Launching back in August 2022, Madden 22 brings u.s. the immense excitement of professional person football game with its story style Face of the Franchise, phenomenal graphics, and its always-popular franchise mode. Players flock to franchise mode like moths to the low-cal, there's no greater feeling in taking command of a squad and leading them to the promised state.Controlling the fourth dimension of possession might seem like a lame way to win a game, but it's the smart fashion. To exercise that, teams must have solid ball carriers, running backs especially. These running backs are the best of the best, and yous'd be wise to accept them on your squad in Madden 22. Updated March eight, 2022, by Avery Lawrence Feyrer: Since the publication of this article, Madden 22 has received considerable updates to the player roster. Other than properly updating the listed player ratings, we've also added more entries to provide additional options in building a competitive team on the gridiron.

fourteen Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers - 86

austin ekeler

For the first 3 seasons of his career, Austin Ekeler played 2d fiddle to Melvin Gordon III. Ekeler evolved from a tertiary-downwardly exclusive running back to a hybrid weapon that could run between the tackles, bounce information technology exterior, and transform into a loftier-quality receiver. Still, nagging injuries sidelined Ekeler multiple times, raising questions about the young actor's durability.

Only when salubrious, Ekeler can take over a game in an instance. With loftier speed, agility, and dispatch (92), Ekeler can outrun almost whatever defender. His catch rating (79) is second among the top-rated running backs, then utilizing Ekeler in the passing game is a must.

13 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants - 86

saquon barkley

Inbound the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Giants needed to address their quarterback of the hereafter. Long-fourth dimension starter Eli Manning was getting closer to retirement, so when the Giants received the second-overall selection, many expected the team to draft a new passer. Surprisingly, the Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley out of Penn State. The transcendent running dorsum led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage in his rookie flavour (2,028) and scored fifteen total touchdowns.

Barkley's speed (92), acceleration (93), and agility (96) ratings didn't seem to be affected by the running back coming off a torn ACL injury. However, throughout the 2021 flavor, Barkley battled an ankle injury that could impact his ratings moving forward. The Giants running dorsum handles the ball with extreme care (92), but having three fumbles then far in his career. In the face of defenders, Barkley deploys crafting spin (88) and juke (xc) moves that'll interruption ankles.

12 Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos - 87

melvin gordon

From a total yardage standpoint, Melvin Gordon 3 didn't better a whole lot in his second flavour with the Denver Broncos. In 2020, Gordon amassed 986 yards on the ground compared to 918 in 2021. Yet, Gordon did improve considerably in the passing game, gaining 213 yards through the air last season compared to 158 in 2020.

Gordon is the definition of a serviceable running back. He has above-average ratings in speed (91), agility (90), and acceleration (ninety), which allows him to change direction (88) with ease to escape would-be tacklers. Despite improving equally a receiver, Gordon's hands (71) aren't annihilation to write dwelling about, and so don't rely on them likewise much.

11 Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns - 87

kareem hunt

Coming off a successful total flavour with the Cleveland Browns in 2020, things were looking upwardly for Kareem Chase. However, a calf injury in Week 5 sidelined the 26-year-old for five games. Despite the nagging injuries, Hunt nevertheless managed to score 5 rushing touchdowns, though he did not convert a receiving touchdown for the first fourth dimension in his career.

Equally a dual pick, Hunt is a superb talent to have in the backfield. His speed (xc), agility (92), and acceleration (92) coupled with an extremely loftier carrying rating (95) mean the Cleveland back is congenital to be a workhorse and outrun the competition. Compared to other highly rated running backs, Hunt has boilerplate hands (70), though he'due south quite capable to provide a safety net for quarterbacks.

10 Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys - 88

ezekiel elliott running

When quarterback Dak Prescott broke his talocrural joint final October, not only did it spell doom for the Dallas Cowboys simply also for Ezekiel Elliott. It's without question that the Cowboys, and Elliott by extension, are better offensively with Prescott under eye. In 2018, Elliott led the league in rushing with one,434 yards and finished fourth in 2019 with 1,357 yards. But when Prescott went down in 2020, Zeke's yardage plummeted to a career-low 979 yards.

Many seem to have written off Elliott, but the running back is still but 26-years-old. Elliott bounced dorsum in 2021, totaling ane,002 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He still has quality speed (89) and agility (92), though fumbling the ball has been a big upshot his entire career (21 total). But one of the biggest positives about Elliott is his ability to remain healthy (97). The most games he'south missed in a season were six in 2017, due to a suspension.

9 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders - 88

josh jacobs scoring touchdown

Since coming into the league in 2019, Josh Jacobs has rushed for over 1,000 yards in dorsum-to-back seasons. Last year, Jacobs increased his touchdowns from seven to 12 and well-nigh doubled the corporeality of receiving yards he collected. Each season, Jacobs has been incorporated more and more into the Raiders law-breaking. Yet, Jacobs regressed slightly in 2021, possibly due to a pedal toe sprain which led to Jacobs missing two games. Jacobs still found the end zone ix times, merely only rushed for 872 yards.

Compared to other running backs, Jacobs doesn't possess blinding speed (87), agility (87), or strength (86). He's only fumbled 5 times in his career, and so he has a loftier conveying rating (94). Despite having "depression" force, Jacobs is first-class at breaking tackles (92) and trucking (90) over defenders. At only 24-years-erstwhile, there are fewer options for a young running back to build a team around than Jacobs.

8 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers - ninety

aaron jones pointing

For the last ii seasons, Aaron Jones has operated as the principal running dorsum for the Green Bay Packers. In 2019, Jones collected i,558 total yards from scrimmage and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16). The post-obit yr, Jones was selected to his first career Pro Bowl and then signed a iv-year, $48 million extension with the Packers. Jones missed fourth dimension in 2021 with a balmy knee sprain, which led to his lowest statistical flavor in iv years.

With high marks in speed (91), acceleration (93), and agility (94), Jones tin can be finer used as a rusher or receiver in an offense. He holds one of the best catch ratings (76) among running backs. Out in the open field, Jones'southward juke moves (94) are one of the best in evading defenders.

vii Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints - 91

alvin kamara running

Going from Drew Brees to Jameis Winston was a huge change for the New Orleans Saints law-breaking. From a running standpoint, Alvin Kamara'southward numbers didn't endure tremendously; Kamara rushed for 898 yards and scored four touchdowns. There was no mode Kamara would replicate anything shut to his sixteen rushing touchdowns in 2020, but he produced his usual yard total. What did endure was Kamara in the passing game. In 2020 with Brees, Karam collected 756 receiving yards compared to only 439 yards in 2021.

Kamara'southward overall speed (89) is a tad depression compared to other backs, but he makes upwards for information technology with high acceleration (94) and agility (93). Given that Kamara factors in both the run and laissez passer game, he'southward only fumbled seven times in his career (92). Later on Kamara gets the brawl, he's hard to bring downwardly with high marks in juke moves (91) and the ability to break tackles (90).

6 Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - 92

jonathan taylor

In 2020, Jonathan Taylor couldn't have asked for a better rookie campaign. The Wisconsin running dorsum rushed for 1,169 yards with xi touchdowns. Colts fans were pleasantly surprised when Taylor improved the following season, rushing for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.

At simply 22-years-old, Taylor is the youngest thespian amongst the meridian-rated running backs. He possesses high speed (94) and acceleration (92), plus one of the highest ratings in breaking tackles (95). If Taylor continues the type of success he'due south had in the get-go two years of his career, there's no question he can one 24-hour interval exist considered the all-time at the position.

five Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals - 93

joe mixon

When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Mixon in 2017, he was entering a running backs grouping that already included Jeremy Loma and Giovani Bernard. Mixon started only seven games in his rookie season, but still managed to rush for 626 yards and four touchdowns. The following season, Mixon was elevated to the full-fourth dimension starter and rushed for over 1,100 yards in both 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, he suffered a right foot injury in 2020 and only appeared in 6 games, but bounced dorsum with the best season of his career in 2021. Mixon rushed for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns, while likewise collecting 314 receiving yards and iii receiving touchdowns.

Mixon provides height-notch speed (91), agility (92), and acceleration (93) to bounce a run to the outside if he tin't find any running lanes up the heart of the field. He also has a considerably loftier rating in carrying (96), which means Mixon rarely fumbles. Given that he's only committed 6 fumbles in 66 career games, that's notable. Mixon isn't the best receiving dorsum with an average take hold of rating (72), simply he's typically good for a few receptions a game.

4 Dalvin Melt, Minnesota Vikings - 95

dalvin cook throwing up the peace sign

In his kickoff two seasons, Dalvin Cook couldn't stay healthy. First, the running dorsum suffered a torn ACL i calendar month into his rookie season and then a lingering hamstring injury the following year. But Cook's luck turned around as he experienced (somewhat) healthy seasons in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, Cook rushed for a career-high ane,557 yards and 16 touchdowns. At present, it wasn't realistic for Cook to replicate that stat line, just the Vikings running dorsum did have a good 2021 campaign with one,159 yards and half-dozen touchdowns, despite missing 1 game and dealing with a series of injuries throughout the flavour.

Cook relies on his agility (95), acceleration (92), and speed (92) to juke (94) opposing defenders in forepart of him. Cook'due south a savvy runner who'south able to change his direction (95) instantly. And forth with his ability to break tackles (93), he's near incommunicable for defenses to take down in the open field.

3 Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers - 96

christian mccaffrey

In 2019, the Carolina Panthers limped to a 5-11 record and a last-place finish in the NFC South division. Even though the squad suffered two more losses than the season prior, in that location was one shining light through it all: Christian McCaffrey. In his 3rd flavour, the running back became one of the best offensive players in the league, leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (2,392) and touchdowns (nineteen). Notwithstanding, McCaffrey was plagued with diverse injuries the past two seasons, including an ankle injury that held him out much of last season.

Although McCaffrey is three points downwardly from his perfect overall rating in Madden 21, he's still one of the meridian-ranked running backs in Madden 22. By using his quick feet, McCaffrey is an active (97) speedster (92) with good acceleration (93). In the open field, defenders don't stand a gamble confronting his spin (91) or juke (93) moves. Add together in McCaffrey's communicable ability as a receiver (81), there's no denying that, if healthy, he's one of the all-time overall running backs in Madden 22.

2 Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns - 96

nick chubb running

When Nick Chubb became the full-time starting running dorsum for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, he took the job and ran with it. Chubb played in every game and rushed for a career-high 1,494 yards and 8 touchdowns. Despite Chubb performing significantly well, the Browns signed troubled free agent Kareem Hunt. Although the addition of Hunt cut into Chubb's production, he was still able to collect ane,067 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2020. Chubb connected to discover success in 2021, rushing for 1,259 yards and eight touchdowns.

As the second-rated running back, Chubb has the highest rating in breaking tackles (98). Because of his ability to wrestle himself gratis of tacklers, Chubb attacks defenders with a diverseness of juke moves (87) and his overpowering strong arm (93). His physicality doesn't tedious Chubb down either, as the Browns' player has high ratings in speed (92) and dispatch (91).

i Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans - 97

derrick henry running over josh norman

Rated the all-time overall running back in Madden 22, Derrick Henry has been the nigh dominant rusher in football for the past two seasons. In 2019, Henry led the league in rushing yards (one,540) and touchdowns (16). Thinking that wasn't quite good enough, Henry followed that upwards by rushing for the fifth-most yards in a flavour in NFL history (2,027) and was on top again in touchdowns (17). Before suffering a fracture in his right foot and sidetracking his entire season, Henry was on track for what could've been his second-consecutive 2,000-yard season in 2021.

Ironically, it's not Henry'southward legs that make him such a devastating rusher; it'southward his arms. With a perfect rating in his stiff arm (99), Henry pushes defenders away from him every bit if he was swatting flies. Combined with his loftier rating in breaking tackles (91), it may take more than one person to bring him down. And even still, Henry possesses solid speed (93) and juking abilities (86). Henry's ferocity with the ball in the backfield makes him a terrifying ball carrier and someone who'south well-deserved of property the title of the highest-rated running back in the game.

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