Throughout NFL history, the NFC North division has featured some of the league's greatest running backs. Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, and Adrian Peterson come to mind. It's as rich of a history as you'll find in any division.
But that's the past. We're here to figure out who has the best running backs in the NFC North right now, so let's get to it.
We'll look at each team's top two running backs according to depth charts available on ESPN.
Detroit Lions
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs
Montgomery needs no introduction to Bears fans, having spent the first four years of his career in Chicago. He's a dependable three-down running back in all aspects of the position: running, blocking, and pass-catching. However, his ceiling seems to hover around league average, and he lacks the breakaway speed to turn a big first-down run into a touchdown.
Gibbs is just a rookie, and I think he was drafted too high (No. 12 overall), but despite all that, he still has game-breaking potential. He can line up in the slot as a pass catcher to help stretch a defense has outstanding contact balance, and has the kind of one-cut speed to beat defenders to the edge. If he hits his ceiling, Gibbs could end up as the best Lions running back since Sanders.
Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler
After cutting Dalvin Cook this offseason, the Vikings are set to take a significant step back in the ground game. Mattison has averaged just 3.75 yards per carry the last two seasons and lacks much production in the passing game. He's been fine when backing up Cook or starting in his place due to injuries, but we don't know if he can handle the responsibilities of a full-time starter.
Chandler is almost a complete unknown. A 2022 fifth-round pick, he carried the rock just six times during his rookie season. He'll be competing with the rookie DeWayne McBride for the RB2 spot.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon
Jones has been one of the NFC's most dominant running backs since entering the league in 2017, never averaging less than 4.6 yards per carry in a season. He has racked up over 5,200 yards on 1,035 carries in his career and found the endzone 43 times, 16 of those coming in 2019. And that's not even counting his impressive work in the passing game.
Due to his contract restructure, this is likely Jones' final year in Green Bay, and the rest of the NFC North will certainly be happy to see him leave.
Dillon is built like a bus, and picking up first downs on short-yardage situations is his bread and butter. His touchdowns per season have increased every year since he was drafted in 2020, but his yards per carry have also declined each year. Despite his limitations, Dillon has a clear role on this team and performs it almost flawlessly.
Chicago Bears
D'Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert
Foreman signed with the Bears this offseason, coming off a career year in Carolina. After taking over starting running back duties following the Christian McCaffrey trade, Foreman ended the season with 914 yards and five touchdowns on 203 carries, all equaling or surpassing the marks of Montgomery, who he is to replace.
Herbert is entering his third year in Chicago, and Bears fans are excited about him. He averaged an incredible 5.7 yards per carry last season, ending the year with over 700 yards and four touchdowns. However, his pass-catching and blocking capabilities are significant flaws in his game.
Bears RBs rank 2nd in NFC North
Green Bay currently boasts the best running back room in the NFC North. It's a close fight between Chicago and Detroit for second best. It came down to picking the team with the most experience at the position, and that's Chicago.
Detroit comes in third, but if Gibbs lives up to his billing, the Lions could easily end the year with the best stable of running backs in the NFC North.
In last place, and it's not particularly close, is Minnesota's running back room. There simply isn't enough experience on the Vikings' current depth chart. Mattison's ability as a three-down back is a question mark, and if he misses any time at all, Minnesota's ground game will be in dire straits.
