AFC Divisional Round RB Power Rankings feat. James Cook

The Divisional round for the AFC bracket of the NFL playoffs is officially set with the final four teams. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Houston Texans in the opening game and the Buffalo Bills take on the Baltimore Ravens to conclude the week.

The running back position has been generally devalued in recent years, but it's interesting to note that all of the remaining AFC teams are particularly strong in their ground attacks. Here are the positional power rankings for the remaining players in the conference.

AFC RB power rankings for Divisional round of NFL Playoffs

RB rankings (image credit: Getty)

#4 - Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt

Isiah Pacheco entered the 2024 NFL season as the featured running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. After he was injured, they added Kareem Hunt, and upon his return, the two of them now make up a dominant tandem. They are grouped together in the power rankings due to their nearly even workload distribution.

Pacheco has totaled 49 carries across the Chiefs' past five games, while Hunt has received 45 carries during that same span. They are both likely to maintain their prominent roles as the AFC Divisional round kicks off this week.

#3 - Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon got off to a scorching hot start to the 2024 NFL season in his first year with the Houston Texans. He exceeded 100 rushing yards in five of his first six games, but cooled off considerably since then, including rushing for fewer than 30 yards in three of his final four regular-season games.

The veteran bounced back in a big way during the Wild Card round, turning in 25 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. He will likely need to play a major role in the AFC Divisional round if the Texans are going to have any chance of upsetting the Chiefs.

#2 - James Cook

James Cook has quietly been one of the best overall running backs in the NFL this year on his way to a second consecutive season eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards for the Buffalo Bills. He also led all players this season with 16 rushing touchdowns after totaling just four across his first two years.

Cook recorded another massive performance in the Bills' destruction of the Denver Broncos during the Wild Card round, including 23 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. He has now totaled seven scrimmage touchdowns across his past five games overall, so he is hot at the right time.

#1 - Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry joined the Baltimore Ravens this year after previously spending his entire career with the Tennessee Titans. He responded by leading the AFC with 1,921 rushing yards and averaging a career-high six yards per carry. He finished the regular season as one of the hottest players in the league, exceeding 150 scrimmage yards in each of his final three games.

His Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers kept his streak going by registering 26 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns. His outstanding results prove that he is the best remaining running back in the AFC entering the Divisional round.