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 15, with up/down arrows reflecting movement from Week 12's pecking order.
2024 stats: 13 games | 266 att | 1,623 rush yds | 6.1 ypc | 11 rush TDs | 29 rec | 267 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
I anointed Barkley the No. 1 running back in the league in my last rankings update. While there have been great performances by others this season, Barkley has consistently raised his level during the Eagles' nine-game win streak. Barkley has set the franchise record for most rush yards in a season -- and there are still four games to go. He also leads the NFL with at least 100 rush yards in nine games. We're watching something special.
2024 stats: 13 games | 240 att | 1,407 rush yds | 5.9 ypc | 13 rush TDs | 13 rec | 125 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Henry has averaged 95 rush yards in his last three games, scoring one touchdown in that span. His standard is so high that the recent production, while respectable, feels like a letdown compared to his usual numbers as he closes in on reaching 1,500 yards rushing for the fourth time in his career. Baltimore's schedule lets up this week with a trip to visit the floundering New York Giants. Expect a big game from Henry.
2024 stats: 13 games | 239 att | 1,053 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 11 rush TD | 27 rec | 260 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Jacobs has scored three rushing touchdowns in two of his last three games and has a total of seven TDs in that span! He's solidified himself as a top-three running back heading into the final quarter of the season, helping turn the Packers' offense into a physical unit. He's no doubt the MVP of that group right now and should continue to feast in colder weather games.
2024 stats: 13 games | 178 att | 1,016 rush yds | 5.7 ypc | 10 rush TDs | 34 rec | 312 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
The Lions exude confidence on offense, and for good reason. Detroit features a head coach who is willing to roll the dice in critical situations, one of the best play-callers in the NFL in Ben Johnson and an absolutely stacked unit that includes the ultimate x-factor in Gibbs. The electric back is averaging a half yard more per carry and 3.1 more yards per reception than he did last season. Gibbs reached 1,000 rush yards for the season in Week 14 -- with four games to go -- after falling 55 yards short of the mark as a rookie.
2024 stats: 13 games | 180 att | 771 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 12 rush TDs | 32 rec | 310 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
With yet another rushing touchdown in a Week 14 victory over Green Bay, the other half of the Lions backfield has now recorded at least 12 rush TDs in back-to-back seasons, making him the third player in franchise history to accomplish that feat (Barry Sanders in 1989-1991; Billy Simms in 1980-81). Along those lines, Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a scrimmage TD in 11 games this season, tied for the third-most for an RB duo since 1970, per NFL Research. When the game was on the line late against the Packers, and the Lions had to convert, Montgomery was the one who got the rock. He picked up 7 yards on fourth-and-1 and the Lions kicked the game-winning field goal to stay atop the NFC.
2024 stats: 13 games | 215 att | 977 rush yds | 4.5 ypc | 8 rush TD | 53 rec | 401 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Robinson has gained 100-plus yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns during Atlanta's four-game losing streak. In fact, Robinson has put up at least 100 scrimmage yards in seven of his last eight games. The Falcons have had their offensive issues -- looking at you, Kirk Cousins -- but Robinson has not been the problem.
2024 stats: 13 games | 251 att | 1,053 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 12 rush TDs | 28 rec | 155 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
After a bit of a lull, Williams has racked up the third-most rush yards (263) and second-most rushing touchdowns (four) of any back in the past three weeks. He was awesome in the Rams' 44-42 upset of the Bills, with a career-high 29 carries for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With those two touchdowns, he became the fifth player in franchise history to post 12-plus rushing TDs in consecutive seasons, with the most recent being Todd Gurley (2017-19). Los Angeles' offense is at its best when Williams is heavily involved, as we saw on Sunday.
2024 stats: 10 games | 205 att | 887 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 11 rush TD | 27 rec | 244 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Mixon is having the most productive season of his career, averaging 88.7 rush yards per game. The only other time he averaged at least 80 rush yards per contest was back in 2018, his second season in the league. He's a great fit for Bobby Slowik's offense and Mixon still has a knack for the end zone. Let's not forget that while Mixon sits just outside of the top 10 in rush yards for the season, he has played three fewer games than every player ranked ahead of him.
2024 stats: 13 games | 223 att | 938 rush yds | 4.2 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 64 rec | 485 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
This Saints offense keeps taking hits, so thank goodness for Kamara. With one month of the season to go, the veteran back leads the team in rush yards and receiving yards -- like he did in 2020. If he finishes the year as New Orleans' leader in both categories, he would become the third player in NFL history to lead a team in both metrics for multiple seasons. We'll see how his connection with Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler shakes out in the coming weeks.
2024 stats: 13 games | 201 att | 863 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 36 rec | 333 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
The Cardinals offense has struggled since a Week 11 bye, but Conner, who recently signed a two-year extension, got back to imposing his will on defenses in Week 14, racking up 122 scrimmage yards. It was Conner's seventh game this season with 100-plus scrimmage yards, the most by a Cardinals player since DeAndre Hopkins (seven) in 2020.
2024 stats: 13 games | 215 att | 1,011 rush yds | 4.7 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 35 rec | 141 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 3 fumbles lost
Finishing with 92 yards on 26 carries in the near-upset of the Eagles in Week 14, Hubbard eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the first time in his career on a 1-yard touchdown run. He became the first 1,000-yard rusher for Carolina since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. This offense is starting to come together with Bryce Young's improvement over the last month, but Hubbard remains the engine. The fourth-year back is worth the extension Carolina signed him to last month, especially with rookie Jonathon Brooks suffering another knee injury.
2024 stats: 13 games | 223 att | 877 rush yds | 3.9 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 29 rec | 249 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
Harris' rushing numbers haven't been great in the last two weeks, but he's come through with a pair of touchdowns to help Pittsburgh defeat division opponents. Harris has also been a steady presence in the pass game of late, catching 12 of his 13 targets for nearly 100 yards over the last four games. Pittsburgh has a daunting remaining schedule, with games at Philly and Baltimore before returning home to host Kansas City and Cincinnati. Harris must bring his best over the final month because winning the time of possession battle will be critical against those tough opponents.
2024 stats: 13 games | 213 att | 937 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 4 rush TDs | 39 rec | 233 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
The Titans are a tough watch right now, but Pollard is quietly on his way to his third straight season with 1,000 yards rushing after posting 102 rush yards in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville. He has a chance to accomplish the feat in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that just gave up 131 rush yards to Rico Dowdle. Pollard is also averaging nearly 10 more rush yards per game this season than in any other in his career.
2024 stats: 13 games | 137 att | 735 rush yds | 5.4 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 36 rec | 300 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
Irving left early in Week 14 with a back injury, but he still deserves his kudos. The rookie had career highs in rushing yards and scrimmage yards in the two weeks prior, racking up 152 scrimmage yards (88 rushing) in Week 12 and 185 yards (152 rushing) in Week 13. He's added a physical element to the Bucs offense and leads all rookies with 1,035 scrimmage yards. Not bad for a fourth-round pick.
2024 stats: 12 games | 157 att | 723 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 11 rush TDs | 28 rec | 204 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Cook is averaging a touchdown per game this season, but his production in terms of yards doesn't come close to competing with the guys at the top of this list. That's the biggest reason for his drop, and it should be noted that Josh Allen is making a huge push in his MVP candidacy. Still, let's not overlook that Cook already has three more scrimmage touchdowns than he had over his first two seasons combined.
DROPPED OUT: J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers (previously No. 9); D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (No. 15).
