The biggest issue that the Buffalo Bills faced last season was stopping the run. They gave up an average of 115 yards on the ground in the regular season. There were only seven games where they didn’t give 100+ rushing yards and it was a main reason as to why either the Bills lost a game or came close to losing.
Brandon Beane clearly saw an issue with that run-defense and he went out and addressed it with making key free agency signings and drafting young defensive line talent. Beane sent a message to the rest of the world, basically daring them to try and run the ball on them this upcoming season. Well, the Bills will definitely get tested as they are set to face five really tough backs in 2025.
Top 5 running backs Bills will face in 2025
5.) Chuba Hubbard, Panthers - Week 8
When the Bills travel down to Carolina in Week 8, they will be going up against a rising running back in Chuba Hubbard. In the middle of last season, the Panthers extended Hubbard to a four-year, $33 million deal as he had showed major improvement in his game that helped him reach career numbers in 2024.
Last season, Hubbard rushed for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns. Considering the fact that the Panthers have been a bit of a joke recently, Hubbard has been a shining factor for them and he is entering his prime going into 2025.
4.) Bucky Irving, Buccaneers - Week 11
As a rookie running back last season for the Buccaneers, Bucky Irving bursted onto the scene and had a fantastic start to his career. Not only did he rush for 1,122 yards and 8 touchdowns, but he also added on 392 receiving yards. He’s a double threat on the field and if he gets into stride against the Bills, Buffalo is going to be in deep trouble when they host Tampa Bay.
3.) Bijan Robinson, Falcons - Week 6
After a very weird rookie season in 2023, Bijan Robinson finally showed off the hype that surrounded coming out of the University of Texas. Despite the Falcons having a dysfunctyional quarterback room, that didn’t affect Robinson’s production as he rushed for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, and had 431 yards through the air along with one touchdowns.
Robinson is only going to go up from here and he gets an early matchup against the Bills in Week 6 on Monday Night Football. He will be a major problem if Buffalo’s defense doesn’t show up.
2.) Saquon Barkley, Eagles - Week 17
The newest member of the cover of Madden is coming off a year where he had career highs in rushing attempts (345), rushing yards (2,005) and rushing touchdowns (13). He averaged over 125 yards per game and came close to 2,300 scrimmage yards. He now has a new contract extension and a Super Bowl ring.
Saquon Barkley will be looking to repeat this kind of performance and all that the Bills can do is just hope that they can contain him rather than stop him.
1.) Derrick Henry, Ravens - Week 1
Even though Barkely was the best back in football last season, Derrick Henry is known for punishing the Bills throughout his career. In last season’s Week 4 beatdown that the Ravens gave to the Bills, Henry opened it up by rushing 87 yards on the opening play for Baltimore that was the start of a miserable night for Buffalo. Henry rushed for 199 yards and had two total touchdowns.
Henry will be looking to deliver payback to the Bills from last year’s divisional round playoff game where the Bills sent the Ravens home early in the postseason.