Derrick Henry is a glitch in the Matrix. Seriously. In an era where NFL front offices treat running backs like disposable razors, Henry is out here in 2026 still stiff-arming defenders into another dimension. Most guys at his age are either retired or "specializing" in third-down pass blocking for a contender. Not him.
The list of nfl active rushing yards leaders has undergone a massive facelift lately, but one thing remains constant: No. 22 is in a tier of his own.
✨ Don't miss: WWE Crown Jewel 2024: What Most People Get Wrong About the Riyadh Shift
The Current State of the Ground Game
When you look at the career totals right now, the gap is almost hilarious. We’re talking about a leaderboard where the No. 1 guy has nearly 5,000 more yards than the guy in second place. That’s not a lead; that’s a different zip code.
Derrick Henry crossed the 13,000-yard mark this past season. To put that in perspective, he’s now breathing down the necks of all-time legends like Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson. After a monster 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens where he racked up 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns, he’s basically solidified himself as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Honestly, it’s wild how he hasn't slowed down. You’ve seen the clips—he still looks like a semi-truck with a jet engine attached to it.
Behind him? It’s a dogfight for the silver medal.
Saquon Barkley has jumped up the charts significantly since moving to Philadelphia. As of January 2026, he sits comfortably in the second spot among active players with 8,356 yards. The move to the Eagles' system saved his career trajectory, giving him the spacing he never had behind those shaky New York lines. He’s followed closely by Josh Jacobs (7,803 yards), who has stayed remarkably durable despite the heavy workloads he took on early in his career.
🔗 Read more: Real Madrid 15 Champions League: Why It Still Matters Two Years Later
The Top 5 Active Leaders (Total Rushing Yards)
- Derrick Henry: 13,018 yards
- Saquon Barkley: 8,356 yards
- Josh Jacobs: 7,803 yards
- Aaron Jones: 7,626 yards
- Jonathan Taylor: 7,598 yards
Why the 10,000-Yard Mark Is the New Everest
Remember when every elite back was expected to hit 10k? Those days are gone. Basically, if you aren't Derrick Henry, hitting five digits in career rushing yards is the new "impossible task."
Look at Nick Chubb. He was on a legendary pace before that devastating leg injury. He’s back on the field now—currently with the Houston Texans—but the climb is much steeper. He’s sitting at 7,349 yards. While he's still effective in spurts, the days of him averaging 5.0 yards per carry on 300 touches might be in the rearview.
Then you have Christian McCaffrey. He’s arguably the best overall player on this list, but his "rushing" total of 7,589 yards doesn't even tell half the story. If you added his receiving yards, he’d be the king of this article. But we’re talking strictly about the ground game here. McCaffrey is the outlier—he doesn't need 1,500 rushing yards a season to be the most valuable guy on the field.
The Quarterback Invasion
It feels weird to talk about the nfl active rushing yards leaders without mentioning the guys under center. It’s sort of a "cheat code" in modern football.
Lamar Jackson has already cracked the top 10 for active rushers. Think about that for a second. He has more career rushing yards (6,522) than veteran starters like David Montgomery and James Conner. He’s 10th on the active list. Not 10th among QBs. 10th among everyone.
We’re also seeing Josh Allen (4,721) and Jalen Hurts (3,554) climb the ranks at a pace that makes traditional stat-tracking look outdated. The "running back" position isn't dying, but it's certainly sharing the workload with guys who are supposed to be throwing the ball.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Stats
A lot of fans look at the leaderboard and think "Oh, the best runner is at the top." Not necessarily. These stats are a reflection of two things: talent and, more importantly, availability.
Take Joe Mixon. He’s been a model of consistency, quietly amassing 7,428 yards over his career. He isn't always the flashy highlight-reel guy, but he stays on the field. In the NFL, "best" is often synonymous with "healthy."
There's also the "system" factor. Aaron Jones (7,626 yards) has always had high efficiency but rarely got the 25-carries-a-game treatment that Henry gets. If Jones had been in a different offense, his total might be higher, or he might have burned out three years ago. It's a trade-off.
Who is the Next King?
If we're looking at who could actually challenge Henry’s active lead in five years, the list is short.
- Jonathan Taylor: He’s only 27 and has 7,598 yards. If he stays healthy in Indianapolis, he’s the only one with a realistic shot at the 12,000+ range.
- Bijan Robinson: He’s the young gun. With 3,910 yards already through his first few seasons, his trajectory is scary. He just needs the Falcons to keep feeding him.
- Jahmyr Gibbs: He’s at 3,580 yards but splits so much time in Detroit that his "total" might never reach the stratosphere, even if his highlight tape does.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're tracking these stats for your dynasty league or just to win an argument at the bar, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the "Yards Per Game" metric: Jonathan Taylor actually leads active players in yards per game (90.5), which suggests that if he had as many games played as Henry, the list would look very different.
- Don't ignore the age wall: History shows that most backs fall off a cliff after age 28. Henry is the exception, not the rule. When betting on future leaders, look for guys under 25 with low "odometer" readings.
- Contextualize the QB stats: Lamar Jackson is a runner who happens to throw. When comparing him to RBs, remember his "carries" are often scrambles where he's avoiding the big hits that traditional backs take.
The race for the nfl active rushing yards leaders isn't just about who is the fastest or strongest. It’s about who can survive the meat grinder of an NFL season year after year. Right now, everyone else is just playing for second place behind the King.
💡 You might also like: Kansas City vs Eagles: What Really Happened to the NFL's Most Intense New Rivalry
Next Steps for the Deep-Dive Fan:
- Check out the Pro-Football-Reference "Active Leaders" page to see how these totals change week-to-week during the season.
- Compare the "Yards After Contact" stats for the top five to see who is truly creating their own yardage versus just running through open holes.