With the 2025-26 NFL playoffs on the horizon, teams have become set on putting their full effort towards earning a spot.
Although many would argue that no position has worked harder this year than that of the running back, a position that showcases talent and depth like no other.
As teams continue to evolve, processing a versatile and dynamic run game becomes crucial. This has been evident throughout the history of the league, with all-time greats such as Adrian Peterson, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton coming to mind.
However, in the modern NFL, some emerging players may one day be named alongside the previously mentioned men. Not only individual players, but even some current running back rooms may be mentioned among the best.
As the argument heats up, it seems only fair to decipher which groups stand out amongst the pack.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When discussing future greats, it seems only fair to mention a running back room that features one of the NFL’s hottest stars at the position. Being drafted 125th overall in the 2024 NFL draft, No. 7 Bucky Irving became the vocal point of Tampa Bay’s already talented locker room. In the 2024-25 NFL season, Irving would play all 17 games, where he ran for 1,122 yards and secured 8 touchdowns. Even though Irving has been injured for a good portion of the current season, he has been backed up by the team’s former starter, No. 1 Raschad White. Still a reliable option, in his best year during the 2023-24 NFL season, White ran for 990 yards and had nine touchdowns. Also featuring No. 44 Sean Tucker at the third-string spot, many can’t debate that Tampa Bay has one of the most talented young running back corps in the league.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Although when discussing a youthful running back room, Atlanta’s comes to mind for many as it stars an arguable top-three player at the position. This is none other than the 8th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, No. 7 Bijan Robinson. A player who may be in the midst of a down year in terms of touchdowns scored, but has still been able to manage over 1,000 yards every year in his career. The best of which is the 2024-25 NFL season, where Robinson ranked 3rd in rushing leaders and had 1,456 rushing yards alongside 15 touchdowns. However, Atlanta’s success in the position can also be attributed to No. 25 Tyler Allgeier, who has been a consistent second option for Robinson and is in the midst of his best scoring season with 8 touchdowns thus far. With age on their side, don’t be surprised if Atlanta continues to climb the list.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Mentioning a 2024-25 NFL rushing leader leads perfectly into the star of the next team’s running back room, as No. 26 Saquon Barkley has been one of the best at the position for almost eight years. Being drafted 2nd overall in the 2018 NFL draft, Barkley’s been able to consistently outperform virtually every other player in the position. This was most evident during the 2024-25 NFL season, when he ran for 2,005 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and led his team to a Super Bowl victory. While a majority of the room’s success can be credited to Barkley, No. 29 A.J. Dillon and No. 37 Tank Bigsby have done well when called upon. In the process, making Philadelphia’s running back room arguably the most well-rounded in the entire NFL.
2. San Fransisco 49ers
Even if consistency has been a strong suit for the previous entrant, that may be the only thing holding back San Francisco, as fans have been torn on their thoughts on their starting running back, No. 27 Christian McCaffery, for years. Entering the NFL 8th overall in the 2017 NFL draft, McCaffery has been plagued by various long-term injuries. Despite that, his production when healthy can not be denied, running for over 1,000 yards in every season he’s been healthy. Not to forget as well, their off-season acquisition in No. 3 Brian Robinson Jr, fresh off a 924-yard and 8 touchdown season the year prior. A move that has bolstered an already impressive group of running backs in San Francisco. If able to stay healthy and achieve another deep playoff run, in the 2026-27 NFL season, a serious discussion may need to be had on whether San Francisco should be number one.
1. Detroit Lions
Nevertheless, a majority of the NFL would agree that no running back room in football can touch Detroit’s. Flagged by the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft in No. 0 Jahmyr Gibbs, the team has been able to outrun every other team in the league. Mentioning No. 5 David Montgomery on top of Gibbs, who has never had less than 900 yards in his career, then places room amongst some of the best in history, as it features two men who would be a starting running back on almost any team in the league. If the team can achieve a playoff success, winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history, or let alone appear in one for the first time, it would be difficult to make an argument that this room isn’t among the greatest ever.
