Jahmyr Gibbs returns to action this week, but James Cook, among others, enjoy their bye week. The usual suspects did well in NFL Week 6, but it wasn’t the most productive week.
Take a spin through our top-15 running backs heading into Week 7. Then we can see how much things will continue to change week to week. Spoiler alert, it’s a lot.
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Running Backs 15-11
15. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
With Jordan Mason expected to play this week, there’s some level of concern. His return will take snaps away from Jones, who has been in the midst of a strong season while enjoying the backfield to himself. Over five games, Jones has 410 rushing yards, and the hope is that he continues to get most of the carries while Mason takes on a complementary role. It’s a favorable matchup against the Colts this week, so let’s see what happens as Jones is potentially on thin ice.
14. Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
After the rookie missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, the hope is that Love can return for a favorable matchup against the Broncos. It could be just what he needs to get going. Through five games, Love is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry for 245 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards. Talent aside, it’s not easy to play in the NFL as a rookie, so we’ll keep the faith.
13. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With 19 carries for 46 yards last week, Irving had trouble getting on track in a tough matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Things should get a lot easier this week, as the Carolina Panthers are one of the league’s worst teams against opposing running backs. The good news is that Irving’s carries shouldn’t be going anywhere. It also doesn’t hurt that Baker Mayfield’s return is likely coming this week.
12. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
After his only two touchdowns of the season two weeks ago, Warren was once again kept out of the end zone. Rice Dowdle did return, and Warren only caught two passes for 28 yards. With 15 carries, that aspect of his game didn’t take a hit, but the problem is that Warren only caught two passes for 28 yards. Let’s see what happens this week before truly making a move.
11. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Following his bye week, Hubbard didn’t miss a beat. The Panthers certainly leaned on Hubbard, and he came through with 120 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. It’s nice not to have to worry about the number of carries here, as Hubbard averages a strong 4.8 yards per carry.
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Top 10 Running Backs
10. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
I’m not going to argue with Williams rushing for his seventh touchdown of the season, but game flow meant he only carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards. Williams isn’t going to play much of a role in the receiving game, so we need him to find the end zone for it to be a successful day.
9. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
For the second straight week, Jeanty carried the ball just 10 times. This time, it was for 22 yards instead of 27, but Jeanty did pick up his first rushing touchdown of the season. Adding four catches for 36 yards made it a relatively solid day, but Jeanty should be capable of more. The problem is that we just need to see it.
8. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
It’s understandable that Williams would be frustrated after a tough Rams loss in Week 6. He averaged five yards per carry, but he only had 10 carries. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry with four touchdowns, so now he needs more than his 80 carries through six games.
7. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Considering what he’s done to this point, 16 carries for 64 yards represents a good rushing game for McCaffrey. The bigger takeaway, though, is that he not only rushed for two touchdowns, but also caught a season-high nine passes for 53 yards. It would be nice if McCaffrey’s role in the receiving game continued.
6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Now, it’s two straight weeks without a rushing touchdown for Henry. It was a tough matchup for Henry against the Cleveland Browns, but we know he’s too good of a running back to be out of the end zone on a continuing basis. He doesn’t have a passing-game role to fall back on when he struggles on the ground, but Henry isn’t someone we need to worry about.
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Top 5 Running Backs
5. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
I don’t love the matchup this week against the Minnesota Vikings, but Taylor should be good for another 20 carries this week. He’s averaging four yards per carry with 492 rushing yards and seven touchdowns so far this season. Taylor has 15 catches for 163 yards for good measure, but it’s clear what the focus of his game is.
4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Anything that Cook provides in the receiving game is always a plus. That was the case last week as he enters his bye week with three catches for 58 yards. After his fourth game of 21-plus carries, Buffalo’s bye week will allow Cook time to recharge as he continues to carry the load for the Bills. That’s a good thing, though, as he scored his sixth touchdown last week, which gave him at least one score in five straight games.
3. Kenneth Walker, Kansas City Chiefs
It might not be a great upcoming matchup for Walker in Seattle, but the Seahawks are middle of the road so far this season against opposing running backs. We know that the Chiefs will rely heavily on Walker, who’s averaging an insane 6.3 yards per carry this season. He returned from Kansas City’s bye week to gain 128 yards on 19 carries while scoring two touchdowns.
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Sometimes, it’s just not your day. Robinson gained 61 yards on his nine carries last week, but the problem is that he had just nine carries. With two catches for a loss of eight yards, it was the worst game of the season for Robinson to this point, but the sky isn’t falling. There’s no reason why he won’t get back on track in a good matchup against the San Francisco 49ers this week.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Back from his bye week, Gibbs has a favorable matchup against a Green Bay Packers team at the bottom of the league in performance against opposing running backs. Gibbs is a dual threat that we simply don’t have to worry about.
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