Ground Index

Ranking all 74 starting running backs from 2024 NFL season

Published: Feb 11, 2025 at 04:04 PM

Maurice Jones-Drew

NFL.com Analyst

With Super Bowl LIX behind us and the bulk of offseason action ahead of us, we now get to enjoy one of the rarest things on the NFL calendar: a chance to look back.

Soon, teams will begin assessing their running back rooms and plotting ways to improve them. But before we fully turn our attention toward the 2025 NFL season, I'm giving each running back to start a game in 2024 their due -- by ranking them below.

Before we get to the list, a note: To qualify, a player must have started at least one game at running back in 2024 while also logging at least 20 carries for the season. And to qualify for analysis, a player must have started more than one game.

Let's dig in.

Rank

Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles · Year 7

Before the season began, I stated: The 1,000-yard mark should be the floor if Barkley can stay healthy, while a career high in rush yards is very much on the table if he can make the most of his touches. It's clear Barkley did exactly that and then some, rushing for an NFL-high 2,005 yards. He was instrumental to Philly's offensive dominance, as he posted 11 100-yard rushing games in the regular season -- and he continued to make defenses look rather pedestrian in the playoffs. In the Eagles' three postseason wins ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Barkley amassed a whopping 442 rushing yards with five touchdowns. And on the biggest stage, Barkley ended up setting the NFL record for the most rushing yards in a single season, including playoffs (2,504).

Rank

Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens · Year 9

Last offseason, football fans across the world couldn't wait to see what Henry would do in an offense alongside Lamar Jackson. Man, did this duo live up to the hype. I mentioned this in January, but it bears repeating: In 2024, Henry topped 1,500 rushing yards for the fourth time in his career and became the first player in NFL history to finish with at least 1,900 rushing yards in a season for the second time in his career. He led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns and did his part in the postseason, averaging 135 rush yards with three total touchdowns in Baltimore's two games. Even at 31 years old, Henry is still one of the very best at his position.

Rank

Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions · Year 2

Gibbs nearly eclipsed 2,000 scrimmage yards while splitting touches with David Montgomery in Detroit's backfield. The second-year pro really flexed his muscle late in the season when Montgomery was out with an injury. In three starts in Weeks 16-18, Gibbs averaged 25.6 touches, 121.7 rush yards and 162.3 scrimmage yards per game with six total touchdowns. He continued that pace in Detroit's lone postseason contest, posting 175 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns. He has established himself as a top running back just two years into his career.

Rank

Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons · Year 2

Much like Gibbs in Detroit, Robinson built on his promising rookie season in Year 2, elevating his game in his first season under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Finishing third in rushing yards and tying for fifth in rushing touchdowns, Bijan thrived as the focal point of the Falcons offense, generating five 100-yard rushing games (three more than he had in 2023). Bijan is in the perfect spot to continue building in Year 3.

Rank

Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers · Year 6

Interestingly enough, Jacobs is the third player already on this list to have moved teams last offseason. In his case, he left Vegas and signed a four-year contract with the Packers, serving exceptionally as the focal point of Matt LaFleur's offense. He ranked second in rushing touchdowns and fifth in scrimmage yards among running backs this season. He faced the best defense in the league -- the Philadelphia Eagles' unit -- twice in 2024, on opposite ends of the 2024 season, in Week 1 and on Wild Card Weekend, gaining nearly 5.0 yards per carry in those contests. Green Bay has established a top-tier run game for as long as Jacobs is around; if it can get better production in the pass game, it'll be bad news for the rest of the NFC North.

Rank

Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts · Year 5

Taylor earned his second Pro Bowl selection after compiling 1,431 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in just 14 games. He was mostly consistent in an offense that once again had up-and-down QB play in 2024, with the highlight of his campaign coming in the final month of the season, when he posted four straight 100-yard rushing games.

Rank

Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams · Year 3

Williams built on his 2023 breakout season by racking up nearly 1,500 scrimmage yards and scoring 16 total touchdowns. He was solid all season long and through the playoffs, rushing for 106 yards on 19 carries (5.6 yards per attempt) in the Divisional Round loss to the Eagles. He's been "impactful" enough to merit contract discussions with the Rams this offseason, according to general manager Les Snead.

Rank

James Cook

Buffalo Bills · Year 3

Cook was essential to the Bills' offensive success in 2024. He scored 18 scrimmage touchdowns -- after totaling nine over his first two seasons combined. He posted another 1,000-yard rushing season, and his pass-catching ability was on full display for much of the campaign. Bills RBs led the NFL with eight receiving TDs and 10.9 yards per catch in 2024, and Cook (two receiving TDs, 8.1 yards per catch) was a big part of that. He more than earned his second straight trip to the Pro Bowl.

Rank

Joe Mixon

Houston Texans · Year 8

Mixon earned his second Pro Bowl nod after logging his fifth 1,000-yard rushing season. Houston's offense endured its struggles in 2024 under Bobby Slowik, who was fired following the team's playoff exit, and Mixon certainly had his off days. But he was one of the more consistent aspects of the unit and saved some of his best performances for the postseason, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown in a Wild Card win over the Chargers and averaging 4.9 yards per carry in the Divisional Round loss to the Chiefs. Mixon's usage in Year 3 will be heavily dependent on new offensive coordinator Nick Caley.

Rank

Aaron Jones

Minnesota Vikings · Year 8

Jones posted career-high marks in carries and rush yards in his first season with the Vikings. He was a dual-threat playmaker out of the backfield who looked spry at age 30. Fresh off his fourth 1,000-yard rushing campaign, he enters free agency this offseason but proved he has plenty left in the tank to offer an RB-needy team.

Rank

Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Rookie

Of all the players in the top 11, Irving is the one no one saw coming, and outranked by Houston's Joe Mixon here only because the veteran was more consistent than the rookie from start to finish. The Bucs' offense ranked fourth in rushing yards and third overall, and the fourth-round pick helped pave the way. He established himself as an above-average back in the second half of the season by recording 834 scrimmage yards in Weeks 12-18, third-most in the league in that span. I was impressed with his physicality when running between the tackles but also his ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

Rank

Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints · Year 8

There wasn't much to celebrate in New Orleans this season, especially on the offensive side of things. But as he's done for much of his career, Kamara provided steady -- even great at times -- production, often carrying the offense to finish with a career-high 950 rush yards while leading the team in targets and receptions. A ton of change is on the horizon, with Kellen Moore taking the coaching reins, but Kamara's place as the centerpiece of this offense will remain the same.

Rank

De'Von Achane

Miami Dolphins · Year 2

Achane rushed for more total yards than he did as a rookie, but he wasn't nearly as efficient in Year 2 -- in keeping with the trend set by the rest of the Dolphins offense from 2023 to 2024. Achane did close the season out on a good note, with two 100-yard rushing performances over the last three games as Miami made a late playoff push. That's a positive to carry over to his third season under Mike McDaniel.

Rank

James Conner

Arizona Cardinals · Year 8

Conner has settled into Drew Petzing's offense quite nicely over the last two seasons. The veteran just recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign and earned a two-year extension with the team. Conner's presence in the backfield has elevated this offense, and that includes his contribution to the passing game, where he posted his most receiving yards since 2018 (his first NFL season as a full-time starter in Pittsburgh).

Rank

Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers · Year 4

Last summer, I thought Jonathon Brooks was going to overtake Hubbard as the Panthers' RB1. But even before the rookie was cleared to return to game action from the injury he sustained in college, Hubbard announced himself as the featured back with dominant performances. His production was one of the biggest surprises at the running back position in 2024 -- alongside what Bucky Irving did in Tampa. He earned his four-year extension and should carry the momentum and confidence he gained this season into 2025.

Rank

J.K. Dobbins

Los Angeles Chargers · Year 5

Dobbins had himself a solid campaign in his first season in Los Angeles, especially after missing so much time to injuries while in Baltimore. The fifth-year pro posted career highs in carries, rush yards, catches and receiving yards, while matching his personal best in rush TDs. The free-agent-to-be has done enough to earn another starting opportunity, whether in Los Angeles or elsewhere.

Rank

Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans · Year 6

Pollard quietly posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, rushing for a career-high 67.4 yards per game during his first season in Tennessee. Even if the rest of the offense was often a mess, Pollard was steady and looks like a promising building block for Brian Callahan's future attack.

Rank

Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers · Year 4

When you really look at the stat sheet, Harris' 2024 campaign wasn't all that eye-opening; he had 75 or fewer rush yards in 15 games (including playoffs). That said, he eclipsed 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season, so he generally made the most of his time in Pittsburgh. He hits free agency in March, and there's a real possibility we haven't yet seen him reach his full potential.

Rank

Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys · Year 5

The Cowboys offense went on a roller coaster ride in 2024, with star players going in and out of the lineup due to injury. Dowdle didn't surpass 90 rush yards in a game until Thanksgiving Day -- then emerged down the stretch, impressing with four 100-yard rushing performances over the Cowboys' final six games to help him wrap his first season as a starter with 1,000 rushing yards.

Rank

David Montgomery

Detroit Lions · Year 6

Montgomery was again a force for the Lions offense, helping it rank third in attempts, six in rush yards and second in rushing TDs this season. His knee injury ended his campaign prematurely, but the fact that Montgomery was able to return to play in the Divisional Round speaks volumes about his toughness. Though he missed the final month of the regular season, 2024 was another success for the veteran back.

Rank

D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears · Year 5

After a breakout 2023 campaign with the Eagles, Swift somewhat underwhelmed in his first year in Chicago, falling just shy of 1,000 rush yards. He also averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry in a season for the first time in his career. It just felt as if this offense could never quite get off the ground. That should change with Ben Johnson joining the team as head coach/offensive play-caller.

Rank

Breece Hall

New York Jets · Year 3

I really thought Hall would have a breakout season two years removed from a serious knee injury, but it just didn't happen. Hall had only one game with 100-plus rush yards and another with 100-plus receiving yards, but he (like the rest of the Jets offense) struggled to find consistency during a tumultuous 2024 campaign. It's best to forget this season and look ahead to 2025.

Rank

Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals · Year 2

Brown began the season as a backup and change-of-pace option to Zack Moss. He took over as the starter in October when Moss landed on IR, and while the Bengals run game is very much secondary to the passing attack, Brown provided a steady presence on the ground. Thanks to his pass-catching ability, Brown was able to post six games with at least 100 scrimmage yards and two contests with multiple touchdowns.

Rank

Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers · Year 3

Mason's early success in place of an injured Christian McCaffrey was a pleasant surprise. He posted three 100-yard rushing performances over the first four games of the campaign -- and then he suffered his own injury, which limited his playing time in the second half of the season. Even so, Mason proved to be starter material in this league.

Rank

Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants · Rookie

Tracy played minimally in the first month of the season, appearing on no more than a third of the Giants' offensive snaps in any game. But after Devin Singletary's injury, the 2024 fifth-round pick stepped up for Big Blue, averaging nearly 14 carries per game over the final 13 games, and ended the season with 1,100 scrimmage yards. There's a chance Tracy will be given a bigger role in 2025.

Rank

Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots · Year 4

With a new regime and quarterback taking over in New England last season, I figured we'd see plenty of Stevenson. And we did, as he averaged nearly 14 carries per contest (the most in a season in his career). However, Stevenson wasn't all that productive. His 3.9 yards-per-carry mark and the fact that he failed to reach 100 rush yards in any game outside of Week 1 tell the tale of 2024.

Related Links

Rank

Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs · Year 8

Hunt was a key part of Kansas City's 15-win season after re-signing with the franchise following Isiah Pacheco's Week 2 injury. Hunt earned 42 first downs on rushes and was instrumental for the Chiefs in the red zone, scoring nearly half of the team's rushing TDs despite playing in only 13 games.

Rank

Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Year 3

This is the second component of the Bucs' 1-2 backfield punch. Despite starting 15 games for the Bucs, White was outpaced by rookie Bucky Irving in every rushing category. White was used slightly more in the pass game, but overall, 2024 ended up being a step in the wrong direction after he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards a year ago.

Rank

Brian Robinson

Washington Commanders · Year 3

Robinson got out to a hot start, registering two 100-yard games in the first month of the season and scoring six rushing TDs in his first six games. His production fell off down the stretch, but his two-touchdown day in the Divisional Round upset over Detroit was a nice performance to take into the offseason. That said, he's capable of more in this offense.

Rank

Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars · Year 2

The Jaguars offense was saddled with shoddy quarterback play for much of the season, but the more concerning thing is that a run game that featured starter Travis Etienne and Bigsby finished 26th in the league in rushing yards. The second-year pro was more efficient than Etienne, and it would not be surprising if Bigsby took on a bigger role in new head coach Liam Coen's offense.

Rank

Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks · Year 3

Walker experienced some highs and lows in 2024. He scored seven total TDs over his first five games of the season, but he unfortunately missed six games due to injury. One area where Walker improved was in the pass game, where he recorded career highs in several categories (53 targets, 46 catches and 299 receiving yards) despite playing in only 11 games.

Rank

Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks · Year 2

Each member of the Seattle duo produced at comparable enough levels that they landed next to one another on my list. Charbonnet stepped up to make six starts in the absence of Kenneth Walker III in 2024. The second-year back's best performance came in Week 14, when he rushed for a career-high 134 yards on 22 carries with two scores. Charbonnet and Walker have more talented than many give them credit for; these guys just need more touches.

Rank

Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos · Year 4

Williams' 513 rush yards counted as the second-fewest by a team's leading rusher this season, which makes sense, given that the Broncos resorted to using a committee approach in the second half after watching their RB1 struggle when receiving the bulk of the load early in the year. That said, Sean Payton used the fourth-year running back more in the pass game in 2024, with Williams posting career highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards. The soon-to-be free agent might just need a change of scenery.

Rank

Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns · Year 3

With Nick Chubb's presence reduced again, the Browns' run game struggled in 2024. When Chubb wasn't on the field, Ford and D'Onta Foreman held down the backfield. Ford was quite efficient in a more limited role than he had one year ago, rushing for 1.4 more yards per carry in 2024 than in 2023. He should have a role in the Browns' 2025 plans.

Rank

Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars · Year 4

The Jaguars got away from using Etienne as their primary back in 2024. Give credit to Tank Bigsby, who simply outproduced Etienne, despite Etienne starting 15 games. Even after a tough season in which he posted career lows in nearly every rushing category, Etienne remains an elusive player with better days ahead.

Rank

Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns · Year 7

Chubb's return from his serious knee injury in 2023 was delayed until Week 7, and his campaign was then cut short after he broke his foot in Week 15. When he was available, the veteran wasn't nearly as efficient as he was prior to that knee injury. Due to Chubb's inability to stay in the lineup and injuries throughout the offense, Cleveland could not put together a consistent run game for a majority of the season, ranking 28th in the league in carries and 29th in rush yards. Chubb is a soon-to-be free agent who still offers value if healthy.

Rank

Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 6

The Raiders ranked dead last in rushing in 2024 while leaning on a committee of backs after Josh Jacobs departed for Green Bay last offseason. While Mattison, who signed a one-year deal with the team last year, received the most carries of the Raiders backs, he was far less efficient than Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick. Mattison might still be a serviceable change-of-pace option, but I don't view him as a starter going forward.

Rank

Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots · Year 5

Now we are moving firmly into the portion of this list populated by true backups, with a few injured starters sprinkled in. Gibson earned three starts but averaged just 10.3 carries and 37.3 rush yards in those contests. We'll see if Gibson, who also saw some action as a kick returner, has a bigger role under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Rank

Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders · Year 8

Ekeler was in and out of the lineup due to injury in his first year on the East Coast, and even when he was on the field, he often was the third option in the run game behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Jayden Daniels. Finding a role in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, Ekeler was a nice change-of-pace back for a the NFL's third-ranked rushing unit.

Rank

Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers · Rookie

Guerendo's first game action with a significant amount of touches came in Week 6, when he rushed for 99 yards on 10 carries in a win over Seattle. He had three other games with 14 or more carries, averaging nearly 5.0 yards per attempt in those contests. Unfortunately, like so many others in the 49ers backfield, Guerendo was limited by injuries. What he accomplished when healthy is why he lands ahead of veterans below him here.

Rank

Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos · Year 2

With Javonte Williams struggling to produce early in the season, McLaughlin earned a bigger role in the Broncos offense in Year 2. He had 10 or more carries in four games this season, with his best performance coming against Cleveland (14 carries, 84 rush yards for 6 yards per carry) in early December. There's a chance we see more of McLaughlin next season, with Williams headed toward free agency.

Rank

Devin Singletary

New York Giants · Year 6

Singletary began the season as the starter, but a groin injury sidelined him in Weeks 5-6. That -- along with his early fumbling issues -- opened the door for rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr., and the veteran never had more than eight carries in a game the rest of the way for a team that ranked 30th in offensive yards.

Rank

Cam Akers

Minnesota Vikings · Year 5

Akers' two starts in 2024 came back when he was with the Texans, for whom he logged 40 carries for 147 yards and two total touchdowns in five total appearances. After being traded to Minnesota, Akers served as a backup to Aaron Jones, averaging 4.6 yards per tote on 64 carries in that role. Both RBs are free agents this offseason, and I would think there's a good chance the Vikings bring one of them back.

Rank

Ameer Abdullah

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 10

Abdullah held a limited backup role in the run game for much of the season but was used regularly out of the backfield -- evidenced by his 40 receptions. A free agent this offseason, the veteran still offers some value as a pass-catching back.

Rank

Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers · Year 7

The Chargers were at their best when both J.K. Dobbins and Edwards were healthy. Unfortunately, both backs missed time in 2024, with Edwards sustaining an ankle injury that cost him a month in the middle of the season. Edwards started in Week 1 for Los Angeles, then quickly reverted to a backup role. And though he did pick up some starts in Dobbins' absence, Edwards still struggled more often than not. This was the first season of his career in which he had fewer than 4.0 yards per carry.

Rank

Braelon Allen

New York Jets · Rookie

Even if the stat sheet doesn't suggest as much, Allen proved to be a dynamic option at times for the Jets backfield in 2024, serving as a nice change-of-pace complement to Breece Hall. The backfield should be one area the team doesn't need to address this offseason.

Rank

Audric Estimé

Denver Broncos · Rookie

The rookie took advantage of his opportunities when playing behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, and he had a strong finish to the season, with two touchdowns over Denver's final three regular-season games. As I mentioned in McLaughlin's blurb, Williams is likely headed elsewhere, meaning there is also a chance for Estimé to seize a bigger role.

Rank

Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs · Year 3

Pacheco's injury in Week 2 was an early blow to the Chiefs' title defense, leaving Kareem Hunt to pick up the slack. Pacheco made his way back from the leg injury in late November, but he wasn't all that productive going forward. Pacheco failed to rush for 4.0 yards per carry in his final seven appearances (including playoffs). Still, I doubt this slump carries over into Year 4.

Rank

Jeremy McNichols

Washington Commanders · Year 8

There were so many mouths to feed in Washington's rushing attack, and McNichols' 55 carries ranked fourth-most on the team. But because the Commanders still had a high volume of rushing opportunities -- they finished with the fifth-most carries league-wide -- McNichols set career highs in carries, rush yards and rush TDs.

Rank

Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers · Year 8

The injury bug's effect in San Francisco is exemplified by McCaffrey's season. Making his debut in November after spending the early portion of the year on IR with an Achilles and calf injury, the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year never quite got going, grinding for four games (racking up 100 scrimmage yards in two of them) before a knee injury shut him down again. He still outproduced a lot of players on this list who played in far more games than he did. Here's hoping we see a healthy CMC in 2025.

Rank

Trey Benson

Arizona Cardinals · Rookie

The third-round pick played a backup role and had the third-most carries on the Cardinals behind James Conner and quarterback Kyler Murray. He was a reliable option when he did get the rock, and he should use Year 1 as a solid foundation for the years to come.

Rank

Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals · Year 5

After something of a breakout campaign in Indy in 2023, Moss took his talents to Cincy, where he shared the backfield with Chase Brown. Moss received a bulk of the carries early on, with mixed results. He flashed in spots but never was able to reach 100 scrimmage yards in a game, and then a neck injury ended his season before Halloween. Look for him to bounce back in 2025 if he can get healthy.

Rank

D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns · Year 8

On his fourth team in as many years, Foreman often served as a backup in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford. The soon-to-be free agent posted his lowest amount of carries in five years, and his days as a regular starter in this league are likely over.

Rank

Ezekiel Elliott

Los Angeles Chargers · Year 9

There was hope that a reunion with the Cowboys -- that would pair Elliott with Rico Dowdle in the backfield -- would spark the run game. It didn't. Dallas finished 27th in rush yards this season, and Zeke never had more than 10 carries in a game (that's where he topped out in each of his starts). He was also inactive in Week 9 for disciplinary reasons and was released late in the season so he could pursue an opportunity with a playoff-bound team. He signed with the Chargers but did not take a snap for them in the Wild Card Round. It was an interesting year for Zeke, to say the least.

Rank

Miles Sanders

Carolina Panthers · Year 6

It's been quite the fall from grace for Sanders since he rushed for more than 1,200 yards for the Super Bowl-bound Eagles in the 2022 season. He signed with the Panthers the following offseason, and his production has decreased in each season. Eventually, he lost the starting gig in Carolina to Chuba Hubbard, who just signed a multi-year deal with the team. Rushing for fewer than 4.0 yards per game will have that kind of effect.

Rank

Sincere McCormick

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 3

With those above him on the depth chart -- including Zamir White, whom McCormick just outranked here -- floundering, the 2022 undrafted free agent was a breath of fresh air when put into the lineup in late November. He had at least 12 carries in two games, averaging 5.3 yards per carry in those contests, but an ankle injury ended his campaign after just five appearances.

Rank

Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 3

I had high hopes that White would solidify himself as the Raiders' definitive RB1 this season, but a slow start and injuries led to an underwhelming campaign. With Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah heading to free agency this offseason, I'd still expect White to be in the mix in 2025 as a backup.

Rank

Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts · Year 4

The fourth-year pro started the three games that Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor missed with injury in Weeks 5-7. Sermon struggled to boost the run game as the starter, as he failed to rush for even 40 yards in any of those three contests despite having 10, 18 and eight carries, respectively. Indy used him sparingly from there on out.

Rank

Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints · Year 2

The Saints' third-round pick in 2023 battled through a hamstring injury suffered in training camp through the early portion of the season and was ultimately placed on injured reserve in November. He earned his two starts in Weeks 16-17 when Alvin Kamara was out with injury and failed to rush for 2.0 yards per carry in either game.

Rank

Carson Steele

Kansas City Chiefs · Rookie

The rookie got his first starting opportunity in Week 3 following Isiah Pacheco's injury. Steele was decent in that start, rushing for 72 yards on 17 carries in a win over Atlanta, but it ultimately wasn't enough to convince the Chiefs to ride with him as the RB1, because Kareem Hunt took over starting duties in Week 5 and kept them until Pacheco returned in early December. Steele played minimally for the best team in the AFC before getting his third start in Week 18, when Kansas City rested all of its starters.