The running back position has changed in a big way over the last few years. Chubb missed three games . AFC North running backs rankings ahead of the start of the season. Dobbins return is a major boost to Baltimore though as the former Ohio State star rushed for 805 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, averaging six yards per carry. February 26, 2023 9:00 am CT. 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. The Eagles had the No. *Note that all statistics were sourced from Sports Info Solutions, rbsdm.com, and Pro Football Focus (PFF), unless otherwise noted. 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. 57. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE. 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. Colts; Jaguars; . Averaging nearly 115 rush yards per game through Week 4, he's one of the main reasons the Browns are atop the AFC North. 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. Another reason this division is one of the best when it comes to running backs is because these players will have major responsibilities in 2022. 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. The 2022 Steelers need more from Harris to better balance their offense and transition into a post-Roethlisberger team. San Francisco 49ers (Elijah Mitchell, Jeff . Chubb has rushed for at least 190 carries, at least 996 yards and at least eight touchdowns in each of his four seasons. Lamar Jackson is going to be their top rusher no matter what. Welcome, rookie! Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. Patterson will spend at least the next four weeks on injured reserve after injuring his knee prior to Sunday's win over Cleveland. That is why Johnson ever so slightly beats out Edwards in my rankings. The defeat marked the fourth time this season that the Ravens failed to hold onto their lead in the fourth quarter. Again, Gaskin was harmed by a flawed system and poor blocking ahead of him which certainly limited his . Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. 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. In no way affiliated with or endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers or NFL. Bengals Depth Chart. Even though the top spots in the . 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. 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. 1 rushing offense in the league last year, and while Jalen Hurts was the leading rusher, Sanders and Gainwell are two underrated running backs. 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. But ahead of the 2021 season suffered a season ending injury. In 2022, for example, three NFL running backs 28 or older rushed for more than 500 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew evaluated every running back who started a game during the 2022 NFL regular season to create a COMPLETE ranking, from 1 to 75. This is the time of year when NFL trade rumors start swirling. 11 and No. These are both playoff . 8:31 am ET. But dont let his being on a better team last year fool you, Harris is already a better running back. 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. Seeing a trend? Even with having Kareem Hunt to back him Chubb is definitely more impactful. Copyright 2021 Pittsburgh Sports Now / Steelers Now. Carter. This is why many have the Ravens making a leap in 2022 after going 8-9 in 2021; several major players will be back for this roster. Denver Broncos: Javonte Williams, Melvin GordonKansas City Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones, Jerick McKinnonLas Vegas Raiders: Josh Jacobs, Kenyan DrakeLos Angeles Chargers: Austin Ekeler. Buy Commanders Tickets. NOTE: Arrows reflect changes from last week's rankings. If there is a silver lining here, it's that we get to spotlight others who've stepped up in recent weeks. J.K. Dobbins 2021 season was cut preemptively short by a torn ACL injury suffered against the Washington Commanders in the final preseason game. Dobbins proved to be elusive, finishing 2nd among qualifiers at the position in breakaway percentage (39.1 percent), which is a PFF metric that measures rushing yardage on designed attempts that gained more than 15 yards. What I do know is Penny went off -- 17 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns (8.9 yards per carry). In the second installment, we are going to rank the starting running backs in the division. Will the Cowboys or Packers tandem earn the No. Five running backs and the Baltimore Ravens' lone fullback handled the ball in the team's backfield in 2022, totaling just over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns between them. I expect Harris to once again be the focal point of the Steelers' offseason in 2022. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/IL) or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN only) or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA only) or 1-800-522-4700 (CO Only) or TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789. Good Pass-Catching RBs Never Get Old: Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts. Fortunately, they hold the fourth-overall pick in this year's draft, so they should have a solid shot to land one of the top guys. Hes started six games in two different seasons (2018 and 2020), but also missed the entirety of last season due to injury. Carter, Counterpoint: DErnest Johnson over Gus Edwards, Putting Johnson over Gus Edwards is a debate that is a tough one, but it is made easier by a few things. Jacobs is a pretty big name, but he took a step back from his Pro Bowl ways in 2021. Hunts set to be a free agent after this season and will be 28 to start next year. For now, they are based on each team's most likely win-loss record, beginning with the . 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. Full schedule | Standings Bengals Schedule. Here is MJD's list heading into Week 5. He is an efficient, hard-nosed runner that is a solid NFL rusher, and that lands him here. 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 . When he is not on the field the Browns definitely miss his production. 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. North Carolina: Chestnut, Julius: Mixon also made an impact in the passing game with the 7th-most targets (68) and 10th-most receiving yards (421) at the position. 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. Gibson was also benched at times due to fumbling, and Washington brought in Brian Robinson to compete as well. Cornerback Damarion Williams, and Running Back Tyler Badie. Chubb missed three games . The 49ers dominate on the ground almost every Sunday, but it doesn't matter at all who is toting the rock. 2020 Season Stats134 carries 805 yards 9 touchdowns 6 ypc. Depth charts for every team A monster game earned Jacobs a spot on my list for the first time this season. The Baltimore Ravens lost 28-27 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12. Duo: Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams. Drop a comment below and lets see where we agree and differ. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In a game that had no quarterback presence, Barkley stepped up in a big way for the G-Men, rushing 31 times for 146 yards in the win. at It's just unfortunate. Most NFL teams are opting to go with a committee at the position as opposed to a single workhorse, and franchises won't always reward their top running back with a lucrative extension. Therefore, it's no surprise that they were the Titans' sole representatives in Pro Football Focus' list of the top 101 players of the 2022 season. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. 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. Superstar quarterbacks undoubtedly headline the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, but Maurice Jones-Drew explains why the running backs will actually decide who wins. The regular season is right around the corner and each team's depth chart is mostly complete! Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? The Browns' offense, favor the pass at a higher clip in 2022 with, (Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire, Getty). We would appreciate your support by either turning off your adblocker or signing up for our ad-free subscription tier.Thanks for being a reader! He has missed time, four games in 2020 and three in 2021, but he hasnt let that time missed stop him from being extremely productive. The New York Giants lost running backs coach DeAndre Smith to the Indianapolis Colts last week but it didn't take them long to find a replacement. Harris was the most-targeted player at the position in 2021 (96 targets), resulting in 466 yards (5th), 0.97 yards per route run (34th), and a 97.3 passer rating when targeted (24th). He fits exactly what the Browns want to be offensively, which is a ground-and-pound offense. 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. It was a significant offseason for the Washington Commanders on offense. The Broncos will move forward with Gordon, who's had fumbling issues, Mike Boone and new addition Latavius Murray. 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. Or is he? Chubb has been the most consistent runner this season. But his athleticism in the backfield paired with Lamar Jackson could make them a serious dual running threat. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. After managing back-to-back seasons with 90+ catches and 1,100+ yards, Darren Waller was hit by the injury bug . How it all gets sorted out for the 53-man roster is anyones guess, but theres loads of talent on the shores of Lake Erie at the running back position for the Browns. Evans hauled in two receiving touchdowns out of the backfield last season and should be in line for more work. That is why Johnson ever so slightly beats out Edwards in my rankings. While Walker is a worthy challenger, Breece Hall currently sits atop the 2022 NFL Draft running back class. 2022 stats:4 games | 45 att | 140 rush yds | 3.1 ypc | 2 rush TD | 27 rec | 188 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. When things have gone sideways, it has been DErnest Johnson to come in to play at a high level. Brown. 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. Signs to be trending toward the split switching to 65-35 this year, with Gordon even recently admitting that the Broncos want Williams to be "the guy" this season. I fully expect the Steelers to make a move for a veteran running back this summer, likely late in camp as rosters get trimmed to 53 players. The 49ers finally looked to have an established RB1 when Elijah Mitchell burst onto the scene last year in Week 1. When he is not on the field the Browns definitely miss his production. 12); D'Andre Swift, Lions (No. He is again, not the most athletic guy, but is quick and has decent vision. Gibson has already proven he's a talented back, but how Washington handles its rotation will be something to watch this upcoming season. 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. AFC North; Baltimore Ravens; . The AFC North has the best overall running back group in the NFL, as this division had three of the top four rushers last year. Whats on Tap for Wednesday at NFL Combine? Nick Chubb. ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013; . Desperate for their first win, the Raiders relied on Jacobs' physical running style and it paid off. Heres the final tally ofSteelers Nowsconsensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. 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). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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! 2022 stats:4 games | 62 att | 276 rush yds | 4.5 ypc | 6 rush TD | 5 rec | 30 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. AFC North Ranking: 3. 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. JK Dobbins had a pretty solid rookie campaign. 2021 Season Stats 292 carries 1,205 yards 13 touchdowns 4.1 ypc. The Giants have a big name as well in Barkley, but it's fair to wonder if he can get back to elite form. 8); Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers (No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Courtesy of the @WreckThisLeague). Jones' production has been like a rollercoaster this season. 3 AFC South. How the Browns offense looks with or without Deshaun Watson will play a role in Hunts status. Who has the best hands? 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. 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. Here are the current preseason depth charts at running back for each division in the AFC. In a division like it having a great running back is absolutely a necessity given where the teams are located, bad weather is almost a guarantee. McKissic. 2022 11:37 am CT. June 14, 2022 6:00 pm PT. Going into the 2022 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers had some massive holes to fill, especially in the offensive line. Saunders, Kareem Hunt could still be a starting running back on teams that needed one. 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. In the absence of David Montgomery, Herbert has been above average in all aspects. If I want to draft a rookie, then I will draft a rookie and deal with the trouble myself. Penny has been good when healthy, and Walker is one of the rookies this year who could make an immediate impact. He leads the league in rush yards right now and is making a case for that No. February 24, 2023 12:41 pm PT. 2022 stats: 4 games | 76 att | 306 rush yds | 4.0 ypc | 3 rush TD | 8 rec | 91 rec yds | 0 rec TD | 0 fumbles lost. There is a big difference between the best rushing . He has missed some time due to injury like last year but that did not stop him from surpassing the 1,000 yard mark. If you ask me, this would be my targeting-order entering PPR-format drafts: Singletary, White, Coleman, Moss, Carter, Harris, Brown, Michel. 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