After Le'Veon Bell racked up 197 yards in the season opener, we noted that the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2013 second-round draft pick was easily the best running back we witnessed in Week 1.
On subsequent editions of the Around The League Podcast, we touted Bell as an emerging star who will be viewed as a consensus top-five NFL back by the end of the 2014 season.
Leading all players with 461 yards from scrimmage after another dominant performance in Week 3 versus the NFL's best front seven, Bell is already being recognized as a marquee name in the NFL's tailback pecking order.
"Let me just say this: Right now, I would take Le'Veon Bell over any running back in the league," NFL Media's LaDainian Tomlinson said on Tuesday's edition of NFL Total Access. "... He can do it all, people. He can run inside, he has the speed to turn the corner, he can catch the football, he's versatile, he's athletic. I love Le'Veon Bell."
Tomlinson will get no argument from us.
Adrian Peterson is languishing on the Exempt List. LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles have yet to reach their 2013 paces.
Marshawn Lynch is just as beastly as ever, and DeMarco Murray is keeping exclusive company through three weeks. The advantage Bell has over both right now is in big-play ability and receiving skills.
As the Dave Dameshek Football Program pointed out this week, the NFL's latest version of the "The Triplets" can be found at the confluence of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers.
Between Ben Roethlisberger, Bell and Antonio Brown, the Steelers boast a legitimate star at three different skill positions on offense.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps all of the Week 3 action and picks the top team in the AFC.
