The San Diego Chargers selected running back Melvin Gordon in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, among the first running backs to go in the first round after a slide that saw the position blanked in the early portion of the draft.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell’s breakout season of 2014, during which he totaled over 2000 yards from scrimmage, was named first-team All-Pro, and helped the team get back to the postseason after missing out for two straight years, was one of the biggest reasons that the running back position was being treated less dismissively at that point.