Fansided

5 running backs who are massively overpaid

By Rucker Haringey

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 29: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets delivers a stiff arm against Julian Stanford #51 of the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 29: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets delivers a stiff arm against Julian Stanford #51 of the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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David Johnson, Houston Texans
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

2. David Johnson

Only Bill O’Brien still believes Johnson deserves to be paid like an elite offensive force. The Cardinals were quite happy to trade him after he turned in a paltry 3.7 yards per carry a season ago.

Giving him a modest contract and an opportunity to revive his career would be a reasonable gamble for the Texans to take. That’s not what the team is doing. Johnson is going to earn $13 million in Houston this season.

That’s a massive cap number for a team to absorb that needs to surround Deshaun Watson with more talent on the offensive side of the ball. It’s possible that Johnson will go down as the worst contract in the NFL in 2020. Throw in the fact that Houston needed to give up Deandre Hopkins to acquire him and it’s easy to envision a scenario where fans turn on Johnson.

Look for O’Brien and his staff to give Johnson a ton of work in an effort to justify his acquisition. Don’t confuse his 2020 volume with quality efficiency. Johnson isn’t going to regain his status as a star in Houston.

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