Highlighting the NFL's Most Complete RB Stables Entering 2015

At least part of the reason why today's NFL has devalued the running back stems from the versatility that teams now seek at the position. 

The modern offense demands both an early-down back to run between the tackles and a reliable pass-catcher and pass-protector for passing downs. Some teams have found their answer in one player; others carry a stable of backs to handle all the position requires. 

A complete collection of running backs can still power an offense. The versatility allows for impact in all aspects of moving the football and scoring points. 

In the following slides, we will highlight the NFL's most complete stables of backs entering the 2015 season, with "complete" representing the key word in the evaluation process. We will also look at a number of teams on the cusp (honorable mentions) and those few banking on rookies (a year away?) at the position. 

Maybe Next Year

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San Diego Chargers: If Melvin Gordon is as good as his draft slot (No. 15 overall) and collegiate numbers (7.8 yards per carry over 651 attempts) suggest he is, the Chargers will be good to go. Branden Oliver flashed at times in 2014, and Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead are strong complementary pieces. 

Detroit Lions: Veteran Joique Bell is a pounding runner inside and decent overall receiver, but the Lions need two youngsters—Theo Riddick and 2015 second-round pick Ameer Abdullah—to complete the position. Abdullah has star power. 

Miami Dolphins: Lamar Miller (1,099 yards, 5.1 yards per carry in 2014) already looks like a future Pro Bowler. He's one of the game's most overlooked young players. Add talented rookie Jay Ajayi to the mix, and the Dolphins could have one of the league's best tandems by the end of 2015. 

Atlanta Falcons: Rookie Tevin Coleman is battling Devonta Freeman, last year's fourth-round pick, for the starting job. Coleman could be a third-round steal. Antone Smith is always a big play waiting to happen, both as a runner and receiver. 

St. Louis Rams: If Todd Gurley's knee is fine, the Rams will finish 2015 with one of the league's best running back stables. He's a game-changing talent. Top backup Tre Mason is more than capable of starting, and Benjamin Cunningham (45 receptions in 2014) can catch the ball out of the backfield. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars hope they found a three-down player in second-round pick T.J. Yeldon. He's the most important piece of the puzzle. Former quarterback-turned-offensive-weapon-turned-running-back Denard Robinson rushed for 582 yards—with two games over 100—last season. Veterans Bernard Pierce and Toby Gerhart are also in Jacksonville. 

Honorable Mention

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Denver Broncos: Starter C.J. Anderson rushed for 849 yards in 2014 despite handling 10 or more carries in a game just seven times. He also caught 34 passes. The Broncos might have unearthed another gem at running back. Backups Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman could start in a pinch.  

Green Bay Packers: Eddie Lacy has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons to start his career, but most wouldn't know he's also averaged almost 40 catches per season. James Starks is a quality backup, and undrafted free agent John Crockett is an intriguing talent. Green Bay could still use a matchup-busting receiving option out of the backfield, though.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts turned an obvious roster weakness into a potential strength by signing steady veteran Frank Gore and drafting potential steal Josh Robinson. Boom Herron (4.5 yards per carry, 21 catches in 2014) rounds out a suddenly strong group behind Andrew Luck. Ditching Trent Richardson was probably addition by subtraction. 

New York Giants: Neither Rashad Jennings nor Andre Williams is a great individual talent, but together the two make a capable between-the-tackles combination. The duo rushed for almost 1,400 yards and 11 scores behind a patchwork line last season. The Giants hit a home run in free agency by adding Shane Vereen, who is one of the game's premier pass-catching backs. 

San Francisco 49ers: Carlos Hyde has big shoes to fill after Frank Gore's departure, but he looks capable of handling the bigger role. Helping him along will be Reggie Bush, the oft-injured but still dynamic veteran. Kendall Hunter and Mike Davis are former fourth-round picks. 

Houston Texans: Arian Foster has missed 11 games the past two seasons, but he remains productive when healthy. He rushed for 1,246 yards and caught 38 passes over 13 games in 2014. Backup Alfred Blue chipped in more than 500 yards. A difficult matchup in the passing game would help take some pressure off Foster. 

Baltimore Ravens: Justin Forsett is coming off one of the more surprising 1,200-yard seasons in recent memory. Was it a fluke, or is he blooming late? Fourth-round pick Buck Allen could provide a productive pass-catching option, and Lorenzo Taliaferro averaged 4.3 yards per carry and scored four times as a backup in 2014. 

Chicago Bears: Matt Forte does it all, but at some point, all those carries and catches are going to slow him down. That reality is probably why the Bears signed Jacquizz Rodgers and drafted Ka'Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford in back-to-back years. 

New York Jets: New York re-signed Bilal Powell, signed Stevan Ridley and traded for Zac Stacy this offseason. Chris Ivory returns after rushing for more than 800 yards last season. There are plenty of bodies, but how will the Jets use them all? 

Minnesota Vikings

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There are still legitimate question marks surrounding Adrian Peterson (30 years old, hasn't played since September of last season) and Jerrick McKinnon (back surgery), but neither should be a significant worry.

In the Vikings' perfect world, Peterson re-establishes himself as the game's top back, while McKinnon continues ascending in a dynamic change-of-pace role. Matt Asiata, who scored nine touchdowns last season, also returns. 

Kansas City Chiefs

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Jamaal Charles has produced seven straight seasons of averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry. He also has 262 receptions and 19 touchdowns as a receiver over his career.

Knile Davis scored six touchdowns in 2014, while Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen recently named De'Anthony Thomas as one of the NFL's most difficult offensive matchups. There's really nothing this trio can't do for the Chiefs offense. 

New Orleans Saints

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The versatile and explosive C.J. Spiller joins a Saints offense that is expected to lean heavily on incumbent starter Mark Ingram and the running game.

If all goes to plan, Ingram—a near 1,000-yard rusher last season—will handle the dirty work inside, while Spiller would become the go-to space player and receiver. It's an attractive setup of talent.

And don't sleep on Khiry Robinson, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry with three scores in a limited role last season. The Saints are banking on huge production from the running back position in 2015.

Buffalo Bills

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The Bills said goodbye to C.J. Spiller but hello to LeSean McCoy this offseason. The swap is probably a net positive, given McCoy is just one year removed from winning the rushing title.

Buffalo also has veterans Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon as top backups, plus Bryce Brown and Karlos Williams are intriguing young talents. It's even possible Percy Harvin will receive some snaps in the backfield for the Bills' versatile group.

Head coach Rex Ryan can ground and pound to his liking in 2015. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

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There's a strong case to be made for Le'Veon Bell as the NFL's most complete back. Equally capable of slicing up a defense between the tackles and embarrassing a linebacker in the passing game, he looks like the ideal player at the position for today's game.

Free-agent signing DeAngelo Williams provides quality insurance behind him, and Dri Archer is the kind of gadget player who can give defenses fits. Most offenses will envy Pittsburgh's running back setup in 2015.  

Seattle Seahawks

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The presence of Marshawn Lynch provides instant credibility to Seattle's stable. While he remains the hardest back in the game to tackle, he is also a surprisingly good receiver out of the backfield.

The rest of the depth chart is strong. Few defenders want to tackle the 222-pound Robert Turbin after dealing with a dose of Lynch, and Christine Michael has the athletic attributes to be a major contributor at some point. 

Cincinnati Bengals

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The Bengals hit back-to-back home runs at running back, drafting Gio Bernard in 2013 and Jeremy Hill in 2014. The two now represent the most complete tandem at the position the NFL can offer.

Bernard has produced more than 1,000 yards of total offense in each of his two NFL seasons, while Hill rushed for 1,124 yards and nine scores during his rookie season in 2014. The duo gave the Bengals 2,548 yards and 17 scores last season alone.

Rex Burkhead, who played some slot receiver for Cincinnati last season, completes the versatile, productive stable. 

Philadelphia Eagles

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Chip Kelly's overhaul at running back has produced one of the game's most complete positional groups. In just the past two offseasons, the Eagles have added Darren Sproles, an impossible cover out of the backfield and a surprisingly productive runner inside; Ryan Mathews, who is just one year removed from a 1,200-yard season; and DeMarco Murray, last season's rushing champion.

If healthy, the trio could easily push 2,500 yards of total offense in 2015.