Running backs are top of mind in the NFL, with the Vikings set to cut ties with Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook ahead of the 2023 season. Money is a big reason for Cook’s departure, but Minnesota is also primed to transition thanks to belief in backup Alexander Mattison, who this offseason signed a two-year deal in anticipation of an expanded role.
It raises the question: Which other No. 2 backs boast starting-caliber stuff? In a day and age where RB rotations are the norm, most teams depend on a whole stable of ball-carriers as opposed to a single featured back. And these 10 backups stand out as some of the best going into 2023:
At 33, on his fourth team in as many years, Murray is a wholehearted journeyman. But there’s a reason clubs keep picking him up. While offering little as a pass-catcher these days, he’s such a steady runner whose confident, upright style has translated across systems. It wouldn’t be stunning to see him steal carries behind James Cook and Damien Harris in Buffalo.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
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Fellow 49ers product Raheem Mostert is technically Miami’s starter (until a potential Dalvin Cook arrival), but Wilson is now owed slightly more money on his new deal. He’s never played a full season, but when healthy, he pairs burst with aggression as a change-of-pace option. On top of that, he benefits from Mike McDaniel’s speedy setup.
Through two NFL seasons, the former sixth-rounder has missed a combined 18 games due to injury, making him a somewhat fragile complement to Christian McCaffrey. Still, when upright, he’s been incredibly smooth as a focal point for Kyle Shanahan’s offense, showcasing solid vision in relief and as a starter.
Like Mitchell, he’s been severely hampered by injuries, playing more than 10 games just once in five seasons. But the…
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