The running back position has seen ebbs and flows in how teams value the position. Top running back salaries used to be tops in the league with quarterbacks. In recent years, the position seemed to be devalued, but in the last several years, there has been a surge in salaries for top running backs. We take a look at the top running back salaries in 2026, with the Colts´ Jonathan Taylor leading the pack.
Top Running Back Salaries in 2026: Taylor and Jacobs Lead a Talented Group
Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs Lead All: Top Running Back Salaries in 2026
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis Colts RB $15,562,000
Josh Jacobs Green Bay Packers RB $14,542,647
Kyren Williams Los Angeles Rams RB $11,645,000
Breece Hall New York Jets RB $11,480,000
Alvin Kamara New Orleans Saints RB $11,378,741
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers RB $10,856,472
Aaron Jones Minnesota Vikings RB $10,210,000
Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons RB $10,047,009
Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles RB $9,881,100
Jeremiyah Love Arizona Cardinals RB $9,644,987
Tony Pollard Tennessee Titans RB $9,250,000
D’Andre Swift Chicago Bears RB $8,803,334
Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions RB $8,677,998
Ashton Jeanty Las Vegas Raiders RB $8,158,139
Chuba Hubbard Carolina Panthers RB $7,476,100
Rhamondre Stevenson New England Patriots RB $7,423,529
Jaylen Warren Pittsburgh Steelers RB $7,033,333
Kenneth Gainwell Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB $7,000,000
JK Dobbins Denver Broncos RB $6,000,000
James Cook Buffalo Bills RB $5,880,000
It is amazing that the 2oth most paid running back, the Bills´ James Cook, led the league in rushing last season.
Bills running back James Cook III dives into the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Chargers during their game Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. Buffalo won the game 24-16.
Top Running Back Salaries: Walker and Henry Lead Underpaid Group
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Jordan Mason Minnesota Vikings RB $5,790,000
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs RB $5,683,333
Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens RB $5,595,460
Travis Etienne New Orleans Saints RB $5,000,000
James Conner Arizona Cardinals RB $4,830,000
Tyler Allgeier Arizona Cardinals RB $4,350,000
Omarion Hampton Los Angeles Chargers RB $4,039,651
Tyjae Spears Tennessee Titans RB $3,922,294
Javonte Williams Dallas Cowboys RB $3,891,176
Justice Hill Baltimore Ravens RB $3,821,887
Rico Dowdle Pittsburgh Steelers RB $3,750,000
Chase Brown Cincinnati Bengals RB $3,745,539
Sean Tucker Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB $3,520,000
David Montgomery Houston Texans RB $3,300,000
Alec Ingold Los Angeles Chargers Fullback $3,275,000
Ty Johnson Buffalo Bills RB $3,275,000
Devon Achane Miami Dolphins RB $3,154,627
Keaton Mitchell Los Angeles Chargers RB $3,125,000
Jadarian Price Seattle Seahawks RB $3,051,590
Hunter Luepke Dallas Cowboys Fullback $3,000,000
The second tier of 20 running backs includes fullbacks, backups, and stars. Kenneth Walker III is the most underpaid of the bunch.
Top Running Back Salaries
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Kyle Juszczyk San Francisco 49ers Fullback $2,896,000
Reggie Gilliam New England Patriots Fullback $2,800,000
Patrick Ricard New York Giants Fullback $2,798,823
Quinshon Judkins Cleveland Browns RB $2,591,391
Devin Singletary New York Giants RB $2,550,000
TreVeyon Henderson New England Patriots RB $2,532,553
Brian Robinson Atlanta Falcons RB $2,510,540
Jonathon Brooks Carolina Panthers RB $2,295,568
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Jacksonville Jaguars RB $2,245,000
Zach Charbonnet Seattle Seahawks RB $2,187,843
Rachaad White Washington Commanders RB $2,000,000
Samaje Perine Cincinnati Bengals RB $2,000,000
Kene Nwangwu New York Jets RB $1,926,471
Chris Brooks Green Bay Packers RB $1,845,000
Isiah Pacheco Detroit Lions RB $1,810,000
Kendre Miller New Orleans Saints RB $1,799,102
RJ Harvey Denver Broncos RB $1,672,654
Trey Benson Arizona Cardinals RB $1,663,500
Emanuel Wilson Seattle Seahawks RB $1,595,000
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams RB $1,571,935
This third tier features backups and young starters who might just earn opportunities to earn big bucks with solid seasons.
Top Running Back Salaries
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Marshawn Lloyd Green Bay Packers RB $1,551,414
Tank Bigsby Philadelphia Eagles RB $1,485,399
Roschon Johnson Chicago Bears RB $1,337,172
Bhayshul Tuten Jacksonville Jaguars RB $1,314,132
Cam Skattebo New York Giants RB $1,273,260
Jaylen Wright Miami Dolphins RB $1,265,005
A.J. Dillon Carolina Panthers RB $1,262,500
Andrew Beck New York Jets Fullback $1,262,500
Jeremy McNichols Washington Commanders RB $1,262,500
Julius Chestnut Tennessee Titans RB $1,262,500
Bucky Irving Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB $1,257,888
Woody Marks Houston Texans RB $1,255,942
Will Shipley Philadelphia Eagles RB $1,254,241
Ray Davis Buffalo Bills RB $1,253,297
Isaac Guerendo San Francisco 49ers RB $1,251,132
Kaelon Black San Francisco 49ers RB $1,241,686
Dylan Sampson Cleveland Browns RB $1,237,641
Braelon Allen New York Jets RB $1,207,177
Sione Vaki Detroit Lions RB $1,207,177
Bam Knight Arizona Cardinals RB $1,195,000
This tier is backups, hoping to perhaps elevate to RB1 status if they get in the right situation.
Top Running Back Salaries
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Jonah Coleman Denver Broncos RB $1,193,606
Emari Demercado Dallas Cowboys RB $1,188,235
Scott Matlock Los Angeles Chargers Fullback $1,188,074
Mike Washington Jr. Las Vegas Raiders RB $1,164,039
Rasheen Ali Baltimore Ravens RB $1,155,287
Tyrone Tracy New York Giants RB $1,146,588
Malik Davis Dallas Cowboys RB $1,145,000
Isaiah Davis New York Jets RB $1,138,569
Michael Burton Cleveland Browns Fullback $1,135,000
Kaleb Johnson Green Bay Packers RB $1,129,639
Jordan James San Francisco 49ers RB $1,114,923
Dylan Laube Las Vegas Raiders RB $1,113,798
DJ Giddens Indianapolis Colts RB $1,111,186
British Brooks Houston Texans RB $1,080,000
Ameer Abdullah Jacksonville Jaguars RB $1,075,000
Audric Estimé New Orleans Saints RB $1,075,000
George Holani Seattle Seahawks RB $1,075,000
Kimani Vidal Los Angeles Chargers RB $1,075,000
Najee Harris New York Giants RB $1,075,000
Ronnie Rivers Los Angeles Rams RB $1,075,000
Tyler Badie Denver Broncos RB $1,075,000
Ollie Gordon II Miami Dolphins RB $1,073,166
Tahj Brooks Cincinnati Bengals RB $1,062,714
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Washington Commanders RB $1,042,237
Brashard Smith Kansas City Chiefs RB $1,038,369
Kyle Monangai Chicago Bears RB $1,037,035
LeQuint Allen Jacksonville Jaguars RB $1,034,689
Emmett Johnson Kansas City Chiefs RB $1,006,409
This final tier? Backups who are looking to stay in the league as long as possible.
The Last Word
For a position that appeared to be destined to be used by most teams primarily using a platoon system, the pendulum has swung to more teams showcasing a featured running back. Running backs have an average lifespan of just 2.57 years, so understandably, it is a position teams can be gunshy about investing much in salary cap dollars. The impact, however, of a stud running back is why star running backs are not on the market long if they are younger and have a good track record of staying mostly injury-free.
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