AFC North Top 5: Running Backs
Dec 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell (26) celebrates a first down against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Previously, the Baltimore Wire did a breakdown of the top five quarterbacks in the division. In the second installment of the AFC North Top 5 series, we’ll take a look at the running back position. Every slot on this list is up for debate, with the exception of the top spot.
Every back on this list has at least proven that they are reliable options for their respective teams. Once again, this projection for the 2015 season is based on past performance and predicted progress. Here are the top 5 ball carriers in the AFC North for 2015.
5. Isaiah Crowell, Browns
The Cleveland Browns backfield was pretty crowded a season ago with Crowell, Terrance West, and Ben Tate all competing for carries. Tate is now gone, but the Browns decided to throw another hat in the ring, drafting Duke Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft.
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Cleveland will likely use the running back by committee approach again and give the ball to whoever is playing well at the time. Crowell appears to have the edge on West right now, but Johnson is reportedly having a great camp. Crowell showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, rushing for 607 yards and eight touchdowns while splitting carries.
4. Justin Forsett, Ravens
Jan 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the third quarter during the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Forsett is coming off of a breakout season where he ran for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns, earning his first-ever Pro Bowl selection.
Forsett could probably be higher on this list if he wasn’t going on 30 years old. He is likely to put up similar numbers as last season, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll eclipse those numbers. Forsett doesn’t necessarily ‘wow’ you, but he’s good enough to get the job done. He’s an all-around solid back. He sees the field well, is a strong blocker, and can make plays catching the ball as well.
3. Giovani Bernard, Bengals
Gio Bernard is a major reason why the Bengals boast one of the best backfields in the NFL. The third-year back out of North Carolina is one of the premier playmakers on that Bengals roster. Besides A.J. Green, he might be that guy.
In his first two seasons in Cincinnati, Bernard carried the ball 338 times for 1,375 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also caught 99 passes for 863 yards and five touchdowns. He is such a dynamic player who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Bernard is a guy all defenses need to pay attention to because he’s Andy Dalton’s security blanket on check-downs and such.
2. Jeremy Hill, Bengals
Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Hill is a player who’s definitely on the rise. He really broke onto the scene in his rookie campaign. The LSU-product rushed for over 1,000 yards and reached the end zone nine times. He’s a big reason why the Bengals made the playoffs last year.
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Hill is looking to take the league by storm in 2015. Hill is a downhill runner who isn’t afraid of contact but he’s also versatile enough to make defenders miss in the open field. He’s built to handle the workload of an every-down back. He and Bernard each bring something different to the Bengals offense, making them extremely dangerous.
1. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
Bell is a no-brainer here at No. 1. After a spectacular 2014 season, he’s on his way to being dubbed as the best running back in the NFL, if he isn’t already. Bell terrorized opposing defenses all season long, finishing with 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, to go with 854 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Bell provides the perfect combination of power and explosiveness. Although he’s a bigger back, he possesses the speed to breakaway from defenders in open field. Bell is also an elite red-zone option for Pittsburgh.