Former All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch was renown for being a power back. So it should be no surprise that his ranking of the top five running backs in the NFL today is full of other power backs.
Appearing on the I Am Athlete podcast, Lynch revealed his list of the best running backs in the league today: Najee Harris, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb – in that order.
Those five running backs are all coming off terrific seasons and have all made the Pro Bowl at least once in the last two seasons.
There were some noticeable absences from the list though. Last year’s rushing leader Jonathan Taylor was absent, as were the dual-threat back Christian McCaffrey and leading touchdown scorer Austin Ekeler.
As you might imagine, fans have a wide range of objections to Lynch’s list and have their own suggestions on how to make it better:
The players on Marshawn Lynch’s list seem to have two interesting things in common: They’re most power backs with reputations for being among the most punishing runners in the NFL, and they’re mostly former SEC stars.
Harris, Henry and Jacobs all went to Alabama, while Chubb went to Georgia. Barkley attended Penn State in the Big Ten.
Who would you have put on your list of the five best running backs in the NFL?