Where RBs landed in Prisco's Top 100 NFL players of 2026, plus two notable snubs
We're at the tail end of June, which means the dust has settled on NFL transactions while the league is on summer break prior to the start of training camp at the end of July.
That means it's time for CBS Sports' Pete Prisco to unveil his Top 100 NFL players list. Prisco's rankings are a lightning rod for offseason content, as people across the land argue over where certain players did or did not land on his 2026 list.
Running backs and the value they possess in modern-day football are always a regular point of contention. Prisco put eight running backs inside his top 100, including three inside the top 30, with Bijan Robinson leading the way for the position at No. 17 overall. That's a big fall for the running back position collectively from his prior year's edition, in which 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley ranked No. 3 overall on Prisco's top 100 list. Barkley's step back from his 2,005-yard rushing season, which also included 13 rushing touchdowns, to a 1,140-yard rushing season with just seven rushing touchdowns in 2025 led to a precipitous 44-spot drop from No. 3 overall to No. 47 overall.
Derrick Henry also suffered a steep stumble down the board despite ranking second in the entire NFL in rushing yards in both 2024 (1,921) and 2025 (1,595) and third in the entire league in yards per carry in both 2024 (5.9) and 2025 (5.2). He dropped from No. 14 overall last year to No. 45 overall this year.
Here, we will evaluate every running back Prisco ranked, where they ranked and why they ranked where they did. We'll also spotlight a couple of snubs who just missed the cut.
- Ranking: No. 17 (No. 1 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 39
"He has developed into one of the game's best dual-threat backs. He was fourth in rushing with 1,478 yards and also caught 79 passes for 820 yards. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over his three seasons." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 19 (No. 2 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 41
"Coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season, he responded by rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes with seven touchdown receptions. At times, he was basically the entire 49ers offense because of injuries to other players." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 21 (No. 3 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 32
"He is the catalyst that makes the Lions offense go. He rushed for 1,223 yards and caught 77 passes. He averaged 5 yards per rush. He should get more carries this season. " -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 32 (No. 4 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 50
"He finished third in the league in rushing with 1,585 yards and a 4.9 average. He scored 20 touchdowns, including 18 on the ground. He remains one of the game's best runners." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 34 (No. 5 RB)
- 2025 ranking: Not ranked
"He led the NFL in rushing with 1,621 yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores. He averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per carry." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 44 (No. 6 RB)
- 2025 ranking: Not ranked
"He had 1,350 rushing yards in 13 games with eight rushing touchdowns. He also had 67 catches and four receiving touchdowns. He is a home run threat every time he touches the ball." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 45 (No. 7 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 14
"He didn't quite have as good a season as he did in 2024, but he still ran for 1,595 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per rush. At 32, you have to wonder when he will truly start to slow down." -- Pete Prisco
- Ranking: No. 47 (No. 8 RB)
- 2025 ranking: 3
"Like many Eagles players, Barkley's 2025 season wasn't nearly as good as his 2024 campaign. His rushing yards fell from 2,005 to 1,440, and his yards per carry dropped from 5.8 to 4.1. The poor line play contributed to those declines." -- Pete Prisco
Notable RB snubs in Prisco's Top 100
There were only seven running backs in the NFL in 2025 with 1,200-plus yards rushing and 10-plus rushing touchdowns. Five of them -- McCaffrey, Gibbs, Taylor, Cook and Henry -- were inside Prisco's top 100, and two of them were not -- Kyren Williams and Javonte Williams. The latter two comprise the notable snubs section of this piece.
Kyren Williams' 44 touchdowns from scrimmage since he became the Rams' starting running back in 2023 rank as the third-most in the entire league in this span, trailing only Gibbs (49) and Henry (46). Even though Williams possesses a reputation as someone who struggles with fumbling, he put the ball on the ground just twice in 2025 -- the fewest in a season in his career since he became Los Angeles' featured back in 2023. Williams also rushed for more yards (1,252, the sixth most in the NFL) than both McCaffrey (1,202, the eighth most in the NFL) and Gibbs (1,252, the seventh most in the NFL) in 2025; the backs ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in Prisco's rankings.
Javonte Williams' career was slipping away from him entering the 2025 offseason, which was why he quickly accepted a one-year, $3 million contract almost as soon as the NFL's league tampering period began. However, he showed the world why the Denver Broncos made him a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and then some.
Williams erupted for career highs in carries (252, the 10th most in the NFL), rushing yards (1,201, the 9th most in the NFL), rushing touchdowns (11, the 7th most in the NFL) and yards per carry (4.8, 13th most in the NFL). That's why the typically frugal Jerry Jones quickly re-signed him this offseason to a three-year, $24 million deal with $16 million in guaranteed money. He'll once again be the bell-cow back in Dallas' high-flying offense in 2026.
Add CBS Sports on GoogleBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
