Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Everything that was just said about Derrick Henry is applicable here.
The fact of the matter is that running backs do not have the value they once did in the modern NFL. In today’s game where 30 of the 32 teams threw the football more than 51% of the time, wide receivers and quarterbacks have more opportunities to impact the game than running backs do. Gordon’s own offense, the Los Angeles Chargers, threw the football on more than 63% of their offensive snaps. Yes, game script and game situation comes into play, but when roughly two-thirds of your offense is focused on the pass, what is the true value of the RB?
A case can be made that true three-down backs that can contribute in the passing game still are to be valued, and Gordon can make the case that he is such a player. After all, Gordon has seen 50 passing targets or more in each of the last four seasons, and in 2017 he saw a career high 83 targets in the passing game. That year he caught 58 of those targets for 476 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per reception. In 2016 he averaged 10.2 yards per reception. Those are game-impacting type numbers, which make the case for Gordon being more valuable than some other running backs in free agency *stares in the direction of Derrick Henry*.
Even still, there are injury concerns with Gordon. He has played just one full season – back in 2017 – and has a long list of lower body injuries. His 2015 season was cut short due to torn knee cartilage. He missed the final three games of the 2016 season with hip and knee injuries. Finally, he missed time in 2019 with knee and thigh injuries.
Gordon may be more of a modern NFL running back, but when it comes to his value, it might be more depressed in the current game than he would like. Again, buyer beware.