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Los Angeles Chargers AFC West Ranking: Running backs

By Jason Reed

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 03: Melvin Gordon #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball down field during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at StubHub Center on December 3, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 03: Melvin Gordon #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball down field during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at StubHub Center on December 3, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Chargers /

The AFC West may be one of the most competitive divisions in football next year. In terms of running backs, though, the teams are widely separated.

The AFC West is one of the most interesting divisions to watch heading into the 2018-2019 NFL season as nobody really knows what to expect. Can the Los Angeles Chargers play up to their talented roster and win the division? Or will the team choke it away yet again?

Can the Kansas City Chiefs continue to succeed with Alex Smith? Will the Denver Broncos rebound with a stellar defense and a new quarterback? How will the Oakland Raiders, who well underperformed last season, perform under new head coach Jon Gruden?

All of those questions will be answered as the season goes along. One question that is already answered is how good each team’s running back core is. The separation between the best and the worst is pretty stark.

4. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos easily have the worst running back depth chart in the division, which may ultimately hold the team back if Case Keenum returns to his pre-Case Keenum self before shocking everyone on the Minnesota Vikings.

To be fair, there is promise around the Broncos running game but right now that is just promise, the team has no real results to bank on to make their running game look any form of scary.

The number on running back on the depth chart right now, according to Our Lads, is Devontae Booker, who has two years of NFL experience. While he rushed for over 600 yards in his rookie year, last season Booker had 299 rushing yards in 79 attempts with one touchdown.

Behind him, and who may eventually be named the starter, is 2018 third-round draft pick, Royce Freeman of Oregon. Freeman did rush for 1475 yards in his senior season at Oregon and has the athleticism and resume to succeed in the NFL. However, his below average elusiveness may hold him back. We cannot rank him ahead of any of the proven NFL running backs in this division.

Finally, there is De’Angelo Henderson, the third running back that will see touches this season. In his rookie season last year, Henderson attempted seven rushes for 13 yards.

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