Stephen Dubner

They've had the biggest drop relative to any other position. This season, the average salary of a starting quarterback in the NFL was just over $30 million. The average for starting running backs? $6 million. There are still plenty of running backs who are considered superstars. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Christian McCaffrey. But they're not paid like superstars.

They've had the biggest drop relative to any other position. This season, the average salary of a starting quarterback in the NFL was just over $30 million. The average for starting running backs? $6 million. There are still plenty of running backs who are considered superstars. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Christian McCaffrey. But they're not paid like superstars.

None of those four are among the five highest paid players on their team. Why not? Roland Fryer wondered whether this was a supply story or a demand story. In other words, were running backs just not as good as they used to be? Or did teams no longer value what running backs had to offer?

None of those four are among the five highest paid players on their team. Why not? Roland Fryer wondered whether this was a supply story or a demand story. In other words, were running backs just not as good as they used to be? Or did teams no longer value what running backs had to offer?

None of those four are among the five highest paid players on their team. Why not? Roland Fryer wondered whether this was a supply story or a demand story. In other words, were running backs just not as good as they used to be? Or did teams no longer value what running backs had to offer?

The NFL Combine is a showcase where teams assess the abilities of the college players they are looking to draft.

The NFL Combine is a showcase where teams assess the abilities of the college players they are looking to draft.

The NFL Combine is a showcase where teams assess the abilities of the college players they are looking to draft.

Is it that simple? To find out, we wanted to hear from some running backs. Roland took the first interview.

Is it that simple? To find out, we wanted to hear from some running backs. Roland took the first interview.

Is it that simple? To find out, we wanted to hear from some running backs. Roland took the first interview.

Let's pull back here, just in case you haven't been following the recent psychodrama with the New York Giants that McCoy was talking about. Saquon Barkley is a name that comes up again and again in the argument about the value of a running back, in part because of the monster season he's had this year with the Eagles. But it's more interesting than that.

Let's pull back here, just in case you haven't been following the recent psychodrama with the New York Giants that McCoy was talking about. Saquon Barkley is a name that comes up again and again in the argument about the value of a running back, in part because of the monster season he's had this year with the Eagles. But it's more interesting than that.

Let's pull back here, just in case you haven't been following the recent psychodrama with the New York Giants that McCoy was talking about. Saquon Barkley is a name that comes up again and again in the argument about the value of a running back, in part because of the monster season he's had this year with the Eagles. But it's more interesting than that.

The Giants took Barkley in the 2018 draft with the second overall pick. His five seasons in New York ranged from good to very good. He was hurt a few times and the Giants offensive line was weak, but he was still considered a top running back. The Giants chose to not offer him a new contract. Instead, they use what's called a franchise tag.

The Giants took Barkley in the 2018 draft with the second overall pick. His five seasons in New York ranged from good to very good. He was hurt a few times and the Giants offensive line was weak, but he was still considered a top running back. The Giants chose to not offer him a new contract. Instead, they use what's called a franchise tag.

The Giants took Barkley in the 2018 draft with the second overall pick. His five seasons in New York ranged from good to very good. He was hurt a few times and the Giants offensive line was weak, but he was still considered a top running back. The Giants chose to not offer him a new contract. Instead, they use what's called a franchise tag.

That's an NFL rule that allows a team to keep a good player for one year at a relatively high salary rather than letting him become a free agent and pursue a longer term deal. While the Giants had Barkley on this one year hold, they gave their quarterback, Daniel Jones, a four year contract averaging $40 million a year.

That's an NFL rule that allows a team to keep a good player for one year at a relatively high salary rather than letting him become a free agent and pursue a longer term deal. While the Giants had Barkley on this one year hold, they gave their quarterback, Daniel Jones, a four year contract averaging $40 million a year.

That's an NFL rule that allows a team to keep a good player for one year at a relatively high salary rather than letting him become a free agent and pursue a longer term deal. While the Giants had Barkley on this one year hold, they gave their quarterback, Daniel Jones, a four year contract averaging $40 million a year.