As we approach the quarter-way mark of the 2014 NFL season, several players and patterns have emerged in these early days. NFL A.M.’s panel this morning focused on the running back position to discuss which players at the position were the best in the league right now. The “right now” qualifier is especially important for the purposes of this article, as many of the usual suspects enter the discussion based on their history and not necessarily on their current production.

In this era of 5,000-plus yard passers, there has been a perception that the running back position has lost its glamor in the league. The traditional preference of using the run to set up the pass has been turned on its head, with teams tipping the pass:run ratio in favor of aerial attacks. Around the league, the approach of having a feature back also seems to have given way to adopting a running back by committee.

With all that being said, running backs are in no danger of becoming dinosaurs. There are still feature backs around the league, and these players are rightly considered elite NFL talents. For the purposes of this article in answering the question posed, the following criteria will be used:

1. The following major running categories will be considered: yardage, yards per game, and yards per carry. Touchdowns scored will also be a consideration.

2. With the advent of dual-threat running backs, a back’s pass-catching ability also has to be taken into consideration, though not at the expense of focusing on an RB’s running ability.

3. Consistency across the statistical categories is important, especially considering that a back’s lifespan in the league is among the most limited.

So who are the best running backs in the NFL right now?

In no particular order save for the final candidate, consider the following:

(AP Photo/Scott Kane)

DeMarco Murray (Dallas Cowboys)

PROS: Last season was Murray’s breakthrough, averaging 10 yards more per game (YPG), gaining over a yard more per carry (YPC), and more than doubling his rushing touchdown total from 2012. Behind a retooled Dallas offensive line, he is averaging 100-yards plus and 1 TD per game, putting him on pace for a 2,000-yard season and a career high in touchdowns. Though not typically seen as a pass-catching threat, Murray has capability in this area, averaging just under 7 yards per reception (YPR) for his career, and pushing closer to 8 this season.

CONS: Relatively plagued by injury through his first 3 seasons of his career, Murray has yet to play a full 16-game season. With his durability a concern, his current pace puts him close to a ridiculous 400-carry season. He has also been prone to fumbles already this season, averaging one per game and only 3 games in, has already set a career high for lost fumbles in a season.

VERDICT: A supreme running talent, but the loose hands count as a major strike against his case for the league’s best RB. Otherwise, he would be a shoo-in for the title.

 

Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs)

PROS: With a career mark of more than 5.5 YPC, Charles simply has to merit consideration in this discussion. A pass-catching average of 8.7 YPR elevates him to the level of one of the elite dual-threat backs in the league, and he entered 2014 on the heels of a career year in rushing TDs and in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.

CONS: Charles rebounded from a 2011 that was lost to an ACL tear to put up his career high in rushing yardage, but now faces recovery from a high ankle sprain. Both injuries typically signal the beginning of a decline for RBs, and that may be too much for even his powerful 5′ 11″, 199 lbs. frame to overcome, especially in his 7th year at the position.

VERDICT: Currently sidelined, and with poor output thus far this season, Charles’ candidacy here is built more on reputation than form.

 

Marshawn Lynch (Seattle Seahawks)

PROS: “Punishing” is the word best described when talking about Lynch’s running style. There is no more physical back in the league than him, and once he  he makes it past defensive lines into linebacker territory, has remained productive in an offensive scheme asking a lot of him (300+ carries the last 2 seasons). Since 2011, he has also been a prolific scorer, with 35 TDs the last 3 seasons, and averaging one per game already this season.

CONS: If there are concerns about Charles after 7 seasons, then Lynch in his 9th season also raises concern in the same area. Additionally, while his physical style of running is a great credit to his game, it is also a factor that could lead to his decline coming sooner rather than later. Quite remarkably, he has only been hit with one long-term injury, and that was back in 2010.

VERDICT: Easily the most physical back in the league right now, but his greatest strength might also be ultimately what undoes him.

 

Giovani Bernard (Cincinnati Bengals)

PROS: Bernard is simply one of the most electrifying players in the league right now. After racking up more than 1,200 yards of total offense last season, he is currently on pace to significantly pass that number this year and come closer to 1,600 yards. His elusiveness allows him to slalom through gaps in lines, and he has an explosive step to accelerate past defenders after the initial move. In the open field, Bernard is practically unstoppable.

CONS: As a dual-threat back, Bernard has few peers. However, purely as a running back, his YPC needs to come up if he is to become a true feature back. At this early point of his career, the jury is still out on whether he can handle  those duties.

VERDICT: A low YPC and emergence of rookie Jeremy Hill in a 2:1 time split in the backfield count against Bernard in the ground game.

 

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles)

PROS: Still only 26, 2013 was a career year for McCoy, with an eye-popping yardage total of well over 2,100 yards and over 1,600 on the ground, averaging right at 100 YPG. With a big physical frame, McCoy’s game is based on the rare combination of power and speed, both of which ensure that his name is mentioned among not just elite RBs in the league, but as one of the top players in the league, period.

CONS: By his own standards, McCoy is off to a sputtering start this season, averaging below 3 YPC. On top of that, he also took a helmet-to-helmet hit in week 3, though he was cleared to return. Chip Kelly’s uptempo offense provides him with plenty of opportunities for game-breaking plays, but also creates a demanding physical toll.

VERDICT: Work already needs to be done to rebound from a slow start to 2014, but if he can do so, McCoy will easily top the list for consideration.

 

Matt Forte (Chicago Bears)

PROS: Forte benefited from Marc Trestman’s new offensive scheme last season, and finished with over 1,900 yards of total offense. Perhaps the most important development for his game was emerging as a true feature back after having spent most of his career with Michael Bush spelling him. A physical specimen at 6′ 2″, 218 lbs., he has a combination of power and speed similar to McCoy.

CONS: The matchups have been far less than favorable for Forte thus far this season, and he has struggled to perform against top-level run defenses. This is an area where he has faced struggles in prior seasons, and will need to show more to convince Chicago to tip the pass:run ratio more in his favor.

VERDICT: Flirting with consideration as one of the best backs in the league, this season presents Forte a unique opportunity to move into the top level.

 

Every one of the running backs named above deserve to be on everyone’s shortlist in discussing the best RBs in the league right now. The decision takes into account many factors, and the “right now” qualifier makes form a chief consideration. The knocks against Murray, Charles, Lynch, Bernard, McCoy, and Forte are not insignificant in the sense that neither can truly make a claim to be 2014’s best RB without addressing those concerns. There is also an honorable mention group that includes several RBs just below this tier, and that group comprises of:

Eddie Lacy (Green Bay Packers) – not doing enough to justify the hype, which may have been a bit overwhelming anyway, given that he alone was supposedly going to be responsible for the Packers moving from its pass-first philosophy.

Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins) – burst onto the scene in 2012, but went through a statistical slump in 2013. Needs to improve on YPC and TDs, especially.

Andre Ellington (Arizona Cardinals) – the final RB who is “almost there”. The fact that he is playing with an injured foot that could rule him out for an extended period at any point hampers his prospects for consideration here.

And thus, after thoughtful consideration, the title of best running back in the NFL right now has to go to……..

Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers)

PROS: Tackling Bell is no easy proposition, as his frame is a stout 225 lbs, and this after losing almost 20 lbs in the offseason at the urging of coaches to improve his burst of speed at the line of scrimmage. After a fairly impressive rookie season in 2013, Bell looks to have come back even stronger in a bid to avoid a sophomore slump. Things appear to be on the right track, with 2 100-yard games already, including a performance on the national stage during the Sunday Night game against the Carolina Panthers in week 3, where he shredded their much-vaunted front seven to the tune of 21 carries for 147 yards.

CONS: At this point, this season, there are no real cons to be pointed out in Bell’s game, though it is worth noting that Bell could use some consistency (the 100-yard games sandwich a rather average 59-game in week 2, though to be fair, that was a Thursday game played on short rest and he had a strong 5.4 YPC in that game) and will need to avoid further off-field issues after an intoxication charge in the offseason.

VERDICT: There should be few doubts about this one for now. The Steelers’ schedule presents very favorable matchups for Bell to continue to impress through their bye week in week 12. Looking even further ahead, two divisional matchups come up in December against archrivals Cincinnati, which has been quietly one of the better defenses in the league so far this season but have also been vulnerable against the run. The stage could be set for Bell by then to truly shine.

(Featured image: mmqb.si.com)