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The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Latest Football News & Rumors: Tailored for You / The Top 10 Running Backs headed into the 2022 NFL Season

The Top 10 Running Backs headed into the 2022 NFL Season

Top 10 Running Backs!
Publish Date: 06/20/2022
Fact checked by: Simon Briffa
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Top 10

Check out our rankings for the 2022 NFL season at the running back position. To make a futures bet on which running back has the most rushing yards during the 2022 season, check out our best bookmakers for betting on the NFL.

10. Aaron Jones, Packers

Jones’ production slowed in 2021, but he was still a dominant back when he rushed for more than 3,000 yards and scored 30 touchdowns in his two previous seasons. One thousand one hundred ninety yards and ten touchdowns combined in 15 starts is not something to be ashamed of. Regarding who belongs in the top 10, there is also something to be said about having skins on a wall. While some of the promising up-and-coming players — one in particular — have much to look forward to, they just haven’t been producing as long as Jones.

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9. David Montgomery Bears

Montgomery, despite so many disappointments in Chicago’s QB and coaching ranks, Montgomery has provided a glimmer of hope and given Bears fans something positive to cheer about. Montgomery isn’t getting the national praise he deserves, which feels strange. Montgomery has amassed over 3,700 yards and 24 touchdowns in his three years of service. This despite poor quarterback play that saw the Bears use a first-round draft pick on Justin Fields. As Fields and Co. adjust to their new coaches, Montgomery will be required to provide security for the Bears’ offense. He’s familiar with this role, which he can play as both a runner and receiver.

8. Austin Ekeler, Chargers

Because of their faith in Ekeler, the Chargers let Melvin Gordon go. Ekeler’s rise to the starting position has been a success, along with the drafting of Justin Herbert. His dual-threat ability, which allows him also to be an effective receiver from the backfield, really takes the pressure off of wide receiver Mike Williams. Ekeler feels like he is only just getting started. Now, all that is required is for him to stay healthy and see if the sky is indeed blue in Los Angeles.

7. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys

All the talk about Tony Pollard is an excellent nod to the potential for the Cowboys’ backup. But it’s still Elliott who holds the throne in Dallas. He was the former NFL rushing champion and was on a blistering start to 2021. But, he was hindered by an injury in the second half of the season. Many forgot what he did before that. Even though the Cowboys should have forced him to stop for a few games to heal what turned out to be a torn ligament in his knee, he still managed to complete another 1,000-yard season (1 289 yards from scrimmage) with 12 touchdowns. Imagine what he could do with two good knees if he does all that with a bad knee.

6. Joe Mixon, Bengals

Mixon knows that running backs sometimes have to do more with less. It’s easy for us to forget Mixon’s hard work to make the Bengals successful in 2021. Mixon was the one who carried the burden for the Bengals’ offense before the draft of Joe Burrow, then Ja’Marr Chase. He was still able to be a significant reason for their memorable 2021 season. Mixon broke the 1,500-yard mark from scrimmage for the first time in his career, which is quite remarkable. His needle continues to point north. Check out the top new sportsbooks for betting on the NFL.

5. Dalvin Cook, Vikings

It seems like a long time ago that everyone wondered if Cook would reach his full potential. He’s overcome several injuries early in his promising career and has become everything the Vikings could hope for. He has been able to produce at a high standard and do so in an offense that includes Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. This is a tribute to how productive he can be when his number is called. Even though his 1,900-yard (from the scrimmage season) in 2020 saw his numbers drop, he still managed to run a third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

4. Alvin Kamara  Saints

Kamara was the one who kept the Saints’ offense relevant in 2021, absent All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas or any consistent production at QB after Jameis Winston’s torn ACL. It’s not the first or last time he will be asked to handle the bulk of the output. Kamara is lightning fast; without him, the Saints’ offense would have been meaningless in 2021.

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3. Nick Chubb  Browns

It makes you wonder how much more destructive Chubb would be if he were the only option in the Browns’ backfield. Since he arrived in Cleveland via Georgia, the Dawg-turned Dawg has been an absolute dynamo. He was the steady hand for a rollercoaster ride with former first overall pick Baker Mayfield. In the absence of Mayfield because of injury, whatever other person took over the QB reins at the moment. Knocking Chubb down on the first or second contact is almost impossible. He does his damage in a manner reminiscent of Barry Sanders’s.

2. Jonathan Taylor Colts

Taylor takes off like a bat from the gates of hell and flies onto the 2022 list with flames streaming from his wings. The Colts’ failure to win and get in against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars was more due to the terrible play of the now-traded Carson Wentz than Taylor, who was the heart of the team’s offense for the entire season. Taylor was so destructive on opposing defenses that Taylor remained in the MVP conversation and won Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He racked up 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 360 receiving yards to his stats and two touchdowns. With Matt Ryan replacing Wentz, Taylor will likely terrorise the NFL again in 2022.

1. Derrick Henry, Titans

Henry is still the best running back in the NFL, despite his struggles with injury in 2021. Henry is simply a cyborg and can do everything — from running through defenders to passing them with ease to catching the ball out the backfield to tossing it, to running and running past them with speed unnatural for his size. Ryan Tannehill’s future in Nashville is under question. A.J. Brown was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Titans will now depend more on Henry than ever,

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