explosive athlete and lacks the premier top-end speed to be a home run threat. He's an ok starter, but will not be confused as a top-shelf NFL starter.

Ty Johnson is an underrated football player. He is an adequate runner and a plus-level pass catcher out of the backfield. Johnson runs hard and is a reliable blocker. He is a quality backup and pace changer off the bench. He's a versatile running back who brings positive plays in multiple ways on offense.

Kyle Monangai was a productive and impactful running back for the Chicago Bears. The 233rd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft played with great contact balance, vision, and patience. Monangai spelled D'Andre Swift well and added more downhill power to the Bears' offense. The rookie lacks top-end speed and acceleration to convert big plays into scoring plays. His pass-protection reps were uneven; his technique needs improvement.

Jaleel McLaughlin is a reliable ball carrier who saw his snaps decrease in 2025 because of the tandem of RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins. Prior to last season, he rushed for over 400 yards in consecutive seasons as a backup for the Broncos. He is a capable pass catcher out of the backfield as well. His game is built on patience, vision, and being a one-cut zone runner. He's a quality backup who was a healthy scratch multiple times last year because of the talent ahead of him.

Dylan Sampson is a one-cut runner and excels working in a zone-based running offense. As a rookie, he demonstrated his effectiveness in the passing game as a pace-setter for the offense. Sampson has good straight-line speed to threaten defenses if he is not corralled quickly. He doesn't break many tackles, and his run power is average, at best. Sampson is a solid RB2/3 in Cleveland behind a healthy Quinshon Judkins.

Keaton Mitchell is a home run with that "next" gear in the open field, making defenses pay for poor pursuit angles or over-aggression. Mitchell is patient and explosive in manipulating defensive leverage and blocks to his advantage. He's the ideal "lightning" change-of-pace back behind a full-time starter. His other role is an established kick returner, averaging 27 yards per return last season.

Kimani Vidal's production saw significant growth in year 2. The injury to rookie Omarion Hampton opened the door for Vidal to receive a starter's workload. He displayed good vision, burst, and power through running lanes. Vidal is a contributing back with spot-starting value.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a pretty solid rookie season, rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries. He did a good job following his blocks to daylight past the line of scrimmage. He ran hard with a good leg drive to power through arm tackles. Croskey-Merritt displayed open-field speed when blocks sprung him free and untouched. He rarely played on third down because of his lack of pass-catching reliability and pass-protection inefficiency. Limited reps to build a consistent profile weekly, but Croskey-Merritt showcased his skill set to help the Commanders' offense.

The early-season emergence of Rico Dowdle meant that Chuba Hubbard's opportunities declined in 2025. He was ineffective for most of the season, with a Rush EPA of -17.8 and 3.8 yards per carry. He rushed for 511 yards and one touchdown in 15 games. Hubbard runs with the requisite power and contact balance downhill. He is a functional receiving option but offers little versatility in the passing game.

Chris Rodriguez is a downhill, power running back with adequate burst through the first level of the defense. He's at his best with his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage, where he can lower his shoulder into upfield defenders. He has quicker feet than expected, shuffling and sidestepping past defensive linemen. Rodriguez's ceiling is capped by his average athletic traits and limited versatility in the passing offense. Nonetheless, Rodriguez is a capable back who can be either an early-down runner or a rotational back in a committee.

Zach Charbonnet operated as the RB2 behind Kenneth Walker III for the Seahawks. He was the "Thunder" to Walker's lightning because of the downhill power and physicality he runs with. Charbonnet thrives in the role of the short-yardage and red-zone back. He is a volume runner who plays better with more touches to find his rhythm. He doesn't possess overwhelming open-field speed to generate explosive plays as a runner or receiver. He has solid agility for jump cuts, but forcing him to stop his feet plays into the defense's hands. Charbonnet is a solid overall player, but lacks the ceiling to be a three-down bell-cow back.

Tyler Allgeier rushed for 514 yards and eight touchdowns in year four. The former 1,000-yard runner filled his role as the complement to Bijan Robinson well. He is a slashing, hard-charging downhill runner. Allgeier's game is built on contact and physically imposing his will on the defense. The more carries he receives, the stronger and harder he runs. He is a great low red zone and short-yardage back. Allgeier is outstanding in pass protection. He quickly scans for defenders and delivers punishing blocks. He isn't a dynamic athlete or shifty route-running pass catcher, but he has value on third downs.

Rico Dowdle had an elite two-game stretch for the Carolina Panthers last season, averaging over 200 yards from scrimmage. Dowdle hits open lanes with explosiveness, physicality, and power. He reached the 1,000-yard mark for a second consecutive season. He is a very limited receiver and lacks elusiveness to create missed tackles in the open field. Combined with being a runway-dependent runner, Dowdle is only a solid starting back and not a long-term option.

Isaiah Davis is an underrated running back for the New York Jets. He is behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen on the depth chart, but his film shows he is a capable, potentially adequate starting running back. While he is not a world-beater, Davis showed vision, burst, and power on contact, suggesting a positive outcome if he were a starter for a full season. He is a Swiss army knife because of his value as a kick returner and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He needs more opportunities to really prove he can be a lead back in the NFL.

Ray Davis did not receive many carries this season behind James Cook, but in the one game where they leaned on him, he performed well. Against the Jets, he ran for 151 yards on 21 carries. Davis has a good feel for running wide zone concepts with his one-cut running style. He is a backup who will spell the starting running back when the starter needs a breather without hurting the offense.

Devin Singletary continues to be a reliable backup running back in the NFL. He is a Jack of all trades because of his versatile skill set. Singletary is an effective runner with good foot quickness to make defenders miss in tight quarters, while being a functional receiver out of the backfield. He is not a long-term starting option, but rotating in and changing the pace is where Singletary can thrive.

Tyrone Tracy has rushed for over 700 yards in consecutive seasons. He served as the backup to rookie Cam Skattebo until Skattebo was lost for the season with an injury. Tracy is a solid one-cut runner with decent vision and patience when pressing the line of scrimmage. He's a former collegiate wide receiver who can make plays in the passing game. As a runner, Tracy is a sound player but has a limited ceiling. He gets whatever the offensive line generates but will not create something out of nothing. Best suited for a rotational workload rather than a primary ball carrier.

Woody Marks displayed his value as a runner and receiver last season. He is an ideal change-of-pace running back to spell the starter. Marks did well catching the football out of the backfield. He is effective as a checkdown option, on screens, and on rail routes. Marks runs with quick and shifty footwork to make defenders miss in the alley. He is a good chip blocker, releasing late into his route. Overall, Marks is a solid, contributing running back.

Jerome Ford is a capable starting running back, but is best served as a backup on the depth chart. He is a straight-line athlete and a "runway" runner who needs an effective offensive line to make his mark. Ford is not an overly elusive or creative runner to make something out of nothing. If given a crease, he can find his way to daylight at the second level and make the defense pay. Ford is an effective pass catcher out of the backfield. His open-field speed can be weaponized in the passing game. Ford served as a kick returner for the Browns last season, averaging over 22 yards per return.

Samaje Perine is an established, adequate rotational running back. He has been consistent in making plays as both a runner and a receiver throughout his career. Perine adds a downhill power and short-yardage element to the Bengals' offense behind Chase Brown. Although he doesn't start many games, he makes a positive impact on the Bengals offense overall.

Since entering the NFL, Rachaad White has been a steadily solid running back. He has value on all three downs with his versatility. White will fill the RB2 role well. He is a patient runner who sees things happening before they do. He has good lateral agility to jump-cut outside on interior running plays. White doesn't add a home run threat to the offense, but given the opportunities, he's more than capable.