Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is in the books, and it was an exciting stretch of games from start to finish. When evaluating the week, one of the most fun positions for the typical fan to watch is the running back position. Anybody who plays fantasy football has their eyes set heavily on the running backs, and they also put the ball into play more than most positions on the field. PFSN has you covered with your RB rankings for the 2025 season, as our RBi metric puts a numerical value on how each back performs every week.
It’s worth noting that these rankings will shift dramatically as the season goes on. Later in the year, the rankings will be a better gauge of where each running back stands in the NFL. This early in the year, these are purely grades as to how each back starts the season off. With Week 1 in the rearview mirror, let’s rank the top 32 running backs in the NFL after one week of play.
32) Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 55.9 (F)
The Seattle Seahawks failed to get much going on offense in their loss to the 49ers on Sunday. Kenneth Walker’s stat line is an example of that, as he ended with just 20 rushing yards on ten carries and placed with the lowest RBi grade among qualified running backs.
Walker’s RushEPA per play of -0.35 indicates that the Seahawks were worse off by handing the ball off to him in Week 1. He caught three passes but only tallied four receiving yards, and he didn’t have any touchdowns to fall back on to help his RBi grading, either.
31) Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 59.2 (F)
Tyler Allgeier is one of two Atlanta Falcons running backs on this list, and spoiler alert: neither one of them ranked very high in RBi grading in Week 1. Allgeier finished with 24 rushing yards on 10 carries, giving him a low average of 2.4 yards per carry.
Unlike Bijan Robinson, Allgeier didn’t have a strong receiving outing to make up for his poor performance on the ground. His elusive rate of 10.0% was the second-lowest among all running backs through the opening week of action.
30) Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 63.7 (D)
Late in the 2024 season, Tyrone Tracy Jr. emerged as the New York Giants’ lead running back. He entered the 2025 season in that same role, but he’ll have to improve if he wants to keep that spot atop the depth chart. He ran for just 24 rushing yards on ten carries.
The Giants managed some rushing production from Russell Wilson, but they lost an average of 0.33 EPA per play when they handed the ball to Tracy. Given how poor the passing attack looked against the Commanders, they couldn’t afford that inefficiency on the ground.
29) Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 64.0 (D)
It was an extremely productive day through the air for Bijan Robinson, as he finished with six receptions for 100 yards and a receiving touchdown in the Atlanta Falcons’ shootout battle with Tampa Bay.
BIJAN ROBINSON. TOUCHDOWN.
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/1G2hEDZgXw
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 7, 2025
Robinson’s production on the ground was hardly as impressive, though. He ran for just 24 yards on 12 carries, giving him a measly average of 2.0 yards per carry. He finished with precisely 0 yards before contact on an average run, but he wasn’t his typical thundering self through contact, either.
28) Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 65.5 (D)
Coming off a stellar rookie year, Bucky Irving predictably led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in carries in their Week 1 matchup against the Falcons. However, at just 2.6 yards per carry, they probably wouldn’t have had to sweat that game out as much as they did late if Irving had been more productive.
With just 1.64 yards after contact per rush, Irving finished dead last among qualified running backs in that category. His elusive rate of 14.3% tied for the fourth-lowest percentage among the 32 aforementioned qualified running backs, too.
27) Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 65.9 (D)
A highly-touted prospect coming out of Boise State, Ashton Jeanty’s NFL debut was hardly as explosive as his 2024 season in college. On 19 carries, he ended up with just 38 yards, giving him the lowest yards per carry average among any player with ten or more carries in Week 1 at just 2.0.
To be fair to Jeanty, the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive line didn’t do him any favors. He was one of only two players in the NFL with a negative yards before contact average, indicating that a typical run saw him met with contact in the backfield every single time. It’s tough to make a move when you don’t have opportunities to act.
26) DJ Giddens, Indianapolis Colts
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 65.9 (D)
The Indianapolis Colts are one of three teams that had multiple running backs with ten or more carries in Week 1. The primary benefactor of that was DJ Giddens, their fifth-round rookie who finished with 12 carries against the Dolphins.
High workload aside, Giddens didn’t really impress much on the ground on Sunday. He averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and didn’t make an impact in the passing game, having not been targeted once as a receiver.
25) David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 67.5 (D)
David Montgomery was the only Detroit Lions player eligible for this list, since Jahmyr Gibbs only ran the ball nine times. With both of those talented backs averaging fewer than 2.5 yards per carry, though, you get a good understanding of how the Lions ran the ball against Green Bay on Sunday.
Montgomery was one of eight running backs with an elusive rating below 20%, and the Lions lost 0.33 EPA per play when they handed the ball off to him. The talent is clearly there, as we’ve seen during his stints with Detroit and Chicago. But his Week 1 level of efficiency is not sustainable for success.
24) Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 68.7 (D+)
It’s an indictment on the Cleveland Browns that their leading rusher, Dylan Sampson, finished with only 29 rushing yards. He ran the ball 12 times for a 2.4 yards per carry average, and though Jerome Ford didn’t qualify for these rankings, he had an even worse average at 1.3 yards per carry.
It’s too early to write off Sampson, seeing as though he’s a rookie who played his first NFL regular-season game on Sunday. However, his 8.3% elusive rate finished dead last among all running backs with ten or more carries.
23) James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 71.0 (C-)
Trey Benson outran James Conner by 30 yards, despite the former ending up with four more carries than the latter. Benson doesn’t meet the ten-carry criteria to crack the list, though he would surely land higher than Conner did in this case.
Conner averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and excluding a 12-yard run he picked up, he averaged just under 2.5 yards per carry otherwise. He did catch all four of his targets through the air, though he only combined for five receiving yards on those receptions.
22) Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 73.3 (C)
The second Seahawks running back, Zach Charbonnet, hardly set the world on fire at 3.9 yards per carry. However, he still thoroughly outperformed Walker in Seattle’s loss to the 49ers.
Though Charbonnet only had a longest run of seven yards, he was more consistent with his touches than Walker was. He also pounded the ball in for a one-yard touchdown, which would be the only touchdown the Seahawks scored on Sunday.
21) J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 73.7 (C)
Though RJ Harvey ended up leading the Denver Broncos in rushing yards in their Week 1 win over the Titans, J.K. Dobbins took a majority of the carries out of the backfield. Whether you choose to view that as a spotlight on Harvey or an indictment on Dobbins is up to you.
Dobbins ran for a touchdown, and that big-play ability was enough to land him inside the top 20 in RBi grading through the opening week. However, he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and only picked up two first downs on the ground.
20) James Cook, Buffalo Bills
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 73.9 (C)
It mainly was the Buffalo Bills’ passing attack that propelled them to their miraculous comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. That’s not to say James Cook didn’t contribute, as he scored a touchdown on the ground and caught five passes for 58 yards.
Plays like these make me happy we were able to extend James Cook pic.twitter.com/LFkzDLWO7a
— BillsMuse (@BillsMusee) September 9, 2025
Ultimately, Cook’s receiving production was a significant factor in what gave him a decent grade. On the ground, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry with 44 rushing yards on 13 attempts in Week 1.
19) Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 74.3 (C)
With Tyjae Spears injured, Tony Pollard took on a majority of the workload as the Tennessee Titans’ undisputed top running back on Sunday. On 18 carries, he had 60 rushing yards and a fumble for an average of 3.3 yards per carry.
Tennessee’s offensive line struggled significantly against the Broncos, but Pollard was at least able to finish with an average of 3.0 yards after contact per run. His stat line wasn’t fantastic, but he did a decent job without being given much to work with.
18) Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 74.7 (C)
It was a pretty rough season debut for Chase Brown in the stat sheet on Sunday. He had the second-most carries in the league with 21 attempts, but he placed 32nd with just 42 rushing yards. That’s a measly average of exactly 2.0 yards per carry.
Granted, it doesn’t help that Brown’s average carry saw him met with contact behind the line of scrimmage. With an average of -0.33 yards before contact per run, he had the least help from his offensive line of any running back in Week 1.
17) Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 75.8 (C)
Jaylen Warren led the Pittsburgh Steelers with 37 rushing yards on Sunday, which speaks more to how poor the Steelers’ run game was than it does to anything positive about Warren.
Luckily, the Steelers’ passing attack was strong enough to propel them to victory. Warren helped out in that regard, catching two passes for 22 receiving yards and a touchdown in his 2025 debut.
16) Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 76.0 (C)
It was a slow start for Jordan Mason and the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, but they eventually picked things up in the fourth quarter to come away with the Week 1 victory. All told, Mason finished tenth in the NFL with 68 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry on Monday night.
With a 33.3% elusive rate, Mason did a good job of making Chicago’s defenders miss and extending the play. His 3.86 yards after contact per rush placed fourth among all qualified running backs in the opening week of games, as well.
15) Nick Chubb, Houston Texans
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 76.1 (C)
One of a select few running backs to average over four yards per carry in Week 1, Nick Chubb finished the Houston Texans’ loss to the Rams with a respectable 4.6 yards per carry.
He got good help from Houston’s offensive line, as his 2.08 yards per contact ranked fourth among qualified running backs to start the year. But Chubb had a boom vs. bust percentage of 7.70%, making him one of just five running backs with a positive percentage in the opening week.
14) Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 76.3 (C)
Josh Jacobs wasn’t given a ton to work with in Week 1, as he averaged just 0.58 yards before contact on each rush he had in the Green Bay Packers’ win over Detroit. That said, he still finished with a decent enough outing.
In his season opener, Jacobs ran for 66 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown on the ground. His 2.89 yards after contact per run was the fifth-highest average of qualified running backs in Week 1.
13) D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 76.5 (C)
At first glance, D’Andre Swift’s average of 3.1 yards per carry in the Chicago Bears’ loss on Monday to the Vikings doesn’t stand out. While his outing wasn’t particularly great, he had some encouraging moments in what was otherwise a down week for the league’s starting running backs.
Swift’s elusive rate of 35.3% ranked seventh among the 32 qualified running backs in Week 1. His ability to make defenders miss in space helped him maximize what little he had to work with in Chicago’s backfield.
12) Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 77.3 (C+)
As you’ll likely find out (if you haven’t already), it wasn’t exactly a banner week for NFL running backs in Week 1. Kyren Williams averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, and only five backs on this list averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry.
Still, Williams is helped by scoring a touchdown on the ground, giving the Los Angeles Rams one of their only two scores in their narrow win over the Texans. That score helps propel him within the top dozen backs on this list.
11) Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 77.6 (C+)
Though he was coming back from injury, Christian McCaffrey went right back to having a heavy workload in Week 1. His 22 carries led all running backs in the season opener, though he ran for 69 yards and an average of just 3.1 yards on those touches.
A human pinball 👏
📺: FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/RP1UjagL7Z— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 7, 2025
As is typically the case with McCaffrey, he was a menace as a receiving back, which helps his RBi grade flirt with the top ten. His nine receptions are second among all running backs coming out of Week 1. Perhaps most impressive, that total is tied for fourth in the NFL through the opening week of action.
10) Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 78.0 (C+)
On the ground, Chuba Hubbard’s production in Week 1 might not exactly pop out when compared to the rest of the league. He ended up with 57 yards on 16 carries (3.6 yards per carry) in the Carolina Panthers’ loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Hubbard’s RBi grade is boosted significantly by his receiving production, as he caught a touchdown and had 32 receiving yards on three receptions. His 10.7 yards per reception ranked sixth among all running backs in the NFL’s season-opening week.
9) Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 79.1 (C+)
The Colts rotated Jonathan Taylor in their backfield in Week 1, primarily with rookie DJ Giddens. Taylor ended up getting a high workload regardless, though, tallying 71 yards and 3.9 yards per carry on 18 attempts.
Taylor has been a consistent contributor throughout his tenure in Indianapolis, and he comes out of the first week of NFL action ranking fifth in the league in rushing yards. He also caught three passes for 27 yards, including a 16-yard pickup through the air in the Colts’ win over the Dolphins.
8) Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 80.3 (B-)
Coming off a stellar season with over 2,000 rushing yards, expectations are high for Saquon Barkley in 2025. He put together decent production in Week 1, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Though he only averaged 3.3 yards per carry, Barkley was one of just seven running backs to average a positive EPA whenever he touched the ball in Week 1. He was also a good checkdown option in the passing game, catching four passes for 24 yards in the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Cowboys.
7) Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 81.5 (B-)
Omarion Hampton made his NFL debut for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and he ended up with a top-ten RBi grade for the week. His production doesn’t necessarily scream elite, with just 3.2 yards per carry: 48 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
However, Hampton did a solid job overcoming a rough run blocking performance from the Chargers’ offensive line. He had just 0.6 yards before contact per rush, and he ended up tying for fifth among running backs with four first downs converted in Week 1.
6) Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 81.5 (B-)
Though the New Orleans Saints didn’t come away with the win in Week 1, they were able to get a solid performance out of Alvin Kamara. He finished the game with 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, as well as having two receptions for 12 yards.
His numbers don’t exactly jump off the screen, but Kamara was efficient with the touches he received. His 45.5% elusive rate placed third among all running backs in Week 1, and he put together a good outing with just 0.82 yards before contact per run.
5) Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 83.1 (B)
The award for the longest rushing play in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season goes to Travis Etienne, who broke away for a 71-yard gain in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ win over Carolina. He finished with a total of 143 rushing yards, which ranks second in the league coming out of the first week of action.
Outside of his one big run, Etienne still averaged a respectable 4.8 yards per carry on his 15 other rushing attempts. With 5.75 yards after contact per rush, he was lightning in a bottle for Jacksonville and proved himself as a valuable piece of their offense after a down season in 2024.
4) Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 84.4 (B)
From a big-play perspective, Javonte Williams would belong much lower on this list. He averaged only 3.6 yards per carry on 15 rushes against the Eagles. However, it’s his ability to come through in key situations that earns him a high grade and a spot in the top four of PFSN’s RBi grades for Week 1.
Williams scored two touchdowns on the ground on Thursday night, making him one of just two backs with multiple rushing scores in Week 1. He also picked up five first downs on his 15 carries, finishing with more first downs than other backs with a higher workload, like Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, Ashton Jeanty, and Saquon Barkley.
3) Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 90.8 (A-)
A big story coming out of the Washington Commanders’ training camp was the strong play of Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Though it’s only been one week, he sure lived up to the hype in the regular-season opener. On his ten carries, he ran for 82 yards and a touchdown to help the Commanders beat the Giants.
With a longest run of 42 yards, Croskey-Merritt provided the big-play spark that Washington’s offense needed. His 70.0% elusive rate finished far and above any other back coming out of Week 1. If he keeps performing the way he did against New York, there will be no question who the best player in that backfield is.
2) Breece Hall, New York Jets
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 94.4 (A)
Breece Hall has been a talented running back during his time in the NFL, but he’s been plagued by inconsistency along the way. Consistency was hardly a concern for him in Week 1, however, as he was one of just three running backs to surpass 100 rushing yards. He ended with 107 yards on 19 carries in the New York Jets’ loss to the Steelers.
He didn’t have any runs past 20 yards, but he was able to move the chains for the Jets with regularity on Sunday. With seven first downs on the ground, Hall led all running backs in that category in Week 1. His 47.70% elusive rate ranks second in the league coming out of the first week of action.
1) Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
2025 PFSN RBi Grade: 94.9 (A)
Though the Baltimore Ravens ended up losing their Sunday night showdown with the Bills, a big reason for their 40-point offensive explosion was the play of Derrick Henry. After Week 1, he holds the league lead with 169 rushing yards and is tied for first with two rushing touchdowns.
Henry proved incredibly difficult to bring down, averaging 6.0 yards after contact per rush in Week 1. He ended the game with 9.4 yards per carry, making him a phenomenal asset for Baltimore’s offense when handed the ball. Coming off a season in which he surpassed 1,900 rushing yards, he could be on his way to the 2,000-yard mark if he keeps running the ball like he did against the Bills.
