Mike Florio Calls Out Vikings’ Running Game Issues
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
It’s no secret that the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive formula needs some tweaking. Despite going 14-3 with an offense that scored 25 points per game, we saw Minnesota get into games when their passing game sputters and Kevin O’Connell didn’t have a backup plan. In their two losses to end the season, KOC caught a lot of flak for abandoning the run almost entirely.
Of course, it’s a bit of a chicken-or-egg conundrum. It’s hard to run the ball when the personnel isn’t there. The obvious missing piece is a road-grading guard, but there’s no denying that a certain factor was lacking in the running back room last year.
At least, that’s what Mike Florio believes, and he went on his Pro Football Talk show to explain what Minnesota didn’t have in 2024.
“Several of the teams that were in the tournament…need a better running back. And when you see those teams, playing teams that have high-end running backs, it’s more noticeable. Vikings — all due respect to Aaron Jones — they need a badass who can move the chains on a consistent basis between the tackles,” Florio explained, while adding that Jones’ injury history means he can’t be Plan A, B, and C. “When he’s out, there’s a drop-off to Cam Akers. I know that Kevin O’Connell loves [him, but] there was a drop-off.”
Florio’s dead-on about what the Vikings need, but the problem is that this free agent running back class is much thinner than last offseason. Jones hits the market as the top running back, according to PFF’s rankings. Still, going past Jones, we see that the top three running backs more or less fit the profile of what Florio wants for the Vikings.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s perhaps a bit worrisome that the Steelers are letting Najee Harris go without exercising the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. But throughout that rookie deal, Harris has been a high-volume producer, taking 250 carries for 1,000-plus yards and six-to-eight touchdowns per year. Jaylen Warren is in Pittsburgh to create plays with his speed, while Harris gets left to do most of the dirty work. He does that pretty well.
This should get on angry runs pic.twitter.com/4ciwvJzOQA
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) November 27, 2023
It’s hard to say why the Steelers don’t seem to have much time for Harris, who can flash a bit of breakaway speed, as well. Maybe they don’t anticipate his incredible durability lasting through another contract, or they think they can draft another player to fill that role. Maybe Pittsburgh has those resources, but the Vikings don’t, meaning they might have a greater need to land someone like Harris in free agency.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb’s torn ACL in the 2023 season will drive down his price, but he’ll still be a high-risk option for the Vikings to go with as the primary solution to their running game. He’s also perhaps the highest-reward option on the market as well. Chubb is a physical freak who looked like he was going to recover from his injury at an Adrian Peterson-esque rate. Instead, Chubb didn’t debut until Week 7 and logged just 332 yards on 102 carries.
When Bengals players came up to Nick Chubb to tell him they are glad he’s back on the field after his injury. pic.twitter.com/Tk1qn8Yk60
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) January 8, 2025
Still, Cleveland finished 30th in the season on PFF’s Run Blocking Grade (50.2), which did Chubb no favors. With another offseason of rehab and a better offensive line (believe it or not, Minnesota was middle-of-the-pack in Run Block Grade), Chubb might rebound at age-30. Anything resembling his four Pro Bowl seasons, where he averaged 90 yards and scored 40 touchdowns in 59 games, would be a home run.
J.K. Dobbins, LA Chargers
J.K. Dobbins has significantly more injury questions than even Jones, having just 37 games in five NFL seasons. The list of maladies includes an ACL tear in training camp in 2021, further knee surgery in 2022, a torn Achilles in 2023, and an MCL strain in 2024.
But last season we got to see what happens when Dobbins is (mostly) healthy, and it was glorious.
What an effort by J.K. Dobbins 💪 pic.twitter.com/DkBp5zrtAp
— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024
You want your badass? Here he is. Out of the 46 running backs with 100-plus carries, Dobbins finished second with a broken tackle on one of every 8.1 attempts. His 2.5 yards after contact per run put him at seventh among those 46 backs.
Pairing Jones with one of those running backs could make for an ideal on-field solution, though it remains to be seen if the Vikings will want to invest those kind of dollars into the position. 2024 might have been the rebirth of the running game, but has the tide turned that much for the Vikings? We’ll see.
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