Covers the New Orleans Saints as contributing writer for Saints News Network. With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those people should review Fournettes passing stats with the Jags. Barkleys first two seasons of full health in New York saw him prove to be a home-run threat at every touch. Accurate ranking. Which team has the most wins as home dogs since 2016? Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas They were held below 100 yards rushing in just four games last season, losing 2, and compliment their 1-2 running back punch with the versatility and unpredictability of backup quarterback Taysom Hill. Expect him to be an even bigger part of Tampa Bay's offense in 2022. A surprisingly large player for his size at 59, 208, Jones lowers the boom just the same as hell skirt by second-level defenders with speed. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans. Who has the best running backs in the NFC East? The 2020 Saints have two running backs who could start for most NFL teams, including a three-time Pro Bowler in Alvin Kamara, one of the most dangerous weapons in football. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Tampa Bay hopes to provide newly signed and six-time Super Bowl champion QB Tom Brady with better support, and Brady has needed a productive rushing attack and stout offensive line as his play has dropped off in recent seasons. Mike Davis All Rights Reserved. Who is a 27 year old running back in the nfc? Anderson. To qualify, a player will. The 2019 NFL MVP is a nightmare for defenses as a phenomenal rusher and improving passer, and we should see him make a leap in the passing game with more weapons around him in 2021. Qadree Ollison Tony Brooks-James David Montgomery, Chicago Bears Jackson is a proven winner, too. Though his days as an elite runner may be behind him, Zekes durability and well-rounded ability were on display in 2020. 8 overall draft pick, assets required to get better fast. As far as the Bucs are concerned I expect RoJo tp come back year more improved just as he has every year. bucs 27. Still, hes certainly proven to be as valuable as any running back in any backfield across the league. 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. Let us know in the comments section what you think of our rankings. Like, in terms of entire unit, I cant in good faith grade the Panthers #1. Seven players 25 years old and younger make an appearance in the list, which is voted on by the players themselves, between Nos. The competition with Fournette should produce a formidable tandem and best in our division. 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. 40 and 31. Mike James. The former second-overall pick missed three games during 2019, followed up by missing 14 games after tearing his ACL in Week 2 of this past season. However, in 13 games he only managed to get 39 carries. He makes mincemeat of defensive backs in space while possessing plenty of straight-line speed to outrun just about anyone on the field. If Mostert has his way, he might not even begin the season in the division. 20 and 11. Episode 9 of the "Top 100 Players of 2022" airs on Sunday, revealing the highest-ranked undrafted player in the players' list between Nos. Kamara had his stats hindered when Taysom Hill was QB, as he would vulture TDs and take carries away from Alvin. An asset in both the run and pass games, Chubb racked up 1,217 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Buccaneers, Alvin Kamara reaches milestone while helping Saints stop Seahawks, Loss of Christian McCaffrey, Jaycee Horn overshadows Panthers' 3-0 start, Former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen says son's heart 'reaching its end', Carolina Panthers NFL draft picks 2021: Analysis for every selection, Former New York Giants safety could play key role for Bucs in Super Bowl 2021, Ex-Jets coach Todd Bowles goes from green to greener pastures with Bucs, Tom Brady's success with Buccaneers sparks mixed reaction in New England, Previously covered NFC South for ESPN.com, Covered Panthers for The Charlotte Observer from 1999-2008, Began journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990. They also add an underrated balance to their lethal offense with an effective running game that keeps defenses off balance. Which 10 players make up Nos. Continuing my NFC South position group rankings, I've dug into each team's current crop of running backs to determine how they stack up. Dec 29, 2019; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs after a reception in the third quarter. 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. Today, we start by taking a look at the running backs. He rushed for 772 yards on a whopping 5.6 yards per attempt last season. Though he narrowly missed 1,000 yards last year, he chipped in with 50+ receptions out of the backfield for the third straight season. His second . He had just under 700 yards rushing and just under 400 yards receiving. 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. 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. 31. The drop in the team's rushing production led the Falcons to part ways with Devonta Freeman this offseason and bring in Gurley, whose own production has slipped because of various injuries, leaving a doubt to how much left he has in the tank. 1 thing thats my focus this year is protecting the ball.. Thats not to say Davis is a slouch, as the veteran filled in admirably for Christian McCaffrey last season in Carolina. For a reminder of what I look for in each category, click here. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Hoover's not quite as dominant a blocker as Mughelli, but he's been very solid and dependable for a long time. Jameis at the helm would provide significant upside in both categories. His power is perfect complement to Williams' speed. As a team, the Giants scored 17 points or fewer in half of their games. And I still really like Vaughn. But I think he's going to be the primary ball carrier in an offense that runs often. Hes recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 25 rushing touchdowns the past two seasons. The guy is a monster off the edge and will be great for a long time. No one should be surprised to see Mahomes, who barely qualifies for this list with his 26th birthday falling just eight days after the NFL Kickoff Game, in this spot. NFC West. The combination of Kamara, Murray and Washington gives New Orleans a pretty complete backfield trio. McCaffrey only played three games last season, and his loss was felt more acutely in the pass game than the run game. Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts Chubb has been an instrumental part of the Browns' new winning culture as a focal point in Kevin Stefanski's offense. At just 24 years old, Barkley is just getting started. When hes on the field, theres no disputing that Saquon Barkley is one of the best five running backs in football. Michael Carter led film session with running backs as RB coach Taylor Embree and wife welcomed baby . Theres much to do about the top running backs in the NFL entering the 2021 season. Carolina's offense is almost solely on the shoulders of McCaffrey, who may be the only back in the league more versatile than the Saints Kamara. Troymaine Pope. RB1. 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. If folks watch the game, theyd see that RoJo has some real skills running the ball inside and out with power, cutting and balance. Montgomery has ideal traits for a Sean Payton offense, while Washington has flashed a few times in his career, and is a key special teamer. Atlanta also drafted Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green, further bolstering their depth. Im higher on Rojo than most but much will depend on what version of Fournette the Bucs get. The guy was a totally different player. C.J. This backfield is chaos and I hate it. Disagree. Gambling problem? McKinnon returns for a third season with the 49ers but has yet to play a single snap in the regular season because of injuries. If Zeke wants to regain his All-Pro form, his number one priority must be protecting the football. Its for this reason that my favorite strategy is to draft a running back with my first 4 picksregardless of league style (redraft, dynasty, etc.). Christian McCaffrey I would take our 3rd guy (Gio) and likely 2nd guy (Fournette or Rojo) over any other teams backups. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Still, this is McCaffrey's show. Atlanta hopes to limit Gurley's touches by finally getting a full season from Ito Smith, a promising power back who has been plagued by injury over his first two seasons. His second half of 2019 showed what he could be. 16. With Tom Brady's retirement, what's next for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at quarterback? Nonetheless, the running game is important to every teams offense. He is a very good complementary back, something the 49ers have many of. Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey have been stars since entering the league in 2017, and Devonta Freeman should be healthy after missing much of the 2018 season. This is it. Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas We'll continue our NFC South positional rankings today with running backs. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars The third-round pick had a very productive rookie year in 2020, rushing for 795 yards and scoring an extremely . He would have ranked second on this list. But if hes healthy, hes a rare breed of balance, strength, and elusiveness. [CDATA[ 15. The former fourth-round pick showed some really good signs last season, rushing for 435 yards and scoring four touchdowns. . Matt Brown. Travis Etienne (JAC): 23 years old, James Robinson (JAC): 23years old. I don't think the Seahawks get close to the playoff team they've been the past two seasons without him. The 27-year-old Fournette is a 6-foot and 228-Lb. 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. The New Orleans Saints have won the last three NFC South titles because they have one of the most talented rosters in the league. His greatest attribute might be his ability to make defenders miss. Josh Jacobs has eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau in each of his first two seasons with the Raiders. Ive already ranked the top 100 fantasy running backs in the NFL, but why not break this down by division? The back-to-back reigning rushing champion tops the list of best running backs in the NFL. The Saints possess a luxury none of their other division rivals to have in the way of a powerful offensive line that takes over games. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Which team had the most players ranked? 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. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! (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. Henry will not go down on first contact and routinely churns out first down after first down if hes not scoring touchdowns. He's still going to get plenty of carries in a ball-control offense and could even get some time at fullback. 10. 4 on this list. But Kamara is the prize of the group. Are we talking the entire unit as a whole and comparing the sum of their parts? The NFC West has some talented running backs in the conference. Rodney Smith I aim to find value at other positions like WR and QB because if I miss on a bet at those positions, I can always trade one of my RBs for a roster weakness during the season. Who was the top rookie? ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013 . The former second-round pick rushed for 867 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns on the ground. By all accounts, Elliott has looked great during training camp. 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. Reggie Bonnafon Gibson also caught 36 passes for 247 yards, bringing his total yards to 1,042 in just 14 games. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. With today's high-flying NFL offenses, it's a golden era for pass catchers. Mikey Daniel He threatens opposing defenses not only out of the backfield but also when lining up both from the slot and outside as a receiver. Metcalf has delivered in every aspect since he walked shirtless into a meeting at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine with the team that would later draft him. 23. Alvin Kamara We are looking at overall depth right not starters? Alvin Kamara is a ridiculously talented RB more than deserving of his place on the list of top running backs. 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!!! Please check your email for a confirmation. Among the 12 backs who made our top 10 list, based on ties, Michael Turner (29), Steven Jackson (27) and Frank Gore (27) rank as the old men. ALVIN KAMARA, SAINTS. 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). But he still can hurt you out of the backfield, at times, as much as any running back in the league. The 2 rookies to keep am eye on are Javian Hawkins-Atlanta and Chuba Hubbard-Carolina. Between his durability and the Cardinals running scheme that gives him open spaces to run, he might end up leading the NFC West in rushing. I tend to avoid taking either of them, but you cant deny there will be weeks that one of them will win you matchups. Unthinkable! Hell consistently break through arm tackles the same as hell run around defenders with impressive elusiveness. 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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Top 32 running backs for the 2021 NFL season | 1-10, Top 32 running backs for the 2021 NFL season | 11-32. Listen to the latest from Cards Wires Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Who is the best? Sanders got off to a slow start, but still finished with some decent numbers. Names like Javonte Williams in Denver, Rhamondre Stevenson in New England, or Jaret Patterson in Washington are likely to surface before too long. He barely played in three games a season ago and still scored 6 total touchdowns. 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. Ive projected a little regression in that stat, but Im expecting more all-purpose yards for Kamara this year. Which NFC South team has the best running game heading into the 2020 NFL season? 4 spot on this list, but his career is currently in limbo. FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette sprints to the end zone to score on a 27-yard touchdown run during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against. Since 2019, he's posted a 24-6 regular-season record as a starter and helped the Ravens to three straight postseasons, including his first playoff victory last January. 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. No, he's not a true running back. 50 percent of the Panthers offensive plays went through him the prior season and when a player starts getting injuries from overuse, they generally don stop or go away. @EzekielElliott's ready to go in 2021. : @ProFootballHOF Game on FOX pic.twitter.com/5UU3CkoIro. 20-11? Home | Ranking The NFC South: Running Backs. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Our resident cover man, Jason McCourty, ranks his top 10. Ty Montgomery New Orleans Saints collapse continues on Thanksgiving with fourth straight loss, Tom Brady gets Rob Gronkowski back, Buccaneers back in win column, Saints' Sean Payton defends 'super aggressive' approach after fans boo clock management, Why Saints quarterback Jameis Winston isn't motivated by revenge vs. Fantasy Fallout: With Gavin Lux Out, Could A Sleeper Emerge? 1. He'll be back in 2022, and James Robinson (his only real competition for . 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. Since entering the league in 2018, Chubb has forced 168 missed tackles, second-most in the NFL behind only Derrick Henry, according to Pro Football Focus. The highest non-starter on this list, Kareem Hunt packs half of the punch for the leagues top RB duo in Cleveland. Hyde returns to the NFC West, having begun his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers. 1 focus entering this season. Having a player like Chubb in the backfield makes life a lot easier for Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense. The team could be hoping for a breakout year with Jones, but the combination of him and Barber isn't too frightening. I expect RB26 and RB28 this year with a full year together. 21. 30. Panthers are per thin. bulldozer with underrated open field agility. Its an embarrassment of riches, and thats not ideal for fantasy. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Arizona Cardinals Top RBs under contract for 2022: Eno Benjamin Key free agents: James Conner (UFA), Chase Edmonds (UFA), Jonathan Ward (ERFA) Conner was a revelation in the desert, racking up 18. He has been more productive than Darrell Henderson. Prosise Instead its his pass-catching skills, where he consistently creates separation as a route runner, even from a receiver alignment. For the newest installment of Fantraxs fantasy running back depth charts series, were going to delve into the NFC South. Privacy Policy. It is the quality of the starter that pushes the Bucs ranks down compared to CMC and Kamara. As long as Jackson is on the field, Baltimore will have a chance. Carolina Panthers. 3. 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. Chubb is no stranger to big plays and has scored 30 total touchdowns in just three seasons. Even with an injury-shortened season, McCaffrey has recorded 3,145 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 2,672 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns in just four years. Which RB enters the season atop the list? Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers A quality running back is a scarce fantasy asset. Michael Turner, Atlanta. NFC South. 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. 8. The third-round pick had a very productive rookie year in 2020, rushing for 795 yards and scoring an extremely impressive 11 touchdowns. 1 back in the second half of last season on their Super Bowl run. He really found his groove as the complement to Nick Chubb in Cleveland a season ago, rushing for 921 yards and 9 touchdowns. A: . 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.