When playing offense, a lot of players think that making the pass/hand-off is the end of the play. It’s up to the AI from there on, and, based on luck, they’ll get a good yard gain. That’s exactly why those players find it harder to climb the ranks in Madden 26, because passing the ball to a receiver is only half the play; the other half is making the run.
Madden 26 has a variety of running tricks you can use to evade defenders. From jukes and spins to straight-up jumping over them. These are called Ball Carrier Moves. But knowing when to use each one is key, and can significantly increase your yard gains. This piece will be all about the different Ball Carrier Moves in Madden 26 and how to perform each one. If you’re getting stopped a few yards into your run each time, this article is specifically for you.
What Are Ball Carrier Moves?
Ball Carrier Moves in Madden 26 are tricks players use to dodge defenders. These are, of course, used on offense, and each player has a stat spread highlighting how well they can perform these moves. RBs and WRs, like Ja’Marr Chase, will usually have higher Ball Carrier stats compared to other players on the field.
Now, how many types of moves are there? According to EA’s official data, there are a total of 9 Ball Carrier moves in Madden 26. These are:
- Double Juke (New)
- Spin (Quick/Wide)
- Juke (Quick/Wide)
- Hurdle
- Stiff Arm
- Trucking
- Reach For It (New Animation)
- Dive
- QB Skill Moves (New)
As you can see, we received two new Ball Carrier moves, i.e, Double Juke and QB Skill Moves, and a new animation for Reach For It. Moving on, we’ll explain what all of these are, when to use them, and how to use them.
Spin
The first ball carrier move we have today is the spin. Spin moves are divided into quick spin and wide spin. In a spin, the player will turn their back to the defender while clutching the ball and make a short spin to pull away. This helps avoid head-on tackles and maintain momentum while finding gaps in the defense. There are two types of spins:
- Quick Spin: Release R2/RT and press O/B to perform a quick spin. Short spin, usually performed to evade a single defender.
- Wide Spin: Hold R2/RT and press O/B to perform a wide spin. A more aggressive spin if there are multiple defenders and you need a bigger cut.
Remember to spin in the direction opposite to where the defender is approaching you from.
Juke
Next, we’ve got jukes. There are now three types of jukes in Madden 26: quick, wide, and the new double juke. Jukes are sidesteps used to cut through the defensive line. Players with high agility or juke stats can best utilize jukes since you do sacrifice some momentum. A well-executed juke can throw off defenders in the wrong direction, allowing you to run home free. Here are the different types of jukes:
- Quick Juke: Release R2/RT and flick the right stick left or right. A small but abrupt direction change to feign defenders.
- Wide Juke: Hold R2/RT while flicking the right stick left or right. A wider cut to one side, can also be used to change direction.
- Double Juke: Quickly flick the right analog left, then right (or vice versa). Great for when you need to clear defenders who are standing behind one another. Juke the first in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction. This is harder to pull off compared to normal jukes, so try it out before putting it to the test.
Jukes are quicker compared to spins, but aren’t always successful. A fast defender will be able to read your juke and tackle the opposite way.
Hurdle
Hurdle is a unique ball carrier move. If you’ve watched hurdle races, you’ll know what happens. If you see a defender coming directly at you with a low tackle, you can use Hurdle to jump over them. Now, this technique is quite risky since you risk getting tackled mid-air. It depends on your player’s jump ability and the defender’s height and strength.
To pull it off, you need to press Triangle/Y to leap over low defenders. Again, you’ll need a fast read on the defender to see if a hurdle is viable. Getting tackled mid-air can result in a fumble, so be cautious about that.
Stiff Arm
Not all ball carrier moves are based on speed and agility; a stiff arm prioritizes your strength. In a Stiff arm, you push away defenders with your free hand to keep them at a distance. This isn’t the most effective move since the defender doesn’t get left behind, but it can be useful for squeezing in those extra yards.
To perform a stiff arm in Madden 26, press X/A. This will keep them at arm’s length, giving you a few more yards to run. This is a continuous move, so you don’t have to time it. However, this only works when defenders are coming at you from a side angle, not a head-on tackle.
Trucking
We’ve covered more than half of the ball carrier moves. Next up is trucking. Trucking is similar to the stiff arm, just that you use your shoulder to wall off defenders. Unlike the stiff arm, where you extend an arm to push defenders away, in trucking, you simply lower your shoulder and run through defenders. This is the ideal maneuver to use with high-strength, low-speed players.
If you want to try trucking, flick the right stick up to lower your shoulder. Keep running straight ahead and hope you can outlast the defenders. If you’re able to push off or tackle defenders to the ground, you can get some nice yardage out of this move. Otherwise, you’ll still get a few extra yards in regardless.
Reach For It
While Reach For It was also included in Madden 25, it has received a new animation in Madden 26. Reach For It is exactly what the name says, your player will reach for those extra yards. When using this tactic, your player will extend their arm forward, so they gain some extra yards when tackled. This maneuver isn’t the best, but it can be used when near the first down or end zone markers.
To use a Reach For It move, hold the right stick up when near the first down marker or end zone. It won’t be much, but those extra yards will add up in the end.
Dive
The second last move on our list is the Dive. Diving is probably the most common ball carrier move out of them all, since you’ll always see players do it in real life. This is especially true when they’re getting zoned and would rather dive to the ground than get tackled from every direction.
To dive, simply hold Square/X in the direction you want to dive. While you’ll mostly want to dive forward, sometimes diving right or left is better if you see a defender coming straight at you. Make sure you’re not diving into a defender, since that could turn into a worse injury compared to getting tackled.
QB Skill Moves
It’s been all about the WRs until this point; now it’s time for QBs to get into the fun. QB skill moves are a new addition to Madden 26, where QBs can perform these skill moves to reduce pressure and avoid getting sacked. To execute a QB skill move, hold R2/RT and flick the right stick while scrambling behind the line. Your QB will perform a juke move to evade the first few defenders.
You can use this in several settings, especially when up against a blitz defense. Be careful, though, since a failed juke could result in an immediate sack.
