Watching a great running back operate is like watching an artist paint a masterpiece. It’s a beautiful sight.
However, the running back position has found itself to be the starving artist of the NFL.
The position is no longer valued the way it once was as supply seems to outweigh demand and the position is largely viewed as replaceable. Having a great running back is not a prerequisite of a winning football team. In fact, the last 6 Super Bowl Champions have not had a 1000 yard running back. Only LeGarrette Blount and Marshawn Lynch have had 1000 yard seasons for a Super Bowl Champion in the last 10 years.
That’s the unfortunate reality of the running back landscape in today’s NFL.
No matter how much appreciation I have for the artistry of a great running back…very smart people will tell you time and again that you don’t pay running backs.
This can be frustrating for a fan when you have a great player like Josh Jacobs. Not only is he one of the very best in the league at his position but he’s also likable and a fan favorite. However, if you want the organization to make smart team building decisions…making a long term investment in a running back is not the direction they should go.