![]() ![]() ![]() McVay has been comfortable using Cam Akers as something close to an every-down back when the coach and his back are simpatico, with the 2021 postseason win over the Buccaneers (in a game in which Akers was the worst player on the field) and the final few weeks of last season as examples. I certainly think the Rams regret giving Gurley an extension in 2018, as we'll discuss in a minute, but the tactic reared its head before Gurley's downswing and hasn't reflected how L.A. Gordon tied it to Rams coach Sean McVay and star back Todd Gurley, suggesting McVay had regretted paying Gurley and had decided to rotate his backs from that point forward. The most recent example was a person who is eminently qualified to answer it: former Chargers and Broncos back Melvin Gordon, who won a Super Bowl last season without ever playing a snap for the Chiefs. When did the shift away from valuing star running backs happen?Īsk 10 people this question and you're likely to get 10 different answers. Why are there four veterans still available? There's no single factor dictating the situation with running backs, but let's establish the playing field for the position before we focus on the four backs left in free agency. Has there been an even more significant shift in recent years than what has been perceived? Is it a case of analytics run amok? Are teams being foolish in how they're valuing even the best backs? And is there any way to break the cycle and get running backs paid more money in the decades to come? None of this is brand-new, but the stress on running backs to produce and get paid before they're cast aside feels more acute than ever. It's reasonable to wonder whether star high school and college players should even consider playing running back when other positions offer more professional upside and stability. ![]() Backs who have received the franchise tag (such as Josh Jacobs this year) or who are approaching the time when they might earn their first extension (such as Najee Harris) are publicly wondering about whether running backs are getting a fair shake. When the Falcons and Lions drafted Robinson and Gibbs, they had to bring up the possibility of the backs as receivers around the formation to justify their choices. ![]() Teams are using less draft capital on backs than ever before, and they appear to be more aggressive in moving on from their lead backs once they sign extensions.Ī league that was once built around star backs dominating offensive workloads and competing for MVP awards now feels like something entirely different. In 2022, no back came off the board in the top 32 picks, something that didn't happen even once over a nearly 50-year span between 19. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs became the first running back duo to be selected in the top half of Round 1 since Fournette and Christian McCaffrey in 2017, a feat that happened far more often in the past. With the first round of April's draft as an exception, draft capital used on running backs continues to fall. Players are getting squeezed on both sides. Meanwhile, 27-year-old running backs are being portrayed as fossils hanging on to any hope of a meaningful NFL career for dear life. Those 27-year-olds who play other positions are in the primes of their careers. No team would dream of moving on from Myles Garrett, Deebo Samuel or Budda Baker, each of whom is 27. 27-year-old stars at other positions are years from being cut candidates. Popular veterans getting cut toward the tail end of their careers is nothing new, but the age at which these players have become free agents stands out. Kareem Hunt wasn't re-signed by the Browns after his contract expired, while Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook were released by their respective franchises to create salary cap space. As teams approach training camp later this month, four respected veteran rushers remain free agents, seemingly with little interest. Something feels wrong about what's happening for running backs in the NFL. NFL, Fantasy NFL, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots Why star NFL running backs have been devalued: What's next You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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