Player Ranking: Top 10 running backs of 2021

Ranking the top ten running backs of the inaugural season in the European League of Football is not an easy task. However, we created a running back rating* that manages to objectively name and rank the top ten running backs of the inaugural season in the European League of Football.

So, let’s look at the best running backs of last season.

The Barcelona Dragons re-signed running back Adrián Jimenéz as one of the first players for the 2022 season. The Spanish bulldozer rumbled his way to two touchdowns and eleven first downs over the course of last season and could see a lot more carries coming his way with an evolving offense in Barcelona.

The ultra-athletic Justin Rodney not only found the endzone as a running back but also as a returner on special teams. With is rare combination of speed and strength, Rodney is a nightmare for most defenses. Despite sharing running back duties with Gerald Ameln and Gennadiy Adams, he still managed to record 277 rushing yards and two touchdowns. As of now, Rodney is still unsigned.

The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year posted a rating of 47.0 in his first year with the Frankfurt Galaxy. However, the shifty running back signed a contract with the Hamburg Sea Devils and will play his second year in the European League of Football in the north of Germany!

Former Leipzig Kings running back Jason Aguemon recorded 550 rushing yards last season and bulldozed his way to three touchdowns and 22 first downs. Leipzig did not extend Aguemon’s contract. However, Rhein Fire jumped on the opportunity to sign the French playmaker to their active roster for their first season in the European League of Football.

The Hamburg Sea Devils heavily featured running back Xavier Johnson in numerous games during the inaugural season. He racked up an impressive 714 rushing yards and 36 first downs! However, the Sea Devils ended up moving on from the American running back. However, the German franchise has signed another running back of this top ten list!

The Panthers already re-signed Philéas Pasqualini who comes in as the fifth best running back on this list. With over 650 rushing yards and six touchdowns, the French running back looks to improve his stats and performance in 2022 with a new quarterback under center in Justice Hansen.

The Panthers have two of their 2021 running backs on this list. Mark Herndon comes in as the fourth best running back right before his former teammate Philéas Pasqualini. With a rating of 62.2 and a similar stat line compared to Gennadiy Adams, Herndon comes in behind his fellow American. Just like Adams, Herndon is not signed by any team at the moment.

The Frankfurt Galaxy have three of their running backs from last season on this list. Impressive! With a rating of 67.5, Gennadiy Adams shows that he was an efficient running back when he stepped on the field. Unfortunately, injuries kept him out of a few games which resulted in only 299 rushing yards and four touchdowns over the course of last season. To date, Adams is still unsigned.

The Berlin Thunder re-signed Jocques Crawford over a month ago and locked up the second best running back in the league. With over 1000 rushing yards and 41 first downs, Crawford was a forced to be reckoned with.

This season, Crawford will have American quarterback Joe Germinerio next to him in the offensive backfield. After last season, better quarterback play could certainly boost the Thunder running game and give fans in Berlin even more to cheer about.

American running back Madre London was the most dominated player in the inaugural season of the European League of Football. With a rating of 99.6 out of a possible 100, the Centurions found themselves a force in the run game.

However, with the departure of fullback Patrick Poetsch and parts of their offensive line leaving the team, it remains to be seen if he can return to such a dominant fashion this upcoming season.

*the running back ratings posted above are based on this term issued by Nils Rosjat

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