The AFC North is one of the few divisions left in the NFL that plays more with the old school, hard nose defense with a strong offense, rather than a run and gun passing offense. With this style of play it is vital that a team have a running back that can do it all and put the team on his back and carry them to victory on a snowy, cold day in December to clinch a playoff berth. With that, I will rank the running backs based on skill, potential, and leadership abilities to take his team to the promise land.
1 Ray Rice, HB, Baltimore Ravens
Ray Rice is by far the best running back in the AFC North. His small stature may deceive you but he is actually a hard runner who can charge his way through a defensive line or cut to the outside and out run the linebackers. When the Ravens picked him in the second round it was a steal to say the least, but I'm not sure that anyone knew he would be this good.
2 Trent Richardson, HB, Cleveland Browns
The guy hasn't played a down in the NFL and he is already near the top??? Yeah, as a matter of fact he is. This is the highest that the Cleveland Browns have ever drafted a running back in the history of the franchise. (Which doesn't include Ernie Davis because he was acquired from Washington after he was drafted, but had his career not been cut short, he would have been something special too.) Richardson being drafted this high was no fluke. He has all the moves to trip up a defender without them laying a hand on him, all while Richardson can bench over 500 pounds and still maintain excellent speed. He will be around this division for a long time to come.
3 Rashard Menenhall, HB, Pittsburgh Steelers
If Mendenhall has not torn his ACL I definitely would have placed him higher than Trent Richardson. Mendenhall has already proven what he can do to lead a team on the field. The only problem for him is that a torn ACL is a tough injury to return from and I'm just not sure if he will ever be the same after this.
4 Ben Jarvus Green Ellis, HB, Cincinnati Bengals
I'm just not sure that Green Ellis makes the team any better than when they had Cedric Benson in the backfield. Besides not having off the field issues, he is that much quicker or that much better in shaking the defense. The Bengals lack a playmaker at this position and the only way they are going to solve the problem at hand is if they go out and find a stud in the draft in the same way that the Ravens took Ray Rice.







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