There is some serious running back talent in the NFL this season. The position is as deep as it has been in a long time. Coming into the season, there was a clear top four on paper but Seahawks running back Chris Carson is starting to insert his name into the conversation.
Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, and Todd Gurley were thought to be in their own tier heading into this season. However, Carson has emerged as the top weapon on the Seattle Seahawks, which may have changed the conversation regarding the ranking of the running back position.
Carson has carried the ball 270 times for 1,190 and seven touchdowns. He has even gone over 100 yards six times this season. In Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, Carson turned in his best game of the season with 133 yards and two touchdowns. That level of impact for the Seahawks has caught the attention of many analysts.
The conversation of who the top running backs are in the league changes every season just like every other position. How the position was viewed before Week 1 is certainly not the way it is viewed after Week 15.
Where Does Carson Rank?
When ranking the active backs in the NFL, there is some shuffling at the top. Barkley has fallen off significantly from his rookie season. Whether it is because of injuries or his offensive line, he is not looking like the same player. Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams have had a roller-coaster season, too. In addition, Alvin Kamara has also been hurt throughout the season and the New Orleans Saints have lessened his workload.
Players such as Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb have emerged as elite backs in 2019. Cook is in a perfect situation in Minnesota and is looking like he could be one of the best runners in the league for years to come. McCaffrey and Elliott have remained at the top throughout the season. The question now for Carson is about whether he has done enough to crack the top five?
When ranking running backs, the list starts with McCaffrey. It continues with Elliott and Cook. After the top three, the list gets interesting. Carson might have what it takes to crack the top five, especially with players like David Johnson and Melvin Gordon taking a step back.
This is Carson's second straight season with 1,100 or more rushing yards for the Seahawks. He has 16 touchdowns since the start of the 2018 season. Carson has emerged as one of the top seven running backs in the league. Saying he is in the top five is not an insane claim. Carson has been a workhorse and is carrying the load for Seattle. Any critic would be hard-pressed to find many running backs better than the one in Seattle.
Follow Us
Subscribe