Just a couple of weeks back, I wrote a column in which I asked six NFL coaches and personnel men to vote on the best wide receiver in football. Julio Jones earned five of the six first-place votes, standing above the likes of Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and A.J. Green.
This column is a similar exercise, though the position in question is running back. I set out to find the best back in football with the help of insights from coaches and personnel men, but the path to an answer was a decidedly different one.
Whereas Jones' skill set is one that would be tailor made for any offense -- his rare combination of size, speed, agility and explosive burst off the line suits him for any wide receiver duties -- running backs offer a broader blend. Not all successful running backs profile in the mold of Adrian Peterson, a dominant physical force who, when healthy, is at his best running north-south. Arian Foster, who recently retired, was the ideal fit for the Texans' offense he thrived in for several years because of his one-cut running style, equipped with decisive instincts and vision. There's no cookie cutter for the perfect back.
Moreover, a running back's success on the field is not merely a direct result of his ability: The offensive line matters. Put any running back behind, for example, the Rams' offensive line, and the results may not be so robust.
Also of note is that Peterson, who has long been considered one of the game's elite talents at the position, has been limited to just 31 carries so far this season because of injury.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the best running back, according to folks in the league, as a rising star in Dallas gears up for a Thursday night matchup on Peterson's home turf.
