The NFC East is loaded with the best running back talent in the league. Washington has a strong duo in Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson while the Philadelphia Eagles have future star Miles Sanders in the backfield. The best of the bunch is Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott and New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley. The two top-five picks came into the league and saw immediate success.
After being drafted second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley was named a Pro Bowler after rushing for 1,307 yards and leading the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage. He took a step back in 2019 because of an injury but still rushed for 1,003 yards in 13 games.
Elliott burst onto the scene as a rookie when he led the league with 1,631 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He would go onto lead the league in yards per game over his first three seasons in the NFL. Since being No. 4 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, he has been a workhorse for Dallas. He has eclipsed 300 carries three times and has led the league twice. He has rushed for 1,000 yards three times.
In 2017, Elliott played just 10 games and still totaled 983 rushing yards. The Cowboys rewarded their All-Pro back with a six-year, $90 million deal keeping him in Dallas through the 2026 season. And he is worth every penny.
Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley are arguably two of the top five running backs in the NFL. Heading into the 2020 season, both the Cowboys and Giants expect big things from their backfield. Once the season is complete, which back will have had the better season?
