Los Angeles Rams: Breaking down the 4 Running Backs on the team
By Reuben Gasee
Taking a look at how each Los Angeles Rams running back has done in their career and what they might do in the 2020 season
When the Los Angeles Rams selected Todd Gurley with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft, the front office, team and fans saw him as their franchise running back and a key piece of their future core. As early as the start of last season, Rams nation had high expectations for him.
Heading into the 2020 season, Gurley is no longer apart of the organization. Due to poor performances, injuries (specifically his knee) and salary cap constraints, Gurley was released by the Rams. This move could turn out to be a huge mistake as it’s very possible that Gurley goes onto excel with his new team, the Atlanta Falcons.
The 2020 Rams don’t have a clear number one option for the running back position as they could have a committee consisting of as many as four players vying for touches and carries. Darrell Henderson Jr, Cam Akers, Malcolm Brown and John Kelly are all the running backs the team has on their roster and all of them could be used at various points throughout the season.
This article will take a look at how each of the four running backs the team employs has performed throughout their careers and what they could bring to the team for the 2020 season, assuming it takes place as recent rumors have suggested that players aren’t comfortable with playing due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Darrell Henderson Jr
Darrell Henderson Jr was the RB2 for the Rams last year playing behind Gurley on the depth chart. The Rams third-round pick (70th overall) of the 2019 draft appeared in 13 games where he had 39 carries for 147 yards which ends up with an average of 3.8 yards a run and got 10 first downs for the team. His longest run was only for 22 yards. In the air, the now sophomore caught four of six possible passes for 37 yards. He did not get any scores for the Rams last season.
With Gurley no longer in the picture, he will probably enter the season as the Rams primary running back but the coaching staff will have no problem moving him down the depth chart if he struggles.