Ranking Every Running Back Room In The AFC West
In recent memory, the AFC West had been dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs to pretty much no avail. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have sent the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders into pure fear.
To change this and challenge Kansas City would be a monumental task for any of the teams trying to dethrone the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. But it can be done with the help of a solid running game. But if it can be done with a strong running game, which of these four teams has the best running back room?
4) Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders had plenty of holes to fill going into the offseason, and losing veteran Josh Jacobs during free agency didn't help. The Alabama product was dominant in Vegas, leading the league in rushing two years ago. This massive void is left to be filled by his backup from last year, Zamir White, and free agency signing Alexander Mattison.
White has shown flashes of great potential but never got to truly show his capabilities, with Jacobs leading the way. Now, this ranking might change if he proves to be good for Vegas, but until White proves he is elite, they are dead last.
3) Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers' top two running backs are both newcomers, and they are an exciting bunch. LA brought in Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins from the Ravens. Edwards is a power back who cleaned up on the goal line for Baltimore, while Dobbins was a second-round pick by Baltimore in 2020 who was seen as an elite receiving back.
Unfortunately for Dobbins, he has been severely hurt and has never even played a majority of a season. While this duo is more talented than that of Vegas, Edwards and Dobbins aren't exactly proven starters who can dominate a defense.
2) Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos shook it up this off-season by drafting Bo Nix and signing Zach Wilson at quarterback but did not address the running back. The Broncos seem to believe that Javonte Williams is their guy at the running back position. Last season, Williams struggled while averaging only 3.6 yards per carry on nearly 14 rushes per game.
While Williams did also gain 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns receiving-wise, Denver is going to need him to step up with as lackluster of a passing game as they will have this season. Williams has shown his explosiveness and toughness before his injury, and it just begs the question of whether it can return.
1) Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs don't seem to lose in any capacity. Isaiah Pacheco is one of the league's best receiving backs, and despite a slender frame, he runs just as hard as anyone in the NFL. While Clyde Edwards-Helaire was supposed to be the answer at running back for Kansas City, CEH has developed into a solid change of pace back that sometimes subs in for Pacheco.
Both Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire have proven an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make plays, which is precisely what Mahomes and the Chiefs need from them. As long as they stay healthy and keep doing that, the Chiefs won't be threatened anytime soon.
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