NFC West running backs have led the way in the NFL for quite a while. In total, since the award began in 1972, there have been eight NFL Offensive Player of the Year Awards given to running backs in the division, including one current player. All in all, the division used two first-round picks on running backs this past year. Plus, there are two who seemingly stand above the rest, and there’s one potential Hall of Famer.
Heading into the 2026 season, there’s an arms race in the division. The Seattle Seahawks are set to try and go back-to-back, while the Los Angeles Rams made the single-biggest splash trade of the offseason by securing the best defender in the league. While the running back position isn’t the most valuable anymore, there are some studs in the NFC West. Let’s continue Last Word’s series and rank the top five heading into 2026.
Ranking the Top NFC West Running Backs for 2026
Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
Notre Dame had quite the one-two punch at running back last year. With the 32nd pick of this year’s draft, the Seahawks chose to grab Jadarian Price as the second running back selected on the night.
He was never the go-to back while in college, but that didn’t stop him from showing what he can do.
Price missed his entire true freshman season due to injury in 2022. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he appeared in all 13 games. In total, he amassed 272 yards and three touchdowns on 47 rushing attempts. Then, in his redshirt sophomore season in 2024, he appeared in all 16 games as Notre Dame finished as the CFP runners-up after falling to Ohio State. That year, he added 746 yards and seven touchdowns on 120 carries.
Last season, again, despite playing behind Love, Price was impressively productive. In 12 games, he totalled 674 yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 carries. As a receiver in his career, Price added 162 yards and three touchdowns (two in 2025) on 15 receptions.
In terms of talent, Price is the best that the Seahawks have, but he may not be asked to be the bellcow of the offense. Kenneth Walker carried the ball 221 times last year, but only scored five times. It would not be surprising for both Price and his teammate to be under 200 carries as they both work into the rotation.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Narrowly edging his teammate, Zach Charbonnet is the known commodity. Charbonnet has been that intriguing piece on the depth chart that hasn’t really gotten his opportunity to carry the load. Could this year be the year?
Considering the Seahawks spent a first-round pick on Price, it’s not likely. But that’s not to say his role couldn’t grow. He has worked more into the rotation with each passing year, going from 108 carries in 2023 to 135 in 2024 and finally, 184 last year.
His yardage has also increased year over year, naturally. However, his 20 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons are good enough to tie Saquon Barkley and David Montgomery for the 10th-best.
Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
You don’t take a running back third overall if he’s not in your plans to immediately feature in your offense. While some folks are trying to downplay the plans for Jeremiyah Love, he’s going to be the guy in Arizona.
He had a true breakout in his second season with Notre Dame, running for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns in 16 games. It was thanks to him that the Fighting Irish finished as College Football Playoff runners-up in the first 12-team format. Last year, he was even better. Despite only playing 12 games (because they missed the CFP), Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He’s a home-run threat from anywhere on the field. As a runner, he’s as instinctive and hard to bring down as any in the NFL today. As a receiver, he’s more than just a running back who happens to possess hands; he’s an actual weapon.
The Cardinals may not be the best team in the NFC West next year, but Love can be expected to be great. It would not be surprising if he’s atop this list this time next year.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Back to the established, known commodities, Kyren Williams has become one of the most reliable running backs in the NFL. After sitting and learning in the 2022 season, Williams broke out in 2023.
In 12 games (11 starts), Williams led the NFL with 95.3 yards per game. His 1,1144-yard, 12-touchdown season earned him his lone Pro Bowl nod. He followed that up with 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024, with 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
He inked a three-year extension prior to last season, so there is still plenty of great football ahead of him.
Among active running backs, he’s eighth with 69.7 yards per game and 13th with 4.6 yards per carry.
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
He’s still doing it. After all of the uncertainty of the 2024 season, a year in which Christian McCaffrey only managed 202 yards in four games, we weren’t sure what the rest of his career would hold. He only came back and ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns. At the same time, he added 102 receptions and 924 yards. His 2,126 total offensive yards were second-most in the NFL.
McCaffrey, when healthy, has been a transcendent player in the NFL. He hit 1,000 yards in every season in which he appeared in 16 games except for his rookie season.
Prior to his injury, he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and added 14 touchdowns in 2023.
If you want to have a good conversation, ask if McCaffrey is a Hall of Famer. According to Pro-Football-Reference, he’s falling short…but it tends to value titles. The three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler has been one of the best running backs since his breakout in 2018. If he can stay healthy for another year, the 49ers will be contending yet again.
