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12 hours ago
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Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Running backs
Twenty-five years of Chicago Bears football are in the books since the turn of the century. Since the calendar turned over to 2000, the Bears have seen some success, but also plenty of woeful stretches. Early on, Chicago became a defensive force, claiming four division titles and reaching only their second Super Bowl in franchise history from 2000 to 2010. Since then, however, a 14-year playoff victory drought that is still ongoing and a one-sided fight with their rival Green Bay Packers have taken the spotlight. For all the ups and downs the Bears have seen, however, they had plenty of talent over the years across offense and defense. Multiple former Bears players are already in the Hall of Fame, while many more provided years of incredible play in the navy and orange. Advertisement Here at Bears Wire, we're celebrating the best Bears players at each position over the last 25 years. We're going position by position to name the Bears' All-Quarter Century Team for those who played from 2000 through 2024. Next up are running backs, a position where Chicago has notably found some gems from the NFL draft to free agency. Matt Forte 2008 - 2015 8,602 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 45 touchdowns; 4,116 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns Dec 12, 2010; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) during the game against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports The Bears have a long list of legendary running backs -- led by Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Gale Sayers -- and Matt Forte will still go down as one of the franchise's best. Forte's name is well represented in the Bears' record books -- although it's hard to surpass the legendary Payton -- as he spent eight of 10 seasons in Chicago. Forte ranks second in team history with 8,602 rushing yards, 12,718 net yards, 487 receptions, 24 100-yard rushing games and five 1,000-yard rushing seasons -- trailing only Payton. He's also a two-time Pro Bowler (2011, 2013), was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team (2008) and landed on the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time list (34th). At the time, Forte broke the Bears' single-season rookie rushing record in 2008 with 1,238 yards, which was later broken by Jordan Howard (also on this list) in 2016. Advertisement While Forte didn't possess breakaway speed, he was a true dual-threat weapon for the Bears, thriving both as a rusher and a receiver. In fact, he's one of just three players to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season in NFL history. Forte was also the first player in NFL history with 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons. While he wasn't considered a true bonafide star running back, there was no player more important to his team's offense than Forte. So it was only fitting that, even after two seasons with the New York Jets, Forte retired a Bear. Thomas Jones 2004-06 3,493 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 22 touchdowns; 724 receiving yards Oct 29, 2006; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back (20) Thomas Jones breaks away from San Francisco 49ers linebacker (50) Derek Smith during the first quarter at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. The Bears defeated the 49ers 41-10. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright 2006 Jerry Lai While Thomas Jones was only in Chicago for three seasons, he made a lasting impression and proved to be one of the franchise's better free-agent signings at the time. Jones amassed nearly 3,500 rushing yards in just three seasons, including back-to-back years where he eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards -- the first to accomplish the feat since Payton in 1985-86. Jones had to share the backfield with Cedric Benson, who was drafted fourth overall in 2005. But, thanks to Benson's rookie holdout, Jones proceeded to have his second-best ever statistical season with 1,335 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Advertisement Jones played an integral role in the success of Chicago's offense during their Super Bowl run in 2006, where he rushed for 1,210 rushing yards and six touchdowns. During the 2006 postseason, Jones was the second-leading rusher with 301 yards, including 5.5 yards per carry, and four touchdowns in three games. Ultimately, the Bears traded Jones to the Jets in 2007, as they opted to ride with Benson, which wound up being the wrong decision (although Benson went on to be productive with the Cincinnati Bengals). But despite his short stint, Jones is still remembered as yet another productive and impactful running back in Chicago. Jordan Howard 2016-18 3,370 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 24 touchdowns; 568 receiving yards, 1 touchdown Dec 2, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) runs the ball against New York Giants linebacker Olivier Vernon (54) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports The Bears found a diamond in the rough with Jordan Howard, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Like Jones, he spent just three seasons in Chicago before being traded away, but he proved to be a vital contributor on offense during his short stint. Howard rushed for 3,370 yards, which ranks seventh on the Bears' all-time rushing list, and 24 touchdowns averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Howard's first two seasons in Chicago were special, where he set several records along the way. Howard set a Bears rookie rushing record with 1,313 yards, which also ranked second in the NFL in 2016. He was also the team's first rookie running back selected to the Pro Bowl since Gale Sayers in 1965. Advertisement Howard followed up his impressive rookie season with 1,122 rushing yards and a career-high nine touchdowns, becoming the first Bears running back in history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. He also made history surpassing Hall of Famers Payton (26) and Sayers (28) as the fastest Bears player to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in just 24 games. While Howard had a promising start to his Bears career, he didn't fit into head coach Matt Nagy's offensive scheme, which led to Chicago trading Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The Bears went on to draft David Montgomery in the third round just a month later, and he just so happened to make our list as an honorable mention. Honorable mention: David Montgomery FB Jason McKie 2003-09 84 rushing yards, 2.9 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns; 357 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns Dec 3, 2006; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fullback (37) Jason McKie runs during the 3rd quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. The Bears beat the Vikings 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Jerry Lai Every running back's best friend is their fullback, and Jason McKie is easily the best fullback the Bears have had this century so far. McKie spent seven seasons with Chicago (2003-09), where he proved to be an integral part to the Bears' rushing attack. In 2006, McKie became the full-time starter at fullback after replacing Bryan Johnson, who landed on injured reserve, and in turn helped Thomas Jones rush for 1,210 yards during Chicago's Super Bowl run. Before the end of the season, McKie earned a well-deserved five-year contract extension. Advertisement McKie also played a key role in Matt Forte's record-breaking rookie season in 2008, where Forte had a franchise-best 1,238 rushing yards, which was later broken by Jordan Howard in 2016. During his Bears tenure, McKie thrived as a blocker and was even utilized in goal-line situations. Ultimately, McKie was released by Chicago in March 2010, following the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Bears All-Quarter Century Team 6/22: Quarterbacks 6/22: Running backs 6/23: Wide receivers 6/23: Tight ends 6/24: Offensive line 6/24: Defensive tackles 6/25: Defensive ends 6/25: Linebackers 6/26: Cornerbacks 6/26: Safeties 6/27: Specialists Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Running backs
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3 days ago
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Rivals Five-Star: Breaking down the running backs
INDIANAPOLIS – The stars came out for the 2025 Rivals Five-Star event at the Indianapolis Colts' facility this week. Here we break down the top running backs from the event. MORE FROM INDY: Highlights and analysis | Teams that should be pleased | Gorney Awards | Biggest surprises | Flip watch | QB analysis RECRUITING INTEL: Mid-South | Florida | West | Southeast | Midwest RIVALS FIVE-STAR MEDIA DAY: All the news, notes and interviews | The All-Lobby Team | How solid are the commitments? | Roster RIVALS FIVE-STAR INTERVIEWS: Jaden O'Neal | Trae Taylor | Chase Calicut | Samu Moala | Jake Kreul | Felix Ojo | Peyton Houston | CJ Sadler | Richard Wesley | JaReylan McCoy | Carter Scruggs | Nolan Wilson | Carson Sneed | Derrek Cooper | Devin Carter | Jayden Wade | Joel Wyatt | Kaden Henderson | Nick Abrams Cooper came away with positional MVP honors in Indianapolis. The five-star shined in the 1-on-1 portion of Tuesday's camp, then took it to a different level as the most productive pass-catcher out of the backfield in 7-on-7 play. Advertisement Miami is working toward inking the No. 1 class in the country and intends to keep Cooper in South Florida. Georgia and Ohio State are working feverishly to buck the Canes' momentum on the recruiting trail. Osborne will be playing a lot of football inside the state of Indiana over the next few years. The Texas-based blue-chipper pledged to Notre Dame last month and showcased his three-down skill-set this week at the Rivals Five-Star. Osborne was fantastic as a pass-catcher, an area of his game less utilized on Friday nights. The Irish verbal is a three-down back that can bash between the tackles and be a workhorse on early downs and also contribute in the passing game. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NOTRE DAME FANS AT Cowley stood out as one of the backs with the best top-end speed in Indianapolis. The 2027 four-star out of Alabama was smooth in and out of breaks, had soft hands and had fantastic wiggle and acceleration with the ball in his hands between various positional drills, 1-on-1 competition and in the 7-on-7 setting. Auburn is trending up with the in-state blue-chipper, who returned to The Plains earlier this month. Hugh Freeze has been superb keeping top-end talent like Cowley in-state since arriving at Auburn and has a strong chance to repeat in this one, too. Robinson is another blue-chip running back in the 2027 class. The bruiser from Mississippi is a force in the running game -- able to eat up chunk yardage and run downhill at a high clip. During the week in Indy, Robinson also showcased another aspect of his game -- his pass-catching skills and ability to separate in coverage. We love the three-down skill-set for Robinson -- and so does Tennessee. The Vols are setting the pace in the 2027 four-star back's recruitment ahead of Oklahoma State and Mississippi State.
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4 days ago
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2025 fantasy predictions: Who is this year's Bucky Irving? (Young breakout RB)
Our summer 'Flip the Script' series continues as Yahoo Fantasy analyst Scott Pianowski joins Matt Harmon to figure out who will be this year's Bucky Irving and pinpoint the best bets to break out at running back in the 2025 fantasy season. The duo revisit Bucky Irving's surprise 2024 campaign and break down the traits that helped him deliver league-winning value. Advertisement Harmon and Pianowski spotlight eleven young RBs ranked outside the top 40 who have the talent and situation to crash the top 10 next year. After a deep dive on each candidate, they make their final pick for who will wear the Bucky Irving crown in 2025. Don't miss this episode if you're looking to stay ahead in your draft prep and find the next hidden gem at running back. (2:45) - Flip the script: Who is this year's Bucky Irving? (8:50) - Breaking out: Looking at Bucky Irving's 2024 season (15:20) - 2025 fantasy outlook for Bucky Irving (21:55) - Qualifications to be this year's Bucky Irving Advertisement (24:00) - Candidate: Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten (30:10) - Candidate: Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue (37:18) - Candidates: Rams RB Jarquez Hunter + Saints RB Devin Neal (41:00) - Candidates: Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby, Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright, Bears RB Roschon Johnson (49:05) - Candidates: Cardinals RB Trey Benson, Panthers RB Rico Dowdle, 49ers RB Isaac Gurrendo, Bills RB Ray Davis (56:00) - Winner Our summer 'Flip the Script' series continues as Yahoo Fantasy analyst Scott Pianowski joins Matt Harmon to figure out who will be this year's Bucky Irving and pinpoint the best bets to break out at running back in the 2025 fantasy season. The duo revisit Bucky Irving's surprise 2024 campaign and break down the traits that helped him deliver league-winning value. (Jonathan Bassey) 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
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7 days ago
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Best NFL running backs 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL running backs right now
The 2024 NFL season demonstrated the value of running backs with the likes of Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and even rookie Bucky Irving proving incredibly valuable to their offenses. Heading into the 2025 season, the question becomes, who is the best running back in the NFL? Here, we're ranking the 10 best NFL running backs heading into the regular season. 1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Saquon Barkley stats (2024): 2,005 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 13 rushing touchdowns, 33 receptions, 278 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 2,283 scrimmage yards, 6 yards per touch Advertisement Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley excelled in the perfect environment last season. He certainly benefited from running behind the best offensive line in football, but he was also the best all-purpose back in the NFL. He led the NFL in scrimmage yards with a 169-yard edge over Derrick Henry and he averaged 12.3 more rushing yards per game than Henry. While he didn't break Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL record for rushing yards (2,105), he did record the 12th-most scrimmage yards (2,283) in a single season. Read More: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams 2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Derrick Henry stats (2024): 1,921 rushing yards, 5.9 yards per carry, 16 rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 193 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 2,114 scrimmage yards, 6.1 yards per touch Advertisement The Baltimore Ravens had coveted Derrick Henry for a while before finally landing him in NFL free agency. He immediately exceeded expectations, proving to be the only active running back who is defying Father Time. Last season, Henry led the NFL in yards after contact (909), yards after contact per attempt (2.8) and broken tackles (42). As a 31-year-old, Henry finished first in Player Profiler's Explosive Rating (31.9) and he led the NFL in breakaway runs (25). Heading into the 2025 season, ranked 19th on the all-time rushing yardage list, Henry has a legitimate chance at a 2,000-yard season. If he does so, it will catapult him ahead of Eric Dickerson (13,259) for the ninth-most rushing yards in NFL history. 3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Jahmyr Gibbs stats (2024): 1,412 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, 16 rushing touchdowns, 52 receptions, 517 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 1,929 scrimmage yards, 6.4 yards per touch Many questioned the Detroit Lions for the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. All he's done since is become one of the best NFL running backs, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections and finishing as the co-leader in rushing touchdowns last season. While splitting touches with David Montgomery 'limited' him to only recording the third-most scrimmage yards (1,929), Gibbs led the NFL in yards per touch (6.4) among all players with 300-plus touches and he recorded the most scrimmage touchdowns (20). Before you give too much credit to the Lions' offensive line, note that Gibbs' yards before contact per attempt (3.3) just narrowly ranked ahead of Derrick Henry (3.1). With new offensive coordinator John Morton, we should see even more of Gibbs' playmaking ability as a pass-catcher in 2025. Advertisement Read More: NFL defense rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 defenses 4. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Bijan Robinson stats (2024): 1,456 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 14 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions, 431 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1,887 scrimmage yards, 5.2 yards per touch Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson looked like the caliber of offensive weapon in 2024 that many thought he could become when he entered the NFL Draft. He recorded the fourth-most scrimmage yards (1,887) in the NFL, while leading the league in yards created (1,392). Robinson also generated the third-most evaded tackles (83) and his work in the passing game – 72 targets (4th among RBs) and 294 routes run (5th) – highlights his exceptional three-down ability. If quarterback Michael Penix Jr. breaks out this year, we could see improved efficiency from Robinson with a shot at averaging over 5 yards per carry for the first time as a pro. 5. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Christian McCaffrey stats (2024): 202 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 15 receptions, 146 receiving yards, 348 scrimmage yards, 5.4 yards per touch in four games Advertisement Christian McCaffrey is coming off an injury-marred season, which unfortunately could become a trend as he nears his age-30 season. When healthy, he's been a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan's scheme and is the centerpiece of the San Francisco 49ers offense. In his last full season, he had the third-highest yards after contact per attempt (2.2) among running backs with 200-plus carries. McCaffrey also led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,023) with no other running back clearing 1,600. However, the All-Pro offensive weapon has missed double-digit games three times since the 2020 season. Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025 6. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Josh Jacobs stats (2024): 1,329 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 15 rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions, 342 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1,671 scrimmage yards, 5.0 yards per touch Advertisement The Green Bay Packers opted to replace fan-favorite Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs last offseason. While it was a risky movie at the time, it worked out. Not only did Jacobs start all 17 games, but he also ranked third among backs with 200-plus touches in yards after contact per attempt (2.4). He also had the third-most attempts per broken tackle (8.6) while finishing with the second-most evaded tackles (88) and the 11th-most breakaway runs (11). Heading into his age-27 season, Jacobs' yards-per-carry average (4.4) could climb even higher next season if the improved physicality of the Packers' interior offensive line generates a few more positive runs. 7. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Bucky Irving stats (2024): 1,122 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 8 rushing touchdowns, 47 receptions, 392 receiving yards, 1514 scrimmage yards, 6.0 yards per touch No one expected a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to become one of the best NFL running backs in 2025. Yet, Bucky Irving truly helped fix the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' ground game. Consider that in 2023, Tampa Bay averaged 3.4 yards per carry (32nd) and 88.9 rushing yards per game (32nd). With Irving in the backfield a year later, the Buccaneers' offense averaged 5.3 yards per carry (2nd) and 149.2 rushing yards per game (4th). Irving also averaged the second-highest yards after contact per attempt (2.7) among running backs with 200-plus carries, just behind Derrick Henry (2.8). In addition, the 5-foot-10 running back ranked sixth in true yards per carry (4.9), third in juke rate (29.5 percent), second in yards created per touch (4.94) and fifth in evaded tackles (75). We can't wait to see what Irving can do as the featured back in 2025. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL general managers 2025 8. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images De'Von Achane stats (2024): 907 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns, 78 receptions, 592 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 1,499 scrimmage yards, 5.3 yards per touch Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane received an expanded role in 2024 following a promising rookie season. He didn't come close to his absurd yards-per-carry average (7.8) as a rookie, but he did set career-bests in scrimmage yards (1,499) and first downs (67) while recording double-digit total touchdowns for the second consecutive year. What makes some of Achane's numbers so impressive 4.5 ypc, 57 evaded tackles and 907 rushing yards – is that he did it behind the second-worst offensive line in the NFL in terms of run blocking. If Miami's run blocking is even marginally better this season, paired with Achane's work as a pass-catching weapon, he'll be a Pro Bowl selection in 2025. 9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Kyren Williams stats (2024): 1,299 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 14 rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 182 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 1,481 scrimmage yards, 4.6 yards per touch Advertisement A few of the best NFL running backs have been found on Day 3 and that includes Kyren Williams. Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft, Williams has been electric in the last two years. From 2023-2024, he's totaled 2,443 rushing yards with 31 total touchdowns, all while averaging 4.6 yards per touch. Williams finished last season with the third-most broken tackles (27) and he ranked eighth in stuff rate (14.6 percent) despite running behind a banged-up Rams offensive line. Related: Highest-paid NFL players, highest paid running backs 10. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders Credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It certainly might seem premature to label a rookie as one of the best NFL running backs right now. Ashton Jeanty doesn't even have a great offensive line blocking for him with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he is legitimately in that same class of talent entering the league as Saquon Barkley. Jeanty is an excellent fit in Chip Kelly's system and the Raiders' passing game is good enough to keep defenses honest. By the end of the 2025 NFL season, we believe Jeanty could be in the mix to be viewed as a top-six running back. Advertisement Related Headlines
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7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFC South Running Back Rankings 2025
The AFC South brings some new faces and dynamic duos to the division. With a mix of emerging stars and veteran workhorses, here are how the AFC South running back rankings stack up heading into the 2025 season. Related: Best NFL quarterbacks 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL quarterbacks right now 1. Houston Texans – Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Heading into 2025, the Texans will boast one of the most experienced backfields in the league with both Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb. While both Mixon and Chubb are past their prime, they both bring immense value to Houston's offense. With a resume of many past 1,000-yard seasons, respectively, both former stars know how to run the ball efficiently and reliably, and will bring an immense level of physicality to the run game. Advertisement Mixon, at 28 years old, is still producing efficiently as he continues building his great career resume with yet another 1,000-yard season on the ground in 2024. Chubb, on the other hand, suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 and is yet to return to his previous form. If healthy, Chubb will add a downhill, punishing element that will perfectly complement Mixon's versatility. This will be a sneaky good RB duo heading into 2025. Related: Best NFL running backs right now, ranking the 10 best running backs in 2025 2. Indianapolis Colts – Jonathon Taylor and Khalil Herbert Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Jonathan Taylor remains the clear-cut RB1 for the Colts after a stellar past season. In 14 games played, he went off for over 1,400 yards on the ground. When healthy, Taylor has shown that he can be one of the best running backs in the league. He's capable of taking on a heavy workload and producing at a level up there with the league's best. Colts fans will be eager to see if Taylor can stay healthy and have another successful season. Advertisement Herbert is a good RB2 option, but has struggled immensely with injuries over the last two seasons. Herbert complements Taylor well as a shifty, elusive runner who can contribute in the passing game, but that doesn't matter much if he can't stay on the field once again. Check out: Highest-paid NFL players, highest-paid running backs 3. Tennessee Titans – Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images It's been one full season since superstar running back Derrick Henry left the Tennessee Titans, and it's safe to say the new RB1, Tony Pollard, did a decent job giving Tennessee the RB production they are used to. The truth is, nobody can replace Henry; he's a one-of-a-kind player, but Pollard thrived in his first year at the RB1 role. He rushed for over 1,000 yards, offering a new dimension to Tennessee's offense with his open-field quickness and receiving ability. Advertisement While he's not the superstar Derrick Henry is, he can still heavily benefit the Titans' offense in 2025 if he continues to improve on his production. Tyjae Spears also brings a gritty, do-it-all skill set, and together they form a rather complementary duo. With a rookie QB in Cam Ward, it will be interesting to see how Tennessee relies on their backfield in 2025. Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025 4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield is seemingly promising in 2025 and will look to bounce back from struggling last season. Current RB1 Travis Etienne Jr. went for over 1,000 yards during his first two seasons in the league, but he struggled immensely last year. He rushed for only 558 yards on the ground and 3.7 yards/carry, a huge dip in production. The talent is there, but it seemed that Etienne just couldn't figure it out last season. Advertisement Currently listed as RB2, Tank Bigsby enters the 2025 season with a chance to continue to carve out a larger role in Jacksonville's offense after rushing for over 700 yards last season. Known for his physical running style, Bigsby brings toughness, strong lower-body balance, and a relentless motor to the Jaguars' offense. He excels in short-yardage and goal-line situations, areas where the Jaguars have struggled with consistency. Read More: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams Related Headlines
