Has the Running Back Position Devalued Too Much?

There is a well acknowledged trend in the N.F.L. draft. The running back position doesn’t hold value in the first round, but based on the way free agency has gone this year the running back position has been completely devalued. Even running back needy teams are being nonchalant in their approach to free agency and the running back position.

The free agency running back class wasn’t great, but it was filled with a bunch of guys who can help a team immediately. Players like Peyton Hillis (a one year 2.5 million dollar deal), Mike Tolbert, Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Smith, Justin Forsett, and Michael Bush haven’t attracted much interest. Tolbert has gotten the most attention, but hasn’t signed on anywhere. I haven’t heard of any team visits for Green-Ellis despite being the definition of reliable ball carrier. Ellis never fumbles the football and picks up short yardage frequently. An epidemic in the national football league. Cedric Benson has three straight 1,000+ yard seasons, but hasn’t gotten a sniff.

If the Patriots think Green-Ellis is easily replaced-they are wrong. No other running back in the league is that reliable and while last year’s picks Shane Vareen and Steven Ridlay are more exciting players they will probably lose a big fumble or two next year that cost the Patriots games. Likewise some team is going to get a steal whenever Mike Tolbert signs.

Peyton Hill is talented, but he had to take a one year show me deal to get onto a roster. There was a time where the running back ruled the league, won the M.V.P awards and made the big dollars. Now playing running back might be the least glamorous position in the National Football League. Sure they are still valuable in fantasy football, but on the field they are under-appreciated. And it’s going to cost some team.

Last year the Chargers thought Darren Sproles was easily replaceable-he only signed with the Saints for four years and 14 million dollars (with only 6 million guaranteed).

Only the elite get paid. Chris Johnson and Arian Foster have been rewarded the past two years, but other than that the market has been bare-bones.

It seems teams have forgotten that sometimes a good running back can make an offensive line look good as oppose to vice versa. Teams know believe that if they lose a good running back he can be easily and cost effectively replaced in the draft. Meanwhile the Wide receivers, even ones with mediocre track records are cashing in big time. I’m of the belief that the quarterback makes the WR much more often than the Wide receiver makes the quarterback.

This is truly a pass-first league, which we all recognize, but lost in the shuffle is that running backs can still make a difference and aren’t always so easily replaceable as they may seem.

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