Dec 20, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) walks off the field after the first half against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
2026 NFL Top 100: Star RB Falls 33 Spots on List 1
There has been a lot of movement of superstars on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list. We have seen veterans like Lamar Jackson have precipitous drops in their individual rankings this year. There is another veteran who had a down 2025 season and his rankings showcase that. Let’s take a deeper dive into who it is and why their 2026 NFL Top 100 ranking fell so much.
Saquon Barkley has a significant drop in his 2026 NFL Top 100 ranking
2026 NFL Top 1002026 NFL Top 100
Jun 10, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs a drill during minicamp at Jefferson Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The age where running backs typically “hit a wall” is 30 years old, and that is how old Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will be by the time the Super Bowl kicks off. He had a down season statistically from his NFL Offensive Player of the Year season in 2024, dropping 33 spots to now being in 34th place. NFL’s Bobby Kownack provided the following blurb to discuss Barkley’s inclusion and drop on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list:
“Barkley took a step back from his debut AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year season with the Eagles. But to be fair, 99.9% of running back campaigns in the history of the NFL would pale in comparison to Barkley becoming just the ninth-ever ball-carrier with a 2,000-yard rushing season. Regardless, the three-time Pro Bowler finished 2025 in the top 10 in rushing yards, tallying 1,000-plus yards on the ground for the fifth time and collecting 30-plus receptions for 250-plus yards for a seventh occasion. If Philly’s offense bounces back this season, you can bet Barkley will be a major reason why.”
Saquon Barkley is hoping to get back to his 2024 self, as he took a step back in the 2025 season. Across 16 games, he finished with 280 rushing attempts for 1,140 yards (4.1 yards per carry) with seven rushing touchdowns as well as 37 catches on 50 targets for 273 yards (7.4 yards per reception) with a pair of receiving touchdowns. With the departure of wide receiver AJ Brown and a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, they are hoping he takes a step towards the player they signed and won a Super Bowl with.
Below are the running backs who have been named to the 2026 NFL Top 100 list so far:
96: New Orleans Saints RB Travis Etienne
89: Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams
74: Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs
34: Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
The 2026 NFL Top 100 is voted on by the players during the previous season and showcases where they believe the elite talent lies. Each weekday on social media, two names are announced until we reach the top 10. At that point, just one name will be revealed until the entire 2026 NFL Top 100 list is published on Friday, Sept. 4. It will be intriguing to see just how many running backs are ranked ahead of Barkley on the list this year.