Justin Forsett Contending For NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Nov 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) high fives fans from the stands after defeating the Tennessee Titans 21-7 at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Forsett has been a true revelation for the Baltimore Ravens this season, and his emergence as a top flight NFL running back is easily one of the best stories of the year.  His late career emergence from the depths of obscurity might also have him winning awards once the season is over as well.  Namely, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

There is no obvious favorite for the award this season a la Peyton Manning a couple of years back.  The biggest names we can consider right now would be Rob Gronkowski, Jeremy Maclin, and Julio Jones.  All three suffered catastrophic injuries in 2013 that led to down years, statistically speaking.  Maclin might be the best of the bunch after posting incredible numbers just one year removed from tearing his ACL.

Through ten games, Forsett has already taken his 133 carries for 721 yards (5.4 avg) and 5 touchdowns, all career highs.  He has added 31 receptions (on 34 targets!) for 202 yards as a true dual purpose back.

But while all three of those guys were stars before suffering injuries last season, Forsett is enjoying by far the best year of his seven year career.  A career role player and journeyman prior to 2014, Forsett had never eclipsed 118 carries in a season and is on the fourth team of his career so far.  This season he has already logged 133 carries.

After seeing some success as a change of pace back his first three years in Seattle, Forsett landed in Houston with current Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.  Forsett had a pretty good year opposite Arian Foster, averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 63 totes.  He was not brought back, however, and signed on with the Jaguars in free agency.

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Forsett had a lot of opportunity walking onto a Jags team that featured a declining running game and no obvious candidate to take the job.  After seeing a mere 6 rushing attempts across 9 games, he was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Even Justin Forsett himself, now at the “old for a running back” age of 29, has admitted that he thought his career was over at that point.

But old friend Gary Kubiak came calling after he landed with the Ravens, and the rest is history.  Forsett took an improbable path after nominal starter Ray Rice was cut and backup Bernard Pierce was thoroughly ineffective to start the season.  Suddenly a guy who looked likely to be cut once Ray Rice’s suspension was over was by far and away the lead back in Baltimore.

Through ten games, Forsett has already taken his 133 carries for 721 yards (5.4 avg) and 5 touchdowns, all career highs.  He has added 31 receptions (on 34 targets!) for 202 yards as a true dual purpose back.  He is the fifth highest rated running back by Pro Football Focus and is fourth in rushing yards.  His 5.4 yards per carry is tops in the NFL for players with over 60 attempts.

So you can make the case that one of those known superstar entities I mentioned earlier deserves to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year more than Justin Forsett.  I for one am pulling for the guy who has come out of nowhere to become one of the best running backs in the NFL.  You just don’t get stories much better than that.