For the 2026 season, there were hardly any changes to running back depth charts in the NFC East. Most teams in the division were comfortable with the players they already had. The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have bellcow running backs who see a large workload each week. However, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders had split backfields in 2025. Next, we’ll rank the top NFC East Running Backs for the 2026 season.
The Best NFC East Running Backs for 2026
5. Rachaad White, Commanders
Coming in at number five for the top NFC East Running Backs is Rachaad White. The 27-year-old is set to enter his fifth professional season. White spent his first four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a third-round pick out of Arizona in 2022. Over four seasons, White appeared in 67 games and made 48 starts. In 2025, he played in all 17 games and made eight starts for Tampa Bay.
With the emergence of Bucky Irving, White’s playing time started to decrease. However, he remained a true pro and answered the bell when his number was called. This offseason, the Buccaneers let White walk in free agency. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Commanders for the 2026 season. While White might be the backup on the current depth chart, that could easily change in the next two months. He’s competing with a seventh-round pick from the 2025 draft class.
4. Jacory Croskey-Merrit, Commanders
To begin the 2025 season, veteran Austin Ekeler was the starting running back for Washington. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon vs. the Green Bay Packers. After that, the team had a variety of players in their backfield. Jacory Croskey-Merrit led all Commanders running backs with 175 carries in 2025. Croskey-Merrit was a seventh-round draft pick by the Commanders out of Arizona. He appeared in all 17 games as a rookie and made seven starts.
The 25-year-old is an interesting project for the Commanders. In terms of longevity, Croskey-Merritt is already an older player at his position. Regardless, the team will rely heavily on his production in 2026. On the team’s depth chart, Croskey-Merritt is listed as the starter. He’ll compete with White over the next two months to earn that starting role. For the 2026 season, we have Croskey-Merritt as the fourth top NFC East running back.
3. Cam Skattebo, Giants
In the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Giants selected Cam Skattebo out of Arizona State. Skattebo was a fan favorite at the collegiate level due to his talent and aggressive running style. That remained true for his rookie season with New York. However, Skattebo’s 2025 campaign was cut short due to a gruesome ankle injury. Against the Eagles in Week 8, he dislocated his right ankle, fractured his tibia, and ruptured a deltoid ligament. Skattebo had emergency surgery the same night.
Roughly eight months after that surgery, Skattebo is close to or already back at full strength. Giants insider Jordan Raanan shared a video of Skattebo going full speed through drills at practice. From what fans can see, Skattebo will have no limitations for 2026. Before the injury in 2025, the 24-year-old was off to a promising rookie campaign. Skattebo finished the year with 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, he had 24 receptions for 207 yards and two receiving touchdowns. If Skattebo stays healthy, he could be a 1,000-yard running back.
2. Javonte Williams, Cowboys
Javonte Williams is the second-best NFC East running back entering the 2026 season. Williams was a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2021 out of North Carolina. He played four seasons for Denver before joining the Cowboys last season. The 26-year-old was on a one-year, $3 million deal with Dallas. Williams had a career-best season with the Cowboys in 2025. He rushed for a career-high 1,211 yards on 252 carries and 11 touchdowns. On top of that, he had 35 receptions for 137 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
After that type of production, the Cowboys were willing to invest in Williams long-term. They signed him to a three-year, $24 million deal. That included $16 million guaranteed. There is a potential out for Dallas following the 2027 season. If he stays healthy again in 2026, expect to see Williams carry a majority of the workload in the backfield.
1. Saquon Barkley, Eagles
The 2026 season will already be year nine in the NFL for Saquon Barkley. He started his career with the Giants after they selected him second overall in 2018 out of Penn State. Barkley played the first six seasons of his career for New York. Following 2023, the team did not re-sign the talented running back, and he signed a long-term contract with the Eagles. In his first year with Philadelphia, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in 16 games. He is one of nine players in NFL history to rush for 2,000+ yards in one season.
After a dazzling 2,000-yard campaign in 2024, Barkley’s production was not the same in 2025. Again, he appeared in 16 games for the Eagles, but rushed for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns. Without question, Barkley is the top NFC East running back for the 2026 season. At his best, he’s arguably still one of the top active running backs in the league. There is talent at running back in the NFC East; however, Barkley remains number one.
