The Year of the Ground Game: Rushing Reigns Supreme in the 2025 NFL Season

by recklessfear | 3 months ago | 3 Comments

The NFL is a league of trends. High-flying passing attacks have dominated headlines for the better part of a decade, but if the early returns from the 2025 season are any indication, the tide has shifted back to the ground. Rushing is back in a big way, and it’s being led by some of the league’s most electrifying backs.

**A Year After 2,000 Yards, Barkley is Still Dominant**
Saquon Barkley, fresh off a historic 2,005-yard season in 2024, has wasted no time proving that last year was no fluke. The Philadelphia Eagles may have fallen to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, but Barkley remains the heart and soul of the offense, continuing to torch defenses with his mix of power and agility. At the time of this article, Philly has only played one game, and yet Barkely sits at #6 on rushing yards and leads the league in average rushing yards at a staggering 9.7 yards per carry. If the Eagles are to avenge their Super Bowl loss, it will be on the back of No. 26.

**James Cook Leads the Pack**
While Barkley is a known commodity, it’s James Cook who currently sits atop the league in rushing yards. Cook also boasts a 6.7 yard average per rush and 2 TDs. The Buffalo Bills’ dynamic playmaker has taken his game to another level, showing off elite vision and burst to propel Buffalo’s offense forward. If he keeps up this pace, he could be in line for his first rushing title.

**The Rise of Kevin Posey**
Jacksonville may have found a gem in rookie Kevin Posey. The first-year back has wasted no time making his presence felt, proving he belongs among the league’s elite. Posey sits comfortably at 6.5 yards per carry. The Jaguars have long sought a consistent rushing threat, and Posey looks like the future of their backfield.

**A Deep Field of Elite Runners**
Beyond Barkley and Cook, the league is stacked with talent in the run game. Tyler Allgeier is proving his worth in Atlanta, shouldering a heavy workload and delivering consistent results at 9.4 yards per carry. Kenneth Walker III continues to be the workhorse for Seattle at 7.8 yards per carry, Breece Hall has been electric for the Jets with 6.5 yards per carry, and Nick Chubb remains as reliable as ever for the Browns with 6.0 yards per carry and a remains #3 in the league for broken tackles.

**A Shift in Philosophy?**
For years, the NFL has been driven by quarterbacks slinging the ball all over the field. But defenses have adapted, forcing offenses to rediscover the value of a strong rushing attack. With this resurgence of elite running backs, offensive coordinators are embracing the ground-and-pound approach once again, and it's paying dividends.

The 2025 season is proving that, no matter how much the game evolves, the foundation of football will always remain the same: when you can run the ball, you can win football games. And right now, the ground game is king.