Why is the running back position so undervalued recently?

[Coogiguy03]

Seems they're getting no love these days, yet teams are supposed to be balanced on offense! I get that they don't have a long shelf life, and that the money they're asking for is outrageous for a position that is no longer valued.

Please give your thoughts. I know we need runners in this game, but once they get up in age, teams have to ask those tough questions!

 

[JayFord]

Running backs shelf life is about 5 or 6 years

plus the passing game has taken over the nfl and qbs demand larger amounts of money, also the drop off from RBs is just like CBs theres no going from elite to good to average to poor

you go from elite to poor because of the wear and tear on your body

and before anyone brings up Elliotts contract they werent going to give it to him, Garrett had to force it because it was Garretts final year and he was the focus of the offense and Garrett felt it was only fair to have him

 

[glimmerman]

I think they just placed the franchise tag on Pollard. We should hear it soon.

 

[Carson]

Titans are shopping Henry as we speak.

It’s similar to guard and safety. You can get by with lesser cheaper talent than the big positions like LT, DE, CB

 

[SwagSurfer]

durability

 

[Tussinman]

Hasn't been a good track record of 2nd contract running backs in a long time (era of Adrian Peterson Frank Gore lesean McCoy was the last era of good 2nd deals for RBs).

Lots of depth at the position too, solid guys 90% as good in rounds 3 and 4

 

[T-RO]

Passing game gets you 6-8 yards a play. No running game can compete with that.

Also it's believed that most of the success in the running game comes down to the quality of the offensive line.

There are a few ways a running back gets special value:
-Is he a good receiver?
-Is he ultra, ultra special runner like Bijan (there are usually only 2 or 3 RBs in league who are truly unique runners)

 

[fivetwos]

Reasons 1-50 are the rule changes that promote passing and scoring and fantasy football.

#51 would have to be the dog year aging due to the abuse they endure.

They collide with another player on nearly every snap….and not line play type of collisions, head of steam hits. Often.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Fungibility is the main factor. Replacement-level free agents and late rounders routinely produce similar or better stats than high draft picks.

 

[jwitten82]

Titans are shopping Henry as we speak.

It’s similar to guard and safety. You can get by with lesser cheaper talent than the big positions like LT, DE, CB

That says a lot, the Titans are willing to part ways with a RB that just got 1500 yards, 4.4 ypc, and 13 tds. Yet Dallas puts the franchise tag on a RB that barely got over 1000 yards, and thinking of bringing the other RB back on this team after he had 800 yards and 3.8 ypc. Absolute joke this FO is

 

[JonesBoys]

Because of the passing game and the rules. Also running backs can be found in every draft in every round that are productive. Most don't last past 5 years now. The days of Emmitt, Sanders, Peterson ect. are long gone.

 

[Bobhaze]

Seems they're getting no love these days, yet teams are supposed to be balanced on offense! I get that they don't have a long shelf life, and that the money they're asking for is outrageous for a position that is no longer valued.

Please give your thoughts. I know we need runners in this game, but once they get up in age, teams have to ask those tough questions!

Several reasons:

• RBs are a poor return on investment. In the cap era, (as has already been mentioned) RBs are not a good investment with an early first round pick because taking a great LT for example means you could have that guy anchor your line for 12 years. An early pick RB, you’re lucky to get 6 good years. In this cap era, having value is critical in early round draft picks and RBs can’t give you that.
• The game has evolved- having a “bell cow” type back like Emmitt Smith or Walter Payton that has 20-25 carries a game is a bygone era. In today’s game, having 2-3 decent RBs who don‘t cost a ton and can share the load “by committee” makes more sense when cap dollars are stretched.

Tony Pollard is a good example of getting good RB value- he was a 4th round pick. We can find really good RBs that can help immediately in rounds 2-6.

 

[noshame]

Replaced with short pass

 

[Jake]

Undervalued everywhere but Dallas.

Obviously, they have to do something with Zeke.

 

[Coogiguy03]

That says a lot, the Titans are willing to part ways with a RB that just got 1500 yards, 4.4 ypc, and 13 tds. Yet Dallas puts the franchise tag on a RB that barely got over 1000 yards, and thinking of bringing the other RB back on this team after he had 800 yards and 3.8 ypc. Absolute joke this FO is

Preach!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

Undervalued everywhere but Dallas.

Obviously, they have to do something with Zeke.

But will they

 

[Coogiguy03]

Several reasons:

• RBs are a poor return on investment. In the cap era, (as has already been mentioned) RBs are not a good investment with an early first round pick because taking a great LT for example means you could have that guy anchor your line for 12 years. An early pick RB, you’re lucky to get 6 good years. In this cap era, having value is critical in early round draft picks and RBs can’t give you that.
• The game has evolved- having a “bell cow” type back like Emmitt Smith or Walter Payton that has 20-25 carries a game is a bygone era. In today’s game, having 2-3 decent RBs who don‘t cost a ton and can share the load “by committee” makes more sense when cap dollars are stretched.

Tony Pollard is a good example of getting good RB value- he was a 4th round pick. We can find really good RBs that can help immediately in rounds 2-6.

Totally agree, but still why do they mention we need balance

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

A strong Oline can make a star out of an average RB, and you need a strong Oline for the passing game anyway. Allocating resources to the RB position is completely unnecessary unless it’s an offensive identity thing like Christian Mccaffrey’s versatility in SF or Tennessee’s entire offense in Derrick Henry.

There is a possibility that Tony Pollard isn’t nearly as effective outside Dallas, and you could bring in another quality player who could get close to replicating TP’s production for pennies on the dollar.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

The difference between the great running backs and the very good running backs isn't that large, and great running backs that last 10 years or so is pretty small.

Teams can get by with lesser running backs a lot easier than they can with lesser receivers.

E.g., the Chiefs just won the SB with a rookie 6th round running back....

 

[RonnieT24]

Look no further than the continued rule changes that favor the passing game. You cannot breath on most QBs, offensive lines can hold with impunity, wide receivers must be allowed to catch the ball and then be gently escorted to the ground. The fantasy football instant gratification generation wants offense, offense, offense so the league is slowly making it illegal to play defense. The average running play gets 4 yards. The average pass play nets more like 7 or 8 yards. In a vacuum it's always going to seem like passing is the way to go. All you have to do is ignore all the strategic aspects of the game and just play it like Madden.