Six weeks into the NFL season, the best of best at the running back position have taken a firm grasp on the PFF Player Grades leaderboard. Featured among the top graded running backs we find some familiar faces as well as some fresh legs in the form of rookies. One thing is certain, it’s a young man’s position as eight of the top-10 are aged 25 years or younger, while just one is older than 26.
Measured by more than just traditional stats, our running backs grades take a snap-by-snap look into the production of each player measuring their performance as runners, receivers, pass protectors, a number of PFF Elite signature stats, as well as their discipline at the running back position. 
1. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 92.0
PFF Elite Stat: Hunt has forced a combined 43 missed tackles on the season, which is the most for any running back.
From the moment the season started Hunt has seemingly been the top graded running back in the NFL, an incredibly impressive feat for the 2017 third-round draft pick. His ability to make would-be tacklers miss has led him to forcing a league high 43 total missed tackles on just 127 touches as well as producing the second-highest yards after contact per carry average of 3.46 yards (min 55 carries). In total, his 117.2 elusive rating ranks second among running backs. Hunt has also shown a propensity for breakaway runs, leading the league in carries that go for 15 yards or more with nine, and also ranking first in breakaway percentage 47.5 (min 55 carries). Lastly, Hunt has been a major contributor in the passing game earning a yards per route run average of 2.22, which is the top mark among three-down running backs and the fifth-highest overall. Oh, and he also hasn’t dropped a pass on 23 targets.
2. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
PFF Grade: 88.3
PFF Elite Stat: Among players with at least 55 carries, Freeman ranks fifth in elusive rating at 61.3
Freeman has firmly established himself as one of the best running backs in the league over the past three seasons. With that said, if the season ended today his 88.3 overall grade would be the best of his career by far, that’s how good he has been through six weeks. Freeman has generated yards beyond his blockers well this season, producing the fifth-highest elusive rating (min 55 carries) while forcing 20 missed tackles on just 90 touches. On a snap-by-snap basis, Freeman has been one of the best pure runners in the league and currently owns the second highest run grade at 89.2.
3. Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
PFF Grade: 85.8
PFF Elite Stat: Ajayi has the seventh-highest ratio of forced missed tackles to attempts at 20.1 percent.
Ajayi, who finished last season as the fourth-highest graded running back, finds himself a spot higher six weeks into this season. He has produced 21 forced missed tackles on 102 carries, a ratio of 20.1 percent which ranks seventh among running backs. He also has the third-highest run grade at 89.0.
4. Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers
PFF Grade: 84.8
PFF Elite Stat: Gordon ranks fifth among running backs in forced missed tackles with 24.
Gordon is following up his 2016 breakout campaign in which he finished ninth among running backs in overall grade with an even better 2017. With inconsistent blocking up front, Gordon has had to rely heavily on creating for himself and has generated 70.2 percent of his total yards after contact, which ranks 11th among running backs with at least 55 carries. Gordon is also a big part of the passing game and has been targeted 37 times already.
5. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 84.6
PFF Elite Stat: Bell has racked up eight carries of 15 or more yards which is tied for the second-most among running backs this season.
After a slow start the season, the reigning top graded running back has come alive. His combo of speed, power and vision has him frequently making explosive plays. Most notably in his second ranked 29 forced missed tackles and second ranked eight carries of 15 yards or more. This past week, Bell lit up the opposing defense with nine forced missed tackles and three breakaway runs of 15 yards or more.
6. C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos
PFF Grade: 83.0
PFF Elite Stat: Anderson fields a perfect pass blocking efficiency of 100.0 on 42 pass block snaps
Anderson has been incredibly steady this season and effective in all three facets of the position, producing solid grades as a runner (80.0), as a receiver (71.2), and as a pass blocker (87.7). His pass block grade is the highest among running backs and he has produced a perfect pass blocking efficiency of 100.0 not allowing a single pressure on 42 pass block snaps.
7. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 82.3
PFF Elite Stat: Fournette has forced the third most missed tackles with 28 among running backs
The fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft has not disappointed thus far in Jacksonville. On a team with an inconsistent offense, Fournette has seemingly been the only way to move the football at times. He has been incredible forcing missed tackles and has racked up 28 of them, the third-most among running backs. With five runs of 15 yards or more, Fournette has provided the explosive run plays the Jaguars were looking for when they drafted him. He has also been better than advertised in the passing game earning the 10th overall receiving grade for a running back at 77.4, while producing the 11th highest yards per route run at 1.79.
8. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
PFF Grade: 81.9
PFF Elite Stat: Elliott has produced 77.3 percent of his yards after contact, which ranks fifth among running backs with at least 55 carries
Elliot hasn’t been quite as good as he was last season as a rookie, but has still been very effective regardless. While his offensive line has regressed this season, Elliott has had to rely heavily on his own abilities to generate yards. In fact, Elliott has generated 77.3 percent of his yards after contact which not only ranks fifth among running backs with at least 55 carries, but is also nearly 20.0 percent higher than his mark from last season (57.6 percent). Unfortunately for Elliott, his season is in limbo pending the reinstatement of his six-game suspension.
9. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 81.8
PFF Elite Stat: Jones already has two breakaway runs of 15 or more yards on just 45 carries
Jones has been a very pleasant surprise since being thrust into the lineup due to injuries. Jones hasn’t yet done anything spectacular, but he has limited mistakes, been consistent, and shown he can be explosive when called upon. In Week 5, his first game as the primary running back, he racked up five forced missed tackles and two runs of 15 or more yards. Jones has also been very solid in pass protection earning the third-highest pass block grade among running backs at 81.2.
10. LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 80.9
PFF Elite Stat: Blount fields a league-high 173.0 elusive rating.
Blount is in the midst of his best season since his 2010 rookie campaign and he is doing it in perhaps the most unlikely way possible, generating yards beyond his blockers, something Blount hasn’t been particularly effective at the last few seasons. Leading running backs with an absurd 173.0 elusive rating, Blount is averaging a league high 4.86 yards after contact per carry and has forced 26 missed tackles on just 73 touches. 87.1 percent of his total rushing yardage has come after contact. Blount has also already racked up six runs of 15 or more yards which is tied for the third-most.
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