The running back position is one of the more undervalued positions in football. In the NFL, running backs make different types of plays on each snap, all depending on their job. They juggle several responsibilities while also being very dispensable, as there are always more coming in from the college game.
Identifying the starting running back has become more difficult with many teams as shared backfields become the norm. The Detroit Lions are no exception. Detroit has a dynamic duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. As a rookie, Gibbs rushed for 945 yards and also caught 52 passes, scoring 11 total touchdowns. Montgomery topped 1,000 yards and scored 13 TDs in his first season with the Lions after signing as a free agent.
For the purposes of this exercise, Gibbs was selected as the Lions’ starting RB–only one per team.
How did PFF grade what they consider to be the starting running back on each team?
Arizona Cardinals
Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
James Conner
PFF Grade: 89.2
Atlanta Falcons
Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Bijan Robinson
PFF grade: 69.1
Baltimore Ravens
Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Derrick Henry
PFF grade: 90.1
Buffalo Bills
(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
James Cook
PFF grade: 71.7
Carolina Panthers
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Miles Sanders
PFF grade: 60.8
Chicago Bears
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
D’Andre Swift
PFF grade: 66.5
Cincinnati Bengals
Syndication: The Enquirer
Zack Moss
PFF grade: 66.9
Cleveland Browns
Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Chubb
PFF grade: 81.6
Dallas Cowboys
Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Ezekiel Elliott
PFF grade: 67.6
Denver Broncos
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Javonte Williams
PFF grade: 63.3
Detroit Lions
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Jahmyr Gibbs
PFF grade: 76.3
Green Bay Packers
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Jacobs
PFF grade: 65
Houston Texans
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Mixon
PFF grade: 71.1
Indianapolis Colts
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Jonathan Taylor
PFF grade: 74.9
Jacksonville Jaguars
Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Travis Etienne
PFF grade: 77
Kansas City Chiefs
Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Isiah Pacheco
PFF grade: 79.9
Las Vegas Raiders
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Alexander Mattison
PFF grade: 61.8
Los Angeles Chargers
Dec 29, 2019; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) rushes as Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) defends during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Gus Edwards
PFF grade: 73.7
Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Kyren Williams
PFF grade: 80.4
Miami Dolphins
Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Raheem Mostert
PFF grade: 84.7
Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Aaron Jones
PFF grade: 80.9
New England Patriots
Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Rhamondre Stevenson
PFF grade: 71.3
New Orleans Saints
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Alvin Kamara
PFF grade: 74.1
New York Jets
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Breece Hall
PFF grade from 2023: 77.5
Philadelphia Eagles
Syndication: The Record
Saquon Barkley
PFF grade: 70.2
Pittsburgh Steelers
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Najee Harris
PFF grade: 76.2
San Francisco 49ers
Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Christian McCaffrey
PFF grade: 90.3
Seattle Seahawks
Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Kenneth Walker Jr.
PFF grade: 83.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Rachaad White
PFF grade: 67.5
Tennessee Titans
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Tony Pollard
PFF grade: 77.5
Washington Commanders
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Brian Robinson
PFF grade: 75.3
