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2025 NFC West running back rankings: Christian McCaffrey leads elite division depth
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- 2025 NFC West running back rankings: Christian McCaffrey leads elite division depth
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The NFC West is stacked with talent in the backfield. With some of the biggest names in the league, the NFC West provides a mix of proven stars and emerging young talent. Here's a breakdown of the best running backs in the division.
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1. San Francisco 49ers : Christian McCaffrey and Issac Guerendo
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Christian McCaffrey is inarguably one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the entire league. He's an elite ground threat with exceptional hands and ranks among the best receiving backs as well. After winning the Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2023, we know what he's capable of when healthy. But that has been the issue for McCaffrey. Injury history has been prominent for the All-Pro back, but his versatility and talent out of the backfield make him the leader of the NFC West group.
Isaac Guerendo is currently listed as RB2 on the San Francisco 49ers depth chart. It will be the second season for the 24-year-old, who looks to build off 84 carries for 420 yards in his rookie year. Averaging a solid five yards per carry, it will be interesting to see how Guerendo's production looks if McCaffrey can't stay healthy once again.
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2. Los Angeles Rams : Kyren Williams and Blake Corum
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Kyren Williams has proven himself to be one of the league's best backs. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft , Williams has proven to be a steal for the Los Angeles Rams . With 2,443 rushing yards over the last two seasons and 1,299 yards on the ground in 2024 alone, Williams has solidified himself as a consistent, elite performer. He's an absolute workhorse who recorded the third-most carries in the league at 316. With 14 touchdowns last season, the Rams will continue to rely on Williams as a premier offensive threat.
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Blake Corum is listed as RB2, and at 24 years old, he still has room for improvement. As the RB1 for Michigan during their national championship season, Corum showed flashes of being a future NFL contributor. But he has yet to fully showcase his talent in the league, as he hasn't found the end zone. In his second season, the Rams will hope that Corum takes a leap in production.
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3. Arizona Cardinals : James Conner and Trey Benson
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Putting James Conner this low on the list feels like a crime, especially considering he's recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on the ground. But that's just how good the NFC West is at the position. With 1,094 yards on the ground in 2024 and another 414 through the air, Conner is a seasoned veteran who has yet to see a dip in production. At 30 years old, it's remarkable how he's still playing the best football of his career.
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With limited production from Trey Benson during his rookie season, the Arizona Cardinals will look for him to take some load off Conner. Benson averaged a solid 4.6 yards per carry but managed only 291 yards and one touchdown.
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4. Seattle Seahawks : Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet
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It's tough to put a talent like Kenneth Walker III last on any list, but the NFC West is home to some of the most proven backs in the league. With Williams and Conner both rushing for over 1,000 yards last season, there was no choice but to put Walker fourth. But don't be confused — the Seattle Seahawks star is an elite back. He plays with unmatched physicality while possessing elite burst and home-run potential. At only 24 years old, the upside for Walker and the Seahawks is sky high. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season and surpassed 900 the next, but saw his production dip last season due to injuries.
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Zach Charbonnet has done a solid job as RB2 and had to step up for the injured Walker last season. Averaging a decent 4.2 yards per carry and recording eight touchdowns, Charbonnet had a solid season as the primary backup. The Seahawks will continue to look toward Charbonnet should Walker go down with another injury.
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