2021 stats: 162 carries, 593rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 41 receptions on 57 targets, 263 receiving yards, 4 total TDs. The offense of the Cleveland Browns was not perfect by any means, but they remained one of the more efficient offenses in the NFL. Harris falls into the uber efficient in a limited role category after earning 85.0-plus PFF grades in each of the last two seasons on between 250 and 450 offensive snaps. With Kenneth Gainwell's stock rising in the playoffs, the decision to hand this soon-to-be free agent a new contract might not be as easy as some people seem to think. No would be surprised if he boosted his Hall of Fame credentials with another massive campaign as the centerpiece of his team's offense. Conner was a beast and will (most probably) remain so in 2022, but to a lesser extent if we bake some (realistic) regression back to the mean into . The Alabama product has been one of the most elusive backs on the ground since entering the NFL three seasons ago, recording 177 forced missed tackles as a runner since 2019. Harris should continue to split the work with, Sanders is an interesting evaluation from a numbers standpoint because he ranks well in. Buffalo Bills 2022 training camp kicks off on July 24th. https://cardswire.usatoday.com/lists/ranking-the-nfc-wests-running-back-rooms-entering-2022/, 1. He should find backup work in 2023. McKissic, Jaret Patterson,Jonathan Williams. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Singletary may not be a threat to break off many 50-yard runs or hurt a defense as a receiver out of the backfield which is why they added Cook but he is more than capable of moving the chains on the ground. With Taylor recently undergoing ankle surgery, I'm hopeful he'll return to his 2021 form next season. The Jaguars put together one of the most impressive turnarounds in 2022, and this second-year running back was a big part of that. 2022 stats:12 games | 205 att | 797 rush yds | 3.9 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 9 rec | 60 rec yds | 1 rec TD| 0 fumbles lost. A do-it-all playmaker for the Chargers, Ekeler's 2022 campaign was one for the ages. 2022 stats:16 games | 68 att | 236 rush yds | 3.5 ypc | 1 rush TD | 30 rec | 209 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost. His 107 receptions set a franchise single-season record, and he became the fifth player in the Super Bowl erato have at least 800 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 700 receiving yards and five receiving TDs in a single season, according to NFL Research. As a collegiate . 2022 stats:10 games | 90 att | 318 rush yds | 3.5 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 25 rec | 223 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 2 fumbles lost. The NFL might be considered a passing league now, but the best running backs still have incredible value to their teams. Maurice Jones-Drew reveals his top five rushing duos in the NFL this season. 1. 2022 stats: 17 games | 340 att | 1,653 rush yds | 4.9 ypc | 12 rush TDs | 53 rec | 400 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 1 fumble lost. Let's cut to the chase: CEH hasn't lived up to his first-round draft pedigree due to inconsistent play and injuries. 2020 stats: 145 carries, 625 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 11 receptions on 14 targets,123 receiving yards, 3 total TDs. Maurice Jones-Drew assembles the perfect running back, combining the traits of some of today's top talent in the NFL. Durability and conditioning are mild concerns as he might start to cede some key work to rookie Rachaad White. There were some games where he went full bell cow and others where he was barely used. The 2021 season provided an opportunity for Mixon to bounce back, and he answered the call. These odds could change during the preseason and assuredly will change in-season. RotoWire.com 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings. Considering those results came at 22 years old with plenty of offensive line shuffling in front of him, theres little reason to expect Taylor to slow down in 2022. Unable to play in the Dolphins' postseason game due to a broken thumb, though, Mostert's injuries continue to prevent him from reaching his full potential. Hes been particularly effective in the gap rushing schemes that the Patriots favor, grading out in the 82nd percentile of all qualifying running backs in rushing grade in those schemes. Sanders is an interesting evaluation from a numbers standpoint because he ranks well in metrics such as EPA per rush and rushing yards over expected, but his PFF grading profile isnt nearly as impressive. Ekeler had been under-appreciated for his unique receiving-forward role for Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. He was a steady in the Bills' backfield as part of a 1-2 punch alongside rookie James Cook, whose promising first year could cause Buffalo to let Singletary hit free agency in March. Teams are looking for complementary skill sets and running backs that can split the workload at a position that has tended to have a short shelf life. Once rookie Brian Robinson returned to the field, Gibson's opportunities plummeted -- with double-digit carries in four games from Week 5 on. See the full pecking order. over the last three seasons to go along with a 86.2 PFF rushing grade (11th among running backs with at least 300 carries). Heading into the Divisional Round, Maurice Jones-Drew ranks the top 10 rushers remaining in the NFL playoffs, a list that includes three teams with two players apiece. Only projected starters were considered for the rankings while the most notable backup omissions given an honorable mention at the end. Kamara proved to once again be a bright spot in a unit working to find consistency from week to week, as he became the only player in NFL history with at least 700 rush yards and 400 receiving yards in each of his first six seasons, per NFL Research. 2022 stats:15 games | 149 att | 546 rush yds | 3.7 ypc | 3 rush TDs | 46 rec | 353 rec yds | 2 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Maurice Jones-Drew assesses the Hall of Fame candidacies of Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry, two running backs who could pass him on the all-time rushing leaderboard in Week 16. With Jones being the versatile, elusive playmaker in space, Dillon is a bruiser at the line of scrimmage with the ability to gain chunk yards every time he gets the rock. The first player mentioned was center Corey Linsley, who checked in at No. Conner showcased that he has a legitimate, three-down skill set in his first season with the Cardinals. Week 1 to 17 is the full-season fantasy strength of schedule. 2022 stats:17 games | 210 att | 1,040 rush yds | 5.0 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 69 rec | 421 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost. Colts won 27-17. With the NFL Scouting Combine set to. Neither injury kept him out for an extended period of time, but their impact shows in Cooks 2021 rushing numbers. He also recorded career highs in targets and receptions, taking on a significant role in the aerial attack with Davante Adams no longer in Green Bay. Benjamin has been the talk of the offseason for the team. With camp just around the corner, Bills Wire will examine the Bills roster position-by-position. And Jacobs also showed that he could take on a larger role as a receiver in 2021 with a career-high 54 receptions. McCaffrey, now 26, had to be faded on this list given he's played only 10 games over the past two seasons following his transcendent 2019 production. only further fuels speculation that Carson returning from neck surgery is no sure thing. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. He was a smooth fit in the system with his quick running and did fine as a receiver when needed there. Jacobs seems to always need to deal with competition in both his steady rushing and receiving roles. 2022 stats:14 games | 99 att | 542 rush yds | 5.5 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 48 rec | 389 rec yds | 3 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. February 18, 2023 7:48 am ET The Indianapolis Colts are expected to hire New York Giants running backs coach DeAndre Smith to the coaching staff under Shane Steichen. Akers' 2022 campaign was a mixed bag, to say the least. 2022 stats:16 games | 193 att | 1,007 rush yds | 5.2 ypc | 9 rush TDs | 39 rec | 371 rec yds | 3 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Plus, an updated ranking of his top 15 running backs ahead of Week 17. Edwards missed the first six weeks of the season while recovering from the previous year's torn ACL. The Saints have had to lean more on Kamara's rushing on top of his consistent receiving in the past two seasons and he's proved to have the legs for it, even with some missed time. 2022 stats:13 games | 69 att | 287 rush yds | 4.2 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 14 rec | 101 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Maurice Jones-Drew spotlights three running backs with 50 or fewer carries this season who could significantly impact the stretch run. It might have been a blessing for him not to be misused in that mess of an Urban Meyer-Darrell Bevell offense. 2022 stats:5 games | 57 att | 346 rush yds | 6.1 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 4 rec | 16 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Super Bowl LVII's top 10 game-planning nightmares: How do you cover Travis Kelce? NFC West: z --SF San Francisco . 2022 stats:15 games | 223 att | 897 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 57 rec | 490 rec yds | 2 rec TDs | 4 fumbles lost. 2022 stats:15 games | 77 att | 313 rush yds | 4.1 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 25 rec | 193 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Hell look to turn that around in 2022. Justin DiLoro. 2022 stats:12 games | 22 att | 145 rush yds | 6.6 ypc | 0 rush TDs | 21 rec | 177 rec yds | 4 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Gordon had a rough season with the Broncos, making costly mistakes and being outplayed by Latavius Murray leading to his November release. Chubb hasnt shouldered the same workload as some of the other names joining him atop this list, but he has a case as the best pure runner in the NFL since he was drafted in 2018. The Saints' offense took us on a roller-coaster ride this season with quarterback changes and injuries to many of its best playmakers. He's always been efficient, but this year, Dallas finally gave him more opportunity to shine. It finally came, thanks to durability and a top-flight passing game with Joe Burrow that opened things up for him to put it all together. Bell cow running backs are few and far between, but there are a few running backs ready to step up and have a breakout 2022 NFL season. In a crowded backfield that featured Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones II and Jerick McKinnon, the seventh-round rookie emerged as a reliable playmaker in the rushing attack. Please check your email for a confirmation. According to John Keim of ESPN, Iowa State running back Breece Hall visited Washington this week. He has a good shot to break the trend and make it two team titles in a row with 1,000-plus yards to boot. Some think he's faded and lost too many steps and believe his best is buried behind him. Second, he hasn't build on being a top-flight receiving back at LSU, which what he was expected to do in the Chiefs' pass-first offense. The Lions surrendered fewer passing yards to RBs (331) and . 2022 stats:8 games | 92 att | 520 rush yds | 5.7 ypc | 2 rush TDs | 7 rec | 42 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. Mixons first season following his four-year, $48 million extension from Cincinnati in 2020 could be classified as a disappointment. Harris efficiency numbers from last season arent as impressive as some of the other names around him on this list, but its reasonable to expect efficiency to decline when youre on the field for nearly every snap and playing in one of the NFL's least efficient offenses. @Jason_Sarney. 1 spot? Etienne's promising rookie season was wiped out before it began because of a torn ACL. Going into the season, Elijah Mitchell is the 49ers running back to target, and Jeff Wilson Jr. is a solid handcuff. 2022 stats:17 games | 30 att | 160 rush yds | 5.3 ypc | 1 rush TD | 12 rec | 88 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost. Jan. 30, 2022, 9:26 p.m. The rookie played just 10 percent of the Panthers' offensive snaps in 2022, but was a reliable returner. The Jets rotated running backs for much of the 2022 campaign, especially after Breece Hall's season-ending injury, with Carter having inconsistent performances. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. Maurice Jones-Drew has one thought about the Cowboys' usage of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Zeke's return: Keep it even-steven! Zeke averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in a season the first time in his career. 2021 stats:207 carries, 963 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 19 receptions on 20 targets, 137 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. Jones finished the season as a top-10 rusher and was the most efficient back in averaging 5.3 yards per carry (among RBs who played a full 17-game season or had a minimum of 200 carries). Patterson had two 100-yard rushing performances before the injury, but never looked quite the same after his stint on IR. Best Running Backs in the NFL 2022: Tony Pollard Joins Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb in the Top 10 The best running backs in the NFL can all offer speed, power, vision, and at least some pass-catching ability. Breida provided the Giants with a solid option behind Saquon Barkley who could chip in as a ball carrier between the tackles and pass catcher out of the backfield. We are on the brink of wrapping up the fifth season of the RB Index, but I'm about to enter some new territory. Hall isn't . Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. He's been a reliable ball carrier since his arrival in 2020, averaging 4.3 yards per carry for his career. He is smart and. At 26, MIxon should maintain that momentum of production. That was a contributing factor to his career-high 15 rushing touchdowns in 2021. All the concerns listed above about Derrick Henrys career workload and effectiveness coming off injury are only amplified when looking at Elliott. 7m; 2022 stats: 17 games | 170 att | 830 rush yds | 4.9 ypc | 5 rush TDs | 13 rec | 130 rec yds | 0 rec TDs | 2 fumbles lost. With the 2022 NFL season now officially in the books, all eyes turn toward the 2023 NFL Draft. ET. His 29% target rate since 2017 leads all receivers regardless of position, and hes one of just two running backs to average over 2.0 receiving yards per route run over that stretch. Harris battled injuries and split carries with second-year thumper Rhamondre Stevenson, leading to his decreased production in 2022. Part of that can be attributed to an offensive line that Philadelphia has invested heavily in making life easier on the ground for Sanders. He is a good finisher in the red zone and can take any carry the distance. He almost never left the field and was integral to everything Carolina did on offense, ranking eighth in the league in rushing conversions (56) and ninth in receiving conversions (58) across playe. Barkley is a 2022 Comeback Player of the Year finalist, and rightfully so. The Rams shopped him in October -- ultimately, they couldn't find a buyer -- and Akers went on to finish the season with three consecutive 100-yard games. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs the ball for a 69 yard touchdown during the second half against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. midseason injury paved the way for Taylor to stake his claim as the NFLs most valuable running back last season. Without McDaniels, Harris' role shouldn't change much in a run-heavy attack, even if Rhamondre Stevenson cuts more into the overall backfield work. He was subsequently traded to a Jets team that had just lost star rookie Breece Hall, but Robinson got lost in the shuffle in New York, playing sparingly in four games the rest of the season. Henry is not a typical running back. We'll analyze the new additions and departures to each position group, and provide a glimpse into the future for the team. After holding off Zack Moss for key touches, he will need to do the same again vs. rookie James Cook. MARK INGRAM, SAINTS. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Taylor moved from ninth on last year's list to first overall due to a season in which he took over from Derrick Henry as the NFL's leader in carries (332), rushing yards (1,811), and rushing touchdowns (18). Swift still has all of the traits to become a top-tier running back, but he needs better health luck. Over the last four seasons, Chubb ranks first among all qualifying running backs in PFF rushing grade (93.1), yards after contact per rushing attempt (4.1) and missed tackles forced per rushing attempt (0.25). 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