Ranking Every Running Back Room In The NFC North
While now heavily contested, the NFC North has been dominated by the Packers for decades. The Lions now seem like the favorites to take home the crown this year, but the Packers and Vikings still aspire to take them down. However, they'll need stellar play out of the backfield to spark their offenses. So, who has the best play of their running backs going into the 2024 season?
4) Minnesota Vikings
After a disappointing year from Alexander Mattison, longtime backup to Dalvin Cook, who was expected to thrive but failed, the Vikings need a solution. Minnesota thinks the solution is the former Packer, Aaron Jones. Jones is an incredibly versatile running back who also brings a firm receiving back skillset to the table that will help their rookie quarterback, JJ McCarthy. Outside of Jones, however, it is primarily Ty Chandler from UNC. Aaron Jones is fine, but the Vikings are last due to a lack of depth.
3) Chicago Bears
Chicago fans rejoice; you aren't last! While it seemed clear that Aaron Jones is a better running back than free agency signing D'Andre Swift, the depth of Chicago's running back room brings them to number three. The Bears depth chart also features Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Herbert is a veteran backup who brings a quick burst of speed whenever needed, and Johnson is a young back who showed flashes of potential last year as a rookie. The Bears' excellent running back depth will help rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
2) Green Bay Packers
It seemed as if Green Bay had the best running back duo in the NFL for about 15 minutes during free agency when they had both Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones. Despite Jones eventually leaving for Minnesota, the Alabama product brings toughness to a running back room that already featured one of the best backups in the NFL, AJ Dillon. Jacobs was injured a good amount last season, missing four games and having an overall down year, but just a year ago, he led the NFL in rushing yards and boasted 12 touchdowns alongside it. Jacobs and the Packers are still a real threat.
1) Detroit Lions
Who are the Packers a threat to? Well, that would be the Detroit Lions. While upsetting to many fantasy football managers, that running back pairing of David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs took the NFL by storm last season. The pair nearly combined for 2000 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns, alongside nearly 500 more yards in the air. Given that standout offensive lineman Penei Sewell got a massive payday during the off-season, this duo will unlikely be going anywhere. If this duo keeps producing, they won't budge from that number-one spot.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS:
Order your favorite whiskey or spirit for the big game right to your doorstep and use code STADIUMRANT10 for a 10% discount at Caskers
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice and Performix.
If you love to shotgun beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!