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Forget Melvin Gordon; It's Austin Ekeler's Time to Become an NFL Star

Move aside, Melvin Gordon. Austin Ekeler will take your job, and the Los Angeles Chargers offense won't take a step back when the current backup becomes the starter. With Gordon out of the way, Ekeler's play and potential portend a star in the making.

Gordon and the Chargers front office are engaged in a contract standoff. The running back's agent, Damarius Bilbo, told ESPN's Josina Anderson he officially requested a trade for his client since the franchise wasn't willing to budge from its offer of $10 million annually.

The three highest-paid running backs—the Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley, New York Jets' Le'Veon Bell and Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson—average $13.