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Showdown Of Running Backs: Jerome Ford Vs. Ezekiel Elliott

Trends January 15, 2025

Who is a better running back: Jerome Ford or Ezekiel Elliott?

Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott are two of the most talented running backs in the NFL. Both players have had successful careers, and they have both been named to the Pro Bowl. However, there is some debate about who is the better player.

Ford was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly became a key part of the Browns' offense, and he finished his rookie season with 1,076 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Elliott was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL since then, and he has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons.

	Jerome Ford	Ezekiel Elliott
Age	23	27
Height	5'11"	6'0"
Weight	220 lbs	228 lbs
College	Cincinnati	Ohio State
NFL Draft	2022, 5th round	2016, 1st round
Career rushing yards	1,076	8,368
Career rushing touchdowns	10	70
Pro Bowls	1	3

So, who is the better running back? It is difficult to say definitively. Both Ford and Elliott are excellent players, and they both have bright futures ahead of them. However, if I had to choose one player, I would give a slight edge to Elliott. He has been more productive over a longer period of time, and he has shown that he can be a consistent performer.

Jerome Ford or Ezekiel Elliott

Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott are two of the most talented running backs in the NFL. Both players have had successful careers, and they both have been named to the Pro Bowl. However, there is some debate about who is the better player.

Age
Experience
Production
Efficiency
Durability
Play style
Team success
Overall value

These are just some of the key aspects that can be used to compare Ford and Elliott. Each aspect is important, and it is difficult to say definitively which player is better. However, by considering all of these factors, we can get a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each player.

1. Age

Age is an important factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Ford is 23 years old, while Elliott is 27 years old. This means that Elliott has four years of experience over Ford. This experience can be a major advantage, as Elliott has had more time to develop his skills and learn the NFL game.

However, age can also be a disadvantage. As players get older, they tend to lose some of their athleticism and speed. This can make it more difficult for them to be productive on the field. Additionally, older players are more likely to suffer from injuries.

In the case of Ford and Elliott, it is difficult to say definitively who has the advantage. Ford is younger and has more upside, but Elliott is more experienced and has a proven track record of success. Ultimately, it is up to each individual team to decide which player is a better fit for their team.

2. Experience

Experience is an important factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Ford is 23 years old, while Elliott is 27 years old. This means that Elliott has four years of experience over Ford. This experience can be a major advantage, as Elliott has had more time to develop his skills and learn the NFL game.

Regular season games played
Elliott has played in 82 regular season games, while Ford has only played in 17. This gives Elliott a significant advantage in terms of experience.
Playoff games played
Elliott has played in 10 playoff games, while Ford has not played in any. This gives Elliott another significant advantage in terms of experience.
Years as a starter
Elliott has been a starter for the Cowboys for the past six seasons. Ford has only been a starter for the Browns for one season.
Accolades
Elliott has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and was named an All-Pro twice. Ford has not been named to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.

Overall, Elliott has a clear advantage over Ford in terms of experience. This experience gives Elliott a better understanding of the NFL game and how to succeed at a high level.

3. Production

Production is a key factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Both players have been productive runners in the NFL, but Elliott has a clear edge in this area.

Rushing yards
Elliott has rushed for 8,368 yards in his career, while Ford has rushed for 1,076 yards. This gives Elliott a significant advantage in terms of production.
Rushing touchdowns
Elliott has scored 70 rushing touchdowns in his career, while Ford has scored 10. This gives Elliott another significant advantage in terms of production.
Yards per carry
Elliott has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his career, while Ford has averaged 4.6 yards per carry. This gives Elliott a slight advantage in terms of efficiency.
First downs
Elliott has gained 503 first downs rushing in his career, while Ford has gained 60. This gives Elliott another significant advantage in terms of production.

Overall, Elliott has a clear advantage over Ford in terms of production. This is due to a combination of factors, including Elliott's experience, talent, and offensive line play. However, Ford is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could eventually close the gap in production.

4. Efficiency

Efficiency is a key factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Both players are productive runners, but Elliott has a slight edge in terms of efficiency.

One way to measure efficiency is yards per carry. Elliott has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his career, while Ford has averaged 4.6 yards per carry. This means that Elliott gains more yards per carry than Ford, which is important for maximizing offensive production.

Another way to measure efficiency is yards per game. Elliott has averaged 95.9 yards per game in his career, while Ford has averaged 63.3 yards per game. This means that Elliott is more consistent in producing yards than Ford, which is important for sustaining drives and keeping the offense on the field.

Overall, Elliott has a slight edge over Ford in terms of efficiency. This is due to a combination of factors, including Elliott's experience, talent, and offensive line play. However, Ford is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could eventually close the gap in efficiency.

5. Durability

Durability is a key factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Both players are talented runners, but Elliott has a clear edge in terms of durability.

Elliott has played in 82 regular season games in his career, while Ford has only played in 17. This means that Elliott has a much larger sample size to evaluate his durability. Additionally, Elliott has never missed a game due to injury, while Ford has missed two games due to injury.

There are a few reasons why Elliott is more durable than Ford. First, Elliott is a bigger and stronger player than Ford. He is also more experienced, which means that he knows how to take care of his body and avoid injuries.

Durability is an important factor for any running back, but it is especially important for players like Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott who are expected to carry the ball a lot. A durable running back can help his team win games by staying on the field and producing consistently.

6. Play style

Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott are both talented running backs, but they have very different play styles.

Power vs. finesse
Ford is a power runner, while Elliott is a finesse runner. This means that Ford relies on his strength and physicality to gain yards, while Elliott relies on his speed, agility, and vision to gain yards.
Inside vs. outside
Ford is a better runner between the tackles, while Elliott is a better runner outside the tackles. This means that Ford is more effective at running up the middle, while Elliott is more effective at running around the edges.
Short yardage vs. long yardage
Ford is a better short-yardage runner, while Elliott is a better long-yardage runner. This means that Ford is more effective at gaining yards in short-yardage situations, while Elliott is more effective at gaining yards in long-yardage situations.
Receiving ability
Elliott is a better receiver out of the backfield than Ford. This means that Elliott can be used more in the passing game than Ford.

Overall, Ford and Elliott are both talented running backs, but they have very different play styles. Ford is a power runner who is better between the tackles, in short-yardage situations, and as a blocker. Elliott is a finesse runner who is better outside the tackles, in long-yardage situations, and as a receiver out of the backfield.

7. Team success

Team success is an important factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. Both players are talented running backs, but they have played on teams with very different levels of success.

Elliott has played for the Dallas Cowboys, who have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL in recent years. The Cowboys have won three NFC East division championships and one NFC Championship during Elliott's tenure. They have also appeared in the playoffs in each of the past six seasons.

Ford, on the other hand, has played for the Cleveland Browns, who have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL in recent years. The Browns have not won a playoff game since 1994 and have only had one winning season since 1999.

The difference in team success between the Cowboys and the Browns is likely due to a number of factors, including the quality of the players on each team, the coaching staff, and the front office. However, it is clear that Elliott has had more success at the team level than Ford.

This is not to say that Ford is a worse player than Elliott. In fact, Ford has shown a lot of promise in his young career. However, it is important to consider team success when comparing players, as it is a major factor in determining how successful a player is.

8. Overall value

Overall value is a key factor to consider when comparing Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. This is because overall value takes into account all of the factors that are important for a running back, including production, efficiency, durability, and play style.

When all of these factors are considered, Elliott has a clear edge over Ford in terms of overall value. Elliott is more productive, more efficient, more durable, and has a more versatile play style. This makes him a more valuable asset to his team than Ford.

Of course, Ford is a young player with a lot of potential. He could eventually develop into a player who is as valuable as Elliott. However, at this point in their careers, Elliott is the clear choice in terms of overall value.

FAQs about Jerome Ford or Ezekiel Elliott

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott, two of the most talented running backs in the NFL.

Question 1: Who is better, Jerome Ford or Ezekiel Elliott?

Answer: Ezekiel Elliott has a slight edge over Jerome Ford in terms of overall value. Elliott is more productive, more efficient, more durable, and has a more versatile play style. However, Ford is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could eventually develop into a player who is as valuable as Elliott.

Question 2: How old is Jerome Ford?

Answer: Jerome Ford is 23 years old.

Question 3: How old is Ezekiel Elliott?

Answer: Ezekiel Elliott is 27 years old.

Question 4: Which team does Jerome Ford play for?

Answer: Jerome Ford plays for the Cleveland Browns.

Question 5: Which team does Ezekiel Elliott play for?

Answer: Ezekiel Elliott plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott. For more information, please consult the following resources:

Jerome Ford player profile
Ezekiel Elliott player profile
Jerome Ford stats
Ezekiel Elliott stats

Conclusion

Jerome Ford and Ezekiel Elliott are two of the most talented running backs in the NFL. Both players have had successful careers, but Elliott has a slight edge over Ford in terms of overall value. Elliott is more productive, more efficient, more durable, and has a more versatile play style. However, Ford is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could eventually develop into a player who is as valuable as Elliott.

It will be interesting to see how Ford and Elliott perform in the years to come. Both players have the potential to be elite running backs in the NFL. It is also important to note that both players play for different teams, so it is difficult to directly compare their value to their teams. Ultimately, it is up to each individual team to decide which player is a better fit for their team.