sports
Bijan Robinson Edges Jahmyr Gibbs in ESPN 2026 Running Back Survey
ESPN surveyed more than 70 league executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 running backs. Atlanta Falcons back Bijan Robinson finished first in the seventh edition of the annual positional rankings released July 6.
Jul 7, 8:19 AM·1m read1 source
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Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons ranked first among NFL running backs in ESPN's 2026 survey of league executives, coaches and scouts. The 24-year-old received the highest composite average despite a close vote with Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs. Robinson led the NFL with 2,498 yards from scrimmage in 2025 and broke the Atlanta franchise record of 2,176 set by William Andrews in 1983.
He became only the third Falcon, along with Andrews and Julio Jones, to lead the league in that category. An NFC executive said Robinson stood out for his ability to create positive runs despite blocking failure. Voters evaluated players on current performance rather than long-term projections or career totals.
The survey marks the seventh edition of ESPN's annual positional rankings. More than 70 voters submitted ballots, with additional interviews used to finalize placements. The 2026 training camps are scheduled to begin soon after the July 6 release.
Running back contract values have risen since a 2023 videoconference among players. Christian McCaffrey signed for $19 million per year and Saquon Barkley for $20.6 million per year from 2024 to 2025. Three additional backs secured deals between $14 million and $16 million in the 2026 offseason.
