Just about every team in the NFC West has built their offense around their run game. This is the bread and butter of most of their offenses. Here’s a ranking of the running back groups in the division:
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are the one team in the division that isn’t built around the run. They are a passing team and aren’t afraid to admit it. Their running backs are Andre Ellington, Stepfan Taylor, and rookie David Johnson. Johnson is completely unproven but the other two aren’t workhorse backs in the slightest bit. The Cardinals need to rely on their pass blocking more than most teams because it will be very difficult for them to establish the run and keep defenses’ pass rushes at bay and they also have a very immobile quarterback coming off his second major knee injury in Carson Palmer.
3. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have two very good young running backs. Second-year running back Tre Mason performed fairly well last season and runs very yard. Rookie Todd Gurley is going to be their featured back and receive a substantial portion of the carries. If Gurley can stay healthy, he’s likely going to end up being one of the top running backs in the league. This is going to benefit the Rams a great deal with their new quarterback, Nick Foles. He needs as much time as possible in the pocket and Mason and Gurley will keep defenses honest and set up the play action for Foles.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers lost their all-time franchise rushing leader Frank Gore. Losing a leader like Gore in the locker room is tough to replace but people saying they lost a lot of production on the field are overstating it just a bit. Towards the end of the season the 49ers were using Carlos Hyde much more and Hyde was having much more success. This season he’s going to be their featured back with Reggie Bush, Kendall Hunter, and rookie Mike Davis to come in situationally. All of these running backs serve a different purpose and, if used appropriately, will be a nightmare for defenses to stop.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have possibly the best running back in the league lining up in the backfield. Marshawn Lynch is the hardest running back in the league to bring down and I don’t suspect it’ll get any easier in the 2015 season. Backing up Lynch are Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. While these two running backs don’t get much attention because Lynch is such a workhorse for the Seahawks, but both backups might get more carries this season than they’re used to because Lynch is an aging back and that age is bound to catch up to him sooner or later. Turbin and Michael are both very capable running backs and would give the Seattle offense a facet they don’t typically have when Lynch is in the game.