Running backs have been in the news this week, both old and young. The Panthers released Jonathan Stewart, and the Colts said they'll be moving on from Frank Gore. And then yesterday Washington VP of Player Personnel Doug Williams said the team needs to upgrade at running back. Indeed.
The various backs being referenced (Stewart, Gore and Washington's leading rusher a year ago, rookie Samaje Perine) weren't just some of the most ineffective backs last season; they were among the most ineffective ballcarriers in recent years.
Over the last three seasons, 109 different running backs have rushed for at least 500 yards. Only three of those backs rushed a for lower yards per carry than Stewart or Perine (3.4). Only 13 other backs were over those three seasons were worse than Gore (3.7).
It's not all on the back, since offensive line has something to do with it. But tough to imagine anyone looking at Stewart or Gore for 2018 with a lot of enthusiasm. And Perine won't be handed the starting job this season, either.
| RUNNING BACK YARDS PER ATTEMPT, 2015-2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| 2016 | Mike Gillislee, Buff. | 101 | 577 | 5.7 | 8 |
| 2015 | Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 147 | 830 | 5.7 | 4 |
| 2015 | Karlos Williams, Buff. | 93 | 517 | 5.6 | 7 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 131 | 722 | 5.5 | 3 |
| 2016 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 234 | 1267 | 5.4 | 13 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 252 | 1313 | 5.2 | 6 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 322 | 1631 | 5.1 | 15 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 205 | 1043 | 5.1 | 6 |
| 2015 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 107 | 539 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 2017 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 2015 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 107 | 529 | 4.9 | 0 |
| 2015 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 113 | 556 | 4.9 | 3 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1,327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1,124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 261 | 1272 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 261 | 1268 | 4.9 | 7 |
| 2015 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 288 | 1402 | 4.9 | 6 |
| 2015 | Todd Gurley, St.L. | 229 | 1106 | 4.8 | 10 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| 2017 | Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 1 |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 227 | 1079 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 198 | 952 | 4.8 | 7 |
| 2015 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 154 | 730 | 4.7 | 2 |
| 2015 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 152 | 720 | 4.7 | 5 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1,305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2015 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 125 | 581 | 4.7 | 8 |
| 2015 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 166 | 769 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2016 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 217 | 988 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2015 | Darren McFadden, Dall. | 239 | 1089 | 4.6 | 3 |
| 2015 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 327 | 1485 | 4.5 | 11 |
| 2015 | DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 200 | 907 | 4.5 | 11 |
| 2015 | Lamar Miller, Mia. | 194 | 872 | 4.5 | 8 |
| 2015 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 195 | 863 | 4.4 | 3 |
| 2015 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 203 | 895 | 4.4 | 3 |
| 2017 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| 2017 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| 2016 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 293 | 1287 | 4.4 | 9 |
| 2016 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 118 | 520 | 4.4 | 8 |
| 2015 | Chris Ivory, NYJ | 247 | 1070 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 2017 | Marshawn Lynch. Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 2017 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| 2016 | Spencer Ware, K.C. | 214 | 921 | 4.3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 155 | 661 | 4.3 | 8 |
| 2016 | Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 129 | 560 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2015 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 165 | 703 | 4.3 | 6 |
| 2015 | Justin Forsett, Balt. | 151 | 641 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2017 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 293 | 1239 | 4.2 | 16 |
| 2016 | Robert Kelley, Wash. | 168 | 704 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2015 | Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 207 | 863 | 4.2 | 7 |
| 2015 | Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 143 | 597 | 4.2 | 2 |
| 2015 | Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 196 | 814 | 4.2 | 3 |
| 2015 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 218 | 898 | 4.1 | 4 |
| 2017 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1,122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1,007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| 2017 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2016 | Tim Hightower, N.O. | 133 | 548 | 4.1 | 4 |
| 2015 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 242 | 989 | 4.1 | 6 |
| 2015 | T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 182 | 740 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2015 | James Starks, G.B. | 148 | 601 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2015 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 187 | 758 | 4.1 | 3 |
| 2015 | Latavius Murray, Oak. | 266 | 1066 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1,291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 2017 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1,138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2017 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2016 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 268 | 1073 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2016 | Latavius Murray, Oak. | 195 | 788 | 4.0 | 12 |
| 2016 | Terrance West, Balt. | 193 | 774 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2015 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 265 | 1056 | 4.0 | 11 |
| 2015 | Charcandrick West, K.C. | 160 | 634 | 4.0 | 4 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1,105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1,040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 299 | 1161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 2016 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 263 | 1025 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 10 |
| 2016 | Christine Michael, 2TM | 148 | 583 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2015 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 185 | 706 | 3.8 | 4 |
| 2015 | Alfred Blue, Hou. | 183 | 698 | 3.8 | 2 |
| 2017 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 222 | 839 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2016 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 218 | 824 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2015 | Javorius Allen, Balt. | 137 | 514 | 3.8 | 1 |
| 2015 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 260 | 967 | 3.7 | 6 |
| 2015 | Alfred Morris, Wash. | 202 | 751 | 3.7 | 1 |
| 2017 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2016 | Matt Forte, NYJ | 218 | 813 | 3.7 | 7 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2015 | DeMarco Murray, Phil. | 193 | 702 | 3.6 | 6 |
| 2015 | Antonio Andrews, Tenn. | 143 | 520 | 3.6 | 3 |
| 2015 | Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 148 | 537 | 3.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| 2015 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 223 | 794 | 3.6 | 11 |
| 2017 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2016 | Devontae Booker, Den. | 174 | 612 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2015 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 184 | 641 | 3.5 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 159 | 539 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 6 |
| 2017 | Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 1 |
| 2017 | Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 4 |
| 2016 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 181 | 593 | 3.3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Todd Gurley, L.A. | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 |
Another interesting name at the bottom of the list from last year is Ameer Abdullah. The Lions recently expressed some degree of confidence in him, but his performance doesn't really bear that out.
On the other hand, the absolute worst performer in this area over the last three seasons was Todd Gurley, and he comes off winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. So maybe there is still hope for recent underachievers to bounce back (but those guys aren't Gurley).
--Andy Richardson