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'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.
