Danno

Who are the hardest -- and easiest -- running backs to bring down?

Five best

Thomas Rawls: One of the reasons that Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes Rawls so much is that his style is similar to Lynch's. Rawls doesn't believe in running out of bounds, and last year he led the NFL in averaging 2.68 yards after contact. The question with Rawls is not ability but health. He suffered a fractured ankle with ligament damage in December and has not been participating in OTAs. If healthy, Rawls figures to be the bell cow for the Seahawks' run-first offense.
Thomas Rawls' style is similar to Marshawn Lynch's and should make Rawls the workhorse of the Seahawks' run-first offense, if he stays healthy.

Carlos Hyde: The issue for Hyde last year was not his ability to break tackles. He rarely had space to maneuver. Hyde averaged 2.30 yards after contact last season, which ranked second. But he averaged just 1.78 yards before contact, which ranked 45th. In other words, when Hyde was gaining yards, he was often doing it on his own. He's in line for a big workload in new San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly's run-heavy offense, but Hyde has missed 11 games because of injury in his first two seasons and will have to prove he can stay healthy.

Mark Ingram: He was having a strong 2015 campaign before suffering a shoulder injury in December. Ingram averaged 2.27 yards after contact and 4.63 YPC last season. He was a factor in the passing game, too, catching a career-high 50 balls. Even though it seems that Ingram has been around forever, he is only 26 and is in line to be the New Orleans Saints' starter in 2016.

C.J. Anderson: It appeared for a moment that he would be headed to Miami this offseason, but Anderson is back with the Denver Broncos; he averaged 2.22 yards after contact and 4.74 YPC last season. He got off to a slow start, but the Broncos are counting on Anderson to be the guy who heated up in the second half of last season. From Week 7 on, he averaged a league-best 6.35 YPC and 2.78 yards after contact (third).

David Johnson: With 1,038 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns as a rookie, Johnson has fantasy owners salivating about his potential in 2016. He showed the ability to break tackles (2.22 yards after contact) and to be explosive as a receiver (12.7 yards per reception was tops among running backs). The only question with Johnson is touches, as Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians will have to figure out how to divide the workload between Johnson, Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington.

Who are the hardest -- and easiest -- running backs to bring down? - NFL Nation- ESPN

ChrisXVI

Ever since that blowout of the Cowboys in 2013 Ingram has been on fire. I'm praying that he can finish the season this year because he's on the verge of being one of the best in the league.

dizzle88

I'm surprised that Ingram is only 26, he should have plenty of good years ahead.

CheramieIII

Ingram has slowly built himself into a very good NFL running back. I apologize for thinking he was suspect after his first season.

jnormand

Hell yeah!

hagan714

bit of a surprise, some what, just needs to shake that injury bug

neugey

How is Adrian Peterson not on this list?

dizzle88

In my opinion even if it is a little irrelevant, anyone charged with child abuse shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL.

halloween 65

Ingram has come along nicely. I don't think he was an impact player like Reggie Bush( mismatch from he!!) but he's more of a blue collar back that now catches pretty decent out of the backfield. I'm hoping he gets 1200 yards on the ground and 600+ recieving. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a single back set, I think it would be a good fit for him also.

st thomas

i really like the way ingram has become a better player year by year minus the injury prone down times, i've been on and off his band wagon,i still don't like the 3rd and inchs failures that helped to kill many a drives, but looking back at tape its not all his fault, the line has failed him to, being tripped in the backfield many times. still he has to lower his statue to propel the lick and not take it first. stands to upright on hitting holes that gets him off balanced and falls down. he has gotten better though, and he will give even better effort this season because the way hightower has proved himself a spot on this roster i believe, i'm pumped up for this offense if they can keep drew clean back there,

thats the fact jack!!!!!