Which running backs rush for the most yards against weak run defenses?
De'Von Achane leads all NFL running backs with 829 rushing yards against bottom-ten rush defenses, on 137 carries and 6 rushing touchdowns across 8 games.
NFL Running Back Rushing Yards vs. Weakest Run Defenses
Ranked by YDS · 2025 regular season| # | Player | YDS | ATT | YAC | TD | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De'Von Achane Miami Dolphins · #28 | 829 | 137 | 478 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 | Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons · #7 | 593 | 114 | 434 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions · #0 | 589 | 73 | 300 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | James Cook Buffalo Bills · #4 | 583 | 111 | 375 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens · #22 | 583 | 100 | 303 | 7 | 6 |
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Open this in the Stat Explorer →Why this matters
A weak run defense gives up more than open running lanes; it gives up extra yardage after contact, when a missed tackle or a slow-flowing linebacker turns a modest gain into a breakaway run. Backs who show up here are often the beneficiaries of that kind of breakdown as much as they are the cause of it.
Volume tends to climb alongside opportunity in these games. A team playing a soft run defense often builds a lead and keeps handing the ball off to protect it, so a back's total here can reflect a favorable game script as much as it reflects a favorable matchup up front.
These matchups are limited to begin with. Only a handful appear on a schedule each season, so a back's standing here can rest on a single breakout afternoon against a beat-up front rather than a pattern that repeats whenever the matchup favors him. Confirm it shows up again before trusting it going forward.