NFL Running Back Rankings for 2021: Derrick Henry stiff-arms competition

24. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers

In terms of overall talent, Raheem Mostert should be much higher than this. Unfortunately, the San Francisco 49ers’ starting running back comes with some durability concerns. He missed five games in 2017, seven in 2018, and eight in 2020. He did play every game in 2019, which was when he had 772 yards and eight touchdowns while running eight touchdowns.

Mostert is a player who can break off the long runs and has the speed to change the game. If he could stay healthy, he could climb the board but for now, he’s a guy who can be exciting but the Niners hold their breath every time he’s tackled.

23. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another player who might not be guaranteed to keep his starting role in 2021 is Ronald Jones of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s not due to anything he’s done wrong, however, since he’s coming off his best season as a pro. The issue for him is the fact that Tampa Bay brought back Leonard Fournette, who was playing great as they went into the playoffs and won the title.

Still, Jones is the more explosive player of the two and did have 978 yards and seven touchdowns while starting 13 games. More importantly, he had 5.1 yards per catch and is a better receiver than Fournette.

In Tampa Bay’s offense, he might not ever get the carries that some other backs get but Jones is still a player who can hit the hole in a hurry and has long speed, evidenced by his career-high 98-yard touchdown run in Week 10 last year.