Overview of the 2017 NFL Season Running Back Landscape
The 2017 season was a pivotal year for running backs, defined by a blend of elite power, shiftiness, and durability. Todd Gurley emerged as a dominant force, reshaping expectations with a rare combination of vision, strength, and explosiveness. Meanwhile, established stars like Adrian Peterson and veterans such as Le'Veon Bell and Matt Forte navigated varying degrees of success amid injuries and scheme changes. Teams increasingly leaned on multiple backs and creative formations, making workload a complex, context-driven variable. This profile examines the performance data, accolades, and broader context that defined the best running back of 2017.
Defining the Best Running Back of 2017: Metrics and Impact
Determining the best running back in 2017 requires balancing traditional carries and yards with advanced metrics that capture efficiency, playmaking, and value per attempt. While subjective, the consensus centers on a back who could dominate in critical moments, sustain production across an 80–100% snap share, and contribute in the passing game and as a receiver. The league’s top performers that year demonstrated a mix of vision, patience, and burst, often maintaining or elevating their production despite defensive attention. This section outlines the objective performance indicators that separate the elite from the very good.
Key Performance Metrics and Rankings
Across the 2017 season, leaders were evaluated on yards from scrimmage, touchdowns, yards per carry, target share, and red-zone usage. The most productive backs combined volume with efficiency, avoiding high-variance outputs that risked injury or inconsistency. Context such as offensive line health, scheme fit, and team talent heavily influenced these metrics, meaning raw totals must be interpreted alongside opportunity and competition. Below is a concise overview of notable production markers among the top candidates.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Leading Yards from Scrimmage | 1,385 yards (Todd Gurley) | Official NFL Statistics |
| Rushing Yards per Carry (Minimum 200 Attempts) | 4.5 yards per carry (Todd Gurley) | Official NFL Statistics |
| Total Touchdowns (Rushing + Receiving) | 18 touchdowns (Todd Gurley) | Official NFL Statistics |
| Games Played (Significant Snap Share) | 16 games (Todd Gurley) | Team Depth Charts and Play Logs |
| Red-Zone Touchdowns | 7 red-zone touchdowns (Todd Gurley) | Advanced Football Analytics |
Todd Gurley’s Dominant 2017 Season
Todd Gurley’s 2017 campaign stands as one of the most complete running back seasons in recent memory. Operating as the centerpiece of the Rams’ offense under coordinator Wade Phillips, he benefited from a downhill running lane scheme that emphasized vertical runs and cutback lanes. His combination of size, strength, and burst allowed him to break tackles and sustain momentum, while his receiving prowess extended the play and forced safeties to adjust. The result was a historically efficient season by volume and per-carry metrics, with Gurley maintaining elite production across all 16 games.
Performance Highlights and Consistency
- 1,385 yards from scrimmage, first among all running backs
- 4.5 yards per carry, leading qualified rushers
- 18 total touchdowns with balanced contributions in red zone and passing game
- Missed zero games and minimized soft-tissue issues despite heavy usage
- Earned consensus All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year recognition
Comparative Context: Other Elite Running Backs in 2017
While Gurley’s statistical dominance was clear, other backs commanded attention through volume, durability, or situational value. Adrian Peterson returned to form after injury-shortened seasons, showcasing his elite burst and proving he could remain a top-10 back within a complementary scheme. Le’Veon Bell delivered strong numbers inside a stacked Pittsburgh backfield, while veterans like Matt Forte and Frank Gore optimized scheme fit and longevity. The comparison underscores that efficiency and health can rival sheer volume when evaluating the best back in a given season.
Notable Contenders at a Glance
| Player | Team | Yards from Scrimmage | Touchdowns | Yards per Carry | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | LAR | 1,385 | 18 | 4.5 | Health, scheme fit, All-Pro season |
| Adrian Peterson | MIN | 1,003 | 10 | 4.0 | Efficient, veteran leadership, scheme-limited usage |
| Le’Veon Bell | PIT | 1,037 | 12 | 4.0 | Power back traits, reliable in passing game |
| Matt Forte | NYJ | 976 | 7 | 4.2 | Receiving emphasis, veteran presence |
The Role of Scheme, Health, and Opportunity
Even elite talents require the right ecosystem to maximize production. Gurley’s 2017 success was anchored by a Rams offensive line capable of consistent run blocking, play-action concepts that opened running lanes, and a quarterback willing to extend plays. Health was critical: he missed zero games and managed soft-tissue load effectively, a rarity for high-usage backs. Teams that relied on committee approaches or inconsistent quarterback play often saw top backs post more volatile numbers, emphasizing that context can amplify or constrain even elite skill sets.
How 2017 Compares to Other Elite Running Back Seasons
While 2017 is frequently cited as a benchmark for elite running back play, historical comparisons reveal patterns of sustainability and peak performance. Power runners with receiving dimensions, like Gurley, have historically found success in pass-heavy schemes that stress defensive leverage and misdirection. However, age, defensive adaptation, and roster construction can affect repeatability. Understanding 2017 within a broader historical lens clarifies what made the season exceptional and how it aligns with other standout campaigns.
Legacy and Influence of the 2017 Top Running Backs
The 2017 season influenced roster construction and draft philosophy, reinforcing the value of versatile, pass-catching backs who can shoulder meaningful snap shares. Teams invested in athleticism and multiple-back systems, while analytics-oriented regimes prioritized efficiency, health, and late-round value. The season’s performances remain reference points for contract negotiations, scheme design, and evaluations of modern running back profiles. Gurley’s blend of skills, in particular, helped redefine expectations for what a premier running back can contribute in a pass-first era.
Conclusion: Criteria for the Best Running Back of 2017
Evaluating the best running back of 2017 requires balancing volume, efficiency, health, and context. Todd Gurley’s combination of per-carry dominance, red-zone impact, and durability establishes a strong case for his standing as the league’s top back that year. Other contributors like Peterson, Bell, and Forte excelled within their own constraints, illustrating that scheme fit and opportunity shape outcomes as much as individual talent. For long-term perspective, 2017 represents a peak in Gurley’s trajectory and a model of how modern offenses can maximize running back value through alignment, personnel, and workload management.