Saquon Barkley Crowned NFL's Premier Running Back Following Record-Breaking Season

Saquon Barkley’s inaugural season with the Philadelphia Eagles was nothing short of extraordinary, marked by record-breaking performances, a Super Bowl victory, and a groundbreaking contract that stands as the richest ever for a running back. Additionally, he has been named the cover athlete for Madden 26.

His remarkable contributions on the field led to his recognition as the top running back in the NFL, as voted by a panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers. The rankings were determined based on current performance heading into the 2025 season, with first-place votes carrying a weight of 10 points, while subsequent placements were valued at 5, 3, 2, and 1 point respectively.

Barkley dominated the voting, securing seven first-place votes and one second-place vote. Derrick Henry of Baltimore was the only other player to appear on all eight ballots, finishing second with one first-place vote alongside five second-place votes, one third, and one fifth.

Jahmyr Gibbs from Detroit garnered the remaining two second-place votes, landing in third place. Bijan Robinson of Atlanta and Christian McCaffrey from San Francisco completed the top five rankings.

Other notable players receiving votes included Jonathan Taylor from Indianapolis, Josh Jacobs of Green Bay, and Bucky Irving from Tampa Bay.

During the regular season, Barkley rushed for an impressive 2,005 yards, narrowly missing Eric Dickerson's record by just 101 yards due to being rested in a non-critical Week 18 game. However, his total rushing yards—including playoffs—reached 2,504, surpassing Terrell Davis' previous record of 2,476 yards. Barkley also set a new benchmark with seven touchdown runs exceeding 60 yards.

This stellar performance translated into a lucrative two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million, with $36 million guaranteed—the highest ever for a running back.

Meanwhile, skeptics who anticipated a decline in Derrick Henry’s performance as he approached his 30s were proven wrong last season. A move to Baltimore revitalized his career; he rushed for 1,921 yards, marking the highest total for any player over 30 years old, surpassing Tiki Barber's record of 1,860 yards at age 30 in 2005.

Henry now holds the 11th-most rushing yards in a single season and remains one of the premier rushers in the league despite not winning a rushing title.

Concerns regarding Detroit's decision to draft Gibbs at 12th overall in 2023 have dissipated as he has emerged as a formidable threat both as a runner and receiver. Following a strong rookie year, Gibbs excelled last season with 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, complemented by 517 receiving yards and four additional scores.

His total of 36 touchdowns during regular and playoff seasons ranks second for any player in their first two seasons, trailing only Hall of Famer Curtis Martin's record of 37.

Robinson, selected eighth overall in 2023, has quickly established himself among the elite running backs in the league due to his dual-threat capabilities. Last season, he ranked fourth among running backs in scrimmage yards (1,887), tied for sixth in touchdowns (15), and second in first downs (102).

Injuries plagued McCaffrey last season, limiting him to just four games after he was named AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. However, when healthy, McCaffrey is among the most productive players in the league, evidenced by his impressive tally of 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns across 16 games in 2023.