It was Thomas and he's solid. Behind Sanders, Philadelphia has third-year man Boston Scott and two unproven players in Jason Huntley and Kenneth Gainwell. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks Since joining the Saints in 2017, Kamara has averaged over 5 yards per carry and has scored 31 touchdowns. However, in 13 games he only managed to get 39 carries. Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK, Sign up for the Cards Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina. The team could be hoping for a breakout year with Jones, but the combination of him and Barber isn't too frightening. 27. Further, the Falcons are going to be bad this year. The Panthers hope Hubbard, a fourth-round pick, can become their eventual replacement for Davis. Perhaps Im being too bearish on Davis outlook, but RB34 for his situation this year doesnt seem out of the question. McCaffrey was both the Panthers' leading rusher and receiver in 2018, gaining 1,965 total offensive yards and scoring 13 combined touchdowns. So, who are the best wide receivers in football entering the 2022 season? You could argue that if you individually compare Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott, Barkley is the better runner. Ill be honest. He really found his groove as the complement to Nick Chubb in Cleveland a season ago, rushing for 921 yards and 9 touchdowns. Unfortunately for Barkley, since playing in all 16 games during his rookie year in 2018, hes had some trouble staying on the field. Who was the top rookie? 1. Prosise But it remains to be seen, after he's missed time each of the last two seasons, if Freeman can stay on the field. 2. The Falcons general manager said the organization would not close any doors when working to fill out the quarterback position. 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. With that in mind, Michael Robinson provides his ranking of the top 10 active undrafted players heading into the 2022 season. Falcons just have to be careful not to overuse him this year. NFL Network's 'Top 100 Players of 2022' has been unveiled. Though his days as an elite runner may be behind him, Zekes durability and well-rounded ability were on display in 2020. Needing to replenish depth, the Cowboys should look into free agent defensive lineman Arden Key. Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions 28. Michael Turner, Atlanta. Still, hes certainly proven to be as valuable as any running back in any backfield across the league. CMC is absolutely this years RB1. He'll be back in 2022, and James Robinson (his only real competition for . Tony Jones 1 focus is this season. Jacobs is a skilled runner in space, losing very little speed through his breaks. The 24-year-old running back is having one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history, leading the league in rushing yards (988), rushing TDs (13) and rushing yards per game (98.8). Mike Davis Expect him to be an even bigger part of Tampa Bay's offense in 2022. 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. Ekeler is tied to Justin Herbert for what should be the remainder of his career. In his last fully healthy season (2019), the Panthers' running back led the league in touches (403) and scrimmage yards (2,392, third-most in NFL history) and tied for first in scrimmage TDs (19). For him to step up like that at just 23 years old is a testament . Between the Panthers, Falcons, Saints, and the Bucs, the NFC South has a plethora (SAT word for yall) of backfield candidates to use in your lineups. 2. Jackson is a proven winner, too. Please check your email for a confirmation. bucs Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams 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. When hes on the field, theres no disputing that Saquon Barkley is one of the best five running backs in football. Hell consistently break through arm tackles the same as hell run around defenders with impressive elusiveness. NFC South . Panthers are per thin. His greatest attribute might be his ability to make defenders miss. The WFT's running back group is led by the versatile 23-year-old Antonio Gibson. He might not lead the division in rushing because of the addition of Hyde, but he enters the season as the best of the West. 1 running back in 2020. 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. Cowboys rumors: No progress towards Leighton Vander Esch deal, Donovan Wilson deal unlikely. Dec 29, 2019; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs after a reception in the third quarter. 2021 NFL preseason Week 1: What we learned about each NFC team, 2021 NFL preseason Week 1: What we learned about each AFC team, NFL player cuts tracker: Team-by-team roster moves, NFL's 30 best players over 30 entering 2021 season. Fullback Keith Smith has 12 career rushing attempts, but will mostly just contribute as a blocker. 2 back is. Mason Stokke. Mike James. You'll now receive the top Cards Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. I dont entirely know what to make of Mike Davis. The 27-year-old Fournette is a 6-foot and 228-Lb. Freeman should be back healthy for 2019, and the Falcons are a better team with him on the field. Ollison and Brooks-James have combined for 33 career carries, and Hawkins and Huntley are rookies. What everybody is missing from Mike McCarthys recent comments about the Cowboys offense, Kellen Moore. We are looking at overall depth right not starters? Chubb is no stranger to big plays and has scored 30 total touchdowns in just three seasons. 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. The combination of Kamara, Murray and Washington gives New Orleans a pretty complete backfield trio. Outside of the QB position (specifically Lamar Jackson), theres not a player in the league that will command a larger percentage of their teams offense than CMC. Players ranked 40-11 will be revealed Sunday over the course of three hours -- each one-hour episode unveiling a new set of 10 honorees -- beginning at 4 p.m. 11. His 643 rushing yards in eight games put him on a pace for nearly 1,300 yards. Hes recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 25 rushing touchdowns the past two seasons. 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. In his first two seasons, he's recorded 2,518 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns (including the playoffs), evidence that he deserves to be considered among the game's elite, thanks to a combination of his size (6-foot-4, 229 pounds), near-Olympic-caliber speed and confidence. Seattle won 28-26. If hes healthy for 16 games, Barkleys a virtual lock for 1,200 or more rushing yards and tons of explosive plays. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team But if hes healthy, hes a rare breed of balance, strength, and elusiveness. ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013 . Hes recorded 43 scores on the ground and another 15 through the air, proving to be a touchdown machine in the Saints offense. With Tom Brady back, can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make another Super Bowl run? 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. Now what did they get wrong? This did not stop Barkley from totaling 1,441 yards from scrimmage, 1,003 rushing and 438 receiving, and eight touchdowns. South Florida: Johnson, David: New Orleans Saints: Northern Iowa . But that's not going to last much longer. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. 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. He has impressed both coaching staffs he has played for immensely. Before we get into the full list of which players are making the change, let's take a quick look at what numbers are now available to specific positions. 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. In my view, CMC should always be the first running back off the board. Troymaine Pope. Which NFC South team has the best running game heading into the 2020 NFL season? He's down 10 pounds. A lot has changed since the end of the 2020 season, when Watson led the league in passing yards (4,823). Cowboys draft 2023: Bijan Robinson should be an exception to not drafting a RB in the first round. Disagree. 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 Panthers' overall rushing production dropped in 2019 because of the loss of QB Cam Newton and an offensive line that struggled. I stand by that, but after the CMC gap, Alvin Kamara is in the next tier. As a team, the Giants scored 17 points or fewer in half of their games. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers 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. RB1. It would not be the same as drafting a RB with the fourth overall pick. Hes somehow managed to record at least 81 receptions in each of his first four seasons with the Saints while also rushing for 3,340 yards on the ground. Reggie Bonnafon Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. . Washington pairs Gibson with JD McKissic, one of the better backup running backs in the league. 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. Armah comes over from Carolina to be the next Payton fullback and add to New Orleans outstanding special teams. 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. The rebuilding of Panthers' offensive success will once again rely on his abilities in 2020. Jeremy Bergman provides five items that he believes should have been handled differently by the "Top 100 Players of 2022" voters. ET. Privacy Policy. He also provides an excellent floor because even if the game script isnt favoring the run game, CMC will get plenty of targets through the air. He has requested a trade as he, who signed a three-year contract last offseason, would like to be paid more like his fellow running backs on the team. He is good but he might not be the same guy in another offense. Im higher on Rojo than most but much will depend on what version of Fournette the Bucs get. Last year, Kamara rushed for under 1000 yards with under 800 yards receiving. It seems like Tony Pollard will be with the Cowboys at least through 2023. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at 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. It's for this reason that my favorite strategy is to draft a running back with my first 4 picksregardless of league style (redraft . When you carry the ball, you kind of carry the whole hope of the whole team, organization and fan base. Latavius Murray Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals Considering that new head coach Arthur Smith hails from Tennessee, where he had Derrick Henry, Leonard Fournette 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. Ranking the top six running backs in the NFC North division, entering the 2021 NFL season. 1 in Green Bay. Your fantasy football league wasnt hosted on Fantrax last season? 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. 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. 31. After becoming just the fourth player in league history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same year, McCaffrey signed a 4-Yr $64 million dollar contract extension this offseason that makes him the highest-paid back in the NFL. 27. Covers the New Orleans Saints as contributing writer for Saints News Network. Where do the two Arizona Cardinals lead backs in James Conner and Chase Edmonds . 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. Which team boasts three representatives? 30-21? Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports. Home | Ranking The NFC South: Running Backs. Losing Mark Ingram in free agency will certainly be felt next season, but the Saints' decision to add Latavius Murray, who gained 578 yards and scored six touchdowns on 140 carries with the Vikings last season, will help mitigate that. They have CMC and then a bunch of question marks. 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. The 2 rookies to keep am eye on are Javian Hawkins-Atlanta and Chuba Hubbard-Carolina. He's coming off a season in which he had 12 sacks, 18 QB hits and four forced fumbles while notching seven turnovers caused by pressure (most in the NFL), according to Next Gen Stats. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Theres much to do about the top running backs in the NFL entering the 2021 season. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The guy was a totally different player. Carolina was held below 100 yards rushing seven times last season and went 2-5 in those contests. Jul 18, 2020 12:41 PM EDT. 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. The crazy thing is, it feels as if Mahomes is just getting started. Tampa Bays top four running backs are as locked in as any teams, but finding a real role for Vaughn when the season begins remains a mystery. Hes totaled 2,692 yards and a whopping 29 touchdowns over the past two seasons while also chipping in with 880 yards out of the backfield. 1. 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. Earlier in this article, I mentioned that theres not another player that will command the percentage of his offense that CMC does. Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas We'll continue our NFC South positional rankings today with running backs. 8 overall draft pick, assets required to get better fast. Ronald Jones II 1. Please check your email for a confirmation. 30 and 21. McCaffrey only played three games last season, and his loss was felt more acutely in the pass game than the run game. In terms of the entire units right now, I take theRead more . The Cowboys get to pair Elliott with one of the better backup running backs in football in Tony Pollard. An asset in both the run and pass games, Chubb racked up 1,217 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns last season. 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. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans. NFC South. Listen to the latest from Cards Wires Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. He is great in short-yardage situations and can break away. Allen made huge jumps in his on-field production, confidence and command of the offense last season. The Cowboys may wind up losing two key defenders this offseason. His downfield passing improved immensely in 2020, when he completed 26 passes of 20-plus yards, per Next Gen Stats, while also continuing to be a threat in the run game, with at least eight rushing TDs in each of his first three seasons. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. With today's high-flying NFL offenses, it's a golden era for pass catchers. Jon Ledyard is PewterReport.com's newest Bucs beat writer and has experience covering the Pittsburgh Steelers as a beat writer and analyzing the NFL Draft for several draft websites, including The Draft Network. Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos, 22. Buccaneers; . A: . Jones is set to be the bell cow in the Green Bay backfield for what seems like the first time in his career. 5. 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. Despite having a solid season on the ground, Sanders receiving totals did drop drastically. Michael Smith. Today, we start by taking a look at the running backs. 18. Quarterback: 1-19Running back: 1-49, 80-89Wide receiver/tight end: 1-49, 80-89Offensive line: 50-79Defensive line: 50-79, 90-99Linebacker: 1-59, 90-99Defensive backs: 1-49Kicker/punter: 1-19. He makes mincemeat of defensive backs in space while possessing plenty of straight-line speed to outrun just about anyone on the field. Brown is a solid short-yardage back to have on the roster. follow. Akers almost enters the NFL in these rankings above Coleman but not quite. Steven Jackson . He barely played in three games a season ago and still scored 6 total touchdowns. Ive projected a little regression in that stat, but Im expecting more all-purpose yards for Kamara this year. Episode 7 of the "Top 100 Players of 2022" airs on Sunday, revealing two productive QB-pass catcher combos in the players' list between Nos. KeShawn Vaughn document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a08d096c4d28c133811168daadc5e888" );document.getElementById("fe53143262").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. He had a brief fumbling problem but is consistent. 20. Mandatory Credit: Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports. Number one fumbling the ball, Elliott said when asked what his No. Pro Football Network, LLC. Hes 28 years old, and getting his first real shot at being a starting running back for the entire season. 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. Akers will likely become the Rams top running back as a rookie. Hes recorded 16 total touchdowns on receptions in four seasons and has proven to be an incredibly difficult task to bring down in space. 1 back against the Giants showed he can be good. Episode 9 of the "Top 100 Players of 2022" airs on Sunday, revealing the highest-ranked undrafted player in the players' list between Nos. His production will depend on his usage this coming season. Not saying it shouldnt be factored in, but both Karama and McCaffrey are valued more for their pass receiving prowess than their still good running accomplishments. 6. Qadree Ollison Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts Today we compare the running games of each team in the NFC South, with the opening of training camp right around the corner. New Orleans can win games with a . 26. Brian Leonard. 50-41? The competition with Fournette should produce a formidable tandem and best in our division. Drake has yet to put together a great full season, but will get his chance as the Cardinals No. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 3. But Kamara is the prize of the group. Hunt was terrific in Kansas City for his first two seasons, totaling well over 2,100 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns. Roland Frederickson Koy Sayers Anderson Butler Osborn Tucker Willard Kurek Edwards Garrison Grabowski Granger Reeves Reed Harraway Farr Lindsey Baker Cunningham Hull Jones Ellison Shy Explore Who had the best record against the spread last season? Damien Harris, New England Patriots 14. 23. Its imperative to note that we havent seen enough from the rookies slated to see action this year. Elliott has now hauled in multiple receiving touchdowns and at least 300 receiving yards in four of his five seasons. Oops. Chuba Hubbard Has shown flashes in a limited role, but you get the feeling the Falcons are going to watch Turner's carries closely this year and that could mean more for Norwood. The Cowboys head coach made some comments about the offense that deserve a closer look as they seemed to have been misinterpreted. 40-31? Unthinkable! 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.