Everyone who watched the 2025 NFL season saw how bad the run-defense was for the Buffalo Bills. On average, they gave up 136 yards on the ground per game and there were plenty of games where the games were closer that they should have been, or they even lost matchups as well.
Now that the Bills are changing defensive schemes with Jim Leonhard running the unit, this will be one Leonhard’s biggest task to accomplish and try to turn things around. However, the Bills’ schedule does him no favors.
Buffalo is set to go up against some of the best backs in football, but there are three of them that stand out for one reason that should have Bills fans scared.
3 running backs Bills could heavily struggle against for 1 reason
Daire Carragher from Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently wrote a piece about the NFL’s top running backs heading into the 2026 season who specifically are great after contact. Three of the five backs listed are on the Bills’ schedule; De’Von Achane from the Dolphins, Derrick Henry from the Ravens, and Jordan Mason from the Vikings.
Daire Carragher about De'Von Achane:
"More impressively, Achane led the NFL with 4.1 yards after contact per carry last season and already holds the highest single-season figure ever recorded in the PFF era. As a rookie in 2023, he generated an astonishing 4.9 yards after contact per attempt. No other qualifying season has surpassed 4.5." said Carragher.
Right in the AFC East, the Bills have to worry about De'Von Achane, who just signed an extension with Miami this offseason. In two games against the Bills, Achane had 236 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In the second matchup, Achane couldn't be stopped as the Dolphins completely destroyed the Bills in a 30-13 win over Buffalo.
Daire Carragher about Derrick Henry:
"Henry’s 10,391 career yards after contact is a number that may stand for as long as the league itself. No other active player is within 4,000 yards of him." said Carragher.
Even though the Bills got the final laugh against the Ravens in Week 1 last season, they first had to watch Derrick Henry rush for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henry is a consistent Top 3 back every year and when the Bills go up against him, he is always going to be a problem for them.
Daire Carragher about Jordan Mason:
"Jordan Mason’s place on this list may surprise some fans, but the numbers leave little room for debate. The Minnesota Vikings running back owns a career average of 3.5 yards after contact per carry, placing him among the NFL’s best, albeit with the fewest career rushing attempts (397) of anybody on this list." said Carragher.
In his first year with the Vikings, Mason managed to take advantage of his opportunity, rushing for 758 yards and 6 touchdowns. Being in a room with Aaron Jones, Mason still showed that he could eventually be the team’s main back moving forward.
Buffalo will be heading to Minnesota this season, and it would not be surprising to see Mason be the one who comes out as the starting back for the Vikings.
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