Last year, we ranked Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey No. 3 overall at his position. In retrospect, it seems we sold him short. McCaffrey had a phenomenal campaign in 2019 and is now established as one of the game’s elite offensive players. Where does he rank now compared to his peers around the NFL?
Here are the top 10 players at the running back position going into 2020.
10. Leonard Fournette
That Fournette barely made this list speaks to the level of talent around the NFL at this spot. Fournette remains one of the league’s best power runners. In 2019, he only scored three touchdowns, but he did total 1,152 rushing yards despite playing from behind most of the time. Fournette only fumbled once and also became more of a passing threat. He caught 76 of 100 targets, posting a career high with 522 receiving yards.
9. Alvin Kamara
Kamara had a bit of a down year in 2019, posting less than 800 yards rushing and the fewest receiving yards (533) of his career. His six total touchdowns were also his lowest. But with the rise of Michael Thomas as the new focal point of the offense and the usage of Latavius Murray as the short-yardage back, the Saints have been fortunate enough to be able to use Kamara selectively. He still posted a healthy 4.7 yards per carry and his 83% catch rate was a career-best. We haven’t heard the last from him.
8. Aaron Jones
Jones has seen his role grow dramatically each season in Green Bay. Under first-year coach Matt LaFleur, he became an indispensible part of the Packers’ offense. This past season, he became one of the most productive backs in football as a crucial part of a more balanced offense. In the end, Jones posted 1,558 yards from scrimmage and tied Christian McCaffrey for the most total touchdowns with 19.
7. Josh Jacobs
Jacobs hit the NFL in full stride after being picked in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Raiders. On pace for 1,400 yards at 88.5 yards per game, Jacobs was closing in on one of the better rookie seasons by a running back in recent memory. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury would limit him to only 13 games, but he still managed to post a respectable 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. If Jacobs can stay healthy, he might find his way into the top five in no time.
6. Nick Chubb
Chubb is rising up these rankings as fast as anybody. He matched his rookie total with eight touchdowns, but dramatically improved his overall numbers. Chubb managed 1,494 rushing yards on 298 attempts – a robust average of five yards per carry. That he did so in a relatively dsyfunctional offense is a credit to his abilities. Chubb is as good as anybody but Derrick Henry at breaking tackles and adding yards after contact. He’ll need to become more of a pass-catching threat if he’s going to break into the top five, though.
5. Dalvin Cook
After playing only 15 games combined in his first two seasons, Cook was finally able to play more than 12 games for the first time in his career in 2019. His 13 touchdowns were 11 more than his previous career high, and his 519 receiving yards was also his best number yet. Despite a lack of high-volume stats, Cook has shown that he has the tools to dominate the game if he can put together a full 16-game season. Minnesota’s run-heavy offense will give him plenty of opportunities to prove he’s one of the elites.
4. Ezekiel Elliott
This past season was another outstanding performance from Zeke. He surpassed 300 carries for the third time in his career, totaling 1,357 rushing yards and scoring 12 touchdowns on the ground. Elliott added another 420 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He doesn’t get enough credit for his pass protection, either. Others may stand out more in particular areas of the game, but Elliott is arguably the NFL’s most well-rounded back right now.
3. Saquon Barkley
Barkley’s campaign was cut short due to injuries in 2019, but make no mistake that he is one of the most dynamic running backs in football. When he was on the field in 2019, he averaged 110 yards per game. Lost in the shuffle of an offense without any other playmakers, Barkley has bound himself as the workhorse of the offense both in the rushing and receiving game. He’s carrying a heavy load, but his tape left no doubt that he will be a force to be reckoned with when the Giants offense finally finds its footing.
2. Derrick Henry
Ryan Tannehill’s surprise renaissance season certainly played a role, but it was Henry’s 6-foot-3, 247 pound freight train of a frame that truly carried the Titans during their almost-Cinderella story playoff run. During the regular season, he led the league in rushes (303), rushing yards (1,540) and rushing touchdowns (16). In the postseason, he added another 446 yards in three games, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Henry has surpassed Marshawn Lynch as the best power runner of this era and blossomed into one of the most difficult backs to bring down in the history of the sport.
1. Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey was one of the sole bright spots on the Panthers. In 2019, he had the first RB season with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving since Marshall Faulk in 1999. His 15 rushing touchdowns ranked third in the league and his 19 touchdowns from scrimmage led the league. His 116 receptions were the most of any running back ever and he also led the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2,392. There’s no question that the NFL is transitioning to running backs who can rush or run a route on any given play. It’s safe to say that McCaffrey is the poster child for that movement.
