ARIZONA CARDINALS

Bleacher Report: David Johnson is NFL’s most dominant running back

Jul 11, 2017, 11:07 AM | Updated: Jul 12, 2017, 9:16 pm

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'...

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Not much went right for the Cardinals last season as the team put up an underwhelming 7-8-1 record while failing to make the playoffs.

But aside from the lack of team success, the Cardinals got to see the emergence of a star and possible future face of the franchise in running back David Johnson.

Johnson did it all for the Cardinals in 2016. On the ground he recorded 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns and through the air he added another 879 yards and four touchdowns.

Among running backs, Johnson ranked seventh in rushing yards and his receiving yards mark put him 38th in the league, which is pretty high when you remember he is not actually a receiver.

Put it all together, and Johnson’s versatility was unmatched.

That versatility is one reason that Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report put Johnson as the most dominant running back heading into 2017.

Over the first 16 weeks of the 2016 season, David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals played in 15 games. In every one of those games, the 25-year-old hit the century mark. It was an NFL record, and only a knee injury in the final game of the season prevented a clean sweep.

Not bad for a third-round draft pick out of Northern Iowa.

Johnson might not be the best pure runner in the NFL, but as he showed last year, his all-around skill set can’t be beat.

And I wouldn’t bet against him joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk in the 1,000/1,000 club.

Davenport listed Johnson ahead of Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott and LeSean McCoy, all of whom had more rushing yards than the Cardinal but could not match his receiving yards or touchdown total.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

22 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Bleacher Report: David Johnson is NFL’s most dominant running back