NFL Power Rankings 2020: Ranking every starting running back
By Samuel Teets
17. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler might be a surprising pick at this point, but the 5-10 back proved his worth last season. When Melvin Gordon held out early in the year, Ekeler stepped up for the Chargers. While his rushing numbers won’t blow anyone away, Ekeler is one of the best receiving backs in the entire NFL. Whoever wins the starting job in Los Angeles, whether it’s Justin Herbert or Tyrod Taylor, will reap the rewards of playing with such a talented back.
Ekeler entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent after playing for Western Colorado, an NCAA Division II program, in college. Ekeler is only one of four alumni from Western Colorado who appear in Pro Football Reference’s encyclopedia on the school, which details all of the program’s players who made it to the NFL.
According to Western Colorado’s official athletics site, Ekeler dominated during his 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Mountaineers. In 2015, he ran for 1,637 yards and 19 touchdowns in only ten games. One of his performances included 33 carries for 344 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 7.2 yards per attempt during the season.
As a senior, Ekeler put together another solid performance, generating 1,495 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. However, that wasn’t enough to get him drafted. Luckily for the Chargers, they scooped Ekeler up in 2017. After playing a minor role in the offense as a rookie, he produced 958 yards from scrimmage in 2018.
Ekeler’s growth played a significant role in the Chargers moving on from Gordon. This past season, Ekeler generated 557 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also caught 92 passes for 993 yards and eight touchdowns, giving him 1,550 yards from scrimmage on the year. Ekeler signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension with the Chargers this offseason.