After facing a devalued market in 2023, NFL running backs appear to again be in vogue. Several high-profile backs changed teams in free agency, and the position was a focal point of the early offseason.
Of course, true every-down backs are still few and far between. Last season, only seven running backs recorded more than 250 carries and none reached the 300-carry mark. Teams have become increasingly reliant on committees and backfield tandems to keep players fresh and opponents guessing.
With the draft and the bulk of free agency in the rear view, now is the perfect time to examine the best backfield duos heading into 2024. We’ll do exactly that here by ranking the top tandems based on past production, player health, projected roles and how each group can complement its offense.
First, though, let’s take a look at a few honorable mentions.
The following backfield duos have the potential to be fantastic in 2024. However, each of them fell short of the proper list because of questions of one form or another.
Chicago Bears: D’Andre Swift and Khalil Herbert
Herbert was a quality starter when healthy last season, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and catching 20 passes. He’ll now complement 2023 Pro Bowler Swift, who was added in free agency.
The big question here is whether Swift can provide the backfield upgrade Chicago is seeking. The 25-year-old only showed flashes in the NFL before landing with the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason. Philly’s powerful offensive line has made average backs look good before—notably, 2022 Pro Bowler-turned-2023-flop, Miles Sanders.
Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford
Chubb is one of the NFL’s best pure runners when healthy, and Ford recorded an impressive 1,132 scrimmage yards last season. The issue is that Chubb isn’t healthy and is still recovering from a knee injury that involved multiple torn ligaments and multiple surgeries.
The Browns added D’Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines as insurance, but neither pairs with Ford to create a top duo. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee of when Chubb will return or if he’ll get back to pre-injury form.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd
Green Bay Packers rookie MarShawn Lloyd is an explosive back with dual-threat capability and, let’s be honest, far more upside than AJ Dillon. He should quickly become the top complement to free-agent addition Jacobs.
Jacobs, the 2022 rushing champ, has shown that he can be special. However, consistency has been an issue for him in the NFL. He followed his first-team All-Pro campaign with an underwhelming 2023 season that saw him average just 3.5 yards per carry. That version of Jacobs won’t be enough to make Green Bay’s backfield special.
Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet
The Seahawks saw glimpses of a special backfield last season. 2022 second-round pick Walker and 2023 second-round pick Charbonnet have the draft pedigree of an impressive duo. Both backs also possess versatile skill sets.
However, the pair didn’t yield a potent rushing attack. Seattle ranked just 28th in rushing yards last season after ranking 18th without Charbonnet in 2022. Changes to the offensive line might coax more production out of this duo, but the Seahawks and their fans will have to wait and see.
Washington Commanders: Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler
It’s easy to love the idea of pairing Robinson and Ekeler. The latter has long been one of the league’s top dual-threat backs and red-zone threats, while Robinson has been a serviceable ball-carrier for the Washington Commanders.
However, Robinson (4.0 yards-per-carry career average) has been more good than great as a pro. Ekeler is 29 years old and is coming off an injury-hampered season. There’s no telling how the pair will fare in a new Washington offense helmed by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Plenty of attention has gone to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ evolving quarterback situation this offseason, and for good reason. Kenny Pickett is out, while Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are in.
With improved quarterback play expected to revitalize Pittsburgh’s passing offense, it’s easy to forget how potent the backfield tandem of Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris can be.
Harris, who was a rookie Pro Bowler in 2021, has had three consecutive campaigns with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,200 scrimmage yards. He’s a terrific high-volume back who can contribute in the passing game, even if he’s more of a compiler than a legitimately special runner.
The 26-year-old has averaged an underwhelming 3.9 yards per carry in his career.
Fortunately, Warren has emerged as an explosive change-of-pace back who has averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a pro. He’s even more efficient as a runner than Harris, and with 61 receptions in 2023, has shown that he’s a potent pass-catcher.
As a tandem, Harris and Warren give the Steelers a classic “thunder and lightning” backfield that can wear down opposing defenses and hit the home run. With a revamped offensive line and a new coordinator in Arthur Smith, this duo could be even higher on the list by season’s end.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams exploded in 2023, emerging as a Pro Bowler and one of the league’s best. The second-year back only appeared in 12 games but finished with 1,144 rushing yards, 1,350 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns.
Williams could be even more productive this season after the Rams added Jonah Jackson to their powerful offensive interior. He’ll certainly benefit from not being the focus of defensive attention, as Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp still lead a very potent passing attack.
To complement Williams, Los Angeles used a third-round pick on Blake Corum. The Michigan product has proved he can handle a large workload if needed, has tremendous vision as a runner and possesses a pro-ready skill set.
“Corum can be useful right away. He is a smart, efficient runner who can handle any type of run scheme,” Derrik Klassen of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
Williams will likely maintain his status as L.A.’s receiving back, but Williams can provide value as a smart, efficient runner.
This duo would be ranked higher if not for Williams’ injury history and lone season of high-end production. Ankle injuries have landed the 23-year-old on injured reserve in each of the last two seasons. Theoretically, Corum will help limit Williams’ exposure to injury and keep him on the field.
The Eagles made a splash in free agency when they signed Saquon Barkley away from the rival New York Giants. When healthy and playing at his best, Barkley is one of the league’s most versatile, productive backs.
However, injuries, a lackluster supporting cast and, frankly, a Giants offensive line that failed him have hurt Barkley in the consistency department.
“Playing behind the New York Giants offensive line in 2023, Saquon Barkley averaged 0.98 yards before contact per attempt—tied for the 14th-lowest average among running backs (min. 100 attempts),” Kate Magdziuk of Pro Football Focus wrote.
Yet, Barkley has still topped 1,200 scrimmage yards in four of his six seasons.
Theoretically, the Eagles will give Barkley the best situation of his pro career, which should allow him to return to Pro Bowl form. Returning running back Kenneth Gainwell, meanwhile, is a proven, productive change-of-pace back.
As Swift’s backup in 2023, Gainwell averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry and produced 547 scrimmage yards on 114 touches.
The big question is whether Barkley can stay healthy for an entire season. He has a substantial injury history and has appeared in 14 or fewer games in four of his six campaigns. There’s a very real chance that for at least part of 2024, Gainwell and rookie Will Shipley will be Philadelphia’s top tandem.
Even at 30 years old, Derrick Henry remains one of the most intimidating running backs in the NFL. His blend of size, power and breakaway speed is unparalleled, and he’s proved he can be the centerpiece of an offense.
After signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, however, Henry will cede that centerpiece role to quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“It’s going to be fun and a breath of fresh air not being the center of attention, knowing that eyes are going to be on him, as well,” Henry said, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Henry, who tallied 1,381 scrimmage yards last season, may not see as many touches as he did with the Tennessee Titans. However, he may also be more efficient because he’ll be fresher and with less defensive focus on him.
At some point, second-year running back Keaton Mitchell figures to form a dangerous tandem alongside Henry because of his blazing speed. However, Mitchell is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 and may not see much, if any, action early in the season.
For now, backup Justice Hill will be Henry’s backfield mate, and he’s a fine complement in his own right. A slighter back at 5’10” and 197 pounds, Hill is a potent runner and receiver who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season and caught 28 passes.
Hill racked up 593 scrimmage yards in 2023, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him and Henry combine for 2,000 yards this season.
The Atlanta Falcons earn a place on this list because they have two starting-caliber backs.
Tyler Allgeier topped 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie in 2022 and helped Atlanta field the league’s third-ranked rushing offense. The following offseason, Atlanta used the eighth overall pick on Bijan Robinson.
The pair proved to be a terrific tandem in 2023, even as the rest of Atlanta’s offense struggled. Robinson took over the lead-back role and proved to be an offensive weapon capable of doing just about anything. He finished his rookie campaign with 1,463 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns.
While Allgeier saw a reduced role and was less involved in the passing game than Robinson, he still chipped in 876 scrimmage yards and five scores. The two complement each other extremely well, and having both ensures that the Falcons will have a starter in any given week—unless both are concurrently injured.
With Arthur Smith out as head coach and Zac Robinson in as offensive coordinator, Atlanta may not lean quite as heavily on its backfield duo this season. Yet, the arrival of Kirk Cousins should boost the passing game and help both Robinson and Allgeier be more efficient as backfield playmakers.
San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey is the best running back in football. Full stop. He showed that in 2023 by racking up 1,459 rushing yards, 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns—while operating in an offense that had two 1,000-yard receivers in Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle.
For his effort, McCaffrey was rewarded with a two-year, $38 million extension. While the first-team All-Pro just turned 28, he fully believes that San Francisco will get a quality return on investment.
“I think I’ve seen a lot of backs have a lot of success in their 30s,” McCaffrey said, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
The only reason this tandem isn’t ranked higher is because it’s so skewed toward McCaffrey. Elijah Mitchell is a serviceable backup, but he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and totaled just 295 scrimmage yards last season.
Mitchell can operate San Francisco’s offense just fine, but there’s a sizable drop-off when McCaffrey is out of the lineup. In fact, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see rookie fifth-round pick Isaac Guerendo take over the No. 2 role at some point in 2024.
Still, McCaffrey reigns supreme when it comes to NFL running backs, and Mitchell provides enough to give him the occasional breather. This is definitely a duo that most opposing defenses won’t want to see.
As a duo, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane are even scarier than McCaffrey and Mitchell. The Miami Dolphins have two explosive playmakers in the pair, and either could probably serve as a lead back for another team.
In fact, it was extremely difficult to rank Mostert and Achane behind our No. 1 duo.
Mostert and Achane both possess blazing speed, reliable hands, solid field vision and extremely versatile skill sets. Their traits fit Mike McDaniel’s offense to perfection, and they spent plenty of time last season frustrating opposing defensive coordinators.
Achane, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M, had a phenomenal rookie season in 2023. He rushed for 800 yards, averaged a ridiculous 7.8 yards per carry and tallied 997 scrimmage yards with 11 touchdowns.
Mostert wasn’t quite as explosive on a play-to-play basis, but he still racked up 1,012 rushing yards, 1,187 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.
The only real knock on this duo is that both backs missed time in 2023 due to injuries. Mostert, who turned 32 in April, missed the final two regular-season games and Miami’s playoff loss with knee and ankle injuries. Achane spent time on injured reserve with a knee injury.
There’s a very real chance that rookie fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright factors heavily into the rushing attack this season and eventually pushes out Mostert as Achane’s top running mate.
Detroit Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs also missed time with injuries in 2023. Gibbs, the 12th overall pick out of Alabama, missed two games in his rookie season with a hamstring injury. Montgomery missed three games with thigh and rib injuries.
However, Montgomery and Gibbs were good enough individually that Detroit went 4-1 in games without both. As a tandem, Montgomery and Gibbs were a veritable terror on the rest of the NFL.
Gibbs was the Pro Bowler of the two and proved to be a do-it-all playmaker. While the rookie was more active in the passing game than his veteran counterpart, Montgomery was the perfect complement as a bruising high-volume runner.
Together, Detroit’s top running backs combined for 1,960 rushing yards, 2,393 scrimmage yards and 24 total touchdowns. The pair helped the Lions rank fifth in yards per carry, fifth in rushing yards, first in rushing touchdowns, third in total offense and fifth in scoring.
The 27-year-old Montgomery and 22-year-old Gibbs should help lead Detroit’s offense for at least the next couple of seasons—and they could be even better in 2024. According to running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, the Lions are looking to get Gibbs even more involved in the passing game.
“What we need him to do from a passing game standpoint is go to that next level,” the coach said, per Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website. “… Can you go into the slot and do a little bit more down the field? Some intermediate stuff, can we continue to grow him there? And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The Lions have evolved into legitimate NFC contenders, and this backfield duo is a big reason.