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Power Ranking the Running Back Rooms in the AFC South
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 South.
The Titans benefit here from the fact there’s no Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs in the division (Jonathan Taylor is a star, but the Colts have little behind him).
Tony Pollard has four straight 1,000-yard seasons, including two with the Titans, and he’s usually good for another 30 catches and 250-300 yards receiving as well. He’s a great 1A to Tyjae Spears’ 1B. Spears is more dynamic with the ball in his hands, but he’s more of a pass-catcher thana pure runner (he’s averaged 350 yards rushing in his first three seasons).
Michael Carter is probably another 300-yard back, which is a lot better than most teams can say they get from their RB3. Nicholas Singleton is the wild card here. He twice rushed for over 1,000 yards at Penn State, and he scored 2 or more touchdowns in three of his four seasons in college. He’s someone the Titans could groom to be their RB1 in a few years.
Given it’s been speculated that Joe Mixon may have played his last game in the NFL, it’s certainly fortunate for the Texans they traded for David Montgomery this offseason. Had the Detroit Lions not drafted Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery likely would still be Detroit’s RB1. He rushed for 1,015 yards his first year with the team, and he logged 775 and 716 yards respectively, the last two seasons in a 1B role.
Woody Marks was an unknown last year, but when Mixon went down with an injury, he made the most of his opportunity, rushing for 703 yards and two touchdowns while adding 08 yards and three scores on 24 catches. He’s tailor-made to be a high-end RB2.
Jawhar Jordan played in just four games last year, but he’s someone to watch out for. He was a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown threat his final year at Louisville in 2023.
There’s no question Jonathan Taylor is the single best running back in the division, but the depth behind him is why the Colts are third on this list.
Taylor has put up back-to-back seasons with 1,400 or more yards rushing, and he tied his career high with 18 touchdowns last year. He also hit career-best marks in receptions (46) and receiving yards (378).
But D.J. Giddens and Ulysses Bentley IV have a combined 27 carries, 97 yards, and zero touchdowns. Granted, both players are 25 or younger, but if Taylor gets injured, the Colts are screwed.
Many believe the Jags letting Travis Etienne go in free agency was a big mistake, and judging by their RB depth, those critics might be right. Yes, Bhayshul Tuten showed some promise last year, but 307 yard son 83 carries is way too small of a sample size to just hand him the starting job.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for a career-high 500 yards and six touchdowns last year, and it honestly wouldn’t be surprising if he finished 2026 as Jacksonville’s RB1. LeQuint Allen Jr. gained just 94 yards on 23 carries last season, but he should be a solid RB3.
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