OT: Are RB's becoming important again?

[TheRainMaker]

Mi think the reason running backs have been undervalued is because they have been much easier to find than QB's, Edge, CB, OT, and top WR's.

I'm not saying this as an argument, I'm posing it from a point of me possibly misunderstanding something, but: I've never understood the argument that RBs are easier to find than WRs. I feel like it's 100% the inverse.

I agree with Vindicate on this. Serviceable RB's may be easier to find. But Elite RB's are very difficult to find these days. Cook was one of them. Henry this week has me nervous. Jonathan Taylor and Saquan Barkley would be two others. Henderson may soon be in that category in a year or two.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I agree with Vindicate on this. Serviceable RB's may be easier to find. But Elite RB's are very difficult to find these days. Cook was one of them. Henry this week has me nervous. Jonathan Taylor and Saquan Barkley would be two others. Henderson may soon be in that category in a year or two.

I'm not saying this as an argument, I'm posing it from a point of me possibly misunderstanding something, but: I've never understood the argument that RBs are easier to find than WRs. I feel like it's 100% the inverse.

Funny enough I was just thinking about WRs last night.
If we ran through all 32 teams, how many have true Alpha #1 WRs?
NE - No
Miami- Yes ( Hill is past his prime and Waddle isn't an elite #1, but I will give the benefit of the doubt)
NYJ - Yes
Buffalo - No
Cincy - Yes
Balt - No
Cleveland - No
Pitt - I will say no, DK is not elite
Houston - Yes
Jax - No (BJT may get back to his rook level)
Tenn - No
Indy - No
KC - meh, Rice looks elite at times
SD - is McK elite?
Denver - meh, Sutton is good, but not great
LV - No
GB - No
Chi - I will say yes just becuase they have 2 guys bordering on elite
Minny - Yes
Det - Yes
NYG - No
Philly - Yes
Washington - McL is really good, but not quite elite level
Dallas - Yes
Atl - boderline yes
TB - Yes
Saints - borderline yes
Car - not yet
SF - No
Rams - Yes
Seattle - Yes
Arizona - maybe

So of 32 teams, 11 for sure studs, then a handful of maybes.

So is it really easy to find a true alpha #1 WR? I don't think it is.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree with Vindicate on this. Serviceable RB's may be easier to find. But Elite RB's are very difficult to find these days. Cook was one of them. Henry this week has me nervous. Jonathan Taylor and Saquan Barkley would be two others. Henderson may soon be in that category in a year or two.

I think thats accurate, and it's why i wanted them to go sfter Barkley a couple of years ago, even elite running backs are a bargain in free sgency, but i agree that there aren't many elite RB's. However mist teams are going by committee now, so they are finecwith 2-3 goid ones.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm not saying this as an argument, I'm posing it from a point of me possibly misunderstanding something, but: I've never understood the argument that RBs are easier to find than WRs. I feel like it's 100% the inverse.

I think the situations are somewhat similar, plenty of good ones, few elite ones. I think WR's are overvalued. Mediocre WR's are getting paid better than elite running backs,

 

[Dec54]

I agree with Vindicate on this. Serviceable RB's may be easier to find. But Elite RB's are very difficult to find these days. Cook was one of them. Henry this week has me nervous. Jonathan Taylor and Saquan Barkley would be two others. Henderson may soon be in that category in a year or two.

It seems there is more choice in the draft for high end rec's than RB's. If Henderson stays healthy he could be in the top five pretty soon.

 

[Thelonious]

Potassium chloride is a salt. So is potassium nitrate, lol.

Sheesh. No need to get all salty about it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I think thats accurate, and it's why i wanted them to go sfter Barkley a couple of years ago, even elite running backs are a bargain in free sgency, but i agree that there aren't many elite RB's. However mist teams are going by committee now, so they are finecwith 2-3 goid ones.

I think the situations are somewhat similar, plenty of good ones, few elite ones. I think WR's are overvalued. Mediocre WR's are getting paid better than elite running backs,

I just looked it up and confirmed the best RB's in the NFL are paid less than mediocre WR's. Wow!

 

[mgteich]

I just looked it up and confirmed the best RB's in the NFL are paid less than mediocre WR's. Wow!

yup

 

[n1997y]

Sheesh. No need to get all salty about it.

Just making sure I’m worth my salt

 

[JoeSixPat]

I guess they were important. Just not to the extent they are now. It's especially important to have a good running game with a young QB.

I worded the title poorly. My bad.

No it's a good topic as the role of RBs has morphed over time and I think you are correctly noting a bit of a shift in the league.

It's always been a bit of a copy cat league and a lot of RB success also depends on the tools a team has - so not every team will be the same even though they tend to follow the trends.

But back in the day you would have a lead RB that was the lead cog in the offense, out there nearly every snap and catching an occasional pass - some RBs more adept than others.

Then we saw a shift to what effectively became an RB by committee - a big brute RB for short yardage, small quick RB for end routes, a pass catcher for those situations, a blocking RB for other special situations all often taking a place on a roster... and with the wear and tear of an NFL season that wasn't bad for depth.

Often very effective but for me, also took up a lot of roster space and telegraphed the play by the players on the field.

I think we're in more of a hybrid time now where guys that can excel in the short/brute game but can also be quick enough to get around Ds and better yet, catch passes, are what teams want and need. I think the desire IS to get down to two 1A and 1B backs - and while I really like Stevenson as a pass catcher AND as a very good blocker, we just don't have the short yardage big brute RB on the roster. Henderson is FAR too small for that - and I think Stevenson is close to the size but seems to lack strength and ball security at times.

I think those specialist years had RBs really under valued - and even today, I think the only reason RBs get picked in the 1st round these days is in the hope they'll find another Saquon Barkley (who himself is really only a difference maker on a championship caliber team IMO)

So definately MORE valued and important today than in the RB by committee years - it's now like a semi-committee era now and just comes down to the talents of an RB who one hopes can do 2 out of 4 of the core tasks for an RB.

Another worthwhile topic is the long awaited return of an FB role in the NFL, which would be another full circle evolution in the game.

Good topic

 

[Huckleberry1]

I just looked it up and confirmed the best RB's in the NFL are paid less than mediocre WR's. Wow!

Calvin Ridley making more than Saquon Barkley is criminal.

 

[Family]

There was a period, for whatever reason, that is seemed like there weren't many "difference maker" RB's. And the few who were had short careers at the top.

So it was more risky giving a RB a big contract.

 

[lancerman]

The era where RB's where undervalued will always be a mystery as defenses get smaller.

It's more that RB's generally don't add much above an average replacement. If you have an average line, there's about 30 ish RB's that could give you what could be defined as respectable production as your lead rusher. There's maybe 3-4 elite ones. But about 28 right now are averaging 50 yards a game or more. You can low ball them in pay when there's always another easy find that can do 90% of what even a very good one is doing.

Compare that to other offensive positions. There's maybe 4-5 TE's at any given time that are truly elevating a team and more than a glorified WR2/3. There's like 10ish unreplaceable left tackles where teams aren't looking for upgrades. There's only 10-12 QB's at any given time that realistically aren't holding their team back from competing.

 

[TommyD4207]

Calvin Ridley making more than Saquon Barkley is criminal.

Christian Kirk makes more than Saquon Barkley.

 

[TommyD4207]

It's more that RB's generally don't add much above an average replacement. If you have an average line, there's about 30 ish RB's that could give you what could be defined as respectable production as your lead rusher. There's maybe 3-4 elite ones. But about 28 right now are averaging 50 yards a game or more. You can low ball them in pay when there's always another easy find that can do 90% of what even a very good one is doing.

Compare that to other offensive positions. There's maybe 4-5 TE's at any given time that are truly elevating a team and more than a glorified WR2/3. There's like 10ish unreplaceable left tackles where teams aren't looking for upgrades. There's only 10-12 QB's at any given time that realistically aren't holding their team back from competing.

You can get 90% of Saquon Barkley for less than half the price.
You can't get 90% of Justin Jefferson (assuming he has a real QB throwing to him) for less than the price of a QB.

 

[Thelonious]

Just making sure I’m worth my salt

You are indeed, every shake.

 

[mgteich]

Christian Kirk makes more than Saquon Barkley.

My conclusion is that we can afford to add a RB who is really good is short yardage situation and can block. This could be a roster spot for a veteran who has 2-3 years left. I think that this would be a really, really good us of cap money.

I know that we have Gibson under contract. As I said before the season started, I would carry 4 RB's instead of 6 WR's.

 

[stinkypete]

I think the real culprit for declining passing numbers over the past couple of years has been a decline in offensive line talent. Going back to 2019, with the exception of 2021, offensive line draft classes have been littered with a disproportionate number of busts.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

Having a ground and pound RB and game braking RB to do the whole “Thunder /Lightning” duo might be the way of the future

Giving two talented RBs 12 touches a game instead of a bell cow 20+ gives you more options, potential longevity and doesn’t damn your roster of your chief RB gets injured.