San Francisco 49ers: Stacking up the running backs against the NFC West

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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 24: Running Back Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams carries the ball against the Tennessee Titians at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Rams

Key Contributors: Todd Gurley, Malcom Brown, Justin Davis

Given the fact the Rams fielded the league’s eighth-best rushing attack in 2017 – and tenth-ranked offense overall – it’s kind of hard to pick against them being the division’s best running game.

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Todd Gurley, coming off a very sub-par 2016 season, thrived in head coach Sean McVay‘s offense in 2017, feasting on opposing defenses. Los Angeles’ rushing attack was led by Gurley and his 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns. Gurley added another 788 receiving yards and six more touchdowns through the air.

Gurley’s 2,093 all-purpose yards – a healthy average of 139.5 yards from scrimmage per game – led the NFL. As did his 19 touchdowns.

Though they lost Tavon Austin this offseason, they return Malcolm Brown, who helped spell Gurley from time to time, collecting 246 rushing yards and a touchdown. Justin Davis, who had all of one carry last season, could see his role expand to help Brown take a little of the burden off Gurley.

McVay’s system paid immediate dividends for the Rams, whose offense never really took flight under previous head coach Jeff Fisher. And even more so for Gurley.

In McVay’s system, Gurley posted career highs in rushing yards, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards – far surpassing his previous career high in the latter category. The marriage of McVay’s system and a running back like Gurley seems to be a match made in heaven – and the nightmares of opposing defensive coordinators.

Heading into year two, with am even better familiarity of McVay’s schemes and philosophies, Gurley and the Rams look poised to soar even higher and become one of the league’s elite offenses.