The NFC South is home to some of the NFL’s most talented running backs entering the 2026 season. From established stars to rising playmakers, several backs have positioned themselves among the best at their position.
Based on production, talent, and overall impact, here are the top NFC South running backs for the 2026 season.
Ranking the Top NFC South Running Backs for 2026
5. Kenneth Gainwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Many fans will argue Alvin Kamara deserves this spot, but Kenneth Gainwell’s younger age and 2025 season proved he belongs among the top backs in the division.
After spending most of his career in a very limited role with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell finally received a larger workload and showcased the complete skill set that made him such an intriguing player coming out of Memphis. He became one of the most important pieces of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, serving as both a legitimate rushing threat and Aaron Rodgers security blanket in the passing game.
Gainwell consistently created yards after contact, displayed excellent burst in open space, and provided reliability on third downs. His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver made him a valuable weapon every week. He showed he could handle a larger workload while remaining one of the more efficient backs in football.
2025 Stats: 537 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 5 rushing touchdowns, 73 receptions, 486 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 1,023 total yards, 8 total touchdowns.
4. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard continues to be one of the most underrated running backs in football. While he may not possess flashy highlight plays, he consistently delivers productive performances.
Hubbard split carries with Rico Dowdle in 2025, which limited his overall workload, but he still remained an important part of Carolina’s offense. He thrives as a disciplined north-south runner who has long speed and burst. His vision, patience, and toughness allow him to maximize nearly every carry.
Hubbard is also praised for his pass protection, durability, and ability to consistently pick up positive yardage ahead of the chains. Even in a shared backfield, he still provided steady production for the Panthers.
2025 Stats: 511 rushing yards, 3.8 yards per carry, 1 rushing touchdown, 30 receptions, 223 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 734 total yards, 4 total touchdowns.
3. Travis Etienne Jr., New Orleans Saints
Former Jacksonville Jaguar Travis Etienne remains one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL. Few players can match his combination of acceleration, speed, and home-run ability.
Playing on a contract year in 2025, Etienne absolutely balled out and reminded everyone why he was once viewed as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Every touch carried the potential for a game-changing play. Once Etienne reached the second level of a defense, defenders often struggled to catch him. His world-class straight-line speed and acceleration made him one of the NFL’s biggest big-play threats, while his receiving ability added another dimension to the Saints’ offense.
While he is not as complete of a player as the backs ranked above him, his explosiveness alone makes him one of the most feared offensive weapons in the division.
2025 Stats: 1,107 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 7 rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions, 292 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, 1,399 total yards, 13 total touchdowns.
2. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving had an injury riddled 2025 yet still established himself as one of the NFL’s most exciting young running backs.
Irving relies on an incredibly low center of gravity, elite lateral quickness, and a high broken-tackle rate. He excels at making defenders miss in tight spaces and generating yards after contact. His quick feet and sudden change-of-direction ability allow him to create explosive plays even when blocking breaks down.
Despite missing seven games, he still produced 865 total yards and four touchdowns, showing how valuable he remained to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense. If he had stayed healthy for a full 17-game season, his numbers likely would have been among the best in the division. The Buccaneers built a significant portion of their offense around Irving’s playmaking ability, and he rewarded them with another productive season despite the injury setback.
2025 Stats: 588 rushing yards, 3.4 yards per carry, 1 rushing touchdown, 30 receptions, 277 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 865 total yards, 4 total touchdowns.
1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
There was never much debate for the top spot in Ranking the Top NFC South running backs for 2026. Bijan Robinson is arguably the best running back in football alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. He possesses a rare combination of vision, balance, agility, receiving ability, and creativity that few players in league history have displayed.
Robinson is the definition of a modern three-down running back. He can dominate between the tackles, create explosive plays on the perimeter, can line up in the slot, and function as a legitimate receiving threat. His wide receiver-level hands make him one of the most versatile offensive weapons in football.
Robinson possesses an elite combination of vision, change-of-direction agility, and wide-receiver-level hands. He is a true three-down bell-cow back who can line up in the slot just as effectively as he runs between the tackles. Few players in today’s NFL are capable of impacting a game in as many ways as Robinson.
2025 Stats: 1,478 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 7 rushing touchdowns, 79 receptions, 820 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 2,298 total yards, 11 total touchdowns.
The Takeaway
Ranking the Top NFC South running backs for 2026 highlights just how much talent exists within the division. Kenneth Gainwell provides versatility, Chuba Hubbard provides reliable production, Travis Etienne brings elite explosiveness, Bucky Irving continues to emerge as a bruising star when healthy, and Bijan Robinson stands alone as one of the league’s true superstars.
As the 2026 season approaches, not many divisions may feature a better mix of elite production, versatility, and game-changing talent at the running back position than the NFC South.
Main Image: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
