For the 2026 NFL season, however, Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons has a strong case for being the best overall halfback in the league.
The debate is not one-sided. Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens and James Cook of the Buffalo Bills are among the other backs who can make a legitimate argument.
NFL.com currently has Robinson and Gibbs as its top two running backs entering the 2026 season, with Robinson narrowly getting the edge because of his all-around ability and versatility. PFF also ranks Robinson first among its projected starting running backs for 2026.
So why is Robinson at the top of the conversation?
What Is a Halfback in the NFL?
Before comparing players, it helps to understand what the term means.
In modern American football, halfback is another name for a running back or tailback. The position traditionally refers to the primary ball carrier in the offensive backfield.
The NFL describes a running back as a player who is typically the primary ball carrier and can also catch passes from the quarterback.
A good halfback is expected to do much more than simply run.
Depending on the offensive system, the player may be asked to:
Carry the football
Catch passes
Block for the quarterback
Pick up blitzes
Run routes
Make defenders miss
Gain yards after contact
Protect the football
Create explosive plays
That is why determining the best player requires more than looking at rushing yards.
A running back who gains 1,500 yards on the ground but contributes little as a receiver may offer something different from a back who gains 1,300 rushing yards and adds 700 receiving yards.
The modern NFL increasingly values players who can contribute in several ways.
Bijan Robinson Has the Best Overall Case
Bijan Robinson entered the NFL with enormous expectations after Atlanta selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He has developed into one of the league's most complete offensive weapons.
His 2025 season was particularly impressive.
Robinson finished the season with:
1,478 rushing yards
5.1 yards per carry
7 rushing touchdowns
79 receptions
820 receiving yards
4 receiving touchdowns
2,298 total yards from scrimmage
He played all 17 games.
NFL.com's Maurice Jones-Drew ranked Robinson as the league's No. 1 running back following the 2025 season and described him as the NFL's best running back that season.
Those numbers show why his value goes beyond traditional rushing statistics.
He was not simply carrying the ball.
He was also heavily involved in Atlanta's passing game.
That ability makes him difficult for defenses to handle.
Why Bijan Robinson Is So Difficult to Defend
One of Robinson's biggest strengths is versatility.
A defense cannot simply assume that he will receive a handoff.
He can line up in the backfield, run between the tackles, bounce outside, catch passes or operate in space.
That forces defensive coordinators to account for him in multiple situations.
His receiving production is particularly important.
A halfback who can catch the football effectively gives the quarterback another option when a passing play develops.
Robinson's 820 receiving yards in 2025 demonstrate just how important that part of his game has become.
His combination of rushing and receiving production is one of the biggest reasons he remains at the center of the conversation about the NFL's best running back.
Jahmyr Gibbs Is His Biggest Competition
If Robinson is the leading candidate, Jahmyr Gibbs is probably the player most likely to challenge him for the top spot.
Gibbs is one of the most explosive backs in football.
His speed makes him dangerous in open space, but he is much more than a speed player.
During the 2025 season, Gibbs recorded:
1,223 rushing yards
5.0 yards per carry
13 rushing touchdowns
77 receptions
616 receiving yards
5 receiving touchdowns
That gave him 1,839 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns.
His receiving ability makes him particularly valuable in Detroit's offense.
NFL.com's current 2026 comparison between Gibbs and Robinson calls them essentially RB1a and RB1b entering the season, with Robinson receiving a narrow edge because of his versatility and the amount he can do within Atlanta's offense.
That tells you how close this debate really is.
Gibbs May Be the Most Explosive
If the question were slightly different — who is the most explosive halfback in the NFL? — Gibbs would have an extremely strong argument.
His acceleration can turn an ordinary play into a huge gain.
Once Gibbs gets into open space, defenders have very little margin for error.
He is also dangerous as a receiver.
Detroit can use him in the backfield or create mismatches by getting him involved in the passing game.
His ability to contribute in both areas makes him much more than a traditional rushing specialist.
NFL.com ranked Gibbs first in its 2026 fantasy running back tiers, ahead of Robinson.
That does not necessarily mean Gibbs is the better all-around player, but it shows how highly his production and big-play potential are regarded.
Jonathan Taylor Remains One of the Best
Jonathan Taylor belongs in any serious discussion about the NFL's best halfbacks.
The Indianapolis Colts star has already established himself as one of the league's premier runners.
His combination of speed, strength and vision makes him dangerous when he gets a crease.
His 2025 season was especially productive.
Taylor led the NFL in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns while finishing third in rushing yards. He also became only the second player in NFL history, alongside Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, to have multiple seasons with at least 1,500 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
That is an extraordinary achievement.
Taylor's case is slightly different from Robinson's.
Robinson offers exceptional receiving production alongside his rushing ability, while Taylor's greatest strength has traditionally been his ability to carry an offense on the ground.
Christian McCaffrey Still Belongs in the Conversation
It would be difficult to discuss elite modern halfbacks without mentioning Christian McCaffrey.
When healthy, McCaffrey has been one of the most complete offensive weapons in the NFL.
His career has demonstrated that a running back can function almost like an additional wide receiver while still being the centerpiece of a rushing attack.
McCaffrey's ability to catch passes, run routes and operate from different positions makes him extremely difficult to defend.
Age and durability are now part of the discussion, however.
That is one reason younger players such as Robinson and Gibbs are increasingly being viewed as the future of the position.
Still, McCaffrey's overall body of work means he cannot simply be left out of a conversation about the best halfbacks in football.
Derrick Henry Is Still a Different Kind of Problem
Derrick Henry represents a completely different style.
At 6-foot-3 and around 247 pounds, Henry combines unusual size with impressive speed.
He has built a career around overpowering defenders and turning running lanes into long gains.
The Baltimore Ravens star remains one of the most feared power runners in the league.
His age does make this an interesting debate.
Henry is older than Robinson, Gibbs and several of the other backs near the top of the league.
But when the question is simply whether he remains capable of being one of the NFL's best halfbacks, his career production and continued ability to impact games make the answer yes.
James Cook Deserves More Attention
James Cook has also moved into the elite conversation.
The Buffalo Bills running back led the NFL in rushing yards during the 2025 regular season with 1,621 yards on 309 carries.
He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He also added 291 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
That was a major season.
Cook also demonstrated how valuable an efficient running game can be to an offense.
Buffalo finished No. 1 in the NFL in rushing offense during the 2025 season, and the Bills were 11-1 in games in which Cook recorded at least 100 scrimmage yards.
Those numbers make Cook one of the most important offensive players at his position.
So Who Is Number One?
There are several ways to answer the question.
If you value overall versatility, Bijan Robinson has the strongest case.
If you value explosiveness, Jahmyr Gibbs is difficult to beat.
If you value pure rushing production, James Cook and Jonathan Taylor deserve serious consideration.
If you value power and physical dominance, Derrick Henry remains one of the best.
If you value career versatility and proven production, Christian McCaffrey remains a major candidate.
But when all of those factors are combined, Robinson currently has the strongest argument.
That conclusion is also supported by current NFL analysis.
PFF's July 2026 running back rankings placed Robinson at No. 1 heading into the 2026 season. The analysts highlighted his value since 2024 and his overall impact as a runner.
NFL.com also gave Robinson a narrow advantage over Gibbs in its 2026 comparison.
What Makes a Great Halfback?
Statistics are important, but they do not tell the entire story.
A great halfback needs several qualities.
Vision
A running back has to see openings before they disappear.
Offensive linemen may create a gap, but that gap can close almost immediately.
The best backs recognize where the opening is and get through it quickly.
Speed
Speed allows a player to turn a small opening into a long gain.
It also makes backs dangerous after catching passes.
Power
A powerful runner can gain yards even when the defense closes the running lane.
Breaking tackles can turn a short play into a first down.
Balance
Elite backs rarely go down after the first contact.
They can absorb a hit, keep their balance and continue moving forward.
Receiving ability
Modern offenses increasingly ask running backs to contribute as receivers.
A back who can catch the ball effectively gives the offense additional flexibility.
Pass protection
One of the less glamorous parts of playing running back is blocking.
A running back may be asked to stay in the backfield and protect the quarterback from an incoming defender.
A player who cannot reliably protect the quarterback can lose playing time even if he is an excellent runner.
The Best Halfback Is Not Always the Leading Rusher
This is an important point.
The player with the most rushing yards is not automatically the best running back.
Rushing production depends on many factors.
These include:
Offensive line quality
Number of carries
Offensive system
Quarterback play
Game situation
Injuries
Receiving opportunities
Strength of the opposing defenses
A player might have fewer rushing yards but contribute significantly more as a receiver.
Another might have fewer touches because his team uses a committee approach.
That is why modern rankings increasingly consider both traditional statistics and advanced evaluation.
PFF, for example, considered career production, rushing and receiving contributions and advanced statistics when creating its 2026 running back rankings.
Halfback vs Running Back
You may notice that modern NFL coverage usually says running back instead of halfback.
There is a reason.
The term halfback comes from older offensive formations in which backs had more specifically defined positions.
Modern offenses use formations that are much more flexible.
A running back can line up beside the quarterback, behind the quarterback, in the slot or even split out as a receiver.
Because of that flexibility, “running back” has become the more common term.
The NFL itself lists running back as also being called a halfback or tailback.
So when someone asks who the best halfback in the NFL is, they are generally asking who the best running back is.
Top Halfbacks in the NFL in 2026
Based on current evaluations and recent performance, a reasonable group of the league's leading backs includes:
| Rank | Player | Team | Main strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons | Complete all-around game |
| 2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions | Speed and explosiveness |
| 3 | Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | Rushing ability |
| 4 | James Cook | Buffalo Bills | Production and efficiency |
| 5 | Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers | Rushing and receiving |
| 6 | Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens | Power and physicality |
This should not be treated as a permanent ranking.
Running back rankings can change quickly because injuries, offensive systems and team usage can have a major effect on production.
The 2026 season itself will provide new evidence.
Why Bijan Robinson Gets the Edge
The strongest argument for Robinson is that there are very few weaknesses in his game.
He can run inside.
He can run outside.
He can catch passes.
He can create yards after contact.
He can make defenders miss.
He can produce explosive plays.
And he can remain on the field for different offensive situations.
His 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025 demonstrate the breadth of his contribution.
That is why current NFL analysts have placed him at or near the top.
He does not need to be the best in one individual category.
His strength is being excellent in many areas at the same time.
Could Jahmyr Gibbs Become Number One?
Absolutely.
The gap between Gibbs and Robinson is extremely small.
NFL.com itself described the comparison as one of its toughest evaluations and gave Robinson only a narrow advantage entering 2026.
If Gibbs continues producing touchdowns at his recent rate and maintains his explosive rushing and receiving ability, he could easily finish the season being regarded as the league's best running back.
That is part of what makes the current NFL running back landscape so interesting.
There is no enormous gap separating the top players.
Instead, several young stars are competing to become the face of the position.
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Final Answer
So, who is the best halfback in the NFL?
For the 2026 season, Bijan Robinson is the best overall choice.
His combination of rushing ability, receiving production, versatility and consistency gives him the strongest all-around case. Current NFL analysis has him narrowly ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs, while PFF also ranks him first among its projected starting running backs.
But the answer is not settled forever.
Jahmyr Gibbs has the explosiveness to challenge him. Jonathan Taylor remains an elite runner, James Cook is coming off a league-leading rushing season, Christian McCaffrey remains one of the most versatile backs of his generation, and Derrick Henry continues to provide a unique combination of size and power.
That makes the running back position one of the most competitive in the NFL.
For now, though, if you need to choose one player as the best halfback in the NFL, Bijan Robinson gets the nod.
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