The NFL is turning into a league that is dominated by the passing game, but there are still a few teams that want to run the ball and run the ball well. The teams listed below have focused a good amount of resources on the running back position and they should have the top NFL running back rooms in 2020.
Top NFL Running Back Rooms
5. New England Patriots
Bill Belichick loves using multiple running backs and has done just that for years. Last season the New England Patriots used Sony Michel the most of their running backs. But there were still instances where Rex Burkhead and James White were used, especially in the receiving game.
The Patriots will more than likely rely more on their running game this year with the departure of Tom Brady in the off-season. The Patriots also drafted Damien Harris in the third round during the 2019 draft but he didn’t see much time last year. He is a candidate to see more work this season. The Patriots could have one of the deepest running back rooms in the NFL in 2020.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers had a great year in 2019 but fell short in the Super Bowl when they lost to the Chiefs. The 49ers played a classical style of football last season with an excellent defense and run first mentality on offense. In the NFC Championship game Raheem Mostert had 29 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns. San Francisco as a team ran the ball 42 times and passed just eight in that game.
Even though Mostert had that outstanding performance, the 49ers are a team that uses a running back by committee approach. Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Matt Breida all had between 120 and 140 carries during the season. Breida was traded this off-season but Jerick McKinnon will most likely return from injury at some point and Jeff Wilson Jr. is another player who could step into a bigger role in 2020.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson was the MVP in 2019 and helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to the number one rushing attack in 2019. But there were other contributors besides Jackson. Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards both played integral roles in the rushing game last season. Ingram had over 1,000 yards rushing and Edwards had around 700 rushing yards and both players are still with the Ravens for the 2020 season.
But that wasn’t enough for John Harbaugh and the Ravens as they drafted J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State in the second round of the 2019 draft. Dobbins had an outstanding career with the Buckeyes. He was selected as both first team All-Big Ten and first team All-American last year. He will be another weapon added to this already lethal rushing attack in Baltimore.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have made some huge improvements to their offense this off-season. One of them being the signing of free agent Melvin Gordon. Gordon had a somewhat disappointing 2019 season after being on contract holdout the first half of the season. But he has flashed excellence before by being a Pro Bowler in both the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Gordon will be paired with running mate Phillip Lindsay who has played well for the Broncos since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and was a Pro Bowler in 2018.
1. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns acquired Kareem Hunt after his falling out with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt would be an instant starter for most NFL teams but isn’t in Cleveland because of Nick Chubb. Chubb is one of the best running backs in the NFL at the moment. Chubb finished second in the NFL in rushing yards in 2019, behind only standout Derrick Henry.
Hunt only played half of the season last year but still managed to put up respectable numbers, especially as a receiving back. The Browns used Chubb as the first and second down back and then had Hunt come in for third downs and passing situations. Both Chubb and Hunt are still relatively young at 24 years old. The Browns have the most lethal one two punch in the NFL and should have the one of the most explosive offenses in 2020 as well.
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