40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 718 (92% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.74s
- 25th
- 4.62s
- Median
- 4.55s
- 75th
- 4.47s
- Top 5%
- 4.38s
Drafted 4.51sUndrafted 4.60s
Best: 4.24s — Chris Johnson, 2008
Running Back
The bar for an NFL running back
- Athletes
- 779
- Classes
- 2000–2026
- Drafted
- 457 (59%)
Typical NFL RB, 2000–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 5'9" – 6'0"
- Weight
- 205 – 222 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.47 – 4.62s
Drafted running backs vs undrafted (medians)
- 0.09s faster forty
- 3" longer broad jump
- 0.08s faster shuttle
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs running backs at the NFL Combine, 2000–2026, who tested that drill. Timed drills are already flipped: a faster time is a higher tier.
| Build | Typical range (mid 50%) | Median | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heightn 777 (100% tested) | 5'9" – 6'0" | 5'11" | n 777 (100%) |
| Weightn 778 (100% tested) | 205 lb – 222 lb | 213 lb | n 778 (100%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 777 (100% tested) | 2.93 – 3.12 | 3.03 | n 777 (100%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 718 (92% tested) | 4.55s | 4.47s | 4.40s | n 718 (92%) |
| Vertical jumpn 632 (81% tested) | 34.5" | 36.5" | 38.5" | n 632 (81%) |
| Broad jumpn 618 (79% tested) | 9'11" | 10'2" | 10'6" | n 618 (79%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 530 (68% tested) | 19 | 22 | 25 | n 530 (68%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 384 (49% tested) — fewer than half tested | 7.07s | 6.93s | 6.82s | n 384 (49%) — fewer than half tested |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 402 (52% tested) | 4.27s | 4.16s | 4.09s | n 402 (52%) |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 631 (81% tested) | 85.3 | 88.6 | 91.6 | n 631 (81%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine running backs who tested. n = athletes with a recorded value.
† Fewer than half tested. Skipping correlates with top prospects — a biased sample.
Every measurable, in full
Better is always to the right. ▌ drafted median ┊ undrafted median
n 632 (81% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 29.5"
- 25th
- 32.5"
- Median
- 34.5"
- 75th
- 36.5"
- Top 5%
- 40"
Drafted 35"Undrafted 34"
Best: 43" — Christine Michael, 2013
n 618 (79% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 9'1"
- 25th
- 9'7"
- Median
- 9'11"
- 75th
- 10'2"
- Top 5%
- 10'8"
Drafted 10'0"Undrafted 9'9"
Best: 11'5" — Justin Fargas, 2003
n 530 (68% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 12
- 25th
- 16
- Median
- 19
- 75th
- 22
- Top 5%
- 27
Drafted 19Undrafted 19
Best: 34 — Alex Barnes, 2019
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 384 (49% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 7.44s
- 25th
- 7.19s
- Median
- 7.07s
- 75th
- 6.93s
- Top 5%
- 6.78s
Drafted 7.01sUndrafted 7.10s
Best: 6.50s — Chris Rainey, 2012
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 402 (52% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.54s
- 25th
- 4.39s
- Median
- 4.27s
- 75th
- 4.16s
- Top 5%
- 4.06s
Drafted 4.24sUndrafted 4.32s
Best: 3.82s — Dante' Hall, 2000
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 631 (81% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 78.7
- 25th
- 82.3
- Median
- 85.3
- 75th
- 88.6
- Top 5%
- 93.3
Drafted 86.3Undrafted 84.2
Best: 100.6 — AJ Dillon, 2020
n 777 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 5'7"
- 25th
- 5'9"
- Median
- 5'11"
- 75th
- 6'0"
- 95th
- 6'1"
Drafted 5'11"Undrafted 5'10"
n 778 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 191 lb
- 25th
- 205 lb
- Median
- 213 lb
- 75th
- 222 lb
- 95th
- 234 lb
Drafted 214 lbUndrafted 211 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 777 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 2.76
- 25th
- 2.93
- Median
- 3.03
- 75th
- 3.12
- 95th
- 3.29
Drafted 3.04Undrafted 3.01
About this data
- 2021 numbers are pro-day results — no combine was held that year (about 5% of this group).
- Missing values aren’t random: top prospects skip drills. 3-cone: 49% of running backs tested.
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology