With some downtime before training camp, we will be ranking each positional group in the AFC West entering the 2019 season to gear you up for the upcoming campaign.
Yesterday, we ranked the wide receivers. Today, we rank the six best running backs in the division.
No. 6, Jalen Richard, Raiders
Richard was one of the bright spots on a poor Raiders team in 2018. The Louisiana native caught 68 of 81 targets for 607 yards, while adding 259 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
After Marshawn Lynch announced his retirement, Oakland took Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 overall pick in this year’s draft. Richard was never a lead back, so it shouldn’t really take away from his involvement in the offense that much.
Expect Richard to see a fair amount of looks in the passing game, even with the arrival of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams.
No. 5, Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Ekeler and Melvin Gordon have grown to be one of the best running back tandems in the league.
The undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado University quickly worked his way up the depth chart in his rookie season back in 2017. He’s been an excellent No. 2 RB, and when he’s been needed to step up as the lead guy due to injuries to Gordon, he’s gotten the job done.
In 14 games last season, Ekeler racked up 958 total yards and six touchdowns. He’s a threat to break a big play off every time he touches the ball, whether that’s on the ground or through the air.
If Gordon happens to miss time again in 2019, Ekeler will likely see a ton of touches with second-year running back Justin Jackson seeing an uptick in his snaps, as well.
No. 4, Josh Jacobs, Raiders
Marshawn Lynch decided to call it quits, which made the need for a running back even more glaring. Yes, the Raiders brought in Isaiah Crowell but he isn’t your ideal No. 1 RB.
Jacobs didn’t burst onto the scene until nearly midway through the season, where he took over Damien Harris and Najee Harris as the lead role. His 640 yards he ran for last year were a career high, as were his 16 rushing touchdowns and 48 catches for 571 yards.
With Jalen Richard expected to assume his regular third-down role, expect Jacobs to get the majority of work on first and second down, where he will win with his multi-dimensional skillset.
No. 3, Damien Williams, Chiefs
Williams began last year as the No. 3 running back on the Chiefs depth chart, but Kareem Hunt’s release led to him being promoted and eventually earning a two-year extension from the organization after stepping up in a big way.
Williams finished last year with 256 yards and four rushing touchdowns while also hauling in 160 yards through the air and two receiving scores. With him retaining the No. 1 role, he should only continue to thrive in coach Andy Reid’s offense, led by 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes.
No. 2, Phillip Lindsay, Broncos
Lindsay had a breakout season in 2018 in his first season as a professional after going undrafted out of the University of Colorado. He proved to be one of the more dynamic threats in the league.
Lindsay ran for 1,037 yards, and nine touchdowns on 192 carries last season. Not only that, but he made the Pro Bowl during his rookie year. Even though he was splitting carries most of the season with Royce Freeman, he was still able to amass these phenomenal numbers.
The 5-foot-7 and 185-pound running back is coming off a wrist injury, but he should only see the same amount of looks, if not, more going into the 2019 season, barring any injuries.
No. 1, Melvin Gordon, Chargers
The former Wisconsin product recorded his best season yet in 2018, where he ran the ball like someone deserving of a contract extension.
Gordon did miss four games, but he still finished his campaign with 885 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games, as well as 490 receiving yards and four scores.
The Chargers have shown that they can still win games without him, but the team’s bell cow has made the offense even more dynamic when he’s on the field.
The dual-threat running back ranks among the top-tier players at his position even though his career has been hampered with various injuries. He hopes to stay healthy and post his best year yet in the final season of his rookie contract to prove his worth of a large bag.
