Too many negative and no-gain plays kept the offense out of favorable down and distance situations and put too much of the workload on an over-the-hill Ben Roethlisberger. The Indianapolis Colts will be entering training camp later this month boasting one of the best backfields in the entire NFL. He was the only Texans player to record a carry. Having him back healthy for 2022 will only help Sean McVay in his mission to run it back. His 7.3 yards per total target (combined rushing and receiving) is the top of any returning back in the division. J.K. Dobbins 2021 season was cut preemptively short by a torn ACL injury suffered against the Washington Commanders in the final preseason game. The Giants have a big name as well in Barkley, but it's fair to wonder if he can get back to elite form. Maurice Jones-Drew has one thought about the Cowboys' usage of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Zeke's return: Keep it even-steven! 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. Las Vegas Raiders beat writer Tashan Reed previews quarterback question . The DCs project the real-life pecking order expected to be used by head coaches at the respective franchises, not where RotoWire projects those players to finish in fantasy leagues. 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! Hes the perfect compliment to the Bengals high-flying passing attack, being a downhill runner that can pound it between the tackles and wear teams out. Nick Chubb is a force of nature. Before diving into the fantasy season, RotoBaller has you covered with some last-minute running back depth chart recaps for each team, including some useful bits of analysis for players you want to keep on your radar. Then for Houston, Burkhead rushed for a career-high 427 yards in 2021, which included a 149-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Chargers in Week 16. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The 2022 group of Bengals running backs will be similar if not the same as the 2021 group. 2. All four teams (the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers) have general managers, front offices, and personnel departments that have proven more than capable of evaluating, acquiring, and retaining talent in recent years. I expect Mixon to have another break out year for the Bengals and to make this ranking tough. 3 in Cincinnati, and hes a bit like former running back Giovani Bernard. McKissic. Hes a strong special teams player, but he provides nothing offensively as a No. Hes had three 1,000-yard seasons in the last four, missing 10 games in 2020. The Bengals are lucky to have Perine to back up Mixon. Type above and press Enter to search. Please note that the charts below are based on individual team depth charts and come from RotoWire's projected starting units. Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. But dont let his being on a better team last year fool you, Harris is already a better running back. 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. The Browns' offense may favor the pass at a higher clip in 2022 with Deshaun Watson under center (6th lowest passing play percentage in 2021 at 54 percent), but Chubb will still get his fair share of carries and further cement himself among the elite at the position. Where Mixon stands out is his ability to be an all-ways back. Sanders proved to everyone he's able to be an every-down back in Week 4. These odds could change during the preseason and assuredly will change in-season. Today, we rank the starting running backs for each opponent Atlanta will face this season. Will Edwards-Helaire prove he's a legitimate No. Second-year pro Chris Evans profiles as the No. Depth charts for every team 11 and No. Evans hauled in two receiving touchdowns out of the backfield last season and should be in line for more work. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Lamar Jackson is going to be their top rusher no matter what. Add in soft hands and good pass protection skills and Perine is an ideal third-down back who can come in on earlier downs in the pinch. Unfortunately, that help isnt behind him at the moment. . Heres the final tally ofSteelers Nowsconsensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. He brings a significant downhill presence to the Ravens rushing attack. 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. Hines has been targeted 81, 58, and 76 times in the past three seasons, catching 78, 76, and 83 percent of those throws. The Dolphins went out in free agency and signed three running backs with legitimate starting experience to support Tua Tagovailoa, and the Patriots have a solid stable of players who helped Mac Jones plenty during his rookie campaign. Falcons: TEs Dominate, DL Destroyed (+), Steelers Re-Sign OLB Jamir Jones for 2023, Steelers Re-Sign Long Snapper Christian Kuntz, Steelers Bring Back OLB Quincy Roche for 2023, Steelers Sign Penn State Alum Dan Chisena, Titans Sign OL John Leglue from Steelers Practice Squad. They capitalized on plenty of other teams' mistakes and had plenty of great steals of players who should have been chosen earlier. The Steelers improved the offensive line and with the mobility of whoever suits up is something teams will have to account for and not stack the box. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. So naturally, after a rough Week 3, he stayed right on cue with 110 yards on just 16 carries the next week. Colts; Jaguars; . Jacobs had an elite season in his last year of his rookie contract. Featured Promo: Get any full-season NFL Premium Pass for 50% off and win big in 2023. 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 . Feb 6, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; AFC running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts (28) runs with the ball against the NFC during the third quarter during the Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium. 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. Aug 3, 2022. When things have gone sideways, it has been DErnest Johnson to come in to play at a high level. 5 amid Smith talks, Eagles defend QB-push tactic as NFL set to revisit, Titans GM: Excited to go forward with Tannehill, Ex-NFL groundskeeper: SB LVII field overwatered. Having a guy like that at No. July 12, 2022 12:55 pm CT. 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. MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings. His average year is a Pro Bowl-year. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. The Seattle Seahawks have some glaring holes at a few spots and others where adding some additional depth will be the priority. Maybe it was because they faced the dismal Lions defense. 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! If you ask me, this would be my targeting-order entering PPR-format drafts: Singletary, White, Coleman, Moss, Carter, Harris, Brown, Michel. It's a group that should be even better in 2022. Nick Chubb. Even though he's not your prototypical running back, Patterson is still going to make plays. That all changed when injuries cut his . 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. 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. Imagine having two running backs both nearly go over 1000 yards rushing in a season. Let him play on a more balanced unit and he blows past Mixon. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Can the Lions fix their defense? Again, he was not the most efficient player but was productive in the historical sense. 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). The Cleveland Browns, Nick Chubb is the obvious choice at running back for the division. 7. Since coming into the league in 2018 Chubb has made his presence felt. 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. Feb 28, 2023. July 10, 2022 9:30 am ET. 2022 stats:4 games | 59 att | 259 rush yds | 4.4 ypc | 3 rush TD | 6 rec | 33 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott, Tony PollardNew York Giants: Saquon BarkleyPhiladelphia Eagles: Miles Sanders, Kenneth GainwellWashington Commanders: Antonio Gibson, J.D. In the second installment, we are going to rank the starting running backs in the division. Jul 27, 2022; Latrobe, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Steelers defense celebrates after an interception by defensive back Carlins Platel (30) in training camp at Chuck Noll Field. 1; Geno Smith skyrockets into top 10, NFL contenders or pretenders? Depth: Zamir White, Brittain Brown, Brandon Bolden, Austin Walter, Sincere McCormick. Will the Cowboys or Packers tandem earn the No. 1 at the top of his RB rankings. The Bucs fall to 6-8 but remain in first place in the terrible NFC South. RB2: Isaiah Spiller. While Walker is a worthy challenger, Breece Hall currently sits atop the 2022 NFL Draft running back class. Edwards and Dobbins as a pair next to Jackson could become the NFLs most dangerous collective running threat. I expect Cook to take advantage of the worst run defense in the NFL. Conner, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had just 12 carries for 42 yards as a rookie, including a touchdown on New Year's Day. Veteran Samaje Perine backs up Mixon and is coming off of a second straight strong season in Cincinnati in which he recorded a career-high in catches with 27 out of the backfield. 1. There is a big difference between the best rushing . Football Power Index rankings The AFC North is a perpetual battleground with four rosters that have talent abound, the strengths of which can (and do) vary from position to position. Ranking the Steelers among AFC North running back groups. It was their fourth loss of the season, leaving them at 7-4. Our goal is to put out the highest-quality content and tools. Playing in rainy conditions that dictated a run-heavy game plan, he took advantage. Johnsons combination of easy acceleration and quick feet allow him to cut on a dime and forced missed tackles at ease. The "bell cow" running back is on the way out. I believe Najee will have an even better year. Chubb is a fantastic back with excellent speed, agility, and power to finish off defenders trying to tackle him. 8:31 am ET. . He is the complete package. Still, the Panthers have a couple of decent guys behind him in Foreman and Hubbard. The Colts will absolutely be in the mix for a wild card spot and may even challenge the Titans in the AFC South. A: NAME: TEAM: COLLEGE: Abdullah, Ameer: . The Browns not only have the best running back in the division, Nick Chubb, but they also have probably the league's best backup in Kareem Hunt. See the full pecking order. He's getting the carries but hasn't produced much. But that game plan probably wouldnt exist if not for the ability of Chubb to make it a winning formula. 1 spot? A three-touchdown performance along with 109 total yards launches him into this list for the first time this year. He is a die hard Steelers fan and will be covering their news. Ranking the top 32 NFL running backs for the 2022 season - Page 31. at Edwards also missed the entire 2021 season due to a knee injury, so his return is a significant boost as well, considering hes rushed for at least 700 years in each of his three seasons in the NFL. 247 Sports lists Alabama commit Emmanuel Henderson as the No. Running backs. 2022 stats:4 games | 60 att | 313 rush yds | 5.2 ypc | 2 rush TD | 10 rec | 43 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. As for Ekeler, he's a bonafide dual-threat weapon, and recorded a career-high 1,558 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns last year. Another year, another absolutely loaded depth chart at the running back position across the AFC North. In 2021, Najee Harris was the only running back who played on over 70% of his team's offensive snaps (83%), and just five running backs cleared the 60% threshold. Steelers Draft Talk: Breaking Down Omar Khans NFL Combine Comments, Now Healthy, Steelers Expecting Great Things from Calvin Austin III. Ranking the AFC North running backs. . Week 5 NFL game picks: Surging Cowboys upset Rams; Ravens top Bengals on Sunday night, NFL rookie rankings at Q1 of 2022 season: Multiple reps for Jets, Packers, Seahawks, three others. Why the Packers' transition to Jordan Love, whenever it happens, will require patience, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, A new home for Michael Thomas? Even with having Kareem Hunt to back him Chubb is definitely more impactful. Can the Eagles improve their No. 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. You could make an argument the AFC South is the best running back division since they have the top two running backs in the NFL in Henry and Taylor. ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013; . 1 spot? Having him back healthy for 2022 will only help Sean McVay in his mission to run it back. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts. Or is he? If he wants one last good NFL running back contract, hell need to maximize his 2022 season. The Dallas Cowboys have a running back history like few other teams in the NFL. In no way affiliated with or endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers or NFL. Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. These rankings reflect the status of each player as of today and could very well change by the seasons end. He proved to be a versatile weapon that quite literally won a couple games for the Commanders last season. His rankings are based on this season's efforts alone. 1) Cleveland Browns. The Raiders signed Kenyan Drake this past offseason, and while Jacobs should still be the first rusher in the depth chart entering the season, odds are Drake fights like hell for that privilege and position down the pecking order. And all he's done so far is playing the pass-back role to perfection. For one, Edwards is coming off of an ACL tear, which puts him in more contentious waters than a healthy Johnson. Quarterback - The Colts have been barely surviving year-to-year with old, washed-up veteran quarterbacks since Andrew Luck retired, and it remains by far their biggest position of need. Sanders carried the ball 27 times for 134 rush yards and scored 2 touchdowns all while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire), Gus Edwards has earned a good reputation as a backup option for the Ravens. Bengals Schedule. AFC North running backs ranking. (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). 2.4 Pittsburgh Steelers. More NFL coverage . To make things worse, Travis Etienne had more snaps than him (24 to 22). Houston unearthed a gem in Pierce. Baltimore should be, at the very least, three deep at running back with Daviss addition to the room. On three occasions, teams have made it to at least the divisional round. He was not necessarily the most efficient running back with a number 34 overall finish in rush success rate (49 percent) and 35th finish in DVOA (-4.8 percent, Football Outsiders), but he was impactful in breaking tackles and after contact. Harris has the best potential ROI among all four starters in the division (assuming Hunt is an RB2, which he is literally but not really--draft Hunt, please). (+), Steelers Grades vs. I think Dobbins is a quality running back and deserves respect. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . "GMFB" discusses if keeping quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley is the New York Giants best option. 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