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Launching back in August 2022, Madden 22 brings us the immense excitement of professional football with its story mode Face of the Franchise, phenomenal graphics, and its ever-popular franchise mode. Players flock to franchise mode like moths to the light, there’s no greater feeling in taking control of a team and leading them to the promised land.Controlling the time of possession might seem like a lame way to win a game, but it’s the smart way. To do that, teams must have solid ball carriers, running backs especially. These running backs are the best of the best, and you’d be wise to have them on your squad in Madden 22.Updated March 8, 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 pro෴vide additional options in building a competitive team on the gridiron.
14 Aus💧tin Ekeler, Los Angeles Charger꧟s - 86
For the first three seasons of his career, Austin Ekeler played second fiddle to Melvin Gordon III. Ekeler evolved from a third-down exclusive running back to a hybrid weapon thওat could run between the tackles, bounce it outside, and transform into a high-quality receiver. However, nagging injuries sidelined Ekeler multiple times, raising questions about the young player's durability.
But when healthy, Ekeler can take o♚ver a game in an instance. Wit🌟h high speed, agility, and acceleration (92), Ekeler can outrun nearly any defender. His catch rating (79) is second among the top-rated running backs, so utilizing Ekeler in the passing game is a must.
13 Saquon Barkley, N꧒ew York Giants - 86
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Entering the 2018 NF🎶L Draft, the New York Giants needed to address their quarterback of the future. Long-time starter Eli Manning wa🎉s getting closer to retirement, so when the Giants received the second-overall pick, many expected the team to draft a new passer. Surprisingly, the Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley out of Penn State. The transcendent running back led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage in his rookie season (2,028) and scored 15 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 season, that could impact his ratings moving forward. The Giants running back handles the ball with extreme care (92), only having three fumbles so far in his career. In the face of defenders, Barkley deploys crafting 🔯spin (88) and juke (90) moves that’ll break ankles.
12 ♋ Melvin Gordon III, De🔴nver Broncos - 87
From a total yardage standpoint, Melvin Gordon III didn't improve a whole lot in his second season with the Denജver Broncos. In 2020, Gordon amassed 986 yards on the ground compared to 918 in 2021. However, 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 (90), which allows him to change direction (88) with ease to escape would-be tackl🌌ers. Despite impro♐ving as a receiver, Gordon's hands (71) aren't anything to write home about, so don't rely on them too much.
11 🐽 🍒 Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns - 87
Coming oౠff a successful full season with the Cleveland Browns in 2020, things were looking up for Kareem Hunt. However, a calf injury in Week 5 sidelined the 26-year-old for five games. Despite the nagging injuries, Hunt still🥀 managed to score five rushing touchdowns, though he did not convert a receiving touchdown for the first time in his career.
As a dual option, Hunt is a superb talent to have in the backfield. His speed (90), agi🔯lity (92), and acceleration (92) coupled with an extremely high carrying rating (95) mean the Cleveland back is built to be a workhorse and outrun the competition. Compared to other highly rated running backs, Hunt has average hands (70), though he's quite capable to provide a safety net for quarterbacks.
10 ꦿ Ez𒐪ekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys - 88
When quarterback Dak Prescott broke his ankle last October, not only did it spell doom for the Dallas Cowboys but also for Ezekiel Elliott. It’s without question that the Cowboys, and Elliott by extension, are better offensively with Prescott under center. In 2018, El🍷liott led the league in rushing with 1,434 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 only 26-years-old. Elliott bounced back in 2021, totaling 1,002 rushing yards and ten touchdowns. He still has quality speed (89) and agility (92), though fumbling the ball has been a big issue his en⛎tire career (21 total). But one of the biggest positives about Elliott is his ability to remain healthy (97). The most games he’s missed in a season were six in 2017, due to a suspension.
9 𓃲 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders - 88 🍌
Since coming into the league in 2019, Josh Jacobs has rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Last year, Jacobs increased his touchdowns from seven to 12 and nearly doubled♍ the amount of receiving yards he collected. Each season, Jacobs has been incorporated more and more into the Raiders offense. However, 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 nine times, but 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 five times in his career, so he has a high carrying rating (94). Despite having “low” strength, Jacobs is excellent at breaking tackles (92) and trucking (90) over defenders.✱ At only 24-years-old, there are fewer options for a young running back to build a team around than Jacobs.
8 ꦺ Aaron Jonღes, Green Bay Packers - 90
For the last two seasons, Aaron Jones has operated as the main running back for the Green Bay Packers. In 2019, Jones collected 1,558 total yards from scrimmage and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16). The following year, Jones was selected to his first career Pro Bowl and then signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Packers. Jones missed time in 2021 with a mild knee sprain, which led to his lowest statist🍨ical season in four years.
With high marks in speed (91), acceleration (93), and agility (94), Jones can be effectively 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, ꦡJones’s ju൲ke moves (94) are one of the best in evading defenders.
7 Alvin Kamara, New Orleanꦍs Saints - 91
Going from Drew Brees to Jameis Winston was a huge change for the New 🐠Orleans Saints offense. From a running standpoint, Alvin Kamara's numbers didn't suffer tremendously; Kamara rushed for 898 yards and scored🐽 four touchdowns. There was no way Kamara would replicate anything close to his 16 rushing touchdowns in 2020, but he produced his usual yard total. What did suffer was Kamara in the passing game. In 2020 with Brees, Karam collected 756 receiving yards compared to only 439 yards in 2021.
Kamara’s overall speed (89) is a tad low compared to other backs, but he makes up for it with high acceleration (94) and agility (93). Given that Kamara factors in both the run and pass game, he’s only fumbled seven times in his career (92). After Kamara ge🌱ts the ball, he’s haꦛrd to bring down with high marks in juke moves (91) and the ability to break tackles (90).
6 Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - 92 𝓀ꦯ
In 2020, Jonathan Taylor couldn't have asked for a better rookie campaign. The Wisconsin running back rushed for 1,169 yards with 11 touchdowns. Colts fans were pleasantly surprised when Taylor improved the 🀅following seas🐭on, rushing for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.
At just 22-years-old, Taylor is the younꦦgest player among the top-rated running bac꧂ks. 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's had in the first two years of his career, there's no question he can one day be considered the best at the position.
5 Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals 🃏-🅘 93
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When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Mixon in 2017, he was entering a ru꧑nning backs group that already included Jeremy Hill 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-time 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 six games, but bounced back w♛ith the best season of his career in 2021. Mixon rushed for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also collecting 314 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Mixon provides top-notch speed (91), agility (92), and acceleration (93) to bounce a run to the outside if he can’t find any running lanes up the middle of the field. He also has a considerably high rating in carrying (96), which means Mixon rarely fumbles. Given that he’s only committed six fumbles in 66 career games, that’s notable. Mixon isn’t the best receiving back with an average catch 🥃rating (72), but he’s typically good for a few receptions a game.