Melvin Gordon made headlines after comments about his contract situation and the running back position. He stated that running back is the second most important behind the quarterback and that their pay should reflect that. This quote stirred up social media creating a lively debate. The position itself requires a lot of versatility which Gordon pointed out in his interview by listing all of the various responsibilities that a running back has. This sentiment may be true but the NFL as a whole has treated the position as dispensable. The value of a running back is diminishing in the modern NFL which emphasizes the passing game much more than the run.
Most teams will simply refuse to spend high draft picks on the position. Teams still run the ball often and excel at it but the emphasis on having a bell-cow back isn’t there anymore. Many teams excel with multiple running backs that each fills their own roles within the offense. These rotation backs can often be found in the later rounds of the draft and even as undrafted free agents at times.
The Modern NFL Running Back Still Has Value
Cogs in a Machine
The Pittsburgh Steelers never came to an extension with their uber-talented running back, Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers opted for their third-round pick James Conner to take over the role as lead back instead of paying hefty the price tag for Bell. In 2018 the Steelers finished 31st in total rushing yards but second in total passing yards. Their offense is reliant on their explosive passing attack so they do not value the running back position enough to pay top dollar.
Even some of the best offenses in the NFL with an elite back in 2018 were able to thrive when they lost their lead back. The Steelers still finished as a top-five offense in total yards despite losing arguably the best running back in football. When Gurley missed time, C.J. Anderson came in and the offense didn’t miss a beat. After losing Kareem Hunt to suspension, the Chiefs were still able to make it to the AFC Championship. In the seven games after the suspension, the Chiefs averaged 32 points per game. The NFL is a passing league and almost all of the elite offenses are very passing heavy teams that don’t value having a lead back as much.
Hidden Gems
Some of the most successful rushing attacks in the league statistically were lead by late-round backs. The Baltimore Ravens were the first team in the top 10 of total yards in 2018 that are primarily run first. Their leading rusher in 2018 was an undrafted free agent in Gus Edwards. There was not a running back on the roster that they have drafted higher than the fourth round. The Seahawks led the league in rushing yards with a seventh-round pick finishing with 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns. Phillip Lindsay finished ninth in rushing yards despite going undrafted in the 2018 draft.
Before Chicago traded Jordan Howard they had a complementary duo in the backfield with Howard and Tarik Cohen. These running backs were taken in the fourth and fifth round respectively and both made a large impact on the offense. The NFL as a whole has been able to find late-round starters and impact players at the running back position consistently. In college football, there is a wealth of talent at the running back position. This leads to a lot of capable rotation backs and impact players found in the later rounds of the draft and the value of a lead running back plummeting.
Superstar Exception
Certain running backs in the NFL are in their own category. Le’Veon Bell was still able to earn that massive contract because he isn’t just a running back. He is a weapon. He is a lethal threat as a receiver and creates matchup problems for the defense. Bell is also a masterful runner with superb vision. His versatility makes him one of the best playmakers in the NFL and warrants the substantial contract he received. Only players in a similar echelon will receive the bank-breaking contracts.
Saquon Barkley will likely receive a record-setting contract after his rookie deal because of his versatility. Barkley’s ability to make plays in the short passing game increases his value in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey is a truly gifted receiver and a better runner than given credit for. He will likely also receive big money because of his dynamic ability as a receiver. Alvin Kamara is another back that will be paid wide receiver money because of his ability out of the backfield as a receiver. Versatility is the key for this modern NFL and running backs that don’t offer anything in both the passing game and as a runner are treated as interchangeable.
Bottom Line
Teams should hesitate to hand out large contracts to a position that can be considered interchangeable. Only game-breaking running backs that are true threats in the passing game will receive the massive contracts in today’s NFL. The style of play is different in the modern NFL. Lead backs don’t get nearly as many carries as they used to and carries are distributed around more. This is indicative of teams trying to extend the shelf life of the running back position which is relatively short. When teams hand substantial contracts to running backs they have to actively attempt to extend his career. These hefty five-year deals are just a waste if you run them into the ground and they’re consistently hurt. Limiting carries and creating more opportunities as a receiver can keep them fresh and healthy.
Capable running backs aren’t hard to come by in the NFL and teams often have multiple. Special running backs that affect each facet of the offense are hard to find in the draft. It’s not every year where a player on the caliber of Barkley or Bell with will be available the draft. The immense versatility that they each possess makes them such rare players to find.
Teams will instead draft multiple running backs to fill each role separately and keep all of them fresh from fewer carries. The “committee” of running backs is used on many great teams with different backs over the years. There are still incredibly talented running backs that offer a unique versatility but the vast majority of the position group is replaceable. The value of a running back in the modern NFL is based on their ability to affect multiple aspects of the game and be able to fill different roles.
