Who Is the Top Running Back in the NFC East?
Of all eight divisions within the National Football League, the NFC East is likely to be labeled as the most competitive. The Unpredictable nature of this division makes it so intriguing to watch year in and year out.
Each of the four teams has had their fair share of success, as the NFC East teams have a combined 21 NFC championship wins and 13 Super Bowl Victories, the highest marks of any NFL division.
This historic division has produced impressive talent all across the board, but especially at the running back position. The NFC East is home to some historically great backs, such as Emmitt Smith, Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, Tony Dorsett, and Tiki Barber to name a few.
The NFC East seems poised to bring the greatness back to the position, as some of the NFL’s premier running backs reside within the East. So how do they stack up against each other? In this article, I evaluate and discuss the top five running backs among the Eagles, Redskins, Cowboys, and Giants.
5) Washington Redskins’ Chris Thompson
photo via nflanalysis.com
At his 5’8″, 195-pound frame, Thompson won’t blow you away with stunning strength running between the tackles, but that’s okay. He makes up for his lack of size by being extremely versatile in the passing game. Thompson has assisted the Washington offense quite a bit through the air, as he has had at least 35 receptions in each of his previous four seasons.
One could argue that he is still being underutilized in the Washington offense. Chris Thompson has never averaged below 4.0 yards per carry throughout his entire career, yet he has never been given more than 70 carries in a season. He averages only around 55 targets a season, less than half of what Patriots RB James White received in 2018.
With the 2019 season approaching, it’ll be interesting to see the workload that is given to the speedy playmaker.
4) Washington Redskins’ Adrian Peterson
photo via MSN.com
Yes, the 2012 NFL MVP is still getting the job done in burgundy and gold.
When it’s all said and done, Adrian Peterson will undoubtedly be enshrined in Canton, but let’s pump the breaks. Peterson is 34 years old, but still happens to be producing at an efficient rate when running the football.
Peterson used to be the best running back in football; he could do everything well. While he is no longer that kind of athlete now, Adrian Peterson has been able to transform his game to extend the longevity of his career. His display of power and strength while running the rock is still apparent in his game, and still effective.
The veteran back was able to add another 1,000-yard season to his resume in 2018. As a 34-year-old, Peterson was able to manage a workload of 250+ carries, and impressively averaged 4.2 yards per carry.
3) Philadelphia Eagles’ Jordan Howard
photo via msn.com
One of the newest members of the NFC East, Jordan Howard looks to make an impact for the Birds in 2019.
The Philadelphia Eagles have long awaited a running back of Howard’s stature. At 6’0″, 224 pounds, Howard will finally shore up the Eagles’ struggles in the backfield.
Howard brings a great skill set to the table. While he hasn’t been utilized too often in the air, his effectiveness through running the ball has been extraordinary. The former Bears back has had 3,370 rushing yards (4.3ypc) in only his first three NFL seasons (1,123 yards per season).
Possibly his most valuable role is his work in the red zone. Howard scored 25 total touchdowns in his first three seasons. Now that Howard is in an explosive offense, he should be given many opportunities near the goal line. It is almost inevitable that Philadelphia utilizes Jordan Howard on 1st and 2nd downs; however, it will be intriguing to watch where his usage ends up on passing downs in 2019.
2) Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott
photo via thespun.com
Ezekiel Elliott is one of the better backs the NFL has seen in some time. Similar to Jordan Howard, Elliott comes in at a 6’0″, 228lb frame. He is the prototypical every-down workhorse running back. There is not a single aspect of Elliott’s game that can be classified as weak.
Ever since entering the league, Elliott’s incredible skill set has been on full display. In 2016, Elliott took the league by storm and led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie with 1,631 yards. He also tacked on 16 total touchdowns that season.
Not much has changed besides his age, as he is still producing at an incredible rate. In his most recent season, Elliott posted a stat line of 1,434 yards and 9 total touchdowns, which aided Dallas to a division title and playoff victory.
With Ezekiel Elliott being only 23 years old, we can only expect the Cowboys’ star to further his already impressive list of accomplishments.
1) New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley
photo via sbnation
Saquon Barkley is special. There is no better way to put it. The NFL has never seen a running back with his combination of power, speed, agility, and vision. It’s not every day that you see a 233lb running back be able to run a 4.40 40-yard dash, among other impressive measurables.
Although he has only played one season in the pros, Barkley has managed to post 2,000+ total yards and 15 touchdowns in those first 16 games. He won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award over young star Baker Mayfield.
Barkley is a very dynamic playmaker. His size allows him to run well between the tackles; however, Saquon’s ‘bread and butter’ is running the edge and eluding defenders with his smooth footwork.
Barkley is extremely lethal in the passing attack, as well. He is able to catch the football out of the backfield just as well as a 190lb running back could. In his rookie season, Saquon caught 90 balls for 721 yards.
In 2019, Barkley will be the center of attention for opposing defenses in the big apple. With Odell no longer around, it is up to Saquon Barkley to give New York a spark on offense.
Featured Image: BloggingTheBoys.com
All statistics via ProFootballReference.com unless stated otherwise
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