Best RBs in the NFL 2019
The National football league is filled with talent at the running back position. In today's league, the running backs are starting to realize their short "shelf life", and are beginning to demand larger contracts earlier in their careers. This is my personal list of the five best running backs in the league entering the 2019 season.
5) Todd Gurley (LAR): Todd Gurley is the perfect example of a swiss army knife at the RB position. His ability to make defenders miss, move in open space and catch out of the backfield make him a lethal weapon for the rams offense. Gurley has been rewarded for his efforts with a contract that has made him the second highest paid RB in NFL history. Questions marks remain about his durability and clutch play in big game scenarios.
4) Christian Mccaffrey (CAR): CMC is the perfect fantasy football PPR running back year in and year out. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is unmatched throughout the league. His agility in open space and "slippery" feel allows him to break tackles and be affective. Questions marks have surrounded CMC primarily around his size and ability to run between the tackles. His usage decreases when the Panthers enter the red zone and on short yardage runs. Due to the Panthers offseason, we may very well see CMC run the ball 25 times a game. Let's hope his durability can hold up.
3) Alvin Kamara (NO): Alvin Kamara has undergone high usage season after season. His scrimmage yard numbers speaks for itself. CMC and Kamara are very similar backs. Smaller in size but make up for it with lightning speed. His ability to make people miss in the open field is what separates him from the pack. Now with Mark Ingram gone for Baltimore, his role may expand even more if possible. Latavius Murray at this point in his career doesn't offer much relief and the saint are primarily a passing offense anyway. Expect a huge year from Kamara barring injury.
2) Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): Zeke finally got his money. The holdout has ended and he is now the highest paid RB in the NFL. A six year, 90 million dollar contract is what it took for Zeke to return to the team and right in time for a week one showdown against the NYG. Zeke's ability to break tackles, run in between the tackles and to the outside make him one of the most complete backs we've seen in a decade. What catapulted him into a top two back in my rankings was his improvement last year as a receiver out of the backfield. He is no longer being subbed out on third downs and has become a far more complete back these days. Most years he would be No. 1 on this list, but unfortunately there is another stud athlete in the wings.
1) Saquon Barkley (NYG): Saquon Barkley is one of the best RBs and athletic specimens we have seen in professional sports. His speed, strength, agility, acceleration, catching ability, route running are all at the top for a RB. He led a disappointing Giants offense in yards from scrimmage and made some ridiculous highlight plays. From hurdles, to one handed catches, to multiple broken tackles and long TD runs; he is the most exciting prospect we've seen since Barry Sanders. It will be interesting to see how year two transpires for Saquon as now the league has film on him and may "stack the box" and force the Giants to throw the football. Rest assured the Giants will find whatever means necessary to get No. 26 the football.