Running backs are some of the greatest athletes in the sport. From a BMI-to-athleticism ratio — which admittedly I’m making up as a thing — running backs are up there with any other position with the exception of defensive end, where some of those athletes look like they came from other planets.  When you think of the great running backs in NFL history, you think of the bruising power of an Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, Jerome Bettis, or John Riggins, or the speed of a Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers, Chris Johnson, or Marshall Faulk or the unmatchable power/speed combination of an O.J. Simpson, Jim Brown, Adrian Peterson, or Bo Jackson.

And yet, we all seem to understand that the great running back is fading from the NFL.  Le’Veon Bell still can’t get his long-term contract, and Devonta Freeman is the second highest paid running back with a contract paying him $8.25M per year.  And it’s not just free agent running backs that are struggling: draft capital being spent on running backs is still on the decline, although the 2018 Draft (which was regarded as very running back heavy) had a bit of a rebound. [continue reading…]