Field Vision's Top 10 Running Backs

As we look at our 2024 Threat Ratings for Running backs, it’s important to make one thing clear. These are not fantasy rankings! Threat Ratings are production based with a look towards 2024 but only through the lens of actual past production. They also take a more holistic view of the player than just how many fantasy points they’ll score this year. With that disclaimer out of the way, we broke our Running backs into 3 tiers.

Tier 1:

Christian McCaffrey (49ers): Threat Rating- 99 (1st)

Christian McCaffrey is 1 of 1 in the Running Back Category. He took home Offensive Player of the Year Honors last season by putting up 1459 rushing yards and 564 receiving yards on 67 receptions. McCaffrey is top 5 in 2024 projected Threat in both rushing and receiving and he run a full route tree rankings second in Threat on routes run beyond the line of scrimmage. The 49ers have an embarrassment of riches on offense but none are more important than McCaffrey in 2024.

Tier 2:

Nick Chubb (Browns): Threat Rating- 91.5 (2nd)

After his gruesome injury last season, many wondered if we’d ever see Nick Chubb play football again. He likely will open the season on the PUP list, but Chubb’s past performance was too much to ignore when it comes to Threat Ratings. His 2022 Raw Threat Rating was first in the League and when healthy, he projects as the best pure rusher in football. Before last season, Chubb had 4 consecutive 1000 yard rushing seasons and has a career 5.3 yards per attempt (2nd all time to Jamaal Charles). The Browns don’t know what, if anything, they’ll get our of Chubb this season, but if he returns it will be an added boost for the Cleveland offense.

James Conner (Cardinals): Threat Rating- 89.3 (3rd)

James Conner quietly had the first 1000-yard season of his career last season in Arizona. He is our number 3 running back in Rushing only Threat for 2024. He doesn’t do a ton of of damage receiving down the field, but Conner ranks 4th in Threat Ratings in receiving behind the line of scrimmage among running backs. Conner had the 2nd highest raw threat in the league for running backs in 2023, but it was a huge jump up from any previous season. He’ll have to prove 2023 was the rule not the exception to repeat the performance in 2024 and the Cardinals are hoping he can.

Alvin Kamara (Saints): Threat Rating- 86 (4th)

Alvin Kamara is a true dual threat running back. After serving a 3 game suspension to start 2023, he was back to his old ways catching 75 passes on the season for 466 yards. Kamara is only 25th in rushing Threat heading into 2024, but ranks as our number 1 overall pass catcher at the position. Much like McCaffrey, Kamara runs the full running back route tree which is why he’s our number 1 Threat Running back on routes beyond the line of scrimmage. He still ranks top 10 on routes behind the line as well. The saints are looking to take strides forward on offense this year, but they’ll need Kamara to be his reliable self to avoid going backwards.

Kyren Williams (Rams): Threat Rating- 85.6 (5th)

Kyren Williams emerged as an elite weapon at the running back position in 2023. In only 12 games , Williams rushed for 1144 yards on 5 yards per carry. According to our Threat Ratings, Williams doesn’t add much in the passing game, but he's good in protection and more than makes up for it in the run game. Williams heads into 2024 as our #2 Running Back in all of football in rushing only Threat. The Rams drafted rookie Blake Corum, but there’s no doubt they’ll be leaning on Williams as a critical weapon in the Matthew Stafford lead offense.

Tier 3:

Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs): Threat Rating- 83.9 (6th)

Super Bowl Champion Isiah Pacheco becomes just the second Chief to make an appearance in our Threat Ratings after his teammate Travis Kelce took the top spot among Tight Ends. Pacheco came just shy of 1000 yards in each of his first 2 seasons in Kansas City in a balanced Chiefs backfield. His downhill running style is a nice change of pace to the Chiefs sometimes horizontal passing attack. Also, while not the Chiefs main passing catching back, Pacheco was used effectively in the screen game. He ranked 6th in receiving Threat on routes behind the line of scrimmage among running backs. In a thinner backfield this year, the Chiefs will be looking for even more out of Pacheco for a bounce back 2024 on offense.

De’von Achane (Dolphins): Threat Rating- 82.3 (7th)

When it comes to De’Von Achane, explosives were the name of the game in 2023. He rushed for 800 yards on just 103 carries for an absurd 7.8 yards per carry. Achane also added 27 catches and 3 touchdowns in the receiving game. Achane enters 2024 10th in rushing Threat and 2nd in Receiving Threat behind the Line of Scrimmage among running backs. The Dolphins have no shortage of explosive players, but Achane may lead the pack (Tyreek Hill might disagree). The Dolphins will just be looking for more consistency of availability to maximize what they can get from Achane in 2024.

Raheem Mostert (Dolphins): Threat Rating- 82.1 (8th)

Raheem Mostert, our 2nd straight Dolphin, does almost all of his damage in the running game. Last season, he eclipsed 1000 yards for the first time in his career and scored a whopping 18 touchdowns on the ground. It may not look the same as Achane, but entering his age 32 season, Mostert still has great speed. Mostert is 6th in rushing only Threat among running backs entering 2024. With Achane’s durability concerns, the Dolphins will still lean on Mostert heavily to carry some load in the backfield.

Jonathan Taylor (Colts): Threat Rating- 81.9 (9th)

At one time, you would have expected Jonathan Taylor to be a lot higher on this list and he still may get back to that form. However, his production has declined since being 2nd in the entire league in Raw Threat in 2021. Last season, he averaged 4.4 Yards per carry down from a career high 5.5 in 2021 when he had 1811 rushing yards. Taylor is 9th in Rushing only Threat heading in 2024 and while he only ranks 32nd in overall in receiving Threat, he is 24th in routes beyond the line of scrimmage giving an additional option for 2nd year QB Anthony Richardson. The Colts are anxious to see that duo together in 2024.

Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions): Threat Rating- 81 (10th)

Jahmyr Gibbs took some time to get going in his rookie season but ended with 945 yards on the ground and over 1200 yards from scrimmage in a solid 2023. Gibbs is another true dual threat, rankings top 20 in Rushing Threat and 6th overall in Receiving Threat among running backs. He’s a top 10 receiving running back in routes run beyond the line of scrimmage, so he gives Jared Goff another option in the short to intermediate part of the field in their pass game. The Lions are looking to take another step forward in 2024 and progression from Gibbs will be a big part of that.

Here's the good news: Its only 22 days til football season. As always, we look forward to the conversation, debate and your feedback. Hit us at @fieldvisionmi on X, @fieldvisionsports on Instagram, or on our website www.fieldvisionsports.com.