Ranking AFC South Units: Running Backs
By Josh McSwain
3. Jaguars
They acquired the #5 rusher in the league last year in Chris Ivory (1070 yards), who should be a good addition for them. I’m just not sure how good, considering he’s 28 and may not have more than a year or two left as a productive player but last year was his first thousand yard season. Considering he will likely get less than the 247 carries he got last year, I think it’s doubtful he’ll reach a thousand yards again.
He’ll be splitting carries with T.J. Yeldon, who had his moments last season (ran for over 100 yards in two games, including a season high 115 in the win over the Bills in London). He had over a thousand all purpose yards when you add his 740 rushing yards and 279 receiving yards. He scored three touchdowns overall, but his 4.1 yards per carry average left something to be desired.
Denard Robinson is a versatile threat, catches passes out of the backfield and can carry the ball from time to time. But he only scored one touchdown last season after scoring four in 2014. Yeldon cut into his snaps, and while I think he’ll make the team there’s a possibility he could become redundant and be left on the outside looking in.
Overall I say they have a good group of backs, with potential to be very good. However I’m not sure any of them are true “bell cow” running backs. Perhaps if Yeldon really steps up he can prove me wrong, but I think he needs to be the guy that steps up and owns the #1 job and if he does, they’ll move up this list for sure.