NFL Running Back Report Card: Final Post-Super Bowl Grades For Every Starting Running Back

March 5, 2026

Quincy provides his grades for every running back in 2025. From Bijan Robinson to Jacory Croskey-Merritt, where did your favorite running back fall?

After a monster year from the running back position in 2024, NFL fans were excited to see what we might get in 2025. While not quite as fantastic, we were still treated to stretches of excellent running back play. Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and Bijan Robinson all led the charge.

There is a great mix of the young and old guard at this position right now. Players such as Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and James Cook are coming for McCaffrey’s, Derrick Henry’s, and Saquon Barkley’s mantles as the top backs in the league. Running backs are back and making a huge impact on NFL team success.

With the 2025 season in the rearview mirror, it is time to take a look back at the grades for each running back this past season. Several surprises earned great grades this year, as the position was relatively consistent across the board. Let’s dive in.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Michael Carter - Arizona Cardinals

Carter ended up leading Arizona in running back snaps this past season. He was inconsistent and did very little to hold the fort down. Arizona needs a better solution in 2026.

Final Grade: D

Bijan Robinson - Atlanta Falcons

Robinson has turned into the best running back in the league. He has it all, from big-play ability to short yardage, and everything in between. Robinson is practically positionless, and it is a shame his talent has not been showcased on a serious contender.

Final Grade: A+

BIJAN ROBINSON 81-YARD TD!

BUFvsATL on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/Nfb1IdvNK8

— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2025

Derrick Henry - Baltimore Ravens

Henry continued to be the bowling ball that he is during the 2025 season. Even as Henry continues further into his 30s, he is a dominant force in the running game. This guy simply refuses to slow down.

Final Grade: A

James Cook - Buffalo Bills

Cook continued rolling in 2025. He has turned into a touchdown monster despite being a slightly smaller running back. Cook should enjoy another few years of serious production in Buffalo’s run-heavy scheme.

Final Grade: A

Rico Dowdle - Carolina Panthers

Dowdle took over the Panthers’ backfield from Chuba Hubbard and never really looked back. The highlights of Dowdle’s season included a pair of back-to-back 200-yard efforts. Dowdle may not return to Carolina, but he earned another solid contract.

Final Grade: B-

D'Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai - Chicago Bears

Swift and Monangai formed a potent tandem in Chicago in 2025. Both players were capable of creating big plays. Head coach Ben Johnson certainly knew how to use this version of Sonic and Knuckles.

Final Grade: B

Chase Brown - Cincinnati Bengals

Brown looked dead in the water to begin the season, but he turned it around as the Bengals turned around their own misfortunes. Brown continues to be a fantastic pass catcher and a solid rusher in this offense.

Final Grade: B+

Chase Brown went flying.

CHIvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/8uCVxuFKaJ

— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2025

Quinshon Judkins - Cleveland Browns

Judkins looks like an offensive staple for the Browns for years to come. He displayed excellent athleticism and a bruising running style that will perform well in the AFC North. If he can stay out of trouble, Judkins will continue to be an awesome asset for Cleveland.

Final Grade: B

Javonte Williams - Dallas Cowboys

Williams completely resurrected his career in Dallas in 2025. He was a touchdown machine, and he seemed to be relatively explosive once again. Talk about a feel-good story.

Final Grade: B

RJ Harvey - Denver Broncos

Harvey managed to lead the Broncos in running back snaps with J.K. Dobbins going down due to injury. Harvey was just ok in Dobbins’ stead. He flashed big-play potential, but he was relatively inefficient as a runner overall.

Final Grade: C

Jahmyr Gibbs - Detroit Lions

Gibbs no longer seems to be in a tandem as the Lions more or less phased David Montgomery out of the lineup. Either way, Gibbs has established himself as one of the league’s best at the position. He is an unbelievable talent and an absolute weapon for Detroit.

Final Grade: A

Gibbs to the HOUSE ‼️#NYGvsDET 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/3ELgGitRYf

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 23, 2025

Josh Jacobs - Green Bay Packers

Jacobs took a step back in 2025 as he played through a couple of bumps and bruises. However, Jacobs was still effective as an anchor for the Packers’ running game. He should be right back in the mix as a top 10 running back in 2026.

Final Grade: B

Woody Marks - Houston Texans

Marks took over Houston’s backfield midway through the season, and he outperformed his fourth-round draft capital. While Marks does not profile as a feature back, he will do well in a committee moving forward.

Final Grade: C+

Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts

Taylor came out firing on all cylinders in 2025, but was stymied down the stretch as injuries caught up with the Colts. At one point, he looked like he was on his way to a historic season. Taylor should pick up where he left off in 2026, halfway through the 2025 season.

Final Grade: A-

Travis Etienne Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne Jr. returned to his early-career form in 2025. With a new running scheme and an upgraded offense overall, Etienne lived in the end zone. He may have ultimately played his way right back into Jacksonville.

Final Grade: B+

Welcome to the Travis Etienne show!

After his big run, he scores on a receiving TD 😤

JAXvsAZ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nvxukYGDIS

— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2025

Isiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs

Pacheco has likely ended his career in Kansas City on a low note. Pacheco never fully regained his pre-fractured fibula form over the last couple of seasons. Granted, the Chiefs’ offense has not been as high-powered as a whole.

Final Grade: D+

Ashton Jeanty - Las Vegas Raiders

The prodigal son did not return on his promise in 2025 behind the worst offensive line and with possibly the worst quarterback play in the league. Frankly, the Raiders had no business drafting Jeanty at No. 6. Jeanty could have thrived elsewhere.

Final Grade: C

Omarion Hampton - Los Angeles Chargers

Hampton flashed excellent ability in 2025, but ankle injuries limited his time on the field. Hopefully, those injuries are behind him. For now, Hampton will earn a mid-range grade for a solid performance that was marred by injuries.

Final Grade: B-

Kyren Williams/Blake Corum - Los Angeles Rams

The Rams find themselves with a timeshare at running back now that Corum has broken out for this team. Both Corum and Williams filled their respective roles quite well. The Rams now have one of the better tandems in the league.

Final Grade: A-

De'Von Achane - Miami Dolphins

Achane cemented himself as a superstar in 2025. He was the engine that drove the Dolphins’ offense. Achane will look to enjoy a massive season in 2026 on an offense devoid of high-end talent.

Final Grade: A

Aaron Jones - Minnesota Vikings

Although Jordan Mason led the Vikings in running back snaps, Jones was truly the running back worth grading. Jones definitely had a down year by his standards. He only managed to run for 548 yards in 12 games, and he is starting to look his age as his explosiveness declines.

Final Grade: C

Rhamondre Stevenson/TreVeyon Henderson - New England Patriots

The Stevenson/Henderson combination looks like a volcano that is ready to erupt. Stevenson played substantially better in 2025 than he had in the previous two seasons. Additionally, Henderson delivered on a lot of his promise as an explosive young rookie. The Patriots are going to have fun with these two for several years.

Final Grade: B+

TreVeyon Henderson takes off for 55 yards and a touchdown!

NEvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/xZtvUZTvId

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

Alvin Kamara - New Orleans Saints

Kamara was in and out of the lineup this past season with injuries. Once one of the NFL’s best running backs, Kamara has fallen far from grace. Still, he is a solid contributor in the passing game.

Final Grade: C+

Cam Skattebo - New York Giants

Skattebo’s star burned bright in 2025. Although his injury prevented him from playing half of the season, Skattebo has certainly entrenched himself as the future starter in New York. His ankle injury keeps him in the B-range for now.

Final Grade: B

Breece Hall - New York Jets

Hall finally surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in 2025. He was one of the lone bright spots for a Jets team devoid of much hope. If only Hall were to go to another team, we could see his true potential. Unfortunately, the Jets seem keen on franchise-tagging Hall this offseason.

Final Grade: A-

Saquon Barkley - Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley majorly regressed in 2025. The Eagles’ offense was dysfunctional at times, and Barkley was not nearly as efficient as he was during his historic 2024 season. That was to be expected. However, Barkley still managed 1,140 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Final Grade: B

Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren seemed to nearly lose his job to Kenneth Gainwell in 2025. Still, Warren continues to display solid ability as a committee running back. The Steelers will enjoy having him for the next couple of years on his current contract.

Final Grade: C+

Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey took a slight step back in 2025, but it did not stop him from once again living in the endzone. Perhaps the most worrisome sign of a possible slight decline from McCaffrey was his dip in efficiency to 3.9 yards per carry. However, he will need to do a lot more than dip in efficiency to make NFL fans believe his days are numbered.

Final Grade: A

Kenneth Walker III/Zach Charbonnet - Seattle Seahawks

Although Charbonnet got injured down the stretch of the season, he played the majority of the year and deserves to be included in this tandem with Walker. Walker was awesome when he had the backfield to himself during the playoffs. However, both players formed a solid one-two punch during the regular season, keeping Walker fresh and allowing him to thrive in the playoffs.

Final Grade: B

Some thoughts on the season Ken Walker III had with the Seahawks and what might come next as the Super Bowl MVP heads towards free agency: https://t.co/5flgCPjmLv

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) February 27, 2026

Bucky Irving - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Irving missed plenty of time in 2025 and was not nearly as efficient on the ground as he was during his rookie season. Irving’s yards per carry dropped from 5.4 to 3.4 over the last two seasons. He will look to bounce back in 2026.

Final Grade: B-

Tony Pollard - Tennessee Titans

Pollard struggled behind an awful offensive line and a struggling rookie quarterback in 2025. However, he still managed to surpass 1,000 rushing yards, and he found the endzone five times. All things considered, it was a solid season for Pollard

Final Grade: B-

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Washington Commanders

Croskey-Merritt, otherwise known as “Bill,” was a preseason darling. However, he did not perform at the same level during the regular season as the Commanders rotated him in and out of the lineup. Still, Croskey-Merritt managed to run for 805 yards and a surprising eight touchdowns. Not bad for a seventh-rounder.

Final Grade: B

More Fantasy Football Analysis