Despite the emphasis on the pass in the modern NFL, running backs remain a vital part of a top-notch offense. When a QB has a rough outing against strong secondaries, a great back compensates by earning tough yards and first downs, extending drives and providing pivots with another set of downs to work with. Sometimes, the opposition must adjust to a strong ground presence, re-opening passing lanes and extra space for receivers.
It’s not a coincidence that three of the top five teams with the best odds to win the Super Bowl employ an elite, dual-threat running back, equally adept at receiving and rushing. Gurley of the Rams and Bell from the Steelers add an extra dimension which teams can’t defend consistently. Sites like CanadaSportsBetting.ca list Pittsburgh at +1000 and the Los Angeles Rams at +1100 before the 2018 regular season begins. Even traditional running backs like Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliot have the ability to carry teams on their shoulders, lifting uninspiring squads to relevancy.
Todd Gurley – Los Angeles Rams
The AP NFL offensive player of the year in 2017, Gurley lead the league in rushing TDs, all-purpose yards and rushing and return touchdowns. Easily the most valuable player in fantasy football, Todd finished second in NFL MVP voting to Tom Brady, partly because the Patriots didn’t have overwhelming talent last season.
Sure, it’s unlikely that Gurley will meet or exceed 2,093 all-purpose yards, 13 rushing TDs and 19 RRTDs, but he’s unlikely to suddenly regress below top five as an elite dual-threat running back. New Rams wideout Brandin Cooks might absorb some of the targets which padded Gurley’s receiving stats, but pivot Jared Goff and coach Sean McVay will still lean on Gurley as a pressure release value, similar to Le’Veon Bell of the Steelers. Barring injury, expect another outstanding season from Todd.
David Johnson – Arizona Cardinals
Did the Browns mistake Duke Johnson for David Johnson in 2015? Six running backs were drafted before David, and Todd Gurley’s the only other member of the class to fulfil his promise as an elite weapon at RB. In 2016, David Johnson was the all-purpose yards champ in the NFL, leading the league with 2,118 all-purpose yards and 20 RRTDs.
Injury devastated Johnson’s 2017 campaign after a single start, which may cause some to believe that he won’t produce at a first-team all-pro pace. David’s injury involved a dislocated wrist instead of a lower-body injury, so he’ll still have the speed and agility necessary to have another elite season. Johnson’s also angling for a big contract extension from Arizona, which tends to motivate top production from pro athletes.
Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys
Zeke sprinted to the top of the rushing elite with one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history. He averaged 108.7 yards per game for a total of 1,631 yards on 322 rushes – all league highs. He would’ve had an outside shot at besting Eric Dickerson’s all-time first year mark of 1,808 yards if the Cowboys didn’t rest him during a meaningless game at the end of the season. Without Zeke, the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t put together a string of solid offensive outings last year.
His suspension issue ended up dragging throughout the 2017 season, limiting him to 10 starts and a total of 983 yards. Perhaps more important, his average yards per rushing attempt slipped from 5.1 to 4.1 – a massive fall of nearly 20% year-over-year. Last season, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys o-line didn’t have much success. Ezekiel Elliott will have another massive season if Prescott and the offensive line merge into a cohesive unit.
Kareem Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt burst onto the scene during his first game with the Chiefs, decimating the Patriots defense for 148 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards and three TDs. This broke the record for most total yards in the first game of a player’s career. Hunt would go on to break the Chiefs rookie rushing record, leading the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards.
Alvin Kamara ended up taking the rookie of the year honors instead of Hunt due to more all-purpose yards (1,901 yards) and his ability to serve as a hybrid threat, collecting 13 rushing and return touchdowns compared to Kareem’s 11 RRTDs. Kareem’s superior rushing numbers will repeat this year. Hunt’s receiving numbers may receive a boost if Patrick Mahomes targets Kareem for the short ball.
Leonard Fournette – Jacksonville Jaguars
Another fantastic rookie rusher, Leonard Fournette meshed well with the ultra-confident Jacksonville Jaguars locker room culture. Despite missing a trio of games and operating alongside Bortles, Fournette managed to collect 1,040 yards and stomp into the end zone nine times, include the longest rushing touchdown of the 2017 NFL regular season.
Notice how no Steelers defender could catch Fournette after he burst through the gap? Leonard’s incredible acceleration and top speed are among the best in the NFL, capable of dusting most defenders. After an incredible rookie season which nearly resulted in a Super Bowl appearance, Fournette appears ready to become a top-three running back in the league.
NFL Running Back Sleepers
Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings
Cook suffered a season-ending injury early in his rookie campaign, curtailing what might’ve been a fantastic inaugural campaign. Dalvin’s put the work into rehab and doesn’t look he’s missing a step. The Vikings o-line looks solid and Kirk Cousins passing synergy with Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph should open space for the sophomore rusher. Expect a superb bounceback season for Dalvin.
Saquon Barkley – New York Giants
Most pegged Barkley as an easy first overall pick, which means that Saquon was fortunate to fall to the Giants at the second spot when Cleveland selected Mayfield. New York will not have the same nightmare season, and the combo of Odell Beckham Jr. and Peyton Manning will create room for the rookie rusher. Saquon gathered 5,557 all-purpose yards during three seasons with Penn State, breaking several college records, including most total yards in a single game and the most rushing TDs in school history. No doubt the Giants will attempt to convert him into a dual threat at the NFL level, similar to Le’Veon Bell.
Le’Veon Bell – Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of Le’Veon Bell, the only reason he’s listed as a sleeper revolves around his contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell understandably wants Todd Gurley money after serving as the preeminent passing and rushing threat in the NFL over the past four seasons. If Le’Veon returns in time to play at least 14 games, he’ll probably manage to secure a top five finish for rushing yards, total yards and RRTDs. There’s a chance he’ll sit out an entire season, which would be to the detriment of both Bell and the Steelers organization.