Ranking the NFL’s Starting Running Backs
With every passing season, running backs become less and less valuable in the NFL. Despite their constant depreciation, some are still X-factors on their respective teams. Here we tackle the extremely difficult task of ranking the top 15 running backs in the league.
15. Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons
Just a year ago, Gurley may have topped this list. Unfortunately for the new Falcons RB, a knee condition has lowered his effectiveness and forced him to find a new team. In a potentially explosive Falcons offense, I’m putting my money on a healthier Gurley to regain some of the form that earned him an OPOY award.
14. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens
A 2011 first-round selection, Ingram’s late rise was accompanied by the breakout of Alvin Kamara. Because of Kamara’s youth and Ingram’s contract looming, he took his talents to the Ravens. Paired with Lamar Jackson, Ingram ran for over 1,000 yards on 5.0 YPC. The Ravens became the most productive rushing offense in NFL history.
13. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler was thrust into a starting role during Melvin Gordon’s unfruitful holdout. All the attention was on Christian McCaffrey’s ridiculous receiving season in Carolina, but Ekeler wasn’t far behind, recording 993 yards on 92 catches. Ekeler is the perfect modern back for the NFL, and more rushing attempts will lead to even more productivity.
12. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Sanders was third in the Eagles backfield pecking order to start the season, but by the end, he and Carson Wentz were putting the team on their backs. From Weeks 8 to 17, Sanders ran for 598 yards (5.16 YPC) and 34 passes for 279 yards. He came up big in the Eagles season-saving win over the Cowboys, totaling 156 total yards and a score.
11. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
If not for missing the last three games of the season, Jacobs likely would’ve waltzed away with Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In just 13 contests, he broke the 1,100-yard mark and scored seven times.
10. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
2018’s AFC rushing leader couldn’t duplicate his impressive performance in 2019. Behind a porous offensive line, he ran for three fewer touchdowns (in two more games) and watched his YPC drop 0.8 yards. Mixon still had a very respectable campaign, recording over 1,400 total yards. With a rebuilt offensive line, Mixon could catapult up these rankings in 2020.
9. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
After being criminally underused in previous years, a new head coach was all Aaron Jones needed to burst onto the scene. In his first year with more than 133 attempts, Jones fell just shy of 1,600 total yards and reached the end zone nineteen times. In a year where Aaron Rodgers looked less than his usual elite self, it was Jones leading the Packers offense.
8. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson’s fumbling issues must be addressed immediately, but he more often than not makes up for his poor ball handling. In 15 games, Carson ran for 1,230 yards before fracturing his hip against the Cardinals. After his injury, Seattle’s rushing YPG fell from 138.3 to 99.7 over the next three weeks.
7. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Yet another back affected by injury, Kamara was still able to rack up 1,330 yards in his nine starts (14 games). His six total touchdowns were a far cry from the 31 combined in 2018 and ‘19, but his unique tackle-breaking ability was still on display.
6. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Ranking Cook was difficult because of his injury issues and streaky production. After a blazing start to the season (5 100-yard outings in the first seven games), Cook never hit the mark again, going above 75 yards just twice over the second half of the year. The speedster can hit a home run at any time, but consistency is needed before he can move up the list.
5. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
For Chubb to be as low as five just shows the quality of the top four on this list. In just two professional seasons, Chubb has run for 2,490 yards on 5.1 yards per attempt. While not nearly the receiver his backup Kareem Hunt is, Chubb still puts up respectable numbers in the passing game as well. PFF recently released an article that called him the best running back in the game.
4. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
The most talented running back we’ve seen since Adrian Peterson disappointed a bit in his second year. After a rookie season that saw him break the 2,000 total yards mark without fumbling, Barkley’s YPC dropped to 4.6 and his reception count dropped by 39 (he did miss three games). If 1,441 total yards and eight TDs in 13 games is disappointing, well that explains the kind of player Barkley is.
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott’s production has been INSANE since he entered the league. In three of his four years pro, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game. Dallas chose to center their offense on Dak Prescott this season, but Elliott still ran for 1,357 yards. His vastly improved receiving game over the past two seasons keeps him so high.
2. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Henry’s high ranking may feel like a case of recency bias, but since the end of 2018, he’s been the best pure running back in football. After leading the league in rushing with 1,540 yards in 2019, Henry proceeded to have one of the best postseasons a running back has ever had. Without a passing game, he dragged the Titans to the AFC Championship, averaging 148.7 rushing yards per game.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Lack of team success is the only reason Christian McCaffrey didn’t go home with the OPOY trophy this year. The premiere dual-threat back, McCaffrey became just the third running back in NFL history to have both 1,000 rushing and receiving yards. The fourth-year pro averages 101 receptions per season, more than notable receivers like DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones.
All stats come from pro-football-reference.com
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