Nick Chubb at No. 26 on NFL’s Top 100 list

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has spent his first three seasons showing everyone that running backs can still matter in the NFL.

His fellow players have clearly been paying attention as Chubb came in at No. 26 on the NFL’s list of the game’s Top 100 players heading into the 2021 season.

According to the rankings at NFL.com:

Chubb turned in consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the first time in Cleveland since Jamal Lewis (2007-08), and the 25-year-old did it in only 12 games (1,067 rushing yards) while logging a career-high 12 rushing TDs. An ideal mixture of speed and power, Chubb’s knack for breaking tackles wears down defenses and opens up passing attacks. In Year 3, he contributed greatly to a franchise-cleansing season for the Browns, who scratched and clawed their way to their first playoff berth in 18 years and went on to their first playoff victory in 26 years by virtue of Chubb’s 40-yard TD reception versus the Steelers.

A second-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Chubb has earned two trips to the Pro Bowl while rushing for 3,557 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons. His 1,494 rushing yards in 2019 were the most in franchise history for a running back not named Jim Brown, and his 12 rushing touchdowns last season have only been exceeded by Brown and Leroy Kelly in franchise history.

According to clevelandbrowns.com, Chubb’s average of 5.23 yards per carry is tops among running backs with a minimum of 300 carries in the past three seasons. He also leads the league during that time with 34 runs of more than 20 yards, is second with 17 100-yard rushing games, tied for second with 101 runs of more than 10 yards, tied for second with seven runs of more than 50 yards, is third in rushing yards and sixth with 28 rushing touchdowns.

Chubb is the third member of the Browns to be named to this year’s list, joining wide receiver Jarvis Landry (No. 94) and quarterback Baker Mayfield (No. 71).