NFL’s Top 10 Running Backs of 2019
NFL’s Top 10 Running Backs of 2019
10. Phillip Lindsay
If it was not for Baker Mayfield and Saquon Barkley, there was not a better offensive rookie than Phillip Lindsay. The Colorado product burst out of nowhere in 2018. He went from undrafted to unstoppable in his rookie season, where he ran for 1,037 yards on only 192 attempts (5.4 Yards per Carry) en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. Lindsay also reached the endzone 10 times in 2018. What makes his season so impressive is that Lindsay was facing 7-man boxes for most of his carries and he still was able to have the success that he had. It should be interesting to see how Lindsay responds from his late-season wrist injury and prove that he was not a fluke.
9. David Johnson
After an injury-filled 2017 season, David Johnson underachieved in 2018. In 2018, DJ ran for 940 yards, but it was on 258 carries, which averaged to 3.6 Yards per Carry. To go along with that Johnson had 50 catches for 446 yards and 3 touchdowns. His numbers are not terrible but are not good considering the talent David Johnson has. A lot of DJ’s struggles was due to a very poor roster. With Kyler Murray taking over at quarterback, David Johnson will look to regain his All-Pro status and have a big year in 2019.
8. James Conner
The road has been a rough one for James Conner, but his time to emerge has finally come. Conner was looked at as a first-round talent in 2017 but fell because he was battling cancer. With the holdout from Bell, the 23-year old burst onto the scene with 1,470 all-purpose yards with 13 touchdowns. He has become a centerpiece in a young Pittsburgh offense except for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. With Bell signing with the Jets, James Conner will look to seize his opportunity and build off his impressive 2018 campaign.
7. Melvin Gordon
In an offense including Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon is a perfect fit to the Chargers offense. A former first-round pick in 2015, Gordon consistently has had success besides his rookie season. For his career, Gordon has rushed for 3,628 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also has been dependent in the passing game, catching 182 passes and 10 touchdowns. Gordon has been a very good option for Philip Rivers, and his success is only getting started.
6. Christian McCaffrey
Probably the most overlooked running back in the NFL is Christian McCaffrey. Overlooked because of his size, McCaffrey burst onto the scene in his second season. Running for 1,098 yards (6th) and catching over 100 passes, the Stanford product is one of the top two-way backs in the game. He was arguably the best running back and receiver on the Panthers and has proved to be the focal point of the offense. Look for McCaffrey to continue his success in 2019, hopefully leading Carolina back to the playoffs.
5. Alvin Kamara
Much like Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara is considered a two-way running back in the NFL. His ability to catch passes like a receiver and still be one of the top backs in the league is a very tough thing that he makes look easy. In his career, Kamara already has 3,146 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns. With Mark Ingram gone, Kamara is now the every-down back, so expect Kamara to only get better in 2019.
4. Le’Veon Bell
Nobody had more drama or controversy over the past few seasons than Le’Veon Bell. Whether it was a contract dispute, off the field antics, or missing meetings, Bell has always found a way to be the topic of discussion in the media. With that being said, Bell is still considered one of the most elusive running backs in the NFL. His vision is unmatched, and his patience is like no other. With a new environment in New York, Bell will look to come back without missing a beat in 2019 and finally get the New York Jets to the promise land.
3. Saquon Barkley
Regarded as one of the most highly touted prospects of all-time, Saquon Barkley did not disappoint in his rookie campaign. The number two overall pick out of Penn State took home Rookie of the Year honors and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Barkley was the lone star for the New York Giants in 2018. He ran for 1,307 yards on 261 carries (5.0 YPC) and added 11 rushing touchdowns. To add to that, the former Nittany Lion caught 91 passes for the G-Men. We should expect more out of this from Barkley in 2019, as his potential is through the roof.
2. Todd Gurley
In 2019, the Los Angeles Rams offense revolved around Todd Gurley. Whether it was rushing or receiving, Todd Gurley was a threat on almost every play. The two-time All-Pro had 1,831 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns, which led the NFL over receivers and running backs. Gurley’s dominance was slowed down, and the report that came out in the offseason was not good when it was revealed that Gurley had arthritis in his knee. Arthritis is a very tough thing to deal with, especially for a guy who must make cuts on the dime and is constantly putting pressure on it. Will Todd Gurley ever be the same? 2019 should answer this question.
Ezekiel Elliott
To round out the list of the top running backs at number one is Ezekiel Elliott from the Dallas Cowboys. Zeke has dominated the running back position over his first three seasons. In 40 games, Zeke has over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns and has led the league in rushing two out of the three seasons he has been in the league. If it was not for the six-game suspension in 2017, Zeke could have three rushing touchdowns on his resume already. In 2018 he also improved in the Dallas passing attack. Zeke had 77 catches, which was more than the first two seasons combined, and had 567 receiving yards. Zeke will look to hurdle more defenders and keep eating in 2019 as the Dallas Cowboys look to contend for a Super Bowl title.
-By: Richie Dordas