We are back for volume 3 of our series, Rams Position Groups Vs The NFC West. Where does the Rams Running Back room stack up? Is Gurley’s knee an issue, or is it way overplayed? Let’s disect a division that actually has some very strong and talented Running Back rooms.
Note** These rankings are based on the overall committee of RBs, not necessarily just the starter.
To read Volume 1 – Quarterbacks go HERE, and to read Volume 2 – Tight Ends go HERE!
Rams Position Groups Vs NFC West: Volume 3 – Running Back
***All Depth Charts Are According to ESPN***
4. Arizona Cardinals
Projected Depth Chart
RB1: David Johnson
RB2: Chase Edmonds
RB3: T.J. Logan
Two years ago this would have been silly to put the Cardinals RB room in the bottom of the division. David Johnson had just finished a 2016 campaign that saw him finish as an MVP candidate with over 1,200 yards rushing and 879 yards receiving. He was a true threat on every down, and was a fantasy dream. Then 2017 happened. Johnson was hurt in the very first game and missed the entire season. In 2018, he was thrust into the much maligned Mike McCoy offense and could not reproduce the magic and wonder of 2016. He finished with 940 yards rushing on just 3.6 yards per rush, and 446 yards receiving.
Now we get to 2019 and Kliff Kingsbury is the new face of the Cardinals. This could spell a rejuvenation for Johnson, but there are a lot of unknowns, and then sprinkle in the fact that they will be starting a rookie QB.
Rookie Coach, Rookie QB, that spells a lot of pressure for your feature running back.
As a rookie, Chase Edmonds showed some really nice glimpses, especially in a December game against the Packers where he finished with two touchdowns. The second-year player out of Fordham has really nice burst and can hit holes clean and find space in gaps in the passing game. He is a solid complementary back to Johnson, but again, just a lot of unknown heading into the new season with a new coaching staff. He finished 2018 with 208 rushing yards on 60 attempts and 103 yards receiving.
T.J. Logan was a 5th round pick in 2017 out of UNC. He finished last year with only two carries, so we will see how he is utilized in this offense once training camp and preseason starts.
Overall, I really like this unit and there is a lot of talent. But the inconsistency of David Johnson and the unknowns of playing for a new coaching staff forced me to put this unit at the bottom of the NFC West…for now.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Projected Depth Chart
RB1: Jerick McKinnon
RB2: Tevin Coleman
RB3: Matt Breida
The 49ers spent big during the 2018 free agency period on Jerick McKinnon (4-year / $30 Million) and again in 2019 free agency on Tevin Coleman (2-year / $8.5 Million).
The big payday for McKinnon was interesting as he is not a three-down back, and in his final two years in Minnesota, he averaged 3.4 and 3.8 yards per carry, respectively. Last year he went down with an injury before week 1 and missed the entire season. There is no denying that McKinnon can be a weapon out of the backfield, and if healthy, should be fun to watch in Kyle Shanahan’s system, but it will be interesting to see if he expected to carry the bulk of the load, or continue his role as a change of pace back and receiving option out of the backfield.
The Coleman signing made sense simply due to his experience of playing with Shanahan when he was the OC in Atlanta. For the bulk of his career thus far, however, he has played second fiddle to Devonta Freeman, that was until Freeman went down with an injury last season and Coleman was thrust into the starting role. Coleman showed flashes of great running ability and finished the year with 800 yards on 167 carries. I think that Coleman is better suited as a complementary back, but we will have to wait and see how he is utilized in the offense.
Matt Breida was forced into a bigger role last season with the injury to McKinnon. He demonstrated great running ability and was a fantasy savior some weeks for teams that got him cheap off of waivers. He finished with 814 yards rushing and an impressive 5.3 yards per carry average. The biggest knock with Breida last year, and must be questioned heading into this season, was his durability. He was constantly knicked up and never had more than 17 carries in a game.
San Francisco will certainly use all three tailbacks and utilize the running back by committee approach, but I have two major concerns, which is why I have them ranked as the 3rd unit in the NFC West.
First, and foremost, will all three guys be suited up week in and week out? Since Shanahan came to San Francisco, the injury bug has been ever-present in the locker room, specifically in the running back room. Until all three players can prove that they can be relied upon each week it’s impossible to rank them above the Seahawks or Rams.
Secondly, I’m sure that Shanahan and GM John Lynch have a plan and have thought about the future, but on paper, they have two running backs that have played identical roles during their careers and haven’t been proven workhorse starters.
Shanahan’s system is a running back friendly system, but until the RB room proves it can stay healthy, and one guy takes the leading role, the Niners have the third ranked running back room in the NFC West.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Projected Depth Chart
RB1: Chris Carson
RB2: Rashaad Penny
RB3: J.D. McKissic
The Seahawks RB room being ranked 2nd in the division is more due to the film than stats.
When healthy, Chris Carson proved last season that he is more than qualified to be the starting running back finishing 2018 with 1,151 yards on the ground in just 14 games. He has a slasher like running style and hits the hole with tremendous burst. He also has the ability to make defenders miss in open space, but can also run over linebackers if needed.
Rashaad Penny is a good running back with a lot of potential. While I wholeheartedly disagreed with the Seahawks selecting him in the first round in 2018, that doesn’t matter now. Last season, Penny was the unquestioned backup to Carson. While his carries were limited, he did a really good job of taking advantage and shining when the rock was in his hands. He finished with 419 yards on just 85 carries, good enough for a 4.9 yards per carry average. He will be expected to have a bigger role this season, especially with the first-round pick moniker attached to his name.
J.D McKissic is a change of pace, jack of all trades, wideout to running back convert that will have a specific role in 2019 and will play situationally. He adds depth and versatility to the RB Room.
The combination of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny is a very formidable two-headed attack. Health is always a concern regarding the running back position, but if healthy, I like this room a lot and they can be even better in 2019 than they were in 2018.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Projected Depth Chart
RB1: Todd Gurley
RB2: Malcolm Brown
RB3: Darrell Henderson
The constant questions regarding Todd Gurley’s knee are becoming exhausting, but they are very real. If Gurley is limited throughout the season, then that will knock this group down and will most certainly negatively affect the offense as they rely so heavily on the running game sparking the play-action.
But, for now, I want to trust the coaching staff in what they are saying about Gurley and the fact that his knee should not be a problem.
He is far and away the best back in this division, and he has back-to-back All-Pro selections to prove it. In the last two seasons, Gurley finished with a combined 3,924 scrimmage yards. You cannot ignore that kind of production. He fits exactly what Sean McVay wants to do with the offense, and has tremendous vision. Until his knee isn’t just a concern but is actually hindering his play moving forward, he remains the top back in the division and a top-5 back in the entire league.
Malcolm Brown was signed to an offer sheet by the Detroit Lions, but the Rams matched the offer keeping him in LA. This speaks volumes on how they view him as a player and his importance to what the Rams want to do on offense. He is a great compliment to Gurley, and while he doesn’t have the numbers or production on paper, he may be leaned on much more in 2019.
Darrell Henderson was selected in the 3rd round of this year’s draft. Many people saw this as an indictment on Todd Gurley and his questionable knee, but in reality, this was a value pick and a player that compliments Gurley so perfectly. Due to his size and running style, Henderson should not be viewed as a three-down back. But situationally, he is going to fit so well in the offense. He is a homerun-hitter, to say the least, and even that doesn’t fully credit his explosiveness. He ran a 4.49 40 at the combine and averaged an astounding 8.9 yards per carry at Memphis. Rams’ fans should absolutely view Henderson as an addition to the offense, not a replacement for Gurley.
With the combination of Gurley, Brown, and Henderson, the Rams boast the best running back room in the NFC West. Of course, we will have to keep an eye on Gurley and his health, but heading into the season, the only question should be if the three backs can combine for over 2,000 yards in 2019.
