If the draft is any indication, the running back position is on fire again, but how do the 32 starters for each team rank in advance of the 2017 NFL season?
After a long stretch of running backs not going in the first round of the draft, things have started to change in that regard recently. Heading into the 2017 NFL season, there will be several rookies in line for starting jobs, two of which were first round selections.
Christian McCaffery was the eighth overall selection by the Carolina Panthers, and could very well unseat Jonathan Stewart as the lead back for them. Taken even earlier than McCaffery was Leonard Fournette, who went fourth to the Jacksonville Jaguars and looks to be a workhorse out of the gates.
What made this position popular again wasn't so much Fournette and McCaffery, but the recent success of running backs as a whole. The Dallas Cowboys saw a huge jump in production thanks to the selection of Ezekiel Elliott in the 2016 draft. Also, the Pittsburgh Steelers look like a different team with Le'Veon Bell on the field and of course Jay Ajayi fueled a season-saving turnaround for the Miami Dolphins when he burst onto the scene with back-to-back 200-plus yard games.
Those players showed what a solid running game can do. Now here's how each one of the 32 teams stack up with their starting running backs as the 2017 NFL season is about to get underway.
Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs the ball during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
32. Doug Martin — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was a really good year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They went 9-7 and despite missing the post season, they made some huge strides as a team. Doug Martin though, not so much. The running back known as the "Dougernaut" looked like he robbed after taking a five-year, $35.75 million deal and then turning in a poor performance in 2016.
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Martin had just 421 yards in eight games for Tampa Bay, but the real problem was his ineffectiveness. The veteran back averaged just 2.9 yards per carry, which was a career low. Although the Bucs are understandably upset about the production from Martin, they really should have known better than to sign him to such a crazy contract.
A first-round pick out of Boise State, Martin wowed as a rookie in 2012. The first-year back had 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns, while going for 4.6 yards per rush. He followed that performance up with two stinkers. In 2013, Martin was hampered by a shoulder injury which cut his season short. Even before getting hurt he was playing poorly as he had just 3.6 yards per rush. He followed that up by going for 3.7 yards an attempt in 11 games in 2014.
After back-to-back seasons of less than 500 yards on the ground, Martin had a big season in 2015. 1,402 yards and six touchdowns were the result of his first healthy season since his rookie year, and led to the giant pay day. As for Tampa, they should have been more weary of Martin's penchant for struggling. They weren't, so he's now a high priced running back who also isn't very effective.
New York Giants
Oct 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Giants running back Paul Perkins (28) against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Giants 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
31. Paul Perkins — New York Giants
The New York Giants have been a running back by committee for quite a while. In recent seasons they've been relying on veterans to try and serve in this role. Rashad Jennings has been their top guy on early downs whereas former New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen has served as a pass catching option.
Jennings will not be back in 2017, although Vereen will be. He is however coming off a season in which he missed 11 games, so the hope will be he can return to health. Still, the six-year pro will serve in a third-down role for the most part.
This leaves second year runner Paul Perkins as the likely starter in Jennings' old role. A fifth-round pick out of UCLA, Perkins showed some promise as a rookie in 2016. In 14 games he was able to get 112 carries for 456 yards. His per-carry average was a respectable 4.1, but he failed to cross into the end zone at all.
Perkins could very well turn out to be a solid running back, but as of now the sample size is still too small for him to climb too high in these ranks, especially given the fact he has yet to score an NFL touchdown.
Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) during the game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
30. Ty Montgomery — Green Bay Packers
It's starting to become apparent that the Green Bay Packers just don't value the running back position very much. They featured Eddie Lacy for the past few seasons, but never turned to him like a featured back. Instead, the pass-first offense relied heavily on quarterback Aaron Rodgers while using Lacy and his reserve James Starks sparingly.
Then in 2016 both of those guys went down with injuries. They originally traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for Knile Davis and then signed Christine Michael when he was cut by the Seattle Seahawks. Neither stayed on top for long and they finally turned to Ty Montgomery, who was originally drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft as a wide receiver — which is why he looks so odd with that number 88 in the offensive backfield.
He gave the team a spark by gaining 457 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per rush. He also added another 44 receptions for 348 yards through the air for the Packers.
While he was better than Davis or Michael, that's not saying a ton since neither performed well at all for Green Bay.
Montgomery fits what the Packers do because he's a solid route runner and pass catcher, but his blitz pickup is subject and it's yet to be seen if he can hold up for 16 games as a runner.
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (28) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
29. Terrance West — Baltimore Ravens
A third-round pick out of Towson in 2014, Terrance West began his career as a running back for the Cleveland Browns. He managed to play just 14 games for them before being given up on following the 2015 preseason. Reports were that he came into camp overweight and fell out of favor with the coaches for that. The Browns shipped him off to the Tennessee Titans for a future draft pick.
He lasted until the beginning of November with his second NFL team, and was then waived. Quickly he found a home on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. After injuries were suffered by Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro, West was promoted to the active roster.
In 2016 he was expected to battle with Forsett and rookie Kenneth Dixon. Forsett was eventually cut, and West became the starter over the rookie. His production was decent as he rushed for exactly four yards per attempt and finished with 774 yards and five touchdowns.
It was a good season, but just wasn't anything spectacular. There were many that even thought he would lose his job to Dixon as the 2017 NFL season came around, but then the second-year player was suspended for four games. West has a chance to put a stranglehold on the job during that time.
Jan 14, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
28. Dion Lewis — New England Patriots
It's tempting to pencil James White in as the New England Patriots starting running back following him running in the game winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl 51. However, he serves as a backup for the most part when Dion Lewis is healthy. The problem is that he's rarely healthy.
Lewis has played in just seven games in each of the past two seasons for New England, which came after he spent 2013 hurt and and 2014 without a job. The shifty running back has started in 11 of the games he played for New England, and fits their style of play very well.
He's good in the passing game and is also able to gain chunks of yards on draw plays when the defense sells out on the pass — which of course the Patriots love to do. Lewis also isn't the kind of player to get upset when he's asked to sit while someone like James White takes over in the fourth quarter.
Again the Pats will use a similar approach in the run game. Lewis should start, but White will get his time as will free agent pick ups Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee. In typical Patriots fashion, the sum is greater than the whole of its parts at running bac.
Nov 24, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) in action during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys defeat the Redskins 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
27. Robert Kelley — Washington Redskins
Undrafted out of Tulane in 2016, Rob Kelley came out of nowhere to claim the starting running back job for the Washington Redskins. It was unexpected for two reasons. One being because the team had just allowed Alfred Morris to leave in free agency as they turned to 2015 third-round pick Matt Jones out of Florida.
The second reason it seemed unlikely for Kelley to rise to prominence was that he was used only sparingly while in the collegiate ranks. Playing at Tulane he spent three seasons in Conference USA before they became part of the American Athletic Conference during his senior campaign — meaning the talent he faced wasn't as stout as many other higher profile backs.
During that time, Kelley never rushed for more than 420 yards or three touchdowns in a single season. For his career he had 1,270 yards and six touchdowns while barely averaging four-yards per rush. In the pros he topped his best collegiate season by a mile as he gained 704 yards on the ground while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He also tied his career touchdown record by crossing the goal line six times for Washington.
It will be interesting to see if he can carry that success over into his second season.
May 5, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) catches a pass during practice at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
26. Christian McCaffrey — Carolina Panthers
It was interesting to see the Carolina Panthers go with Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey with the eight overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Not because the former Heisman candidate isn't talented, but because there were varying reports on where scouts saw him at the next level.
Despite putting up 3,622 yards on the ground and 955 through the air in his final two seasons, McCaffrey's weight hovers around the 200-pound mark which gave some scouts concerns about him being able to hold up. These mixed takes were summed up on his NFL.com Draft Profile by an anonymous AFC Pro Personnel Director:
"I'll bet his draft grades are going to be all over the place because some teams will see him as a complementary back and others will see him as a multi-touch guy. Teams who run a lot of three and four wide looks will like him because he can run those inside zone plays out of the gun and they can also motion him out of the backfield and just try and mismatch him."
The Panthers apparently believe McCaffrey is an every-down guy, and he should easily supplant veteran Jonathan Stewart, who has been effective albeit injury-prone in his career. The rookie has football in his veins as all his brothers are playing — or have played it — at some level, as did his father Ed McCaffrey who was an NFL wide receiver who spent most of his career with the Denver Broncos.
Sep 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball in the second quarter as South Florida Bulls linebacker Danny Thomas (53) defends at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
25. Dalvin Cook — Minnesota Vikings
Another rookie is set to be a starter, but this time it's second-round selection Dalvin Cook out of Florida State University. For Cook though, he will have some pretty big shoes to fill. During the 2017 NFL offseason the Minnesota Vikings moved on from franchise rushing leader Adrian Peterson — who has since joined the New Orleans Saints. After a fantastic career for Minnesota, injuries had caught up to Peterson, who played in just three games last season.
Originally the team signed former Oakland Raiders rusher Latavius Murray to fill the void left by AP's release, but he looks to be No. 2 on the chart now since the arrival of the talented Cook. While playing for the Seminoles, Cook averaged 6.5 yards per rush and had at least 1,000 yards in each of the three seasons he played. For his career, the running back had 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns — including 19 in each of the past two years.
There were some off-field concerns that may have pushed the talented player out of the first round, although many of those were attributed to a rough upbringing in a violent city. Heading north to Minnesota could be a nice change of scenery and, if Cook reaches his potential, the fans will be more than satisfied with their running back for the next several years.
Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) carries the ball against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
24. Ameer Abdullah — Detroit Lions
The entire season for the Detroit Lions could have been different had running back Ameer Abdullah stayed healthy. In the two games he did play, he started to prove why the team was high enough on him to select him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. After a rookie season in which he started nine games and rushed for 597 yards, they turned to him as their feature back in 2016.
Abdullah rushed for 101 yards on just 18 carries, which was good for 5.6 yards per carry. He also had over 11 yards per reception, but then a torn ligament in his foot ended the season for him. After that the Lions struggled mightily in the run game as they never found any consistency.
They still wound up going 9-7 on the year, but had to do so thanks to eight come from behind game-winning drives. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was praised for his work, especially in engineering those drives, but he had too much pressure on him to perform without a running back to take some of the load.
Heading into the 2017 NFL season, Abdullah hopes to regain his form that he showed early on in his sophomore campaign. If he is able to do so, Detroit should be a much more balanced offense.
Nov 12, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) eludes a tackle against the Baylor Bears during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
23. Joe Mixon — Cincinnati Bengals
It was a controversial pick to say the least, but not one without a potentially big payoff. Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon was one of the better prospects at his position entering the draft, but a huge mistake made during his collegiate career made him taboo according to most teams.
While in college, Mixon was seen on video punching a woman which resulted in her suffering broken bones in her face. The incident happened in 2014 and Mixon has tried to put it behind him, but he was suspended in 2016 for trying to intimidate a parking attendant who issued him a citation.
The Cincinnati Bengals decided his talent was worth the risk involved and made him the 48th pick in the draft. While at Oklahoma Mixon rushed for almost seven yards a carry and had 17 touchdowns in two seasons. When looking at his on the field work only, Mixon may have been one of the top two running backs in the entire draft behind only Leonard Fournette.
He provides them a potential upgrade over Jeremy Hill, who has been good, but not great since joining the team in 2014. They also have Giovanni Bernard on their roster, but Mixon is the most complete of the three and offers them the best chance to take pressure off their passing game as they try to get back to the postseason.
Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
22. Spencer Ware — Kansas City Chiefs
Things will be different in Kansas City as the Chiefs no longer will have Jamaal Charles as their feature back. Well, maybe it won't be too different since Charles has missed so much time in the past couple of years, but heading into the 2017 NFL season, it's clear that the veteran won't even be an option since his release and subsequent signing with the divisional rival Denver Broncos.
That means from the start, Spencer Ware has the chance to be the main guy for the Chiefs. A sixth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, he was used sparingly by the Hawks in his rookie season and ended up signing a futures contract after missing the entire 2014 season following his release by Seattle.
In 2015, he was used as in a committee but showed he could be counted on by rushing six touchdowns and providing the team with a strong power back that was adept at moving the chains. In 2016 he nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark but his touchdown total dipped by half.
Ware also proved to be an every-down back as he was a factor in the passing game with 33 receptions for Kansas City. Moving forward he looks poised to be the focal point of their run game.
Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Indianapolis won 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
21. Frank Gore — Indianapolis Colts
It's been a remarkable career for veteran running back Frank Gore. A third-round pick out of Miami in 2005, he spent 10 years with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. The signing seemed suspect as Gore was a bruising runner that was on the wrong side of 30. The Colts thought he was worth it though, and they proved to be right.
Gore has put up 1,992 yards in two seasons as well as 10 touchdowns. He hasn't been the same dominant runner he was in Frisco, as evident by his 3.8 yard per carry average for Indianapolis, but he has been a decent starter despite his age.
2016 was the first time Gore hit 1,000 yards for the Colts, and the ninth time he has done so in his career. What's most impressive about him though is his durability. Gore has played in 180 career games and, despite his battering ram style of play, he's missed minimal time in his career — the most on one season being five games in 2010.
Since that year where he played in 11 games, Gore has been suited up for all 16 games every single season. Eventually he will decline too much to be a starter, but he's defied those odds for quite a while now.
Dec 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) scores a first quarter touchdown past Los Angeles Rams defensive back Blake Countess at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
20. Carlos Hyde — San Francisco 49ers
Carlos Hyde was a highly thought of prospect coming into the NFL out of Ohio State in 2014. He was a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, and started out as a backup to Frank Gore. His snaps were limited because of that, but he showed enough promise that the team was willing to let Gore leave in free agency and turn the reins over to the second year back.
The year started out with a bang for Hyde with a huge opening game, but then his production slipped over the next six outings. He wound up playing in just those seven games and finished the year on the injured reserve.
Things looked to be a little better last year for Hyde. He averaged 4.6 yards per rush — which was a career high — and he had 27 receptions as well. He was becoming a well-rounded player, and a lone bright spot for a team that had an otherwise forgetful year.
Unfortunately, Hyde still never topped the 1,000-yard mark as he suffered an MCL sprain after running 988 yards in 13 games before again heading to the IR. Heading into the final year of his rookie deal, he needs to prove he can stay healthy while also being more consistent in order to secure another deal with the team that drafted him.
Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) runs out for intros prior to a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston Texans won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
19. Eddie Lacy — Seattle Seahawks
When the Green Bay Packers spent a second-round pick on Alabama running back Eddie Lacy in 2013, it made little sense. He's a power runner that gets better the more touches he gets. Lacy may only gain a yard or two on his first few carries, but eventually his style wears people down and the yardage comes in chunks.
Yet in Green Bay they seem allergic to running it more than 10-15 times a game, even with a guy like Lacy who never had less than 4.1 yards per carry in a season.
Lacy also proved how good he could be after posting back-to-back 1,100-plus yardage seasons in 2013 and 2014. Then the Packers limited his carries in 2015 when he had 758 yards but about 50 less carries than the season before. In 2016 he looked to be back on his way to a big year, but was lost to injury after five games in which he was averaging a career high 5.1 yards per rush.
No one would know with all the negative press about Lacy's weight that he was doing so well in his final season with the Packers, but moving to a run-first team like Seattle will remind everyone how good of a player he is.
The veteran running back has a chance to be their new version of Marshawn Lynch, who had a similar barreling style of play. If Lacy can keep Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise at bay, he could have a great season in 2017.
Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) runs past San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Caraun Reid (91) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
18. C.J. Anderson — Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 and a lot the credit for that has to go to running back C.J. Anderson. During the team's championship run he was a steady force all season long and followed it up with 234 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the post season.
Oddly enough, though, the team had been reluctant to turn to Anderson as the full-time starter prior to the 2016 seasons despite him outperforming others ahead of him.
In 15 games and seven starts in 2014, Anderson had 849 yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up with another 720 yards and five touchdowns for the Broncos. In each of those seasons, he averaged 4.7 yards per carry, proving to be an effective player that could keep an offense ahead of the chains.
In 2016 he was finally on track not only to be a 16-game starter, but also to get enough carries to crack the four-digits in rushing totals. Anderson had 437 yards and was gaining a career high 62 yards per contest before a knee injury ended his season.
He now battles second-year player Devontae Booker and veteran Jamaal Charles for the starting job, but is the favorite to win the role.
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) poses for a photo against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
17. Adrian Peterson — New Orleans Saints
It was pretty odd that former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was expecting top dollar after being cut by the only team he's been a part of since joining the NFL in 2007 out of Oklahoma. Sure, he was the best in the business for several years — including a 2012 season in which he went for 2,097 yards as he threatened the single-season rushing title.
Despite that, Peterson has missed 28 games in the past three seasons. After a 2014 year in which he played just one game, AP managed a great year in 2015 with 1,485 yards and 11 scores. Then he missed 13 more games last season, but what was more troubling was how he performed in the three games he did play.
Peterson had 72 yards on 37 carries, which was good for a putrid 1.9 yard per carry average. Turning 32 recently doesn't really bode well for him suddenly becoming healthy, or regaining the explosiveness he seemed to be missing during his cameo in 2016.
Making matters worse, Peterson joins a New Orleans Saints team that already has an effective back who they seem unhappy with in Mark Ingram — due to fumbling issues. That's something that Peterson has struggled with as well, as he had seven in his last full season.
Of course, there's a chance Peterson stays healthy and makes anyone who needed a back regret passing on him. If so, he will fly up this list. If not, he will of course drop. Until then he's the middle of the pack until he shows which way he will go.
Dec 5, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) runs with the ball during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
16. Matt Forte — New York Jets
Matt Forte was the most productive offensive player for the Chicago Bears for eight straight seasons. He came into the league in 2008 and immediately became a star by rushing for 1,238 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 63 receptions for 477 yards and four more scores.
For the next nine years he stayed as consistent on both sides of the ball, but no season saw as much production out of the Tulane product as 2014. Despite having some fleeting talent around him, Forte still managed to top 1,000-yards on the ground and had six touchdowns. It was his work as a route runner though that set him apart as one of the best in the league that year.
Forte brought in 102 receptions — while receiving 130 targets on the year. He finished with 808 yards and four touchdowns as well. He lasted just one more season with Chicago before joining the New York Jets in 2016. He had 813 yards and seven touchdowns, but struggled at times, as evidenced by his 3.7 yards per attempt.
He's still one of the more dependable three-down backs and the offensive line struggles likely had more to do with the inconsistent performances out of Forte, because there were games where he looked like his old self.
Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during warmups before a game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
15. Isaiah Crowell — Cleveland Browns
After a big freshman season in 2011 for the University of Georgia, running back Isaiah Crowell found himself released from the program. The reason for that included a failed drug test as well as some weapons charges, such as having a weapon in a school zone.
Crowell finished his career with South Alabama, and although he was productive, his name was not called during the 2014 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns wisely signed him to a rookie deal, and have since been able to boast one of the more underrated backs in the league.
He's yet to be given more than 198 carries in a season, but he's been effective as a runner including going for 952 yards and seven scores last season. He's also improved dramatically as a pass catcher out of the backfield and more than doubled his total of receptions in each of his three NFL seasons as he went from nine to 19 and finally 40 receptions last year.
With an improved offensive line, it wouldn't be shocking to see Crowell take the next step in his progression in 2017. If he does, it could help the team immensely as they try to get out of the bottom of the standings in the AFC North.
Apr 28, 2017; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell (left), running back Leonard Fournette (center) and head coach Doug Marrone (right) pose for a picture during a press conference at EverBank Field. Leonard Fournette was the 2017 first round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
14. Leonard Fournette — Jacksonville Jaguars
Leonard Fournette was one of those special players that could have entered the league after his sophomore season. Just two years removed from high school, he plowed his way for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns. His NFL readiness was the subject of much debate over the rule of whether or not it's right to not allow players to enter the league until they have been out of high school for three years.
That discussion then turned to whether or not a player like Fournette should even play his junior season. This same debate took place after former South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had a monster sophomore year. Like Clowney, Fournette played his junior season and they both had subpar years.
It may have been that he played cautiously — which is what the consensus was when Clowney struggled. Fournette also struggled to stay healthy, as he played just seven games in 2016, but he was great in the games he did play.
Heading to Jacksonville now is scary for him because this team was really bad last year. They also have a pretty poor run blocking, but the fourth-overall pick could help make them look a little better.
Nov 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs with the ball during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
13. Melvin Gordon — Los Angeles Chargers
A first-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2015, Melvin Gordon looked like a bust after his rookie season. He had just 641 yards and no touchdowns either on the ground or as a receiver. Then in 2016, he showed the flashes that made him a Day 1 pick for the Chargers.
Gordon had 997 yards in just 13 games, plus showed marked improvement as a receiver. As a rookie he had 33 receptions for just 192 yards, but more than doubled that when adding just eight more receptions in 2016. He finished with 41 catches for 419 yards. Gordon also showed the ability to be a closer in the red zone by recording 12 total touchdowns for the Bolts.
After missing the final three games due to injury, Gordon now hopes to continue to build upon the success he had last year. He also looks to be one of the faces of the team as they try to endear themselves to a new city after moving from San Diego to Los Angeles.
The Chargers were able to add a number one wide out in Mike Williams from Clemson as well as arguably the best guard in the draft in Forrest Lamp out of Western Kentucky. Those two rookies will help bring safety help back and open holes for the third-year pro in 2017.
Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) carries the ball in the second half of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
12. Todd Gurley — Los Angeles Rams
After being a workhorse for the University of Georgia, Todd Gurley went 10th overall to the St. Louis Rams — who became the Los Angeles Rams before his second year. As a rookie, Gurley was a monster going for 1,106 yards and ten touchdowns despite missing the first three games while still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in his final collegiate game.
Then in 2016, things seemed to fall apart for Gurley. He struggled to find holes and saw his yards per carry average drop from 4.8 to 3.2. He also had just six touchdowns and finished with only 885 yards.
Part of the problem was the team around him. The quarterback play of Case Keenum and Jared Goff coupled with the lack of any threats at wide receiver had a lot to do with his struggles. No defenses had to respect the passing game, which meant that Gurley was zeroed in on.
With the addition of tight end Gerald Everett and receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds in the 2017 NFL Draft, as well as the free agent signing of receiver Robert Woods, the team could start to take some of the attention away from Gurley. There also was the firing of Jeff Fisher, who despite being highly respected, hasn't fielded a winning team since 2008.
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller (26) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Oakland Raiders at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
11. Lamar Miller — Houston Texans
The Houston Texans won the AFC South title in 2015, then they followed that up by winning the 2016 offseason when they signed free agents Brock Osweiler at quarterback and Lamar Miller at running back. The duo was supposed to change their middle-of-the-road offense. Miller held up his end of the bargain for the 2016 AFC South champs, but Osweiler didn't.
Part of what kept them on top of their division was how Miller stepped up for them when they needed it. Osweiler couldn't provide any spark, but Miller had 1,073 yards while averaging four yards per attempt and had five touchdowns as well.
He showed a lot of burst and explosion, but the struggles and injuries all along their offensive line hurt his consistency. It also didn't help that no one had to show any respect to the passing game thanks to how poor Osweiler played.
2017 should be better for Miller as the team will be improved at signal-caller — both Tom Savage and rookie DeShaun Watson would be an upgrade — and they got him a good complimentary back as well. In the third round Houston picked up D'Onta Foreman out of Texas, and the 233-pound bruiser will be able to handle the tough runs, which could free up Miller to play the role he's used to.
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
10. LeGarrette Blount — Philadelphia Eagles
Perhaps no team has had a better offseason than the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, their past two have been fantastic. In 2016 they were able to get rid of nearly all the bad deals made by head coach Chip Kelly. They sent cornerback Byron Maxwell to the Miami Dolphins, running back DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles and they were able to get up to the second overall pick after making those moves.
Of course, to get that high, they had to surrender their 2017 first-round choice. Then they got bailed out when the Minnesota Vikings traded a first round pick to them for Sam Bradford. Quarterback Carson Wentz was their choice with the second-overall pick and now they have been able to put a lot of talent around him with people like receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith.
They rounded their roster out with the recent free agent signing of LeGarrette Blount, who is coming off the best season of his career. As a member of the New England Patriots, Blount had 1,161 yards and an NFL-leading 18 touchdowns. He should be able to climb to the top of Philly's depth chart and will make them look wise for the move.
Nov 5, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch (R) drives the injury cart with his mom, Delisa Lynch (L), before the game against the Washington Huskies for the 10 year anniversary of driving the cart after a win as a California Golden Bears player at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
9. Marshawn Lynch — Oakland Raiders
2016 just wasn't as much fun without Beast Mode. The former Seattle Seahawks running back, Marshawn Lynch, retired following a season in which he was banged up. It wasn't hard to see why he was beat up as Lynch used his body as a weapon throughout his 10-year career.
His last season, he managed to play in just seven games and had his lowest rushing total since 2009 when he was with the Buffalo Bills still. After taking the year off to get healthy, Lynch decided to give it another shot. This time though, he wanted to be a part of the franchise he grew up rooting for.
An Oakland native, Lynch was able to finagle his way to the Raiders despite still being under contract with the Seahawks. For Oakland, the move makes sense too as their offense needs a better running game to take the next step.
Quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have led a passing attack that was one of the best in the game, but they saw starting running back Latavius Murray leave in free agency. Lynch, however, can be an upgrade over Murray, provided that he can stay healthy.
Dec 11, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs with the ball during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at New Era Field. The Steelers beat the Bills 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
8. LeSean McCoy — Buffalo Bills
Former Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly made a lot of bad decisions during his brief tenure in the NFL. The worst may have been letting go of running back LeSean McCoy.
After leading the league in rushing in 2013, McCoy had another great season for Kelly's Eagles but then was traded to the Buffalo Bills for middle linebacker Kiko Alonso. After struggling to stay healthy in 2015, McCoy returned to form in 2016 and reminded everyone just how good of a player he really is.
The dynamic back had 13 touchdowns and averaged a career high 5.4 yards per rush for the Bills. He added 50 receptions as well for them and should continue to be heavily relied upon by Buffalo moving forward.
Philadelphia tried replacing McCoy with DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, but none of that worked. It's not to say that any of them were bad choices — other than Murray who just didn't fit Kelly's scheme — but McCoy is just too good to think he can be simply changed out. New head coach Sean McDermott has to be excited to have such a player under contract as he enters his rookie season at the helm.
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
7. Devonta Freeman — Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a pass-first team. This is evident by quarterback Matt Ryan winning the league MVP last year. It was made even more evident when they started throwing the ball late in the Super Bowl rather than try and run the clock out.
What they should have done is give the ball to one-half of the best running back duo in the league. Devonta Freeman broke out in 2015 when he had 1,056 yards with 11 touchdowns. He added another 73 receptions and three scores as teams just never could find a way to stop him. He followed that up with 1,079 yards and 11 more touchdowns — despite having 38 fewer carries on the season than the previous year.
What makes his production so fascinating is that he shares the load more than any other back this talented. Atlanta likes to use 2015 second-round pick Tevin Coleman, especially as a pass catcher. Coleman had a big season in 2016, which explained the fewer carries for Freeman as well as his dip to 54 receptions. In the end, it could be good for Freeman as he avoids the wear and tear most backs that are as talented as he is get placed on them.
Dec 24, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
6. Jay Ajayi — Miami Dolphins
Boise State used Jay Ajayi as a workhorse back while he was in the NCAA. He carried the rock 249 times as a sophomore and 347 as a junior. In those years he had 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns, followed by 1,823 yards and a mind-blowing 28 touchdowns. Despite his explosion on the field, Ajayi slipped to the fifth round of the draft and wound up with the Miami Dolphins.
Part of why he slid was a lingering knee issue, which became problematic as a rookie. Ajayi missed some time, and was behind veteran Lamar Miller when he was able to suit up. When Miller cashed in with Houston, Ajayi had hoped to crack the starting lineup.
Instead he wound up in head coach Adam Gase's doghouse and watched former Texans' running back Arian Foster take the job. Four games into the year, Foster was lost to injury and the team still kept Ajayi as a reserve.
Once they finally did turn to him, the London-born back ripped off two-straight 200-plus-yard games. For good measure, he added a third game of that magnitude before the year was out. His ability to take over games fueled a comeback as the Dolphins went from a team that was about to implode, to a playoff entrant.
Oct 27, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) for touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin (22) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
5. DeMarco Murray — Tennessee Titans
Things looked bleak for DeMarco Murray after chasing the money to become a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. A seasons after leading the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards for the Dallas Cowboys, he joined one of their biggest rivals. He was an awful fit for the scheme run at the time by head coach Chip Kelly — who has since been let go — and had a career low 3.6 yards per rush.
Murray was then shipped to the Tennessee Titans, and was able to prove that he still had what it took to be a featured back. He added nearly a full yard per attempt to his average and had 1,287 yards for the Titans. He was part of one of the best running attacks in the league with rookie Derrick Henry and the incredibly mobile Marcus Mariota at quarterback.
The veteran is also an asset in the passing game. Murray has recorded 50-or-more receptions three times in his six-year career, including his most recent season. While many thought the drafting of Henry out of Alabama was bad news for Murray's future with the Titans, he looks like he will hold on to the lead role for a little longer.
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) rushes for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
4. Jordan Howard — Chicago Bears
Jordan Howard was part of the rookie revolution in the NFL in 2016. He finished second in the league in rushing after racking up 1,313 yards and six touchdowns for the Chicago Bears. He had the remarkable season after starting for just 13 games for the Bears, and was the lone bright spot in their dismal season.
Making Howard's great season even better was the fact that he was the 10th running back selected in the draft, and fell all the way to the fifth round despite grading out as one of the top five backs in the incoming rookie class. The most likely reason he fell was because he had just one season at a major school. Howard began his career with UAB, but after two seasons the program shut down.
Without a home to play football at, Howard transferred to Indiana for his junior season. He put up 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns for the Hoosiers and was able to continue his success at the pro level.
With Chicago slowly trying to improve under the tutelage of head coach John Fox, Howard gives them an explosive playmaker to help their offense during their transition to a new quarterback.
Jan 15, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs with the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
3. Ezekiel Elliott — Dallas Cowboys
The fourth-overall pick in 2016 out of Ohio State, Ezekiel Elliott made a huge impact for the Dallas Cowboys and their youth movement last year. The explosive runner led the league in yardage on the ground by over 300 yards — despite being a healthy scratch in Week 17 as the team had the NFC East title wrapped up.
While going for over 100 yards and one touchdown per contest on the ground, Elliott also was able to take over in the passing game for Dallas. He came down with 32 catches on 39 targets, including one remarkable touchdown reception.
Jerry Jones on getting Ezekiel Elliott more involved on offense: "He's really problematic for defenses in the passing game." pic.twitter.com/Ft3Zj86M0J
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 11, 2017
Zeke was a monster on the ground and through the air, but also was able to prove himself as one of the more complete backs in the game. Elliott was a great blocker for Dallas and also picked the blitz up as well as anyone in the game. Had it not been for his teammate and fellow rookie, Dak Prescott, Elliott may have been able to walk away with the NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Instead, that award went to the quarterback.
Heading into the 2017 season the two look to combine for even more success moving forward, and with the offensive line Dallas has, there's no reason to think Zeke won't continue his incredible production.
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) stretches and score a touchdown as New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb (28) defends during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
2. David Johnson — Arizona Cardinals
Coming out of Northern Iowa, David Johnson was a talented prospect but had some question marks. A lot of teams were hesitant to pull the trigger despite his insane production because Johnson played against lesser talent in college than some of the players taken ahead of him in the 2015 NFL Draft. That led to him being the 86th pick that year, and after playing in a rotation as a rookie, Johnson took off in his second season.
In his initial year, he split time with veteran Chris Johnson, and the rookie recorded 12 touchdowns while being effective on the ground as well as through the air. He had 581 yards on the ground and 457 as a receiver, but became even better last season.
Johnson was a featured back for the Arizona Cardinals and had 1,239 yards rushing and an incredible 16 touchdowns. He made it a solid 20 total scores by adding four more touchdowns as a receiver while catching 80 passes for 879 yards.
An MCL sprain ended his final game for Arizona, but thankfully for him, the injury didn't require surgery. The lack of surgery means Johnson shouldn't miss a beat in any of his offseason workouts, which means he will only get better in the coming year.
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) warms up prior to the Steelers' game against the New England Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
1. Le'Veon Bell — Pittsburgh Steelers
He's one of the biggest playmakers in the league and if there were a do-over of the 2013 NFL Draft, there's no way Le'Veon Bell lasts until the second round like he did when he came out of Michigan State. He immediately became the starting back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped them return to their once-dominant running ways.
He was good, but not spectacular in his first season, but really exploded in Year 2 when he had 1,361 yards rushing with eight touchdowns. Bell added another 854 yards on 83 receptions with three more scores. After playing in just eight games in 2015, he added another 1,268 yards rushing and 616 receiving last year, despite playing in just 12 games.
His ability to take over games as a runner and receiver help set him apart from many other backs. His skill-set allows Pittsburgh to be a run-first team, but he also is a factor when they turn into a passing oriented offense as well in shoot outs.
The one thing that seems to slow him down is himself. Bell has been suspended more than once for issues surrounding substance abuse, including the start of the 2016 season. He has somehow successfully gotten those suspensions reduced and was able to get on the field quicker because of it. Going forward Bell will continue to be the face of the franchise for one of the most visible teams in the NFL.
