Don’t look now but running backs are making a comeback.
Take a look back at this past free agency period, espeically for contending teams looking to breakout of their current mold. Several high-end backs received top dollar on the open market from their new teams, including Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, DAndre Swift and Saquon Barkley.
While the Houston Texans didn’t sign one of the premier runners this offseason, they didn’t leave March without a secondary option to pair with C.J. Stroud. After missing on Barkley and Pollard, general manager Nick Caserio shipped off a seventh-round pick to the Cinncini Bengals in exchange for Pro Bowl runner Joe Mixon.
Mixon, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2023, inked a new three-year, $27 million extension to keep him in H-Town for the long haul. And the Texans believe his best years are still ahead, especially as a pass-catcher following a promising campaign in The Jungle’s passing game without Joe Burrow.
“So I’m not thinking about a drop-off,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said at the annual owners meetings. “I’m thinking about the positives and the things that [Mixon has] done in his career. He’s been consistent throughout his entire career — a guy who can move the chains for you, a guy who can open up the passing game with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He just opens up the things that we can do offensively.”
Mixon joins an offense headline by C.J. Stroud and a trio of talented receivers. Even if he’s a middle-of-the-pack runner, that might be enough to secure a postseason spot and another few wins on the schedule in 2024.
But where does Mixon rank among the league’s best? Here’s how Texans Wire ranked the top 32 tailbacks in the league, including a few rookies that might end up popping off by the season’s end in the right system.
1
Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers
Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) looks for a touchdown signal in the third quarter of a wild card game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. Officials called him short of the goal line. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
2
Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK)
3
Nick Chubb – Cleveland Browns
Nov 27, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards (32) defends during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
4
Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
5
Bijan Robinson - Atlanta Falcons
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
6
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
7
Breece Hall - New York Jets
oJan 7, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) runs against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
8
Josh Jacobs - Green Bay Packers
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
9
De'Von Achane - Miami Dolphins.
Jan 7, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs with the football for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
10
Aaron Jones - Minnesota Vikings
Sept 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) points to the sky as he celebrates scoring a touchdown with fans against Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via USA Today Sports
11
Kyren Williams. - Los Angeles Rams
Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) reacts after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
12
Alvin Kamara - New Orleans Saints
Dec 25, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) is defended by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney (20) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
13
Raheem Mostert - Miami Dolphins
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 19: Raheem Mostert #31 of the Miami Dolphins rushes the ball past Steven Nelson #21 of the Houston Texans during the preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
14
Kenneth Walker III - Seattle Seahawks
Dec 24, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
15
Isaiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 29, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs the ball as Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke (6) defends in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
16
Jahmyr Gibbs - Detroit Lions
Jan 28, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates after scoring a touchdown San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
17
David Montgomery - Detriot Lions
Lions running back David Montgomery runs against 49ers during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
18
Tony Pollard - Tennessee Titans
Dec 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs past Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) for a 11-yard touchdown during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
19
Travis Etienne - Jacksonville Jaguars
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Travis Etienne Jr. #1 of the Jacksonville Jaguars rushes for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
20
Joe Mixon - Houston Texans
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK)
21
James Conner - Arizona Cardinals
Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
22
James Cook - Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) finds a hole at the line of scrimmage.
23
D’Andre Swift - Chicago Bears
Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift (0) greets wide receiver Britain Covey (18) during warm ups before a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
24
Najee Harris - Pittsburgh Steelers
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 01: Christian Harris #48 of the Houston Texans tackles Najee Harris #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at NRG Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
25
Tyler Allgeier - Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 08: Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons is tackled by Blake Cashman #53 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
26
Rhamondre Stevenson - New England Patriots
Nov 26, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) breaks out for a 1st down run against the New York Giants in the 1st half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
27
Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh Steelers
Oct 1, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA;Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) is tackled by Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) in the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
28
Austin Ekeler - Washington Commanders
Oct 2, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) scores a touchdown on a run as Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) attempts to make a tackle during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
29
Brian Robinson Jr. - Washington Commanders
Nov 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) runs with the ball as Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) attempts to make a tackle during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
30
Devin Singletary - New York Giants
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary (26) runs with the ball as Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary (21) attempts to make a tackle during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
31
Jonathon Brooks - Carolina Panthers
Nov 4, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) runs the ball against Kansas State Wildcats tight end Garrett Harstad (19) in the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports
32
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers
Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs for yardage chased by Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
