Bijan Robinson is the best running back in the NFL. At least that’s what more than 70 league insiders told ESPN for its annual top-10 position rankings, and the Falcons back officially claimed the No. 1 spot Monday after finishing fourth in last year’s vote.
The real fight was between Robinson and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs. Both guys basically split the first-place votes, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. But Robinson’s average rating of 1.78 tilted it in his favor. Tight enough that the margin feels like it could flip on any given Sunday.
One NFC executive put it plainly: “Bijan is just more dynamic than the rest of the field in terms of creating positive runs despite blocking failure.” The same exec pointed to Robinson’s bend, feet and agility. Size that shows up in the physical stuff. And while Gibbs might be faster in a straight line, Robinson can still house it from anywhere.
That’s backed up by the numbers. Robinson carried 287 times for 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. But the jump everyone noticed came through the air. He set career highs with 79 catches for 820 yards and four touchdowns on 103 targets. That kind of dual-threat usage made him the top fantasy back too, which probably doesn’t surprise anyone who watched him play.
The new offensive setup changes the math
Kevin Stefanski took over as Falcons head coach this offseason. That’s a big deal for a team that already had a high-powered offense but kept getting in its own way. Stefanski knows how to feature a bell-cow back. He built offenses around Nick Chubb in Cleveland that made average quarterbacks look functional. Robinson should feast in that system.
Still, the Falcons have questions at quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t fully answered them yet. That makes Robinson even more important. If the passing game wobbles early, Atlanta can lean on the run and let its best player carry the load. A worrying thought for NFC South defenses.
Gibbs, for his part, has a case. He’s electric in space and doesn’t need a clean pocket to create a big play. But the voters gave the nod to Robinson, and it’s hard to argue with the on-field results. Robinson did this with a Falcons offense that had plenty of rough patches. Imagine what he does now.
Robinson will get his chance to prove the ranking right when the 2026 regular season kicks off later this fall. The Falcons hope he plays like the best back in football. A lot of league experts already think he is.
Leave a Comment