Packers: NFC North running back power rankings for 2020
Who is the best running back in the NFC North?
The NFC North has placed an emphasis on running the football.
Both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions added running backs in the opening two rounds of April’s draft.
But who is the best running back in the division? Here are the top five:
5. Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
Kerryon Johnson needs to stay healthy. When he’s on the field, he’s shown he’s a talented running back.
After averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his rookie season, Johnson’s average dropped to 3.6 yards per attempt in 2019. He also missed half the year due to injury. But when healthy, he’s a running back talented enough to lead the backfield.
4. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
It wasn’t the rookie season that Bears fans hoped to see from David Montgomery. He only hit 100 yards rushing in a game on two occasions and finished the year with 889 yards and six touchdowns. Still, that’s not bad for year number one and he got stronger as the season went on.
Expect to see more from the Bears’ second-year running back in 2020.
3. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet, but he can help take the Lions’ rushing attack to the next level. Swift had 1,434 yards from scrimmage with eight touchdowns at Georgia last season.
He can pick up yards between the tackles and he can catch passes. Swift is going to be a great addition to Detroit’s offense.
2. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones is coming off a breakout season. He finished 2019 with 1,084 yards and an NFL-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. He also added 474 receiving yards with three more touchdowns, then found the end zone four more times in the postseason.
Explosive, hard to tackle, and unstoppable in the open field, Jones has joined the top-tier of running backs in the NFL.
1. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings made Dalvin Cook the focus of their offense and it paid off in a big way. In 14 games last season, Cook rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding another 519 receiving yards. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection as a result.
The Vikings want to run the football and Cook is perfectly suited for the featured role in their offense. He’s yet to complete a 16-game season, which is the biggest concern. But when Cook is healthy, he’s unstoppable.