Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Emmitt Smith: 'Marketing ploy' reducing value of running backs in current NFL

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/13/23

Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith offered an interesting take regarding NFL teams electing against paying running backs as much as quarterbacks and wide receivers these days.

"It’s a marketing ploy behind it to convince everybody that that position is not as valuable as it should be, or as it once used to be," Smith said while attending Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, as shared by Lou DiPietro of Audacy. "I think it’s a shame they’re reducing the value [of running backs] and pushing it out to the wide receivers and the cornerbacks and the quarterbacks. And this is all about fantasy football and the points that you’re gaining in fantasy football. Period."

Smith added that the NFL's hunger for television ratings and its desire to please fantasy football players resulted in an emphasis on certain rules that favor quarterbacks and passing attacks such as pass interference and defensive holding.

The Dallas Cowboys legend, who remains the NFL's all-time career leading rusher, was specifically discussing the New York Giants potentially allowing star running back Saquon Barkley to hit free agency next month. Smith made his comments before the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and before Marcus Mosher of Pro Football Focus mentioned via Twitter that Super Bowl-champion clubs from the past 14 years benefitted from having leading rushers on inexpensive contracts:

Take a look at the leading rusher from the last 14 Super Bowls and their base salary: pic.twitter.com/sBC97Upzh0
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 13, 2023

Similar to what fellow Hall of Famer Michael Strahan said last week, Smith insisted that Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is better with Barkley in the New York offense. Jones is also in the final weeks of his rookie contract but is not expected to hit the open market.

For a piece published on Feb. 1, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post wrote that the Giants offered Barkley's camp a contract "that averaged $12.5 million on what is believed to be a three-year deal" this past fall which was rejected. It was then reported last week that there's a belief in league circles the Giants will re-sign Barkley before free agency, a move that would keep the franchise tag open to use on Jones if necessary.

Per ESPN stats, Barkley finished this past regular season fourth among all players with 1,312 rushing yards and 295 carries across 16 games. He scored 10 rushing touchdowns and added 57 catches for 338 receiving yards.

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