No player has accounted for more touchdowns from scrimmage the last three years than Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler and his 44 touchdowns.
The 28-year-old running back is remarkable story, going from being an undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado University to leading the NFL in touchdowns in both 2021 (20) and 2022 (18). Ekeler’s career is historic since he is one of only seven players in NFL history with 30 or more rushing touchdowns and 30 or more receiving touchdowns in NFL history.
1952-1964
Frank Gifford*
34
43
1956-1967
Lenny Moore*
63
48
1958-1968
John David Crow
38
35
1981-1992
James Brooks
49
30
1994-2005
Marshall Faulk*
100
36
2002-2010
Brian Westbrook
41
30
2017-Present
Austin Ekeler
39
30
* Pro Football Hall of Famer
Unfortunately for Ekeler, his elite production didn’t align with his contract year in 2023. He signed a four-year, $24.5 million extension with the Chargers in March of 2020, but his 2023 was a total nightmare. Ekeler averaged career lows in yards per carry (3.5) and yards per scrimmage touch (4.6) after suffering a high ankle sprain back in Week 1. He ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for an average of 7.3 yards per rush in a loss against the Dolphins, but Ekeler wasn’t the same when he returned from the injury in Week 6. His 3.1 yards-per-carry average ranked as the third fewest in the entire league among 49 qualified players in that span.
Scrimmage Yards
1,558
1,637
1,064
Scrimmage Yards/Touch
5.6
5.3
4.6
Touchdowns
20*
18*
6
* Led NFL
Sadly for Ekeler, he now joins a deflated running back free agency market: the only position groups with a lower franchise tag value than running backs ($12 million) are kickers and punters ($6 million). His skill set as a pass-catcher out of the backfield will allow him to have an intriguing market since he leads or co-leads all running backs in catches (228), receiving yards (1,805) and receiving touchdowns (14, tied with Jerick…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/austin-ekeler-landing-spots-chiefs-rams-among-destinations-that-make-sense-for-free-agent-chargers-rb/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-03-07 01:36:34
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