It feels like the mid-2000s again, a time when running backs dominated the offensive landscape. Between Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor and more, the running back position is as healthy as it’s been in 20 years. Nick Kostos and Trysta Krick debate which of the bunch is the ultimate RB1. Whos’ your pick?
#runningbacks #christianmccaffrey #bijanrobinson #jonathantaylor #49ers #falcons #colts
Who’s the best running back right now in the NFL? I feel like I still kind of have to say Christian McCaffrey. Even though running the ball, he hasn’t been as good in terms of yards per carry, but just for the receiving alone, you can put him out there as a receiver like even on deep routes and he’s right there as a sure-handed guy. I feel like still even at his long age and the injury in issues that he’s had, it’s still him. Who do you think Christian McCaffrey is an absolute beast? He’s top 10 in the NFL in receiving yards as a running back and just outside the top 10 in terms of rushing yards. What’s funny, neither of us are going to say Saquon Barkley here. I think the Eagles offensive line has fallen off. I don’t think Saquon’s fallen off, but until he starts putting up stats, you can’t say Saquon Barkley, even though he’s the best running back in the league last year, 44 yards in the win against the Vikings this past weekend. I don’t even think it’s close right now. I’m gonna say Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts who is just bulldozing through defenses. Once he gets to the second level, he’s off to the races. The favorite to win offensive player of the year keying an insane Indianapolis Colts offense. I love me some Bejon. I love McCaffrey. I think it’s Jonathan Taylor. But don’t you feel like you want a dual threat back in terms of like what the best dynamic back is? I mean, I’d like for Jonathan Taylor to catch passes the way Christian McAffrey does, but with what Taylor’s doing on the ground and what the Colts are able to do around him with like other players getting the ball, like the reason why McAffrey is getting so many receptions is because George KD was out. Iayuk hasn’t played this year. Pierall’s been in and out of the lineup, Jennings has been in and out of the lineup. My sense is once those guys get back, you won’t see McCaffrey catch the ball as much. And then I think it’s running back versus running back. And I’ll take Jonathan Taylor heads up at this stage in his career over Christian McCaffrey and Dejan Robinson. I think that’s fair, but also I think we cannot leave this conversation before we discuss Derk Henry. We cannot just leave him out altogether. The situation in Baltimore is terrible right now for him. The game scripts are terrible. The injuries on defense are terrible. There is no real receiver for Baltimore. They really have no other move other than Derek. So, I think for me, you kind of still have to say in terms of like what he can do with the same offensive line, I’d still take Derrick Henry over Jonathan Taylor. Well, this is No, because the problem with Derrick Henry and like you want a receiver that running back that can catch the ball like when they get down in games, he doesn’t play like here’s Justin Hill, here’s Eaton Mitchell. Like Derrick Henry at this point in his career is a onetrick pony. When you’re ahead in games, he’s awesome. He’s going to salt the game away when he’s not fumbling like he did early in the season. And for me, Trista, Dererick Henry is not even in this conversation right now, best running back in the league. You don’t think if you put Derrick Henry on the Indianapolis Colts offensive line that he would do just the same thing as Jonathan Taylor? Um, that’s a good question. Maybe the answer to that question is yes. Taylor’s a little younger. And I’m not saying Derrick Henry’s bad. He’s going to the Hall of Fame. But at this point right now, Taylor’s got the explosion that no other running back has, again, including Bejon Robinson. I think Jonathan Taylor number one with a bullet right now. Best running back. [Music]
