Top 10 Running Backs of the 2022 NFL Season: Remaking Maurice Jones-Drew’s List

Top 10 RBs of the 2022 NFL Season: Remaking Maurice Jones-Drew’s List

Maurice Jones-Drew recently released his list of the top 75 running backs of the 2022 NFL season. We’re just going to focus on the top 10 running backs. While Jones-Drew was an excellent running back during his time in the NFL, this list is … pretty bad.

I don’t think Jones-Drew is a bad analyst by any means — I actually like his work with NFL Network. But this list wasn’t great. Let’s fix it!

Jones-Drew’s list

Here’s what Jones-Drew’s list looks like:

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF
2. Austin Ekeler, LAC
3. Josh Jacobs, LV
4. Derrick Henry, TEN
5. Nick Chubb, CLE
6. Saquon Barkley, NYG
7. Dalvin Cook, MIN
8. Aaron Jones, GB
9. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
10. Miles Sanders, PHI

Snubs: Tony Pollard, DAL; Travis Etienne, JAX; Alvin Kamara, NO

The fixed list

Here’s what I would do to fix this list.

1. Josh Jacobs, LV

Jacobs was on a contract year going into 2023, and he absolutely shattered all expectations to earn the spot as the No. 1 back on my list for the 2022 season. The Raiders declined his option and boy did it motivate him like crazy: rushing title, 2,000 total scrimmage yards and only one fumble lost. Jacobs was a mad man in 2022, and a tiny bit better than McCaffrey.

2. Christian McCaffrey, SF

It was hard to find a more complete back that McCaffrey in 2022. He threw a passing touchdown, accumulated for 1,210 scrimmage yards in 11 games as a Niner and caught everything in sight. It was hard for me to not put McCaffrey at one, but I just don’t think he was as reliable as Jacobs. Not to mention, Jacobs had an inferior offensive line to McCaffrey, at least in San Francisco.

3. Austin Ekeler, LAC

Another year, another monster season from Chargers’ Ekeler. For the past few seasons, Ekeler has been the engine to the LA offense and this season was no different. In fact, he quietly set the franchise record for pass receptions in 2022. What a Swiss army knife.

4. Saquon Barkley, NYG

Where would the New York Giants have been in 2022 without Barkley? Probably in the basement of the NFC East. Instead, he was a main catalyst to Big Blue’s 2022 playoff run, where they reached the divisional round. Saquon finally returned to form and had his first big season since before the ACL tear. I list him higher on this list than Jones-Drew, mostly because he did more with less of an offensive line than many others could.

5. Derrick Henry, TEN

Henry was his usual self in 2022, but he didn’t shatter rushing records and win the rushing championship like usual. Still, 1,538 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns is nothing to scoff at. Our expectations for Henry are so massive because we’ve seen what he could do. That Titans team was dreadful down the stretch, which could be a reason why he slid on my list.

6. Nick Chubb, CLE

Chubb continues to be overlooked in NFL circles as one of the best running backs in the NFL, mainly because this season was filled with so much distraction for Cleveland. Anytime you can average 5.0 yards per carry, you belong on a top running backs list. I’d be interested to see what Chubb could do if he ever had to play with a non-top tier offensive line.

7. Aaron Jones, GB

Jones was another one of those over-five yards per carry guys in 2022. Behind an offensive line that was injured and had its struggles, Jones prevailed as one of the best backs in the league again. He is certainly living up to his contract, and him and A.J. Dillon comprise one of the best running back duos in the NFL. A reason why he wasn’t higher on me and Jones-Drew’s list: he only accounted for two rushing touchdowns on one of the league’s worst redzone offenses.

8. Dalvin Cook, MIN

The thing that brought Cook down on this list was inconsistency. Some weeks, he’d blow up for 111 or 119 yards, and some weeks he’d lay a goose egg. Although Cook wasn’t consistent throughout the year, 1,000 yards was crossed with ease and the back broke out his biggest plays in the biggest games. Dalvin Cook remains as the second best back in the NFC North in 2022 in my eyes.

9. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE

Stevenson had a breakout 2022. He declared himself as the true No. 1 running back in New England. He blossomed as a pass catcher, something that had some people questioning him earlier this season. Amongst the players on this list, Stevenson had the third most receiving yards of any back, just behind McCaffery and Ekeler. Expect big things in 2023 from Stevenson.

10. Travis Etienne, JAX

Travis Etienne broke out in his first real season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He got off to a slow start, but once the Jags traded James Robinson, the writing was on the wall for Etienne to have a massive 2022 in Doug Peterson’s system. 5.1 yards per carry, five rushing touchdowns and six 100-yard games — including one in the playoffs — is really solid.

Snubs: Tony Pollard, DAL; Miles Sanders, PHI; Kenneth Walker, SEA

So, there you have it. It took a lot of effort for me to keep Tony Pollard off of this list. He had an amazing year, but so did so many other great backs in the league. Running back is a really fun position to analyze because so many factors come into play.

Oh, and Miles Sanders? Yea, you shouldn’t have been a Pro Bowler. If Kenneth Gainwell was the primary back for the Eagles, I think he would have had better numbers than you with that monstrous Offensive Line.

Maurice, if you’re reading this, embrace debate. It’s all love.

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