Positional Breakdown: Top 10 Running Backs

Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally made it! Well, not quite. But we're almost there! The 2022 NFL season is rapidly approaching and with that, I've decided to spice things up a bit. Instead of making full-on predictions, I will be making my own list of top 10 NFL players at each position for the upcoming season. This will be based on a variety of things, including past performance, age, supporting cast on their team, etc.

Next up, arguably the most replaceable position in football: running back.

#10. 

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris is going into his second season in the NFL. In 2021, Harris ran for 1,200 yards, caught 74 passes, and scored 10 total touchdowns. However, he did struggle with efficiency, as he only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and 6.3 yards per catch, which can attributed to playing behind an awful offensive line. The Steelers marginally improved in trenches in the offseason, so Harris's efficiency probably isn't bound to improve. But, as he showed last season, that probably won't even matter.

Projected stats: 295 carries, 1,185 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 58 catches, 470 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs

#9. 

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Showtyme 33 checks in at number 9. Jones, 27, is coming off a season where he only ran for 799 yards after rushing for over 1,000 in 2019 and 2020. However, most of that can be attributrd to the emergence of fellow running back A.J. Dillon in the Packers backfield, along with injuries to the Packers offensive line. And regardless, Jones still scored 10 total touchdowns in 2021. And now, with All Pro receiver Davante Adams taking his talents to Las Vegas, Jones is poised to take over as Green Bay's best and most explosive playmaker.

Projected stats: 203 carries, 1,103 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 54 catches, 442 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs

#8.

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler is one of the best all-around backs in the game. Last season, he ran for a career high 911 yards, caught 70 passes, and scored 20 total touchdowns (tied for the most along with Colts running back Jonathan Taylor). Playing alongside a superstar quarterback like Justin Herbert sometimes leads to him getting underrated. But his ability to run between the tackles and run routes is a hope component of the high-flying Chargers offence. The "other" LA team seems poised to make some noise in 2022, and if they do make a deep playoff run, then Ekeler will be a huge reason why.

Projected stats: 204 carries, 933 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs,  63 catches, 548 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs

#7.

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Mixon was a huge catalyst for the Bengals run to the Super Bowl last season. He ran for a career high 1,205 yards on the ground, and scored 16 total touchdowns. He may not be a great receiving back, but he showed that he can contribute in the passing game as well, totaling a career high in receiving yards (314) in 2021. When you think of the Bengals offence, you probably think of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase first. But Mixon is a stud in his own right.

Projected stats: 283 carries, 1,190 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs, 44 catches, 317 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs

#6.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Kamara is coming off a bit of a down year as he rushed for just 3.7 yards per carry. However, he still finished the season with over 1,000 scrimmage yards in just 13 games. Kamara was still make dazzling plays all over the field in 2021, even though he was the main focal point of the Saints offence for the whole season with superstar receiver Michael Thomas missing the entire season. He might face a suspension during the season after a altercation that occured shortly after the Pro Bowl in February. But regardless, Kamara is an elite talent, and I think he'll have a monster season while leading the Saints back to the playoffs.

Projected stats: 185 carries, 878 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs, 67 catches, 602 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs

#5. 

Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Since entering the NFL in 2018, Chubb has consistently been one of the top running backs in the league. Chubb ran for 1,259 yards and scored 8 touchdowns on the ground in 2021. He's also a huge home run hitter, running for 5.5 yards per carry. Some try to discredit him for having a great offensive line to run behind and because he's not a all-word pass catcher out of the backfield. But make no mistake about it, Chubb is a absolute stud.

Projected stats: 278 carries, 1,386 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 26 catches, 183 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

#4. 

Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Cook is one of the most skilled players in the league. He's run for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons and he's also scored 36 total touchdowns over that same time span. He ran for over 1,100 yards in just 13 games. The Vikings hired former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell to be their new head coach, which points towards Minnesota passing the ball more. But if anything, that means more light boxes for Cook to run through and more targets for him in the passing game. Cook will be just as lethal again in 2022. 

Projected stats: 258 carries, 1,378 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 51 catches, 387 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs

#3.

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

It wasn't too long ago that McCaffrey was considered to be the best running back in the NFL. In 2019, he produced 2,392 total yards from scrimmage, and scored 19 total touchdowns. But he's only played 10 games over the last two seasons due to various injuries. The Panthers traded for quarterback Baker Mayfield in attempt to upgrade the offence. Even if Mayfield doesn't prove to be the answer, a healthy McCaffrey would immensely help. He proved last year when available that he can still ball out. And that's what I think he will do in 2022.

Projected stats: 249 carries, 1,194 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs, 78 catches, 784 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs

#2. 

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

In 2020, Henry became the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. What would he do for an encore? In just eight games, Henry ran for 937 yards and 10 TDs. Unfortunately, Henry suffered a Jones fracture in Week 8, and didn't return until the playoffs. Sure, Henry's style of play has probably taken a toll on his body and he's already 28 years old. But personally, I'm not betting against a guy who runs a 4.5 while being nearly 250 pounds. I mean, it just looks like he's jogging down the field. That's real scary.

Projected stats: 324 carries, 1,628 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs, 16 catches, 114 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

#1. 

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Taylor had a very good rookie season, finishing with over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. But he took his game to a whole new level in 2021, as he led the league in rushing yards with 1,811. He also ran for a league high 18 TDs and averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season. Taylor did all of this with a mediocre quarterback in Carson Wentz leading the way. Now, with (potential) future Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Ryan calling the shots, Taylor seems primed to make more plays like this while carrying the Colts offence.

Projected stats: 318 carries, 1,692 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 38 catches, 415 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs

Honourable mentions:

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys: Elliott clearly isn't the same player that he was back in 2016, 2017, or even 2018. But he still put up solid numbers last year (1,002 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs) so he deserves a mention here.

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos: Williams had a very solid rookie season last year, totaling 1,219 yards from scrimmage. Now with Russell Wilson at quarterback, I wouldn't be surprised if Williams has a great 2022 season and enters my top 10 next year.

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears: Montgomery is in a unfortunate situation, as he is a very talented running back who no one talks about because he's surrounded by a bunch of mediocrity in Chicago. 

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants: Barkley has unfortunately suffered a bunch of numerous injuries ever since his awesome rookie season in 2018. But his talent is still undeniable and the hope is that with good health and a new head coach in Brian Daboll, that Barkley can get back to playing at a Pro Bowl level.