Former NFL rushing leader and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew will survey all running backs and rank his top 15 each week of the 2024 season. His rankings are based on this season's efforts. Here is MJD's list heading into Week 16, with up/down arrows reflecting movement from Week 15's pecking order.
2024 stats: 14 games | 285 att | 1,688 rush yds | 5.9 ypc | 11 rush TDs | 31 rec | 276 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Week 15 wasn't a great one for running backs as a whole, but there were some bright spots, as we'll see later in these rankings. In Philadelphia, Barkley was held to 65 rush yards on 19 carries in the win over Pittsburgh -- it was his second-lowest rushing-yards total in a game this season. Barkley didn't need to be the hero this time. Still, that dip in production likely knocked him a few notches down in the MVP race, especially with Josh Allen playing like a man possessed.
2024 stats: 14 games | 254 att | 1,474 rush yds | 5.8 ypc | 13 rush TDs | 13 rec | 125 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
The Ravens trounced the Giants thanks to a five-TD outing from Lamar Jackson, which meant a lighter load for Henry, who finished with 67 yards on 14 carries. The veteran back needs 26 more rush yards to hit 1,500 for a fourth career season -- a near sure thing, with a matchup against Pittsburgh on tap. If and when Henry does reach the mark, he'll join Barry Sanders (five), Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James (four each) as the only players in NFL history with at least four such seasons in their careers.
2024 stats: 14 games | 265 att | 1,147 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 12 rush TD | 31 rec | 302 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
Jacobs has been proving himself to be one of the best additions of last offseason. He's been exceptional with the ball in his hands -- minus the lost fumble in Sunday night's win over Seattle, his first since Week 2. In that victory, Jacobs racked up 136 scrimmage yards and scored his 12th rushing touchdown of the season, and his ninth over the past five games. Green Bay is clicking on offense and might be one of the scariest teams right now.
2024 stats: 14 games | 186 att | 1,047 rush yds | 5.6 ypc | 11 rush TDs | 39 rec | 395 rec yds | 3 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Gibbs was instrumental in helping the Lions keep pace with the Bills in the second half of Sunday's loss, with his biggest contribution coming in the pass game. Gibbs recorded a career-high 83 receiving yards, including a 12-yard TD from Jared Goff in the fourth quarter, on five catches. With backfield mate David Montgomery suffering a season-ending knee injury, Gibbs will receive more carries as the lead back in Ben Johnson's offense. He'll be tested over the next few weeks as Detroit aims to hold onto first place in the NFC North and the NFC's top seed.
2024 stats: 14 games | 237 att | 1,102 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 8 rush TD | 54 rec | 411 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Atlanta's woes in the pass game continued against the Raiders, with Robinson recording more rush yards (125) than quarterback Kirk Cousins had pass yards (112). The second-year back averaged 5.7 yards per carry, climbing over 1,000 yards for the season -- a mark he didn't hit as a rookie. Despite the Falcons' ups and downs, Robinson is having one hell of a season. He's logged 100-plus scrimmage yards in 10 games this year, second in the NFL behind MVP candidate Saquon Barkley (11).
2024 stats: 14 games | 280 att | 1,121 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 12 rush TDs | 30 rec | 159 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
On a wet Thursday night in the Bay Area, Williams was a reliable option for Sean McVay. Williams posted about one-third of the Rams' total yards, rushing for 108 yards on 29 carries to help them move the ball into field-goal range four times. It marked Williams' second 100-yard performance in the last three games. With the Rams controlling their postseason destiny, they should look Williams' way again this week against a Jets defense that ranks 27th against the run but fifth against the pass.
2024 stats: 14 games | 228 att | 950 rush yds | 4.2 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 68 rec | 543 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
The Saints fought back from a 17-0 deficit to nearly knock off the Commanders. Kamara got the scoring started with a spectacular 21-yard touchdown catch from Cedrick Wilson Jr. on a trick play in the third quarter. Right now, it feels as if Kamara is the Saints offense, doing everything in his power to keep New Orleans in games, and he's delivering one or two highlight-reel plays each week in the process. Let's hope the groin injury he suffered on that scoring catch doesn't keep him off the field.
2024 stats: 14 games | 217 att | 973 rush yds | 4.5 ypc | 7 rush TDs | 41 rec | 361 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Conner put up his best performance since Week 9 in Sunday's convincing win over New England. He rushed for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 16 carries, including a 53-yarder in the first quarter, his longest gain of the season. The victory, which kept the Cardinals' hopes of winning the NFC West alive, marked Conner's fifth game this season with 100-plus rush yards and his 13th career game with at least two rushing scores (fifth most in the NFL since 2017).
2024 stats: 11 games | 217 att | 910 rush yds | 4.2 ypc | 11 rush TD | 32 rec | 277 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
It's feast or famine for Mixon this season. In Sunday's win over Miami, he had just 23 rush yards on 12 carries (1.9 yards per carry ... yikes!). In 11 games this season, Mixon has seven 100-yard rushing performances but fewer than 50 yards in each of his other four outings. The Texans, who clinched the AFC South for the second straight year, can't afford more duds from Mixon if they want to win in the postseason.
2024 stats: 14 games | 152 att | 852 rush yds | 5.6 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 38 rec | 296 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
Irving absolutely ran over the Chargers to the tune of 117 rush yards in Sunday's road win -- 98 of which came in the second half. His presence over the final two quarters helped the Bucs win the time of possession battle by more than 13 minutes. Irving, who has had two 100-yard rushing games since the Week 11 bye, has the most scrimmage yards (1,148) by a Bucs rookie since Doug Martin in 2012.
2024 stats: 13 games | 171 att | 828 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 13 rush TDs | 29 rec | 232 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
The blockbuster Bills-Lions game didn't disappoint. The Bills offense put on a clinic all game long. With his 41-yard touchdown run -- in which he fought off multiple defenders and a hair pull -- Cook helped prove Buffalo isn't a one-trick pony, setting the tone for the second-half scoring explosion. He also scored in the first half on a 6-yard run, marking his fourth game this season and in his career with multiple rushing scores, to help him finish with 105 yards on the ground. According to Next Gen Stats, Cook generated a season-high 52 yards before contact on Sunday. This performance should serve as a big confidence boost.
2024 stats: 14 games | 225 att | 1,043 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 39 rec | 158 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
Hubbard had a rough go against the Cowboys, finishing with a measly 32 yards -- his lowest total in a game since Week 1 -- on 10 carries, slowed by a Mike Zimmer-led defense that's been incredibly stingy against the run the last two weeks. He'll be looking to wrap the season on a high note against a trio of teams with middle-of-the-road run defenses.
2024 stats: 14 games | 215 att | 979 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 39 rec | 322 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
Jones returns to this list for the first time since my Week 8 rankings after a handful of impressive performances. He led the Vikings with 18 carries and 86 rush yards and reached pay dirt on a 1-yard run to give Minnesota a three-score lead in the third quarter against the Bears. He's had three rushing TDs in the last four games after having two in the first 10 games of the season. As good as the Vikings' passing attack is, the offense can only reach its full potential if Jones is heavily involved and finding success -- and that will have to happen if this team is to make a deep playoff run.
2024 stats: 14 games | 229 att | 891 rush yds | 3.9 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 30 rec | 256 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
Harris had a tough outing against the Eagles. His failure to secure the toss from Russell Wilson in the third quarter, which resulted in a turnover when the Steelers only trailed by seven, was a momentum killer. That gaffe changed the course of the rest of the game, with Philly going on to win by two scores. These types of plays are exactly what a Pittsburgh offense that's without its deep threat (George Pickens) can't afford, especially against the league's best teams. The Steelers were held to a season-low 56 rush yards in the loss. They must be better against the Ravens on Saturday and Chiefs on Christmas Day if they hope to keep a grasp on the AFC North.
2024 stats: 14 games | 230 att | 982 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 39 rec | 233 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 2 fumbles lost
On Sunday, Pollard registered his second game with less than 50 rush yards in the last three weeks, further adding to the Titans' offensive struggles. He did get into the end zone on Tennessee's opening possession; during that drive, which began thanks to a Joe Burrow interception, Pollard touched the ball on five of the team's six plays, collecting 22 rush yards, including the 3-yard end-zone dash. He was held to just 23 rush yards the rest of the way and didn't see a single target in the pass game. Nonetheless, Pollard ranks eighth in rushing yards in 2024.
DROPPED OUT: David Montgomery, Detroit Lions (previously No. 5).