With the NFL 2018 season only a few months away, here are the top 20 running backs with the best chance of crossing the 2,000-yard rushing mark next year.
As football fans continue to wait for the start of the NFL 2018 season since training camp will be here before they know it, one interesting topic of discussion to help pass the time is which running backs have the best chance of crossing the 2,000-yard rushing mark. Even though there have only been seven players in NFL history to hit the milestone, there always seems to be a handful of candidates at the beginning of each new season capable of breaking the mark for the first time since 2012 (Adrian Peterson).
For example, Ezekiel Elliott has wasted little time proving himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous running backs by looking like a workhorse on a weekly basis. After exploding on to the NFL scene as a rookie in 2016, the former Ohio State star took a bit of a step back last season, although the main reason was due to all of the drama surrounding his suspension that seemed to be changing constantly.
This time around, Elliott will enter his third NFL season with a huge weight lifted off his shoulders since there will be no concern for the Dallas Cowboys over whether their star running back will miss time away from the field due to a suspension. Plus, with Dez Bryant no longer part of the picture, the Cowboys may end up relying on Elliott even more to be productive, both as a running back and receiver.
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Of course, Elliott won’t be the only running back with a legitimate chance to potentially make a case to become the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Kicking off with a rookie that will be considered a long shot, let’s take a look at the top 20 running backs with the best chance of breaking the mark during the 2018 season.