With the NFL’s continued growth into a pass-first league, the fullback position may not have become obsolete but certainly devalued. Just look at this season’s numbers: 131 backfield runners have carried the football at least once, but only 12 of them are listed as traditional fullbacks. Among this group is James Develin, who gained three yards on two rushing attempts before being placed on injured reserve in mid-September.
Develin’s job description, of course, did not list carrying or catching the football as his primary field of duties. Instead, he had to open up lanes for the halfbacks behind him — something he did at a very high level.