The NFC South’s running back crown is officially up for grabs, and it looks like a changing of the guard is on the way halfway through the 2020s. Saints star Alvin Kamara has been the top dog at his position for a long time, dominating the stat sheets, but Falcons phenom Bijan Robinson is closing the gap, and he’s doing it fast enough to make everyone in the division pay attention.
Kamara’s Reign: A Monster Start, Then Workload Woes
Let’s not forget how incredible Alvin Kamara was. He kicked off the decade with a huge 2020 season, racking up a career-high 932 rushing yards, which he even bumped to 950 in 2024. The dude had 16 rushing touchdowns that year, plus 83 catches for 756 yards and five more scores through the air. That added up to a personal-best 1,688 yards from scrimmage and a league-leading 21 touchdowns. Absolutely insane! He clocks in with a score of 62 on this all-decade list, backed by an Approximate Value of 51, one second-team All-Pro nod, and two Pro Bowls.
But things haven’t been as productive since that incredible 2020 campaign. He’s been saddled with increasingly higher workloads, seeing 200-plus carries for the first time in 2021, then again in 2022, and 2024. Now, the Saints are expecting him to rotate into games with Travis Etienne Jr., and honestly, it might be the final year of his storied career. It’s tough to see a legend start to fade, but the grind is real in the NFL.
Bijan Robinson Is Officially On a Tear
Enter Bijan Robinson. This guy has been on an absolute tear since he stepped into the league in 2023. As a rookie, he rushed for 976 yards, and he just kept leveling up! He’s crushed over 1,400 rushing yards in *each* of the last two years. And check this out: he had almost as many receiving yards in 2025 (820) as he did in his previous two seasons combined (918). That’s wild. He’s already scored 34 touchdowns as a runner and receiver in just 51 games!
Robinson has racked up a score of 53, with an Approximate Value of 37, one first-team All-Pro, and two Pro Bowls already. He’s a critical piece for Atlanta under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the stats don’t lie. The source makes it clear: another big year, and he’ll leap ahead of Kamara on this list. This isn’t just hype; it’s a cold, hard fact.
The Rest of the Backfield: Steady Contributions and Shifting Sands
While Kamara and Robinson battle it out for top honors, the rest of the division has seen some solid playmakers too. Chuba Hubbard has been a steady piece in Carolina’s rotation since 2021, even hitting a peak of 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdown runs in 2024. He put up 734 scrimmage yards last season, proving he’s a reliable guy they can win with, even if he hasn’t been the home-run threat they might have expected. His score is 29.
Then there’s Rachaad White, who was with the Buccaneers from 2022 to 2025, tallying a score of 28. But he left the Bucs in free agency. That just goes to show how fast things can change in this league, right?
The NFC South running back landscape is shifting, big time. Keep an eye on Bijan Robinson this season. The stage is set for him to officially take the crown from Kamara, and it’s going to be must-watch football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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