Running backs are a staple in every NFL locker room. Some of the greatest players ever are running backs, which include Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and LaDainian Tomlinson, just to name a few. The guys who make highlight video jukes and dive into the endzone to score touchdowns have been the stars of the game for a long time. However, the running back position is becoming less and less valuable to NFL teams.
Look at the two teams who made the Super Bowl last season. The Kansas City Chiefs had Seventh Round pick Isiah Pacheco carrying the workload while the Philadelphia Eagles had a running back committee of Kenneth Gainwell, Miles Sanders, and Boston Scott. No Derick Henry, Saquon Barkley, or Christian McCaffrey caliber players were in the mix. Yet these two teams had arguably the top two best offenses in the league.
As the season began a long saga with running back contracts unfolded. Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders and SaquonBarkley of the New York Giants both held out of some part of preseason in the hopes of getting a higher-paying contract.
Many NFL general managers are starting to question how important a high-level running back is when it comes to winning a Super Bowl. Running Back by committee has become a common term in the NFL and is an approach multiple teams have started to adopt. Spending a few later round draft picks on guys with different skill sets can be a better investment for the Running Back position.
Quarterback is easily seen as a more important position in football than running back. Now it seems like the Offensive line might be more valuable than running back. Look at the Eagles or Ravens, playoff-caliber teams with some of the best O-line players in the league. They both have a running back by committee system. There is no star running back but just an offensive line that helps their running backs put up stats like teams that have those superstar rushers.
Another hindrance in the dominance of running backs could be the new age dual threat Quarterback. Sure, Micheal Vick was around almost two decades ago, but guys like Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and even Russell Wilson have succeeded on the ground. With QBs able to run down the field in a similar style to some elite rushers, NFL coaches have completely changed their playbook. The running QB is just another cog in the running back's evolution to less importance.
The idea that star running backs are needed to win championships is dying. In today’s new NFL, the running back is not the key to a successful offense. A good offensive line, running QB, or scheme all trump the need for a star running back in today’s NFL. The running back is still an important position within an offense yet, the need for a 25-million-dollar-a-year running back is no longer there.
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcome. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu