Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. Kamara had his stats hindered when Taysom Hill was QB, as he would vulture TDs and take carries away from Alvin. The Buccaneers had the worst rushing attack in the division last year, averaging 95.2 yards per game, which were the fourth-fewest among all NFL teams. Ranking the top six running backs in the NFC North division, entering the 2021 NFL season. Top 125 Starting Pitcher Rankings for 2023 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Dynasty League Strategy for 2023, NL Spring Training Battles with Fantasy Relevance, 10 Players Most Likely to See Their ADP Change Based on Spring Training Performance, FantraxHQ 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings, Compete for Cash Prizes in a Fantrax Classic Draft Contest, Get ready for the season with a mock draft on Fantrax.com, Create your own league or join an existing league with Fantrax Commissioner. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. I rank him above Carlos Hyde simply because he is trending up, while Hydes career is on the back end and he will be a backup to Chris Carson. Nonetheless, the running game is important to every teams offense. Cooks 2019-2020 stretch is among the best two-year stretch of RB performance weve seen in recent memory. Though he took a step backward in terms of average yards per carry in Year 2, Jacobs added more dynamics to his game in 2020. Oct 6, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones (27) runs the ball against New Orleans Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (22) in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Aside from the addition of Andre Ellington and the loss of JacQuizz Rodgers this offseason, Tampa Bay has pretty much stood pat at the position. Number one fumbling the ball, Elliott said when asked what his No. Chase Edmonds . Ty Montgomery NFC West. But it remains to be seen, after he's missed time each of the last two seasons, if Freeman can stay on the field. 287-1,387 yards, (4.8), 15 touchdowns, (6x 100-Yd games), 116 receptions, 1,005 yards, 4 touchdowns, (2x 100-Yd games), 219-1,098, yards (5.0), 7 touchdowns, (4x 100-Yd games), 107 receptions, 867 yards, 6 touchdowns, (2x 100-Yd games), 172-724 yards (4.2) 6 touchdowns (1 100-Yd game), 2 consecutive 1,000-Yd rushing season + 21 touchdowns at Vanderbilt, 223-857 yards (3.8) 12 touchdowns (0s 100-Yd games), 256-1,251 yards (4.9) 17 touchdowns (6x 100-Yd games), 171-797 yards (4.7) 5 touchdowns (0x 100-Yd games), 81 receptions 533 yards 1 touchdown (0x 100-Yd games), 194-883 yards (4.6) 14 touchdowns (1x 100-Yd game), 81 receptions 709 yards 4 touchdowns (2x 100-Yd games), 146-647 yards (4.4) 5 touchdowns (2x 100-Yd games), 140-578 yards (4.1) 6 touchdowns (1x 100-Yd game). Who has the most career 200 receiving yard games? With just 889 career touches, Ekeler does not carry the same risk of slowing down as other similarly-aged running backs. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images), Sep 15, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny (20) runs on a, Sep 15, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny (20) runs on a thirty seven yard touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. TEMPE, ARIZONA - JUNE 02: Runningback James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in an, TEMPE, ARIZONA - JUNE 02: Runningback James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in an off-season workout at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on June 02, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. Needing to replenish depth, the Cowboys should look into free agent defensive lineman Arden Key. Stevie Scott, Saints RB Alvin Kamara Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR. 1 focus is this season. This did not stop Barkley from totaling 1,441 yards from scrimmage, 1,003 rushing and 438 receiving, and eight touchdowns. Now what did they get wrong? Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers, XFL Fantasy Football Rankings Week 2: Josh Gordon, Jeff Badet, Max Borghi, and More, Final Fantasy PPR Rankings for the NFL Playoffs: Tony Pollard, Ezekiel Elliott, James Cook, and More, NFL All-Time RB Records: Season and Career Leaders, College football Week 6 live reactions, results, and takeaways. With Tom Brady back, can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make another Super Bowl run? July 23, 2021 4:45 pm MT. Carolina was held below 100 yards rushing seven times last season and went 2-5 in those contests. Who was the top rookie? The Cowboys head coach made some comments about the offense that deserve a closer look as they seemed to have been misinterpreted. Hes coming off one of the worst injuries in sports, so well just have to wait if the star running back will be able to stay on the field in 2021. With today's high-flying NFL offenses, it's a golden era for pass catchers. His performance as the No. Pairing him with a rejuvenated Elliott is going to give the Cowboys not only the best running back group in the NFC East this season, but potentially one of the best groups in all of football. Jackson is a proven winner, too. His importance to the Panthers' offense can't be overstated. It seems like Tony Pollard will be with the Cowboys at least through 2023. To qualify, a player will. Alright, let's get into who is set to sport a new number! Now entering the final year of his contract, Kamara is expected to command somewhere between McCaffrey's deal and the 4-Yr $50M deal signed by RB Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans this week. He's 37-8 since becoming the Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2018 (most wins by a QB in the NFL over that span), and he ranks first in many passing metrics among QBs with a minimum of 100 pass attempts since '18. Trenton Cannon FantraxHQ - The Home of Fantasy Sports Analysis, 2021 Fantasy Running Back Depth Charts: NFC South, Top 500 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings, Fantasy 101: How to Play Rotisserie Baseball, 2023 Fantasy Baseball Position Eligibility, Fantasy EPL 101 How to Play Draft Premier League, 2023 Fantasy Baseball: Points Leagues Sleepers Hitters, Canadian Baseball Prospects and Team Canada World Baseball Classic Roster. Disagree. Agree. Sign up for the Cards Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Pro Football Network, LLC. Grant Gordon takes a look at the players' list by the numbers. 27 years old. Though his days as an elite runner may be behind him, Zekes durability and well-rounded ability were on display in 2020. With an added dynamic out of the backfield, the trend of top backs being well-rounded continues. With that in mind, Michael Robinson provides his ranking of the top 10 active undrafted players heading into the 2022 season. He's anchored the Colts' offensive line -- one of the NFL's premier units since Nelson was drafted -- having allowed a measly three sacks in as many seasons, per PFF. Where do the two Arizona Cardinals lead backs in James Conner and Chase Edmonds rank? Nelson might miss the start of the 2021 regular season as he recovers from foot surgery, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a three-time first-team All-Pro. Set it, and forget it. Panthers are per thin. Let's face it: it is easier to trust a star running back on the upswing of his career than one on his last legs. 10 after earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020. His second . You can almost guarantee a youngster will step up this season that isnt on our preseason list of top running backs. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team Its imperative to note that we havent seen enough from the rookies slated to see action this year. His work may be diminishing in the passing game with Kareem Hunts emergence, but that may play to his real strength of punishing first and second-level defenders on the ground. NFC North Starters: Dalvin Cook ( Vikings ), Aaron Jones (. Have to say the addition of Bernard was a surprise and a significant upgrade over McCoy. NFL Network's "Top 100 Players of 2021" continues Sunday, Aug. 22. Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions 28. The guy is a monster off the edge and will be great for a long time. While Mike Davis played well in McCaffrey's absence last season, no one can really replace CMC. I never like these RB unit rankings because are we weighting the guys in the unit differently? Though they do it in different ways, one thing is for sure about these top 10 theyre a threat to take it to the house on every play. Reggie Bonnafon They finished RB39 and RB15, respectively, last year. Ive already ranked the top 100 fantasy running backs in the NFL, but why not break this down by division? It's that time of year again, when NFL players cast their votes to identify the best in the league heading into the 2022 NFL season. Ezekiel Elliott is coming off the worst season of his career, but the sixth-year pro seems well on his way to a huge bounce-back season. Tevin Coleman's departure was one of the few key losses in free agency for the Falcons. I stand by that, but after the CMC gap, Alvin Kamara is in the next tier. Say what?! Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta. What everybody is missing from Mike McCarthys recent comments about the Cowboys offense, Kellen Moore. With such a talented defense and a quarterback prone to turnovers, Washington likely will rely heavily on their running game this year to carry the load for their offense. KeShawn Vaughn But if hes healthy, hes a rare breed of balance, strength, and elusiveness. Carolina claims the top spot in the division at running back, provided Christian McCaffrey stays healthy this season. An injury decreased his role late in the season and in the postseason but he still averaged 4.0 yards per carry and rushed for 544 yards. 15. Im anticipating a negative game script with the running game, considering theyll be down in plenty of 4th quarters. Ekeler is tied to Justin Herbert for what should be the remainder of his career. He threatens opposing defenses not only out of the backfield but also when lining up both from the slot and outside as a receiver. He still finished RB2 for the year because he had 21 total TDs. Hes recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 25 rushing touchdowns the past two seasons. Latavius Murray Coleman returns to the 49ers as part of their running back committee. Your fantasy football league wasnt hosted on Fantrax last season? The Panthers' crown jewel. 28. The highly-anticipated return of Saquon Barkley to the field in 2021 should refamiliarize the general fan with one of the most talented all-around backs in the league. He'll be back in 2022, and James Robinson (his only real competition for . With big additions to the defensive front, including Jadeveon Clowney, don't be surprised if Garrett comes close to or breaks Michael Strahan's single-season sack record in 2021. Further, Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, and Chris Godwin deserve their fair share of targets too. The fifth-year back is a very good, not elite pure runner, but an outstanding pass-catcher. He would have easily been a 1000 yard back if not for CoRead more , Youre seeing our RBs the same way I do Dr.D. Falcons GM takes AtlantaFalcons.com behind the scenes of one of the most important moments for draft prospects at the combine: The formal interview. Ronald Jones, the Buccaneers' second-round draft pick in 2018, had a disappointing rookie season and gained just 44 yards and scored one touchdown on 23 carries. [CDATA[ On this roster, theyre together, and neither has a defined role. We'll continue our NFC South positional rankings today with running backs. 14. When those RB injuries hit during the season (they always do), league-mates will be knocking down your door to get what you already have!!! Thats not to say Davis is a slouch, as the veteran filled in admirably for Christian McCaffrey last season in Carolina. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta. He's going to be a dynamo in Matt Rhule's offense, helping Sam Darnold make a leap in 2021. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. 3. Listen to the latest from Cards Wires Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. At 28 years old, Davis will be entering an NFL season as a teams feature back for the first time in his career. With that in mind, NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew provides his own ranking of the league's top 10 players 25 and younger heading into the 2021 regular season. Theres even more to do about whether or not running backs matter entering the year. Although the running back position has become a bit marginalized in recent seasons, the NFC South boasts some of the league's top young backs. Then there are RB-friendly systems that will likely see Trey Sermon, Michael Carter, and Kylin Hill as names to know. Henry will not go down on first contact and routinely churns out first down after first down if hes not scoring touchdowns. If folks watch the game, theyd see that RoJo has some real skills running the ball inside and out with power, cutting and balance. Please enter a valid email and try again. A leaky offensive line and an abysmal rushing game have left the Buccaneers with a one-dimensional attack over the last two seasons, allowing opponents to pressure now-former QB, Jameis Winston, into additional turnovers. Spencer Brown The soon-to-be 26-year-old, who requested a trade earlier this offseason, is at Texans camp -- practicing sparingly -- while allegations of sexual assault and harassment made in the 22 lawsuits filed against the quarterback remain under investigation. Your email address will not be published. New Orleans can win games with a . Damien Harris, New England Patriots falcons. Jones is set to be the bell cow in the Green Bay backfield for what seems like the first time in his career. The longtime backfield teammate of Devonta Freeman ran for 800 yards and four touchdowns on 167 carries last season while starting in place of Freeman, who missed all but two games due to injury. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Fresh off signing a new contract, Allen will be well on his way to becoming one of the great quarterbacks of his era if he continues on this trajectory. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports, https://cardswire.usatoday.com/gallery/ranking-the-nfc-west-running-backs/, Cardinals given terrible marks by players on team report card, 4 of 101 best nicknames in NFL history belong to former Cardinals players, One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023, GM, HC searches affected by Cardinals' reputation on compensation, DeAndre Hopkins trade could come before start of free agency, Eagles player takes shot at Jonathan Gannon on social media, Jonathan Gannon 'not sure' if DeAndre Hopkins will play for Cardinals in 2023, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. McCaffrey is the only running back in NFL history to record back-to-back seasons with at least 100 catches from 2018 to 2019. Atlanta has been held to less than 100 yards rushing in 22 of their last 32 games, including 12 games last season. Listen to the latest from Cards Wires Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. The sixth-year running back has already recorded 5,860 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns, having produced at least 1,500 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. The former second-round pick rushed for 867 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns on the ground. Bucky Brooks has Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski linked to the Falcons in first round, Van Ness and Murphy said they'd be thrilled to play in Atlanta, Wilson vows to make big impact, We also talk about which position the Falcons should take in the first round, Atlanta has tons of salary-cap space and No. Devontae Booker had a decent year as the backup in Las Vegas last season, but the fact of the matter is Barkleys ability to stay on the field will determine how successful their run game is. Between the Panthers, Falcons, Saints, and the Bucs, the NFC South has a plethora (SAT word for y'all) of backfield candidates to use in your lineups. Unthinkable! 2021 Jones 2021 Thompson 2021 Vaughn 2021 Prentice 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 24 24 24 24 Explore Which team has won the most Super Bowls? Considering that new head coach Arthur Smith hails from Tennessee, where he had Derrick Henry, Leonard Fournette Pollard is only going to get better as his role in the offense expands. For his career, the bruising back out of Ohio State now has 6,384 rushing yards and another 1,957 receiving yards with 56 total touchdowns. 40-31? Murray is capable of carrying the load for a game or two, and has even made strides at receiver during his time in New Orleans. The 27-year-old Fournette is a 6-foot and 228-Lb. With that in mind, Maurice Jones-Drew provides his ranking of the top 10 QB-pass catcher duos heading into 2022. An asset in both the run and pass games, Chubb racked up 1,217 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns last season. 30-21? The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Let us know in the comments section what you think of our rankings. Ito Smith carried the ball 90 times for 315 yards and four scores during his rookie season, and Brian Hill ran wild in a Week 16 game against the Panthers, gaining 115 yards on just eight carries. Armah comes over from Carolina to be the next Payton fullback and add to New Orleans outstanding special teams. The players have spoken. As long as Jackson is on the field, Baltimore will have a chance. Qadree Ollison Jul 18, 2020 12:41 PM EDT. Earlier in this article, I mentioned that theres not another player that will command the percentage of his offense that CMC does. Despite splitting carries in the Packers backfield, Aaron Jones easily lands on any list of top running backs in the NFL. Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas Seven players 25 years old and younger make an appearance in the list, which is voted on by the players themselves, between Nos. I tend to avoid taking either of them, but you cant deny there will be weeks that one of them will win you matchups. 2 back in Arizona this season behind Kenyan Drake. He has been more productive than Darrell Henderson. Atlanta Falcons. It is the quality of the starter that pushes the Bucs ranks down compared to CMC and Kamara. 1. New Orleans can win games with a historically efficient passing attack, a much-improved defense, or a playmaking special teams squad. 2021 Fantasy Tight End Depth Charts: NFC South, Free Agent Tight End Predictions for 2023, Superflex Dynasty Rankings: 2023 Offseason Update, Dynasty Football Rankings: 2023 Offseason Update, Free Agent Wide Receiver Predictions for 2023. New Orleans Saints. C.J. Its not far-fetched to think the best two receiving backs in the league reside in the NFC South. Who has the best running backs in the NFC East? The back-to-back reigning rushing champion tops the list of best running backs in the NFL. Cowboys draft 2023: Bijan Robinson should be an exception to not drafting a RB in the first round. After rushing for more than 1,100 yards in 2018, he topped that with 1,230 in 2019. The running back appears to be in great shape, revealing during the Hall of Fame Game last week that he has lost 10lbs in preparation for the upcoming season. Smith had 41 carries and nine catches last season, but didnt really stand out. Give him 325 carries and he'll give you 1,500 yards. Its a big offseason for the former third-round pick, and Vaughn should get plenty of opportunity to prove himself in the preseason. He has speed and power, just needs to keep working to find his role. Hell consistently break through arm tackles the same as hell run around defenders with impressive elusiveness. Michael Turner, Atlanta. He's a fullback, but he belongs on this list. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio. NFL Network's 'Top 100 Players of 2022' has been unveiled. For him to step up like that at just 23 years old is a testament . The other nine are . When you carry the ball, you kind of carry the whole hope of the whole team, organization and fan base. Despite having the seventh-worst rushing offense in football last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Eagles running back Miles Sanders had a solid season. The NFC West has some talented running backs in the conference. Allen made huge jumps in his on-field production, confidence and command of the offense last season. Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens Barkleys first two seasons of full health in New York saw him prove to be a home-run threat at every touch. He's still something of a secret to a lot of people. He's down 10 pounds. Nov 22, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Ito Smith (25) is tackled by New Orleans Saints strong safety Kurt Coleman (29) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams They also look for improved play from their young offensive line to establish their running game and have a more balanced offensive attack. He has terrific vision, amazing balance, incredible speed, and plenty of elusiveness. Fullback Keith Smith has 12 career rushing attempts, but will mostly just contribute as a blocker. Freeman should be back healthy for 2019, and the Falcons are a better team with him on the field. Pollard made some explosive plays just like the one shown below. Gonzalez recalls matchup with Drake London during his days with Colorado. The NFL's top running backs will take center stage when the 2021 season returns. 50-41? Pierre Thomas, New Orleans. At just 24 years old, Barkley is just getting started. It's not far-fetched to think the best two receiving backs in the league reside in the NFC South. The age listed under each player's name is the age he will be on Sept. 9. Washingtons running back group is versatile, fairly young, and productive. This isnt old by any stretch, but its old enough to make me think that if you were truly a starting running back, youd have got your chance to start before this point. A daily roundup of all your Dallas Cowboys news from Blogging The Boys, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Blogging The Boys, a Dallas Cowboys fan community, Ranking the NFC East position groups: Running backs, Report: Cowboys prepared to place franchise tag on Tony Pollard if no deal reached by Tuesday. (Note: This list only reflects players taking advantage of the new rule change and not a number swap that would have previously been permitted). Kenyan Drake, Las Vegas Raiders Not bad for a guy who has bounced around the league for six seasons. 9. Atlanta also drafted Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green, further bolstering their depth. Davis impressed as McCaffreys backup last year, but now there is limited depth in Carolina. The Cowboys get to pair Elliott with one of the better backup running backs in football in Tony Pollard. Scott has been around the league since 2018 and has had some production, five rushing TDs in 2019 and 374 rushing yards in 2020, but isnt going to scare a defense. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay. The NFC West has a number of talented running backs. The competition with Fournette should produce a formidable tandem and best in our division. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Says he's the toughest matchup he had in college. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Behind Sanders, Philadelphia has third-year man Boston Scott and two unproven players in Jason Huntley and Kenneth Gainwell. Nick Chubb is arguably the NFLs most elusive ball carrier. 4. Last year, Kamara rushed for under 1000 yards with under 800 yards receiving. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina. Here is my top 10: 1. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. An elusive rusher, Hunt is perhaps even better through the air and after the catch. With the start of the 2021 NFL regular season less than a month away, we take a stab at ranking the NFC East position groups. It's for this reason that my favorite strategy is to draft a running back with my first 4 picksregardless of league style (redraft . With amazing contact balance and tremendous lower body strength, no defender is safe from Barkeys highlight reel. However, he has yet to play a full 16 games for the Vikings and has missed 23 career games in his first four seasons with a variety of injuries. AS you noted, McCafferty was injured most of last season and I believe his imjuries were attributable to overuse. Michael Turner, Atlanta. NFL Network's "Top 100 Players of 2022" -- voted on by the players themselves -- comes to a conclusion on Sunday night. 1. The combination of Kamara, Murray and Washington gives New Orleans a pretty complete backfield trio. Atlanta to tack on more money to their cap savings in 2023 with the release of the veteran quarterback. Dec 29, 2019; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs after a reception in the third quarter. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills The reason I dont have him higher is that I had to discount the fact that we dont know who the starting QB will be. Everyone will remember his 29-carry, 220-yard performance in the playoffs, but he will still be a member of the running back committee in Kyle Shanahans offense. Copyright 2019-2023. But, when you compare the teams running back groups altogether, theres no question the Cowboys have the best group in the division. But Im thinking 4th or 5th round at best. The third-round pick had a very productive rookie year in 2020, rushing for 795 yards and scoring an extremely . panthers 12:07 left in this one. 2. Tony Jones Names like Javonte Williams in Denver, Rhamondre Stevenson in New England, or Jaret Patterson in Washington are likely to surface before too long. section: | slug: nfl-jersey-numbers-heres-a-running-list-of-players-who-have-decided-to-make-a-switch-beginning-in-2021 | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals Which 10 players make up Nos. The Saints not only have a premier running back in Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara, they also have one of the deepest running back rooms in the league. Jeremy Bergman provides five items that he believes should have been handled differently by the "Top 100 Players of 2022" voters. Despite having a solid season on the ground, Sanders receiving totals did drop drastically. Top 32 running backs for the 2021 NFL season | 1-10, Top 32 running backs for the 2021 NFL season | 11-32.
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