Every season, it seems like one running back works his way into the conversation around the MVP award, which has been otherwise dominated by quarterbacks since the turn of the millennium. Last year, that RB was Christian McCaffrey. It was Derrick Henry the year prior. In 2024? Philadelphia newcomer Saquon Barkley.
After jumping from one NFC East team (the Giants) to another (the Eagles) in the offseason, the 27-year-old is enjoying the best campaign of his career. He's recorded six games with 100-plus rush yards this season, already matching the total he compiled with Big Blue between 2020 and 2023. He is averaging career highs in rush yards per game (113.1), yards per carry (5.8) and scrimmage yards per game (134.7). He's on pace to amass 1,922 rush yards and 2,290 scrimmage yards in 17 games.
That's spectacular production. It really is. But there is one category in which his numbers are somewhat pedestrian, and it's a category that running backs usually need to post otherworldly totals in to truly get to the front of the MVP pack: touchdowns. Through 10 games, Barkley has eight rushing touchdowns and two receiving TDs, putting him on pace to finish with 17 scrimmage TDs. That would be seven fewer than the average (24) scored by the last five RBs to win MVP: Adrian Peterson (13, 2012), LaDainian Tomlinson (31, 2006), Shaun Alexander (28, 2005), Marshall Faulk (26, 2000) and Terrell Davis (23, 1998).
To this I say: There is one thing standing between Barkley and that MVP award ... his quarterback.
That might feel a little harsh, but hear me out. Each of those five MVP-winning RBs listed above easily paced their teams in scrimmage TDs, but this is not the case for Barkley in Philly, where Jalen Hurts heads the leaderboard, thanks to his 11 rushing touchdowns. And we all know why that is -- the Tush Push, a QB sneak that Philly has all but mastered over the last few seasons. According to NFL Research, Barkley has been tackled at the 1- or 2-yard line 12 times this season, most in the NFL, and a majority of the carries on the very next play go to Hurts. On goal-line carries (inside the 3-yard line) this season, Hurts has scored eight touchdowns on 12 attempts, while Barkley has two scores on half as many carries, per Next Gen Stats.
Barkley is certainly not unaware of his lack of goal-line opportunities. His contract even seems to account for it: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport recently reported that Barkley receives zero dollars in incentives based on touchdowns in the three-year, $37.8 million pact he inked with Philly.
Saquon seems like the ultimate team player. Take Week 6, when he and the Eagles played his former team at MetLife Stadium. Barkley was 13 rush yards away from his single-game career high (189) late in a blowout victory -- but as an exchange with head coach Nick Sirianni showed, Barkley was sitting on the sidelines while letting the backups take over.
I mean, I get it. But come on, Saquon. There are other running backs practically demanding they get the rock near the end zone, based on their usage and success. Enter Houston's Joe Mixon, who just scored a hat trick of TDs against the Cowboys last week. This season, Mixon has eight goal-line carries to C.J. Stroud's one, with the RB scoring on five of those attempts. In Baltimore, quarterback Lamar Jackson -- who is an elite runner -- doesn't have a single carry in such situations, leaving that job to Derrick Henry, who has 11, plus a league-leading 13 rushing touchdowns in 2024.
All of this to say, the Eagles wouldn't be sitting atop the NFC East at 8-2, rolling with the league's best rushing attack, without Barkley or Hurts. The quarterback's ability to make positive gains with his legs and get into the end zone when called upon is huge for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Unfortunately, it could also be the reason his teammate falls short of MVP honors.
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 11, with up/down arrows reflecting movement from Week 11's pecking order.
NOTE: Stats and rankings DO NOT incorporate production from any running backs involved in Week 12's Thursday Night Football matchup between the Steelers and Browns.
2024 stats: 10 games | 197 att | 1,137 rush yds | 5.8 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 23 rec | 210 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
Barkley's monster outing against the division-rival Commanders culminated in Eagles fans . I mean, New York is missing out. Barkley had 146 rush yards, two rush TDs and 52 receiving yards in that Thursday night win. He now has as many games with at least 140 rush yards (four) this season as the Giants do as a team. As mentioned in the intro, Barkley is producing at a career-best clip.
2024 stats: 11 games | 197 att | 1,185 rush yds | 6.0 ypc | 13 rush TDs | 10 rec | 96 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
The miscues piled up for the Ravens in a big division loss to the Steelers. While Henry scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season (he's posted at least one rushing or receiving TD in each game), he also lost his -- and his first in 538 touches, with the last one coming in Week 16 of 2022. That turnover led to one of Pittsburgh's six field goals. Henry, who finished Sunday with 5.0 yards per carry on his 13 attempts, wasn't the only Ravens player to make a mistake, but I can speak from experience when I say he wants that one carry back.
2024 stats: 10 games | 133 att | 796 rush yds | 6.0 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 23 rec | 256 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Another week, another dominant outing from the Lions backfield. Gibbs topped 100 scrimmage yards again, logging 69 rush yards (including a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter) on 11 carries for 6.3 yards per attempt while hauling in his lone target for a 54-yard catch-and-run down the sideline to set up the Lions' fourth TD of the day against the Jags.
2024 stats: 10 games | 176 att | 838 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 4 rush TD | 23 rec | 186 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost
The Packers were better than the rival Bears by the margin of a blocked field-goal attempt, extending their win streak against Chicago to 11 consecutive games. While there were some good plays by Jordan Love through the air, the ground game continues to be the offense's steady hand. Jacobs finished the day with 134 scrimmage yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. According to NFL Research, Jacobs is the first Packers player with at least 90 scrimmage yards in six or more consecutive games since Eddie Lacy's 10-game streak in 2014-15.
2024 stats: 11 games | 183 att | 782 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 55 rec | 443 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
What year is it?! It was the Taysom Hill show against the Browns in New Orleans, as he rushed for 138 yards and a TD hat trick (with 50 receiving yards on eight catches), but he wasn't the only efficient Saint. Kamara played his role within the offense by rushing for 4.2 yards per carry and an 18-yard pickup that put the Saints in the red zone to set up their second of three fourth-quarter touchdowns. These Saints have found a more balanced attack over the last two weeks (both wins), a positive development heading into their Week 12 bye.
2024 stats: 10 games | 137 att | 596 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 10 rush TDs | 25 rec | 182 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Cook only managed to log 27 scrimmage yards in Sunday's win over the Chiefs, but it's tough to knock a player who scored twice down the list. Both of his touchdowns came in the first half; he found the end zone on Buffalo's first offensive possession on a and again on a in the second quarter. Believe it or not, Cook became the first RB with at least two rush TDs against the Chiefs since Derrick Henry in Week 9 of 2022. He'll take it.
2024 stats: 10 games | 137 att | 595 rush yds | 4.3 ypc | 10 rush TDs | 21 rec | 205 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
Like Gibbs, Montgomery ran through the Jaguars defense, which gave up a mind-boggling 645 yards (!). Montgomery finished with 15 carries for 75 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns -- on runs of 2 and 6 yards. Montgomery has had a rush TD in eight games this season, second-most behind Baltimore's Derrick Henry (10).
2024 stats: 11 games | 167 att | 783 rush yds | 4.7 ypc | 6 rush TD | 44 rec | 360 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
The Falcons' offense was out of sorts all day in the Mile High City, generating just 226 total yards -- there wasn't much to be excited about. Robinson's day ended with 63 scrimmage yards, marking the first time since Week 5 that he was held under 100 scrimmage yards, snapping a five-game 100-scrimmage-yard streak. Tough week for Atlanta, which will have sit with this performance for two weeks until its next game, a Week 13 meeting with the Chargers.
2024 stats: 152 games | 141 att | 726 rush yds | 4.8 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 25 rec | 115 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
It was the Justin Herbert show for a majority of Sunday night's win -- at least, until Dobbins scored the game-winning touchdown on a 29-yard run with 18 seconds remaining. It marked the second time in three games that he's scored two TDs on the ground.
2024 stats: 8 games | 171 att | 764 rush yds | 4.5 ypc | 10 rush TD | 18 rec | 203 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost
Apparently unlike Barkley, Mixon wants ALL the touchdowns. In Houston's rout of Dallas, he logged 153 scrimmage yards (109 rushing) and three rush TDs -- his second career game with at least three scores on the ground. He has scored a rush TD in six straight games, tied for the longest streak in franchise history (matching Arian Foster and Domanick Williams). We'll see if he can break it Sunday against Tennessee.
2024 stats: 10 games | 159 att | 697 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 24 rec | 247 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost
The Cardinals go as Conner goes in 2024. They are 5-1 when the veteran running back has 100-plus scrimmage yards and 1-3 when he doesn't reach the mark. He's been so productive due to his tackle-breaking ability. According to Next Gen Stats, Conner led the NFL with 68 forced missed tackles this season heading into Week 12, which bodes well against a Seahawks defense that has missed 12.8 percent of tackle opportunities (11th-lowest rate).
2024 stats: 10 games | 191 att | 750 rush yds | 3.9 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 25 rec | 136 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
Despite converting one-fourth of third-down tries in the win over New England, a lot seemed to go right for the Rams offense. Matthew Stafford dialed up four TD passes, while Williams rushed for 86 yards on 15 attempts (5.7 yards per carry, thanks to a big gain in the first quarter). Next, the Rams face an Eagles defense that hasn't allowed an opposing team to total 100 rush yards in a game since Week 6. It'll be a tough matchup for Williams, who hasn't hit the century mark in rush yards since Week 5.
2024 stats: 10 games | 161 att | 818 rush yds | 5.1 ypc | 6 rush TDs | 30 rec | 124 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 2 fumbles lost
Hubbard gained some major momentum heading into the team's Week 11 bye, totaling 225 rush yards and three rush TDs in back-to-back wins. He'll need fresh legs Sunday against a Chiefs defense that ranks third against the run and hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 1 (Lamar Jackson). It could be tough if rookie Jonathon Brooks cuts into his carries, but Hubbard has been great this season.
2024 stats: 10 games | 175 att | 708 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 3 rush TDs | 21 rec | 182 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
The Ravens entered their game against Harris and the Steelers last Sunday with the league's best run defense, and that unit showed up, holding him to 63 yards on 18 carries (3.5 yards per tote). The veteran running back did add 30 yards in the pass game on four receptions, but this performance by Harris -- and the rest of Pittsburgh's offense, for that matter -- wasn't exactly special, as the team relied on six Chris Boswell field goals and was kept out of the end zone in the win.
2024 stats: 10 games | 155 att | 635 rush yds | 4.1 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 28 rec | 243 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
There are a handful of players I could slot in this spot, but I like what I've seen from Swift. In last week's heartbreaking loss to the Packers, Swift aided his rookie quarterback by averaging 5.1 yards per carry on 14 attempts. And since Week 4, he's racked up 764 scrimmage yards, sixth among running backs between Weeks 4 and 11. He faces an uphill battle against the Vikings this week, as he's dealing with a groin injury and would be facing the league's No. 1 rushing defense.
DROPPED OUT: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (previously No. 15).
