Why 2016 was The Year of the Running Back

You've probably read somewhere that the modern NFL is a passing league, and the majority of offenses are centered around pass-heavy schemes. In 2016, a group of upstart rookies, dominant veterans, and hidden gems brought the position to the forefront, elevating the status of running backs to heights not seen this decade.

It's often been remarked that we live in a golden era of quarterbacks, but marquee running backs stole the show this season. Here's why 2016 ought to be known as The Year of the Running Back.

Elliott emerges as leading MVP candidate

Many thought the Cowboys made a colossal error at the draft when selecting Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall. Elliott was the highest drafted running back since Trent Richardson went third overall in 2012, but immediately put fears to rest upon touching the field.

The 21-year-old quickly emerged as the NFL's most compelling player, leading the league in rushing through 14 games. Elliott could become the youngest MVP in history and his dominant rookie campaign thrust the Cowboys into the national spotlight, much to the delight of national audiences and television executives everywhere.

Elliott's breakaway speed is his most alluring skill, but he's also been able to run through contact and work as a slot receiver with great proficiency. Many tried to denounce Elliott's season as a byproduct of a tremendous offensive line, but he's simply the most entertaining player in the league - and at this juncture, may have earned himself an MVP honor.

Johnson, Bell lead new wave of hybrid backs

David Johnson's and Le'Veon Bell's legacies may only be realized when a generation of running backs enter the league, running over defenders, away from contact, and working as an outside receiver with equal adroitness. If one wants to see where the league is trending, look no further than Johnson and Bell this season.

Johnson was lauded for his physicality coming out of college and his ability to run through contact is second to none, gaining extra yards on plays that seem destined to go nowhere. At 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, Johnson is able to punish defenders with devastating stiff arms but few anticipated that he'd also boast breakaway speed to boot.

The 25-year-old displayed excellent patience out of the backfield, even when teams stacked nine in the box, and was a rare bright spot for the Cardinals this year. Some of Arizona's most successful plays developed when Johnson lined up as an outside wide receiver with Larry Fitzgerald in the slot in a 2x2 or 1x3 formation, and the young prodigy would outrace cornerbacks to the house. In just his second year, Johnson is an all-around threat with no discernible weakness, racking up 800 receiving yards prior to Week 16.

Bell served a three-game suspension to begin the year but returned better than ever, operating as the fulcrum of an offense that boasts Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. Before Week 16, Bell ranked third in the NFL with 1,146 rushing yards and his improved speed works perfectly with his elite field vision and patience.

Nearly identical in size to Johnson, Bell also possesses the ability to run through or around defenders, and if you put him in adverse field conditions such as rain or snow, he becomes nearly impossible to tackle. Bell and Johnson can line up anywhere, overpower or finesse their adversaries, and are replete with a total skill set, a model that many young running backs will try to emulate.

The resurgence of former rushing champions

Both LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray appeared to be on the downswing of their careers after each faltered with a new club in 2015. McCoy was traded to the Buffalo Bills on March 10, 2015 and failed to crack 1,000 yards for the third time in his career. Two days after McCoy was shipped out of Philadelphia, Murray signed a five-year, $42-million contract with the Eagles that proved to be ill-fated. Rushing for just 702 yards, Murray clashed with the coaching staff and was traded to the Titans in the spring.

What a difference a year makes.

McCoy looks much more comfortable as the centerpiece of the Bills' offense, and is on pace for the fourth 1,300-yard plus campaign of his career. The 28-year-old is displaying the trademark elusiveness and ability to cut on a dime that helped him capture the 2013 rushing title, and thrived under two separate offensive coordinators this year.

Murray also operates as the focal point of the Titans' offense and regained his confidence in a run-heavy scheme. Prior to the season, head coach Mike Mularkey said he wanted to operate an "exotic smashmouth" offense, and Murray's bruising style of play made the Titans a tough out throughout the season. Racking up 1,266 rushing yards this season, Murray once again ranks among the upper echelon of running backs, and if it wasn't for the emergence of Ezekiel Elliott, he'd be a leading candidate to capture the second rushing title of his career.

A litany of breakout stars

This year introduced a new catalog of stars that, to great surprise, ought to shape the immediate future of the league. Jay Ajayi was rendered an afterthought during his rookie season, but the Dolphins' upstart took the league by storm in 2016, compiling three 200-yard games while driving defenders into submission with his bruising running style. Many in Chicago wondered how the Bears would overcome Matt Forte's departure, but rookie Jordan Howard took over seamlessly, going over 1,100 yards, and is the backbone of the team's rebuilding effort. Meanwhile, Melvin Gordon became a punchline after failing to score a touchdown in his rookie year, but responded with a vengeance, punching in 10 scores and 997 rushing yards before suffering a gruesome knee injury.

It was a resurgent season for running backs, and the youth movement this season provides reason to believe that they'll once again be recognized for playing a marquee position.