Younger Runners

The top running backs in the NFL have undergone a change in recent years. They've gotten younger. Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Frank Gore are still playing but they are drifting into the background. It happens. The 2017 running back draft class was hailed as a very good one even before each member of it was assigned to a team. Through three games the expected quality of the rookie runners has shown on the field. It's easily spotted among the rushing league's rushing leaders.

Rank	Player	Team	Att	Yards	Avg
1	Kareem Hunt	KC	47	401	8.5
2	Dalvin Cook	MIN	61	288	4.7
3	Carlos Hyde	SF	49	253	5.2
4	Todd Gurley	LAR	63	241	3.8
5	C.J. Anderson	DEN	53	235	4.4
6	Devonta Freeman	ATL	52	227	4.4
7	Jordan Howard	CHI	45	199	4.4
7	Leonard Fournette	JAC	57	199	3.5
9	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	55	192	3.5
10	DeMarco Murray	TEN	35	184	5.3
11	Lamar Miller	HOU	49	182	3.7
12	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	52	180	3.5
13	Derrick Henry	TEN	38	171	5.2
14	Chris Carson	SEA	37	166	4.5
15	Ameer Abdullah	DET	46	163	3.5
16	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	45	162	3.6
17	Tarik Cohen	CHI	24	157	6.5
18	Javorius Allen	BAL	43	152	3.5
19	Melvin Gordon	LAC	44	146	3.3
20	Mike Gillislee	NE	45	145	3.2
20	Frank Gore	IND	49	145	3.0

In terms of experience the above players break down like this.

Rookies

Kareem Hunt

Dalvin Cook

Leonard Fournette

Chris Carson

Tarik Cohen

The top two and five of the top 20 ground-gainers in the league are rookies.

2nd Year
Jordan Howard
Ezekiel Elliott
Derrick Henry

3rd Year
Todd Gurley
Ameer Abdullah
Javorius Allen
Melvin Gordon

4th Year
Carlos Hyde
Devonta Freeman

5th Year
C.J. Anderson
Le'Veon Bell
Mike Gillislee

6th Year
Lamar Miller

7th Year
DeMarco Murray

10th Year
Jonathan Stewart

13th Year
Frank Gore

Jonathan Stewart and Frank Gore represent the "old guys" but running back is turning into a "young guys" game. The majority of the top rushers (through 3 games) have barely scratched their NFL careers. 12 of the top 20 have played less than three seasons. And most, if not all, look like they have some staying power. Although many thought highly of Trent Richardson after his rookie season. In a league that seems to lean on the pass more each season there are a whole bunch of young running backs that are making their presence felt.