CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | He forced a missed tackle on 35% of his carries this past season, 7th highest in the NFL. Bengals Schedule. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. Which one of the eight divisions has the best running backs? The AFC North has the best overall running back group in the NFL, as this division had three of the . Jones' production has been like a rollercoaster this season. We still dont know if Matt Canadas offense is going to work and the play call looked stale at times last year. 11 and No. A three-touchdown performance along with 109 total yards launches him into this list for the first time this year. I believe Najee will have an even better year. I dont see his production slowing this year I see it increasing to a potential career year with an unknown situation at quarterback. Gordon had 918 yards rushing while Williams put up 903 while averaging 4.5 and 4.4 yards per attempt respectively. 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. Let's take a look. The Colts are in an offensive slump and Taylor has been at the worst end of it. Ranking the AFC North running backs. And Jakob Johnson did some fine blocking work for him. Atlanta Falcons: Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, Damien WilliamsCarolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, Chuba Hubbard, D'Onta ForemanNew Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara, Mark IngramTampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Fournette. Warrants out for arrest of draft prospect Carter, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Bengals not trading Higgins: 'Find your own' WR, Bucs to cut Fournette; RB says it was his request, Seahawks consider QB at No. The Chargers finally decided to make Ekeler the feature piece in the win over Houston. The Chiefs have found relative success with a few different running backs they've thrown out there, but the offense obviously runs more through Patrick Mahomes. Bengals News & Rumors. Sanders averaged 12.7 ppg in 2022 with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. That is why Johnson ever so slightly beats out Edwards in my rankings. Having the league's rushing champion from the previous season will help that narrative, but there also are plenty of diverse skill sets on the depth chart. Houston Texans: Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, Dameon PierceIndianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Phillip LindsayJacksonville Jaguars: James Robinson, Travis Etienne Jr.Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry. 1 rushing offense in the league last year, and while Jalen Hurts was the leading rusher, Sanders and Gainwell are two underrated running backs. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. *Note that all statistics were sourced from Sports Info Solutions, rbsdm.com, and Pro Football Focus (PFF), unless otherwise noted. Fantasy managers are well aware of the situation, so you'll have to pay to get Williams (RB12 ADP), but it should be worth it. , 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. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. I can navigate those waters, even more, if we're talking about Najee Harris being the freshman I roster. Or is he? The Browns rely heavily on their running backs on offense and Chubb had 1259 yards rushing, 1433 yards from scrimmage, with nine total touchdowns. But this could be a year he falls further down this list, as Hunt had injury concerns last year and DErnest Johnson stepped up for the Browns. NOTE: Arrows reflect changes from last week's rankings. 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. 1. Unfortunately, that help isnt behind him at the moment. He had 101 total yards against the Giants and has the opportunity to continue his productive campaign this week against the Vikings, who have given up the second-most rushing touchdowns (seven). . Running backs. Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. Plus, how far did Josh Jacobs climb in MJD's top 15 RB rankings after a huge performance last week? The first reaction was to call that a proper fit. 1 spot? Man, what a rough week for NFL backfields with a number of players who were performing at a career-best pace suffering injuries. Until he picked up an ankle injury midway through the season, Simmons was on a Defensive Player of the Year type of run. Henry looked like he was back to being his normal self against the Colts. Carter, J.K. Dobbins looked very good for the Ravens, in 2020. When things have gone sideways, it has been DErnest Johnson to come in to play at a high level. His 7.3 yards per total target (combined rushing and receiving) is the top of any returning back in the division. Nick Chubb. 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). He may rank higher in positional rankings in other divisions, but he comes in at 3rd in the AFC North. 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. DROPPED OUT: Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons (previously No. 2.3 Cleveland Browns. After torching the Seahawks for 108 yards and 2 TDs on 19 carries in Week 4, Williams leads the league in rushing TDs. 13 Keenan Allen 5 Josh Palmer; 81 Mike Williams; Tight ends 7 Gerald Everett; The Eagles had the No. Ranking the top 32 NFL running backs for the 2022 season - Page 31. Najee Harris is only going into his second season, but the production he put up as a rookie was stellar. Will Edwards-Helaire prove he's a legitimate No. Sanders carried the ball 27 times for 134 rush yards and scored 2 touchdowns all while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. They now come a dime a dozen, and no team has an issue finding a young athlete to pound the rock through the A-gap every given Sunday. Plus, there's a new No. For some context, he forced a missed tackle once every 18 attempts and generated 2.96 yards after contact per attempt, which was top-25 among qualifiers. 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. 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 think Dobbins is a quality running back and deserves respect. Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. 5-ranked rushing attack? Harris has the talent to perform more efficiently than he did in 2021, but until he turns that ability into productivity at the NFL level, its hard to rank him above the two established performers ahead of him. That has to factor intos the equation here. August 28, 2022 2:15 am ET One depth chart the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to sort out in the preseason is running back. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! But his athleticism in the backfield paired with Lamar Jackson could make them a serious dual running threat. 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. Free agents: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Ameer Abdullah. His big outing -- 28 carries for 144 yards and 2 TDs -- propelled him into the NFL's top five in rush yards. 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He is an efficient, hard-nosed runner that is a solid NFL rusher, and that lands him here. Cincinnati Bengals. The Dallas Cowboys have a running back history like few other teams in the NFL. Evans is a great receiver out of the backfield who is also strong as an ox, able to withstand punishment between the tackles should he be asked to handle that role. JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE. 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! Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. ESPN's 2022 NFL depth charts are updated throughout the year with the latest news and updates from across the league: AFC EAST Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets AFC NORTH 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. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire), Gus Edwards has earned a good reputation as a backup option for the Ravens. Ranking the running back position is tricky. Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. 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. 8:31 am ET. February 24, 2023 12:41 pm PT. 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. Top speed? His rankings are based on this season's efforts alone. He caught 42 of 48 targets in the passing game with just two drops in 2021, and averaged 6.5 yards per target as a receiver. Which player earns the No. The Baltimore Ravens had a phenomenal draft in 2022. McKissic. The Giants have a big name as well in Barkley, but it's fair to wonder if he can get back to elite form. In no way affiliated with or endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers or NFL. 4); Joe Mixon, Bengals (No. Further, he was the most utilized running back with 359 total attempts, totaling the 2nd-most yards (1,467). Heading into the Divisional Round, Maurice Jones-Drew ranks the top 10 rushers remaining in the NFL playoffs, a list that includes three teams with two players apiece. Chubb possesses all of the attributes coveted in a modern-day running back with elite elusiveness, vision, and power. 2022 11:37 am CT. The NFC West is arguably the best division in the NFL and had three of the top 11 rushing offenses last year. This is the time of year when NFL trade rumors start swirling. He forced a missed tackle on 35% of his carries this past season, 7th highest in the NFL. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Davis joins the likes of Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and rookie Tyler Badie in the Ravens running back room, which is again exceptionally deep. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. 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. He may have only started one game, but theres a respect for what the third-year running back out of Ohio State brings to the table. Can the Eagles improve their No. Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community! The regular season is right around the corner and each team's depth chart is mostly complete! CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Courtesy of the @WreckThisLeague). For some context, he forced a missed tackle once every 18 attempts and generated 2.96 yards after contact per attempt, which was top-25 among qualifiers. 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. Plus, check out his updated ranking of the top 15 RBs right now. He has a great balance of speed and power. AFC North running backs ranking. Still, none of the Ravens' rushers were able to out-produce quarterback Lamar Jackson on the ground, with the exception of Kenyan Drake, who managed to score one more . Keep in mind, Jacobs has two RB2-level campaigns as a pro (21st- and eighth-best rusher in PPR leagues), but Drake isn't too separated from those outcomes with back-to-back-to-back top-17 finishes (RB14, RB17, and RB16 lastly). 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. Unless his receiving work reappears, I . For our rankings, we will utilize prior performance via advanced metrics and data (with an emphasis placed on the most recent season), as a benchmark. There is no question the AFC North has a lot of talented players at the position. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . How would you rank the AFC North starting running backs? Last year, Williams and veteran Melvin Gordon had a 50-50 split in Denver's backfield. Maurice Jones-Drew identifies five running backs who can save their teams' seasons down the stretch. 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. For the Bucs, Fournette is another one of those players who doesn't get enough credit. 2021 Running Backs Updated 02/22/2023 10:17 AM EST Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 J.K. Dobbins 2021 season was cut preemptively short by a torn ACL injury suffered against the Washington Commanders in the final preseason game. It's just unfortunate. Joe Mixon might be one of then most underrated running backs in the NFL when it comes to his ability to be an every-down threat. Copyright 2021 Pittsburgh Sports Now / Steelers Now. Cornerback Damarion Williams, and Running Back Tyler Badie. That all changed when injuries cut his . The talent in this division is undeniable. Now, with the heat of the moment long gone and cold projections applied to Harris for his debut campaign well, things are looking even better. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? While the Jaguars are hopeful that their trio of young backs continue to ascend, it'd also make sense for the team to add more talent to the room. Stay in touch with our site and follow all AFC North news here. Of the four projected starting running backs in the AFC North ahead of the 2022 season, three made the Pro Bowl in 2021, more than any other division in the NFL, those being Cleveland's Nick . Hurts improved greatly in 2022, leading the Eagles (14-3) to the Super Bowl, while amassing Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and MVP nominations.. 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. Brown. Bengals to keep rolling against Ravens? Toggle AFC North subsection 2.1 Baltimore Ravens. With two rushers on the league's rushing top-10 list, including having . 2022 stats:4 games | 48 att | 327 rush yds | 6.8 ypc | 1 rush TD | 12 rec | 81 rec yds | 1 rec TD | 1 fumble lost. After winning the AFC South in 2022, and with a group of emerging, young players - like Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, defensive ends Josh Allen and Travon Walker and cornerback Tyson . February 26, 2023 9:00 am CT. 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. . Henry led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2019 and 2020, and Taylor took over that crown in 2021 while Henry was sidelined due to injury. Carter. He rushed for 1,200 yards, was targeted an eye-popping 94 times in the passing game and scored 10 total touchdowns. He is a die hard Steelers fan and will be covering their news. 1 at the top of his RB rankings. 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