Power Ranking NFL RB Depth ChartsBy Matt MillerJune 4 2014 You can make a very good argument that Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the NFL. But the National Football League has moved away from a one-running back system for most offenses. In today's game, running back depth is equally as important as having one very good runner.In the NFL 1000 series, we looked at which running back played best in 2013. But, which team has the most talent at the position? Looking at current depth charts—courtesy of Ourlads—and projecting ahead, which team has the game's best depth chart at running back?It's important to know that this is a projection—both in terms of the depth chart and in how each player will play. That means using predraft rankings when evaluating rookies and a wide margin of forecasting when projecting how young players will develop and veterans will decline.Looking at the top ball-carriers on each team, who has the best group of talent at running back?
10. Pittsburgh SteelersProjected Depth Chart: Le'Veon Bell, LeGarrette Blount, Dri Archer,Alvester AlexanderThe Pittsburgh Steelers have built LeBackfield, and it's a good one with Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount anchoring the running game. This is old-school Steelers football we're talking about.Bell struggled out of the gate in his rookie season, but by season's end he was the workhorse running back the Steelers hoped he could be when they made him the No. 48 pick in the 2013 draft. To complement (and supplement) Bell, the Steelers added another horse in Blount.Blount fell out of favor in Tampa Bay but resurfaced in New England and showed the speed and power to impress. In Pittsburgh he'll be asked to ram into the defense and use that special blend of skills to eat away at the soft front teams show against Ben Roethlisberger's passing game.Dri Archer is a guy to watch. The Kent State speedster will get the ball in many conventional and unconventional ways, but be sure that when he has the football, his speed will make him a dangerous weapon.
9. Cincinnati BengalsProjected Depth Chart: Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cedric PeermanThe Cincinnati Bengals have a nice collection of riches at running back. Between speedster Gio Bernard, the freakishly powerful Jeremy Hill and the gritty running of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, this could be mentioned as one of the best backfields in the NFL.What's holding this team back is that Bernard is only a second-year player, and while good in his rookie season, he didn't exactly set the NFL on fire. He'll get that chance now that he's starting, but remember, he didn't start one game in 2013.Hill was brought in to be the thunder to Bernard's lightning, and also to eventually phase Green-Ellis out. The LSU back was one of the best power backs in college football but saw his stock fall due to off-field question marks. On the field, he's powerful and aggressive.Between Green-Ellis and Cedric Peerman, the Bengals are covered should Bernard hit a sophomore slump or Hill struggle to break out
8. Seattle SeahawksProjected Depth Chart: Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Christine MichaelThe Seattle Seahawks rode an impressive, dynamic running game all the way to a Lombardi Trophy in 2013. Chances are they can do it again in 2014.Marshawn Lynch may be weird off the field, but on it he's a man to fear. Lynch has bruising, bone-breaking power, but he combines that with rare breakaway speed for a man his size. He's the Muhammad Ali of running the ball right now—able to beat you with speed or power.Behind Lynch, the Seahawks are set up well for the future with Robert Turbin and Christine Michael.Turbin—a 2012 fourth-rounder—is built like Lynch, at 5'10" and 222 pounds, and he runs with great body lean and power. Plug him in for Lynch and this offense could still roll. Michael, on the other hand, is more of a speed back compared to his two teammates. The former Texas A&M back was a second-round pick and brings 4.4 speed to a power offense. If he gets loose, he can fly, but he also brings 220 pounds behind his pads and can work inside and outside on a defense.
7. New England PatriotsProjected Depth Chart: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden, James White (rookie)The New England Patriots are known for the right arm of Tom Brady, but look behind him and you'll see an impressive group of running backs.Bill Belichick doubled up on backs in the 2011 draft when he selected Shane Vereen (Round 2) and Stevan Ridley (Round 3). Now three years later, the Patriots have two starting-caliber running backs with complementary styles of play.In Vereen the team has a receiver, speedster and outside runner. Ridley, the former LSU back, is a classic between-the-tackles back with the agility to bounce outside and pull away from a defense. The duo makes up one of the elite one-two punches in the game.Behind Vereen and Ridley, Brandon Bolden must be watched too. Bolden has the size (5'11", 220 lbs) to eat up yards between the hashes and can get low and run over defenders in the hole. James White, a 2014 rookie, can do the same and brings more thick-legged running to an offense leaning more and more on the run game.
6. Buffalo BillsProjected Depth Chart: C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown, Anthony DixonThe Buffalo Bills ended the 2013 season with an impressive roster of talent at running back. The group got even better after a draft-day trade for Bryce Brown.C.J. Spiller is what a modern running back should be, and he's the team's true No. 1 back when he's on the field. His speed, vision and hands make him a threat for the defense to always account for. Fred Jackson may be hitting the end of his career now that he's 33 years old, but he's still a valuable power back and short-yardage player at worst. At his best, Jackson can carry the load in a featured role if needed.Brown will push Jackson, though, and should be looked at as the future in the RB2 spot. The Bills do still have Anthony Dixon, too, and he's one of the better goal-line specialists in the league. 
5. Philadelphia EaglesProjected Depth Chart: LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Chris Polk, David FluellenThe Philadelphia Eagles have Chip Kelly's uptempo offense and a stable of running backs ready to frustrate and terrify NFL defenses.LeSean McCoy is capable of challenging Adrian Peterson for the title of NFL's best running back, and when you factor in his ability as a receiver, he just might be the better all-around player. McCoy is fantastic, and his Barry Sanders-like agility makes him one of the hardest players in this era to tackle. As if the Eagles didn't have enough speed at running back, they went out and added Darren Sproles. The team now has two of the NFL's best receiving backs on one roster and will be able to confuse the heck out of defenses with sub-packages and mixed personnel.What the team lacks in power could be a concern, but Kelly loves Chris Polk. Before the 2012 draft, Polk was my No. 2 rated running back, but injuries forced him into an undrafted situation and have hurt his early chances at reps. If healthy in 2014, he could break out.
4. Kansas City ChiefsProjected Depth Chart: Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, Cyrus Gray, De'Anthony Thomas (rookie)Jamaal Charles is one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive players—regardless of position—and gives the Kansas City Chiefs a ton of legitimacy at running back. But unlike some other teams, the Chiefs rank here because of their total talent and not just one player anchoring the unit.Charles is a great player, and he's carrying the Kansas City offense, but as was seen in the playoffs last year, Knile Davis and Cyrus Gray are talented in their own right.Davis is a more powerful runner but has freakish speed and strength when met by a defender. If he can cure some fumbling issues and stay healthy, he could eventually be a starter in the NFL. Gray went from relative anonymity to the spotlight in Indianapolis and showed his value as the team's No. 3 back.Adding De'Anthony Thomas is the icing, and you can bet Andy Reid is already dreaming up jet sweeps and screen packages for the explosive Oregon star.
3. Baltimore RavensProjected Depth Chart: Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Justin ForsettThe Baltimore Ravens hope to get back to the playoffs in 2014, and to do that they need a very good year from a strong running back corps. It all starts with Ray Rice.Rice has All-Pro ability, but he could also miss time this season if suspended for an offseason altercation with his fiancee (now his wife). Think what you will of Rice off the field, but on it the Ravens are a much different team without him. Rice's ability as an inside-outside runner and receiver is tough to replace, but Bernard Pierce can do it. Pierce has proved in his two seasons and limited duty that he can get the job done if given the reps. The Ravens might not be actively looking to replace Rice (yet), but Pierce should get the job if/when they are.The team knew running back depth would be needed, so they drafted Lorenzo Taliaferro in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. In an odd twist, Taliaferro was also arrested on charges of destruction of property and public intoxication. Taliaferro is a bruiser on the field but will have to prove himself to the front office and coaches following his arrest.If you can look past their issues, the Ravens have an impressive amount of talent assembled at running back.
2. San Francisco 49ersProjected Depth Chart: Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde (rookie), Kendall Hunter, Marcus Lattimore, LaMichael JamesThe San Francisco 49ers have a very impressive collection of names at the running back position. But that doesn't equal the NFL's best talent at the position. Not yet, at least.Frank Gore is one of the game's best, and the fact that he's been so productive and consistent in spite of his age (Gore turned 31 on May 14) proves his worth. But how long can he hold up?The 49ers have drafted Marcus Lattimore and Carlos Hyde with an eye toward replacing Gore with another power back. Lattimore, though, sat out all of his rookie season after recovering from a second ACL tear suffered during the 2012 college football season and is a complete mystery to all right now. Before his injuries he looked like a top-tier running back, but now? No one knows.That's why Hyde was drafted in Round 2. He's a bruiser but also has soft hands and enough speed to run away from defenders. Barring a big development from Lattimore, Hyde is the future here.Kendall Hunter is a very good change-of-pace back but not a starting-quality ball-carrier. LaMichael James is fast and flashy but has never found a role in this offense and could be cut or traded before the season begins.
1. Tampa Bay BuccaneersProjected Depth Chart: Doug Martin, Mike James, Charles Sims (rookie)The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are blessed with three running backs, each with the talent to be a starter and featured back in another city. That's a great problem to have.Doug Martin is a legitimate top-10 back if you look at his first two seasons and his potential for improvement and production moving forward. His bowling-ball style of play is ideal for Lovie Smith's team, too. Martin has All-Pro potential.Behind him the team has wisely built depth. This will be a running football team, and should Martin go down, the Buccaneers offense would be in good hands with Mike James and rookie Charles Sims in the fold.James is talented enough to be carrying the load as a starting NFL running back right now. In fact, he would be the favorite to start for most of the teams in the bottom 10 of this list. Charles Sims was one of my favorite backs in the 2014 class due to his inside-outside running skills and his super soft hands. Adding him to an already loaded backfield just gives Tampa ridiculous talent at running back.link