NFL 2016: Top 5 running backs at midseason

4. David Johnson

Coming into the season media pundits confidently forecasted that Carson Palmer’s horrid outing in the NFC Championship would translate to a less-than-stellar 2016 season. As those predictions are looking more and more realistic with each passing week, it’s fortunate that the Arizona Cardinals have a bell cow like David Johnson to fall back on to carry the load.

Johnson ranks in the top five among running backs in many important categories: yards per attempt, yards per game and fewest fumbles allowed. The kicker is he has a whopping nine touchdowns on the ground this year, which is tied for second-highest in the league with Melvin Gordon and Elliott (the leader being goal-line specialist LeGarrette Blount with 12). That’s good news for Arizona’s sputtering pass offense where Palmer has only thrown 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions through nine games.

However, with all the added attention given to Johnson expect that dynamic to start slowly shifting in the coming weeks. San Francisco’s defense had allowed seven-straight 100-yard rushers and were adamant about preventing Johnson from feasting on the maligned front. In response, Arizona aired it out.

It wasn’t a seamless transition as Palmer threw more touchdowns than interceptions at home against an already shaky 49ers defense. But with head coach Bruce Arians at the helm, expect him to pick his punches with which style of offense will dominate on any given Sunday. Johnson’s just the kind of crafty back to suit the ebbs and flows of Arizona offense, especially since he leads all running backs in receiving yards. Expect No. 31’s legs and hands to decide more than a few games in the coming weeks as the Cardinals continue their steady ascent into the playoff picture.