How Running Backs Are Starting to Be a Hard Position in the NFL

NBC New York

There have been recent stories claiming that being a running back in the NFL is starting become less important to an offensive scheme.

NFL running back Melvin Gordan stated that being a running back in the NFL “literally sucks.”

When people talk about the hardest position in football they bring up other positions such as quarterback because of the amount of leadership they have to take and also cornerback because they have to have a clean play for every play and guard multiple receivers.

Running backs are starting to become another position that is hard because of how much they are underused and the amount of faith a team can have for their running back. If teams believe they can succeed with any running back because of a good offensive scheme as well as a good offensive line then they would not invest in their running backs and pay them a lot in the long run.

There are also quarterbacks in the league right now that are very mobile and can make a lot of plays and moves that running backs can, such as Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Justin Fields, etc. They make running back type plays almost every week. This hurts the running backs because it means that teams with mobile quarterback will run with their QB’s more than their running backs.

When talking about money running backs do not make as much as other positions. Christian McCaffrey is the highest paid running back and makes $17.2 million average per year which is not a lot compared to other positions highest paid players such as Lamar who makes $52 million, T.J. Watt $30.5 million, and Cooper Kupp who makes $26.7 million.

Running backs such as Saquon Barkley sometime have tough times trying to negotiate contracts that benefit them because they want to prove that they are an important asset to the team and they work hard and deserve a lot more than what they are given.