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Aug 18, 2025 6:57 AM EDT
Just when you thought that the run game didn’t really matter in the NFL anymore, the league changed its mind philosophically, as it tends to do. Two backs in particular, with two new teams, defined NFL offense as more backs did back in the day. Saquon Barkley, in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, totaled 2,504 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 436 carries including the postseason, which ended with the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX.
It was one of the greatest seasons any running back has ever enjoyed, and we know this because in any other year, all we’d be talking about was what Derrick Henry did for the Baltimore Ravens in his first NFL season without a Tennessee Titans helmet on his head. Henry gained 2,191 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns on 367 carries, including his own postseason, and that was Henry’s best season to date in a career that may well end with a bust in Canton.
In addition to the big stars up top, like Barkley, Henry, Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, and Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers, there are younger backs ready to take over the NFL in their own ways. Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, Bucky Irving of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams are four such backs whose on-field exploits have already placed their names in the pantheon, or close to it.
Of course, coaching and scheme have a lot to do with running back success, as it’s the rare back who can do everything at the highest possible level. Maybe your best back is a true headbanger, best-suited to man-blocking stuff. Or, you are lucky enough to have a top-level one-cut-and-go guy who can make outside zone sing. It’s important to optimize your run concepts for the players you have.
Here, in the continuation of our series highlighting the NFL’s best players in multiple categories, are the best running backs from the 2024 season in all of the most popular and prominent blocking concepts. This is not to insinuate that any of these backs are one-trick ponies; they wouldn’t be at the top of the league if they were. But if you want one guy who can play Mozart the way it should be played in each of these concepts, these are the backs you want to watch above all.
(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions. Whenever applicable, all metrics include postseason performances).
Inside Zone: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes the ball past Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) during the first half in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Source: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The inside zone run game, which has offensive linemen responsible for areas to block on plays that require both power and agility, was pretty much owned by Saquon Barkley in the 2024 season. Barkley led the league in inside zone carries (145), rushing yards (739), rushing touchdowns (nine, tied with Josh Jacobs), yards after contact (433), forced missed tackles (nine), first downs (37), yards per attempt (5.1), and EPA (17.10).
Barkley’s knack for inside zone is clear, and his attributes fit it perfectly. He’s strong enough to break tackles right up the middle, accurate and quick enough with his gap reads to avoid heading to the wrong place with intent, and his second-level speed can be a real problem.
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Runners-up: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams/Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers/Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Outside Zone: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs against Tennessee Titans during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Source: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Lions may well have the NFL’s most dynamic running back duo in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, or Sonic and Knuckles to most. While Montgomery has his own attributes in Detroit’s complex, multi-faceted run game, it’s Gibbs who has become the force multiplier since the team selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama. Remember when the Lions were pilloried for drafting a running back that high? Now, general manager Brad Holmes has had the last laugh.
In 2024 overall, Gibbs ran the ball 264 times for 1,517 yards, a 5.7 yards per carry average, 18 touchdowns, 68 forced missed tackles, and 27 runs of 15 or more yards. When running inside zone, and using his unique combination of balance and explosiveness, Gibbs led the NFL in rushing yards (558, on just 84 carries, for a per-carry attempt of 6.6 yards), touchdowns (six, tied with James Cook of the Buffalo Bills), and EPA (14.15).
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Runners-up: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers/James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Counter: Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Buccaneers had to know that they were getting a great counter scheme back in Bucky Irving when they selected him with the 126th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. For the Oregon Ducks in 2023, Irving ran counter — a play in which the momentum starts in one direction, then quickly goes the other way — 34 times for an NCAA-best 368 yards, 236 yards after contact, and two touchdowns.
2024 Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen got Irving on the good foot in what was a remarkable rookie season. Overall, Irving gained 1,199 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns on just 224 carries, and when he ran counter, Irving gained a league-high 251 yards, with 215 coming after contact. In Irving’s case, his ability to accelerate quickly after making the right gap decisions, and to set defenders on edge in ways they would not prefer to be, have proven to be great advantages.
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Runners-up: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles/James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Duo: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers.
Source: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Over the last few seasons, Rams head coach Sean McVay has done a remarkable job of redefining his run game for the better. McVay was once among the NFL’s foremost purveyors of inside and outside zone, but especially as Kyren Williams has amplified his own skill set, McVay has gone more and more to pure gap — and man-based power concepts. Which fit Williams like an iron fist in an iron glove.
This is especially true when Williams runs duo, which places responsibilities on the offensive line to double up on the first- and second-level defenders to the play side. When running duo in 2024, Williams gained a league-high 291 yards and a league-high 223 yards after contact on a league-high 69 carries. No one-year wonder with duo, Williams led the NFL in 2023 with 55 duo runs for 303 yards, 165 yards after contact, and five touchdowns.
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Runners-up: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings/Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Lead: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
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Source: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
If there’s one thing you don’t want to see as a second-level defender, it’s the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive linemen clearing the way on lead plays for Derrick Henry. Because Henry without blocking is terrifying enough; when you add the specter of coordinated violence in front of him, that’s no bueno for you, my friend.
Last season, Henry had 33 lead runs for 220 yards, 88 yards after contact (which tells you how much and how often Henry’s blockers set it all up), one touchdown, a 6.7 yards per carry average, and an NFL-best EPA of 4.89. When you then add in all the times the Ravens ran lead with pulling blockers… well, that was its own nightmare.
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Runners-up: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints/David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Power: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Sep 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs through Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams (42) tackle attempt during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Source: (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)
Power with a puller was another Ravens staple that worked very well for Mr. Henry. Especially in the red zone, and especially with wing-blocker Patrick Ricard as the secret weapon. On those power runs, Henry led the league with 79 carries, 323 yards, 225 yards after contact, and nine touchdowns.
Giving Henry a “seal here and a seal here,” to quote Vince Lombardi, was the ultimate cheat code for Baltimore’s ground game in 2024. Henry was stuffed on just 11.4% of his runs; he was far more likely to score a touchdown and take at least one unhappy defender with him into the end zone.
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Runners-up: Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs/James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Trap: Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Source: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Brian Robinson Jr. wasn’t the NFL’s most explosive back in 2024., but when it was time to put one particular run concept on the field, he was the equal of anybody else in the league. On trap plays, which leaves one defensive player unblocked to one side and then
“traps” that player with a block from the other side of the line, Robinson gained 104 yards and scored a touchdown on just 12 carries, good for an 8.7 yards per carry average. In these cases, Robinson’s ability to wait for the “trap gaps” to open, and then to run with power through them, proved to be the tiebreaker.
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Runners-up: Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers/J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
About the Author
Doug Farrar
NFL writer, analyst