IRVING, Texas -- Adrian Peterson and LeSean McCoy carried on a long-distance argument this summer over their claims as the NFL’s best running back.
DeMarco Murray’s name doesn’t come up in those conversations. And he doesn’t care about where people think he falls on the pecking order of running backs in the league.
“I don’t worry about that stuff,” Murray said. “I never have, never will. I know what I can do. I have a lot of confidence in myself and those are some great running backs, but I definitely think I can handle a little bit of everything. So it’s something I don’t really get caught up in too much.”
Murray, who was selected for his first Pro Bowl after last season, doesn’t have enough of a track record to be considered elite at this point. But, if the past eight games are an indication, the 26-year-old Murray could be in that class soon.
In that span, Murray has rushed for 780 yards and seven touchdowns on 144 carries.
McCoy and San Diego’s Ryan Mathews are the only backs with more rushing yards after the midway point of last season. Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch is the only back with more rushing touchdowns. Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles and the Jets’ Chris Ivory are the only ones with a higher yards-per-carries average and at least 90 attempts.
Murray, who has had durability issues, must prove he can stay healthy and produce at that level consistently. But he’s beginning to build a case that he’s among the league’s best backs.