Power Ranking the Running Back Rooms in the AFC East
Newsweek · C · trust 46/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. NFL training camps are in full swing, and as teams ease back into on-field drills and practices in the dead of the summer, football fans have a reason to rejoice.
The preseason officially begins when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers face off in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC. The rest of the first week of the preseason kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As the start of the NFL regular season inches closer (Sept. 9), we are continuing to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams. We’ve already looked at the top position battles to watch, rookies with the best chance of winning a starting job, and the players in the most danger of being cut, plus we’ve ranked the top head coaches, quarterbacks, and wide receiver rooms by division.
Now, we’re power ranking the running back rooms in each division. Next up is the AFC East.
Since this list is about running back depth and not just ranking the best RBs in the division, it’s hard to argue the Patriots shouldn’t get the top spot. They have two rushers capable of hitting 1,000 yards each — Treveyon Henderson (911 yards, nine touchdowns last year) and Rhamondre Stevenson (603 yards, seven touchdowns).
Henderson is expected to get an RB1’s workload, and 1,000 yards in 2026 is entirely plausible. Stevenson’s days as the bell-cow back are over, but he’s one of, if not the best RB2 in the entire league.
Terrell Jennings and Jam Miller will likely battle it out for the RB3 job, and regardless of who wins, they presumably won’t see the field much with the caliber of players in front of them.
James Cook and Miami’s De’Von Achane both have strong cases to be the top RB in the division, but Cook has been doing it longer and he’s coming off the best year of his career (1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns). Cook is riding the momentum of three straight 1,000-yard seasons, and he’s scored 12 or more touchdowns in back-to-back years.
Ray Davis is a solid complement behind him who is capable of contributing 300-400 yards in relief of Cook. Frank Gore Jr. appeared in only two games last year, but some are convinced he’s a threat to unseat Ty Johnson (50 carries, 200 yards, three TDs last year) for Buffalo’s RB3 spot.
Achane burst onto the scene with a 203-yard, four-touchdown game as a rookie and he’s never looked back. He’s improved every season, and he’s coming off a breakout year in which he totaled a career-high 1,350 yards rushing with eight touchdowns plus 67 receptions, 488 yards, and four touchdowns.
Ollie Gordon (199 yards, three touchdowns) and Jaylen Wright (288 yards, two touchdowns) are both strong complements to Achane, and both should get a decent amount of touches next year. Miami will likely rely heavily on the run game with new quarterback Malik Willis having a wide receiver corps devoid of talent.
After coming close in both of the previous years, Breece Hall finally got that elusive 1,000-yard season last year. In addition to his skills are a runner, Hall if also a threat catching passes, and he’s averaged 56 receptions and 475 yards receiving over the last three years.
Braelon Allen was limited to just four games last year, but the season before he showed flashes of elite RB2 potential. He rushed for 334 yards and two scores and added 19 catches for 148 yards and another touchdown. If healthy, he could be a strong 1B to Hall.
Isaiah Davis averaged over five yards per carry, and if given more touches, he could prove to be a great depth piece as well.
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