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Top Running Back Salaries in 2026: Taylor and Jacobs Lead a Talented Group

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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