2024 Pre-Season Rank #23, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #39, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #47, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #70, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #108.  Peak Period: 2019-20/2022-24

The Running Back is dead.  Long live the Running Back.

When many football fans and journalists called the death of rushing, Derrick Henry (and Saquon Barkley) had other ideas, but we have been surpised by Henry before

In 2019, it felt like Derrick Henry won the Rushing Title out of nowhere, as he was in his fourth year, and he only had 1,059 Yards the year before.  In 2020, Henry won his second Rushing Title, shattering his previous mark, and joined the 2,000 Yard Rushing club, won the Offensive Player of the Year.  Had he not gotten injured during the 2021 season, Henry was on his way to his second straight OPOY.  After a bounce back in 2022 that saw him net his third 1,500-yard campaign.  

After one more year in Tennessee, it was clear that the Titans were looking to move on, and the Baltimore Ravens signed Henry to join their potent offense.  Henry was phenomenal last season, rushing for 1,921 Yards and leading the league in Rushing Touchdowns (16).  He broke 100 TDs and 11,000 Yards, and enters this season as the active leader in Rushing Yards (11,423) and Rushing Touchdowns (106), the latter number placing him in a sixth-place tie with Jim Brown. 

If Derrick Brown makes the Hall of Fame, 2024 will be the year that cements his bust.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #16, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #55 Pre-Season Rank #66, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #76, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #81. Peak Period: 2017-18/2021-23

McCaffrey had a decent rookie year, a good second year, and a fantastic third season, where he led the NFL in Yards From Scrimmage (2,392) and Touchdowns (19).  The Running Back also rushed for over 1,000 Yards and caught passes for over 1,000 Yards, a rare feat!  Due to injury, he could not follow up in the two years that followed, but when he was healthy in 2022 and returned to Pro Bowl form, he was surrounded by a team that threw in the towel and traded him to San Francisco.  McCaffrey is one of the most versatile Running Backs, but his position is meant for ailments. 

In 2023, we said, “What he does in 2024 might decide whether he has a shot at the Hall”. McCaffrey’s response was to win his first Rushing Title (1,459) and Offensive Player of the Year while also topping the NFL in Yards From Scrimmage (2,023) and Touchdowns (21) for the second time in his career.   How was that followed up?   With another injury, limiting him to four Games in 2024.

Approaching 30, McCaffrey feels like either a Hall of Famer or a player destined to spend half of his career on the IL.  If Canton calls, this season is critical.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #33, 2023 Pre-Season #28, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #33, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #48, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #66.  Peak Period: 2017-21

Alvin Kamara has never had a 1,000-Yard Rushing Season, but the Saints Running Back has been one of the most complete dual-threat Running Backs since he debuted in 2017.

Named to the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, Kamara won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and was the league leader in Touchdowns (21) in 2020.  He might be slowing down, and if it's significant, his Hall of Fame chances will plummet, but as we enter 2025, Kamara is one of New Orleans’s top offensive weapons.

What he accomplishes in 2025 could tell the tale of his Hall of Fame chances.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #117, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #122, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #132 2021 Pre-Season Rank #101, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #100.  2018-19/2022-24

Last year, we said, “Barkley has a lot of catch-up to do regarding his initial Hall of Fame promise.  A player injured that badly and early always struggles, and Barkley is no different.”

Barkley is different.

No ranked player jumped higher than Barkley, who we feared injuries would take out of a Hall of Fame conversation.  Not only was he healthy on a new team (Philadelphia), but he is also a Super Bowl Champion and the defending Offensive Player of the Year.  He also joined the 2,000-Yard Rushing Club, won his first Rushing Title (2,005), his second APY Title (2,283), and, along with Derrick Henry, brought back the Running Back.

At home in Philadelphia, Barkley’s only issues will be with injury, and another monster year will put him in the Hall of Fame hunt.  We won’t bet against him again.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #37, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #36, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #47, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #53, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #55. Peak Period: 2016-20

It looks like it is the end of the road for Ezekiel Elliott, who ended his career where it began, in Dallas.

The 2016 Consensus Rookie of the Year was an incredible performer in his first four seasons, winning the Rushing Title as a rookie and again in his third season.  Zeke was considered one of the top rushers from 2016 to 2019, but his production slowed down to where he was a backup in his final two seasons (2023 in New England and 2024 in Dallas).

11,848 Yards from Scrimmage with 88 Touchdowns is a very good career, but it likely won’t cut it in this era. 

2024 Pre-Season Rank #98, 2023 Pre-Season Rank: #107, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #111.  Peak Period: 2020-24

After a good rookie year in 2020, Taylor exploded, leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,811) and Rushing Touchdowns (18), and a Running Back needs a year like this to place you on the tips of tongues of Hall of Fame voters.  In 2022, Taylor had a great start to the season but was held to 11 Games due to ankle issues. In 2023, he held out, delaying his start until that year.

We said last year that one monstrous season does not make a Hall of Fame career for a player, and Taylor would have to reclaim that 2021 magic for a serious Hall of Fame list jump.   He did, with a bounce-back 1,431-yard/11-touchdown year and a return to the Pro Bowl. 

2024 Pre-Season Rank #84, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #91, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #114, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #140.  Peak Period: 2018-22

Chubb emerged as the top rusher for an improving Browns offense and was a perennial Pro Bowl Selection from 2019 to 2022.  He likely would have been again last year, but he tore his ACL in Week 2 and is not expected back until October.  Chubb would return, but he has not been close to what he was.  He begins 2025 with the Houston Texans, and his peak seems like a long time ago.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #85, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #68, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #77, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #117.  Peak Period: 2018-22

As good as Dalvin Cook was with the Vikings, the elite Running Back is giving way to the elite Wide Receiver, and the Vikings released him after a four-year run of Pro Bowls and over 5,000 Yards.  He joined the New York Jets with high hopes, but he was disappointed with only 214 Yards.  He lasted two Games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 and is currently searching for a new home.  Based on the last two years, he won’t find one, and his Hall of Fame chances rest on four potent seasons in Minnesota, and sadly, it won’t come close.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #89, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #117, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #143.  Peak: 18-19/21-23

The first year of Joe Mixon’s career in Houston netted the former Sooner his first Pro Bowl since 2021, off a year where he broke 1,000 Yards (1,016) for the fifth time and 11 Touchdowns.  Mixon has been consistent over his eight NFL seasons, but at no time has he been considered a top-five Running Back.  This has to change, or he will have to go the Frank Gore route of compiling.  Considering he is starting 2025 on the IR, it will be a tall task.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #110, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #115, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #122, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #127.  Peak Period: 2019-20/22-24

The first season in Minnesota was a success for Aaron Jones, who set a personal best in Rushing Yards (1,138) and had five TDs on the ground to give him an even 50.  His numbers are decent, but he will turn 31 this year.   Nevertheless, Jones keeps cruising along and should break 10,000 Yards from Scrimmage this year.  The Hall of Fame will likely not call, but the Green Bay Packers Hall will.