If you don’t have good running backs, you can never run the ball in Madden NFL 26. If you know exactly who to pick, you may have the best ways to win.
The best rushers in the league need their Offensive Linemen to create space and their Quarterbacks to keep defenses honest, but even with those assets, they still need to outrun the best Linebackers to break free. A few players in the top 10 weren’t widely known beforehand, leaving us with limited background. However, we can still provide a basic profile, and luckily, their stats are there to help.
Madden NFL 26 – Best Running Backs
10 – Kenneth Walker III
- OVR: 88
- SPD: 94
- STR: 81
- AGI: 92
- COD: 90
- INJ: 84
- AWR: 84
Kenneth Walker III was born in 2000 and is a running back for the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Michigan State Spartans, where he was named an All-American college football player.
He also won the Walter Camp Award. He may be at the end of this list, but there’s a lot of good he can do for the team.
9 – Jonathan Taylor
- OVR: 88
- SPD: 92
- STR: 82
- AGI: 86
- COD: 86
- INJ: 90
- AWR: 96
Jonathan Taylor is a running back for the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. While he may not seem like someone to look out for, his ranking says otherwise.
He is likely to show up a lot of those who doubt him this year. I would keep an eye on Taylor for the rest of the season.
8 – James Cook
- OVR: 89
- SPD: 92
- STR: 67
- AGI: 94
- COD: 92
- INJ: 88
- AWR: 90
James Cook is a running back. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was part of their 2021 national championship team.
Cook is currently a player for the Buffalo Bills. This is good because they have the opportunity to do well this year.
7 – Josh Jacobs
- OVR: 90
- SPD: 90
- STR: 83
- AGI: 86
- COD: 83
- INJ: 93
- AWR: 92
Josh Jacobs is a running back in the top 10. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Jacobs previously played for the Oakland Raiders and is now with the Green Bay Packers.
As part of the Packers, Jacobs has done a great job. He looks like he’s going to make a lot of noise this year.
6 – Joe Mixon
- OVR: 91
- SPD: 92
- STR: 82
- AGI: 89
- COD: 88
- INJ: 91
- AWR: 91
Joe Mixon was born in 1996 and is a running back. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. Mixon previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Houston Texans.
He is currently on the roster for the Texans and is doing well. He has been named an American Conference Pro Bowl player.
5 – Bijan Robinson
- OVR: 92
- SPD: 91
- STR: 81
- AGI: 89
- COD: 91
- INJ: 93
- AWR: 88
Bijan Robinson is a running back. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was named an All-American college football player in 2022
Robinson is currently a player for the Atlanta Falcons. Being in the top five is no joke, and based on his performance, he may climb the ranks soon.
4 – Christian McCaffrey
- OVR: 94
- SPD: 90
- STR: 74
- AGI: 94
- COD: 93
- INJ: 83
- AWR: 94
Christian McCaffrey is a running back, but made it to the top five. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was named the Division I Football Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in 2016.
McCaffrey currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He’s doing an amazing job with his team and likely will see great things this year.
3 – Jahmyr Gibbs
- OVR: 95
- SPD: 95
- STR: 72
- AGI: 93
- COD: 92
- INJ: 90
- AWR: 89
Jahmyr Gibbs was born in 2002 and is a running back. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Gibbs is currently a player for the Detroit Lions and has been named a National Conference Pro Bowl player. It looks like his career is on a high this year.
2 – Derrick Henry
- OVR: 98
- SPD: 93
- STR: 87
- AGI: 83
- COD: 78
- INJ: 96
- AWR: 97
Derrick Henry was born in 1994 and is a running back. He was an All-American college football player for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Henry has won many honors, including the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award. He was also named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.
He played for the Tennessee Titans before joining the Baltimore Ravens. Henry has been selected for the American Conference Pro Bowl and holds both SEC and Titans franchise records.
1 – Saquon Barkley
- OVR: 99
- SPD: 95
- STR: 81
- AGI: 95
- COD: 94
- INJ: 91
- AWR: 99
Saquon Barkley was born on February 9, 1997, and is an American professional running back. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he set multiple school records. Barkley was a highly regarded prospect and was drafted as the second overall pick in 2018.
He started his professional career with the New York Giants and later joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He has won many awards, including Pepsi Rookie of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year. Barkley was also named the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and holds the Eagles’ single-season rushing record. He is one of only nine running backs in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. He’s the top RB to look out for in Madden NFL 26.
