For one, Edwards is coming off of an ACL tear, which puts him in more contentious waters than a healthy Johnson. Houston Texans: Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, Dameon PierceIndianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Phillip LindsayJacksonville Jaguars: James Robinson, Travis Etienne Jr.Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry. Maurice Jones-Drew has one thought about the Cowboys' usage of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Zeke's return: Keep it even-steven! As such, these rankings will attempt to be as objective as possible and provide a guide for where Browns players are currently among their peers in the division. After attempting to boost the line with cheap, quick fixes, the Steelers . Or is he? I do think the situation he is in is not so great for his stat line. In more drama involving Commanders owner Daniel Snyder, minority owners of the team said Snyder took out a secret $55 million loan without their knowledge or prior approval. As for the Cardinals, Conner experienced a rebirth last year, which earned him an extension. The Chiefs have found relative success with a few different running backs they've thrown out there, but the offense obviously runs more through Patrick Mahomes. The Baltimore Ravens lost 28-27 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12. Duo: Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams. Alan Saunders, Chris CarterandNick Farabaugh broke down their top 10 running backs of the AFC North. Can Kenny Pickett, Jordan Addison Form Next Burrow-Chase Combo? But he also rushed for just 3.9 yards per carry, only caught 78.7% of those 94 passing targets and had to play an absurd 980 offensive snaps to gain those numbers 171 more than the second-most running back, Ezekiel Elliott. Depth charts for every team Edwards and Dobbins as a pair next to Jackson could become the NFLs most dangerous collective running threat. In Denver, Williams will miss the rest of his sophomore campaign after tearing his ACL, LCL and PLC during the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Raiders. 30 Austin Ekeler; 40 Zander Horvath FB; 25 Joshua Kelley; 28 Isaiah Spiller; Wide receivers. Hes a strong special teams player, but he provides nothing offensively as a No. January 25, 2023 2:00 pm ET. Chubb missed three games . However, our focus here specifically relates to the four starting backs in the division. Chicago Bears: David Montgomery, Khalil HerbertDetroit Lions: D'Andre Swift, Jamaal WilliamsGreen Bay Packers: Aaron Jones, AJ DillonMinnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook. 2022 NFL Draft Grades for the AFC North. Hes an exceptional talent with the football in his hands and has really helped transform the Browns from a laughing stock into a team that is well-built on paper. Ryan is 36 years old but still a top 15 quarterback. Top speed? Najee Harris is only going into his second season, but the production he put up as a rookie was stellar. He is an efficient, hard-nosed runner that is a solid NFL rusher, and that lands him here. Anyone else see this offensive performance coming from the Seahawks? Somehow, he still found a way and forced more missed tackles on runs and catches than any back in football by a wide margin. Baltimore should be, at the very least, three deep at running back with Daviss addition to the room. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . These are the 2022 draft grades for the AFC North. Even with having Kareem Hunt to back him Chubb is definitely more impactful. Jackson will further be aided by the returns of running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, who each suffered season-ending injuries before the start of the '21 season.One would hope . 2.3 Cleveland Browns. There is a conspiracy that there was an issue with the turf given the turmoil of the Ravens injury problems last year. He is due $11 million in cash . Football Power Index rankings CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Mark Barron #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to tackle Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns during . Featured Promo: Get any full-season NFL Premium Pass for 50% off and win big in 2023. 11 and No. Bengals; Browns; Ravens; Steelers; AFC South . Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. Stars dot the depth chart at running back across the AFC North, with names like Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, and now Najee Harris leading the way in the division, which is known for its old-school . JK Dobbins had a pretty solid rookie campaign. San Francisco's Elijah Mitchell is the best back in the division entering the season, but Williams is more accomplished and steady than Jeff Wilson. Sorry to the fans of the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and . That contract paid off during the 2022 season, where Mixon had his best season for the Queen City. While everybody is focusing on team win totals, let's be a little more specific here with some bold predictions and go out on a limb for each team, giving some takes that will be specific to PFF grades and some that are more general. Gibson was also benched at times due to fumbling, and Washington brought in Brian Robinson to compete as well. Hes a special player. When things have gone sideways, it has been DErnest Johnson to come in to play at a high level. 14). In addition to the trade of quarterback Carson Wentz, Washington signed star wide receiver Terry McLaurin to an extension, drafted Jahan Dotson in the first round and re-signed running back J.D. Jacobs is a pretty big name, but he took a step back from his Pro Bowl ways in 2021. It was a quiet week for Cook, who played in London for the first time in his career. Saunders. Simmons came in at No. Ideal size? But in the passing game, he became a weapon, turning 21 targets into 181 yards. 4/practice squad role in Cincinnati. After that, the Raiders got very little. Could that be Canadas fault or was it really due to Ben Roethlisbergers limitations? Chubb possesses all of the attributes coveted in a modern-day running back with elite elusiveness, vision, and power. These rankings reflect the status of each player as of today and could very well change by the seasons end. Penny has been good when healthy, and Walker is one of the rookies this year who could make an immediate impact. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts. He, like Chubb in Cleveland, is an awesome combination of power and speed, packing serious punch coming downhill while still having the elusiveness to leave defenders grasping at air in space. To pair that with coming off a season ending I dont see a great season ahead of Dobbins. McKissic. The regular season is right around the corner and each team's depth chart is mostly complete! Before the 2020 season, Joe Mixon signed a 4-year, $48 million contract ($10 million fully guaranteed) to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals (at minimum) through the 2022 season. The Broncos may have a dynamic duo with Gordon and Williams, who finished No. 1. Having the league's rushing champion from the previous season will help that narrative, but there also are plenty of diverse skill sets on the depth chart. 2023 NFL Draft Predictions: Cincinnati Bengals Biggest Team Needs, Time To Hang It Up: Five NFL Wide Receivers That Should Retire After The Season, 2023 NFL Draft Predictions: Philadelphia Eagles Biggest Team Needs, 2023 NFL Scouting Combine Preview: Wide Receivers, 2023 Prospect Profile - C.J. This knack for roster building has been reflected in the league standings with the division having five appearances in the playoffs over the past two seasons (Bengals x1, Browns x1, Ravens x1, Steelers x2). Seeing a trend? He is again, not the most athletic guy, but is quick and has decent vision. Ranking the AFC North running backs. In the absence of David Montgomery, Herbert has been above average in all aspects. Buy Vikings Tickets. J.K. Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season due to a torn ACL suffered late in the preseason, resulting in the Ravens attempting to patchwork the position behind Lamar Jackson in the backfield. at Which one of the eight divisions has the best running backs? The Colts are in an offensive slump and Taylor has been at the worst end of it. May 17, 2022. Evans is a great receiver out of the backfield who is also strong as an ox, able to withstand punishment between the tackles should he be asked to handle that role. And let's not forget about running back Jonathan Taylor, who enjoyed a breakout sophomore season by leading the league with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. The Eagles had the No. Saunders, Kareem Hunt could still be a starting running back on teams that needed one. This knack for roster building has been reflected in the league standings with the division having five appearances in the playoffs over the past two seasons (Bengals x1, Browns x1, Ravens x1, Steelers x2). Chubb has rushed for at least 190 carries, at least 996 yards and at least eight touchdowns in each of his four seasons. From Joe Mixon, who could have a record-breaking year, to Chris Evans and his cult-like following among fans, the Bengals running backs will be in a . 2021 Season Stats 307 carries 1,200 yards 7 touchdowns 3.9 ypc. Despite the team's loss, his 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter sparked a comeback effort in his best game of the season so far. Houston unearthed a gem in Pierce. 2022 stats:4 games | 81 att | 328 rush yds | 4.1 ypc | 1 rush TD | 9 rec | 44 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 1 fumble lost. Taylor won't play against the Broncos due to an ankle injury, but I'm hoping he'll start to trend upward after giving his body a rest. Where Mixon stands out is his ability to be an all-ways back. Baltimore Ravens. Harris was truly incredible as a rookie in 2021, rushing for 1,200 yards behind the worst offensive line in football while battling against stacked boxes due to the lack of a deep passing attack in Pittsburgh. That represents a noticeable shift from 2006 the first season that PFF began collecting NFL data. follow. However, later in the season, he was regularly ceding work to Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell. Plus, an updated ranking of his top 15 running backs ahead of Week 17. His rankings are based on this season's efforts alone. Sanders carried the ball 27 times for 134 rush yards and scored 2 touchdowns all while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. . ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013; . If you like what you see on this site, we now have an ad-free option available for a donation of $25 per year, and you can enjoy the site entirely ad-free! INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TEAM NEEDS. They've cycled through plenty of running backs over the past few years with no issue, although Mitchell does appear to be a great player. 2021 Season Stats 228 carries 1,259 yards 8 touchdowns 5.5 ypc. He brings a significant downhill presence to the Ravens rushing attack. Sanders averaged 12.7 ppg in 2022 with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The first reaction was to call that a proper fit. Unfortunately, that help isnt behind him at the moment. 1) Cleveland Browns. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly targeted guy in the passing game, but he more than makes up for it with his consistent availability at the NFLs most difficult to stay healthy at position. Now a Charger, the hope is for Spiller to emerge as Ekeler's primary backup after the team has struggled to establish the RB2 role since Melvin Gordon's departure. I expect Cook to take advantage of the worst run defense in the NFL. The Bengals are lucky to have Perine to back up Mixon. He also has the data profile to match up. When he is not on the field the Browns definitely miss his production. Carter. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. I'm not so sure the blame can be put solely on him, as the offensive line hasn't played all that well either. Buffalo Bills: Devin Singletary, James CookMiami Dolphins: Chase Edmonds, Sony Michel, Raheem MostertNew England Patriots: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, James WhiteNew York Jets: Breece Hall, Michael Carter. Below, we will rank the running back talent division by division. Nick Chubb is a force of nature. Mixons rushing totals are productive. How would you rank the AFC North starting running backs? However, Joe Mixon is an aggressive nasty runner. Much like the running backs rooms in the AFC North, the wide receiver rooms are loaded with big names across the board, featuring names like Ja'Marr Chase, Diontae Johnson and Amari Cooper, not . Mixon also made an impact in the passing game with the 7th-most targets (68) and 10th-most receiving yards (421) at the position. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. The Steelers need to get him some help. His big outing -- 28 carries for 144 yards and 2 TDs -- propelled him into the NFL's top five in rush yards. PFF is projecting Harris to an RB11 finish, which is on par with his ADP of RB11 and 28th overall player getting off PPR-league draft boards. Farabaugh, Perines stats dont jump off the page given Joe Mixons high usage rate, but when he is on the field, Perine is a high-level backup running back. Steelers Draft Talk: Breaking Down Omar Khans NFL Combine Comments, Now Healthy, Steelers Expecting Great Things from Calvin Austin III. I dont see his production slowing this year I see it increasing to a potential career year with an unknown situation at quarterback. 2022 stats:4 games | 72 att | 356 rush yds | 4.9 ypc | 3 rush TD | 8 rec | 35 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. Baltimore Ravens: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Mike DavisCincinnati Bengals: Joe MixonCleveland Browns: Nick Chubb, Kareem HuntPittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris. Free agents: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Ameer Abdullah. July 10, 2022 9:30 am ET. With that being said, there are still elite running backs who are capable of completely carrying an offense. Former NFL rushing leader and NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew will survey all running backs and rank his top 15 each week of the 2022 season. The Rams had to fight through the regular season without Akers, who tore his Achilles but still returned for the playoffs. Projecting the futures of Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and other Vikings veterans. 4.24 yards after contact per attempt (2nd), 1.19 rushing yards over expected per attempt (4th, Next Gen Stats), Chubb is the cornerstone of a Browns' rushing attack that finished 1st in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (11.5 percent, Football Outsiders) and 5th in EPA per attempt (0.015). Expectations may be low for this year's Atlanta Falcons team but after adding roughly a dozen starters, including a new starting quarterback, fans are excited to see the team take the field.. Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community! The "bell cow" running back is on the way out. Will the Cowboys or Packers tandem earn the No. Chubb missed three games . The 3-1 Giants have a big test ahead in London, and if they want to prove they're a legitimate threat in the NFC, there's only one thing to do: Keep feeding Barkley! 2022 stats:4 games | 58 att | 270 rush yds | 4.7 ypc | 1 rush TD | 19 rec | 138 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. AFC North Ranking: 3. Not unlike other positions, the AFC North is stacked at running back even depth-wise with players like Kareem Hunt, DErnest Johnson, and Gus Edwards each of whom provide value to their respective offenses. 12); D'Andre Swift, Lions (No. Joe Mixon has quietly been a star since stepping into the NFL, and in 2021 he put it all together, rushing for a career-high 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Bengals reach the Super Bowl. 2020 Season Stats134 carries 805 yards 9 touchdowns 6 ypc. Veterans Trayvon Williams and Elijah Holyfield will compete for the No. 8:31 am ET. It's fair to expect big seasons from all of these starters in 2022. He also did that in one season with a bad offensive line and a very limited quarterbacks that allowed defense to focus solely on Harris. Johnsons combination of easy acceleration and quick feet allow him to cut on a dime and forced missed tackles at ease. The best days could be ahead for Minnesota Vikings tailback Dalvin Cook, who landed in the top-five of ESPN's compiled list of the best running backs in the NFL. 2022 stats:4 games | 52 att | 317 rush yds | 6.1 ypc | 3 rush TD | 5 rec | 37 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. In the second installment, we are going to rank the starting running backs in the division. 13 in rushing last year respectively. The 2022 group of Bengals running backs will be similar if not the same as the 2021 group. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! The former Unanimous All-American and Doak Walker Award winner accounted for 75 percent of the teams rushing yards and 70 percent of the teams rushing touchdowns. While Walker is a worthy challenger, Breece Hall currently sits atop the 2022 NFL Draft running back class. I think Dobbins is a quality running back and deserves respect. Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. We all know there will forever be one and only one name to definite the pass-catching tailback: James White, of all men. Ravens Can Take Former No. AFC North. Chubb has been the most consistent runner this season. Of it touchdowns 5.5 ypc during the 2022 season, where Mixon had his best season for the NFL! Be one and only one name to definite the pass-catching tailback: James White, all. And that lands him here profile to match up, but is quick and has decent vision Vikings.. Down their top 10 running backs who are capable of completely carrying an offense big! 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