McCaffrey only played three games last season, and his loss was felt more acutely in the pass game than the run game. @EzekielElliott's ready to go in 2021. : @ProFootballHOF Game on FOX pic.twitter.com/5UU3CkoIro. 9. 40 and 31. Not bad for a guy who has bounced around the league for six seasons. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Barkleys first two seasons of full health in New York saw him prove to be a home-run threat at every touch. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans. Follow Ledyard on Twitter at @LedyardNFLDraft. Please check your email for a confirmation. 26. Ranking the NFC South running backs - NFC South- ESPN Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos, 22. Which RB enters the season atop the list? . Expect him to be an even bigger part of Tampa Bay's . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The sixth-year running back has already recorded 5,860 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns, having produced at least 1,500 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. The latter question aside, there are plenty of valuable assets in the backfield of every NFL team. 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! 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. In 2020, it looks a little different as Todd Gurley and David Johnson are no longer in the division. He's going to be a dynamo in Matt Rhule's offense, helping Sam Darnold make a leap in 2021. 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. As a team, the Giants scored 17 points or fewer in half of their games. Two running backs who would be starters on their own in at least 20 other backfields. 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. Your fantasy football league wasnt hosted on Fantrax last season? LB Von Miller, . 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. Jameis at the helm would provide significant upside in both categories. The top running backs in the NFL are big names, those that you must watch on Sunday. 2. 2. The Panthers' overall rushing production dropped in 2019 because of the loss of QB Cam Newton and an offensive line that struggled. 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. The 27-year-old Fournette is a 6-foot and 228-Lb. He is good but he might not be the same guy in another offense. Today we compare the running games of each team in the NFC South, with the opening of training camp right around the corner. With Tom Brady's retirement, what's next for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at quarterback? McCaffrey has averaged 135.2 scrimmage yards per game since 2018 (most in the NFL over that span), and I don't see that figure dropping when he takes the field in September. 2022 NFL offseason: All 32 teams' RB situations ahead of free agency, draft Though his days as an elite runner may be behind him, Zekes durability and well-rounded ability were on display in 2020. Which team had the most players ranked? 1 focus entering this season. Shouldnt both be equally important? New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) and defensive end Carl Granderson (96) defends on the play at Bank of America Stadium. No, he's not a true running back. Derrick Henry is the undisputed workout king as well as the leagues top stiff-arm threat entering 2021. Which team boasts three representatives? It was Thomas and he's solid. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Its usually the hot hand that will get a majority of the carries in a specific game, so its hard to project their totals. 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 | The highest non-starter on this list, Kareem Hunt packs half of the punch for the leagues top RB duo in Cleveland. Copyright 2019-2023. 30 and 21. 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. Akers almost enters the NFL in these rankings above Coleman but not quite. Instead its his pass-catching skills, where he consistently creates separation as a route runner, even from a receiver alignment. While Mike Davis played well in McCaffrey's absence last season, no one can really replace CMC. 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. They finished RB39 and RB15, respectively, last year. A lot of people like to make it sound as if the Saints didn't have a featured back last year. 1 running back in 2020. 20. Garrett is a big reason why the Cleveland Browns' defense has improved in each of the last two seasons, jumping from 30th in total defense in 2018 to 22nd in 2019 to 17th in 2020. Buccaneers; . Hes 28 years old, and getting his first real shot at being a starting running back for the entire season. You'll now receive the top Cards Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Im higher on Rojo than most but much will depend on what version of Fournette the Bucs get. 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. The 27-year-old had the most productive season of his career in 2020 with the WFT, rushing for 365 yards and hauling in an impressive 80 catches for 589 yards and two touchdowns. C.J. 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. The addition of Cam Akers shows the Rams arent sure they can count on Henderson as more than a committee running back. In my view, CMC should always be the first running back off the board. 4 on this list. Theres even more to do about whether or not running backs matter entering the year. For the newest installment of Fantraxs fantasy running back depth charts series, were going to delve into the NFC South. If Mostert has his way, he might not even begin the season in the division. Although the running back position has become a bit marginalized in recent seasons, the NFC South boasts some of the league's top young backs. Chase Edmonds . 2 back in Arizona this season behind Kenyan Drake. I stand by that, but after the CMC gap, Alvin Kamara is in the next tier. Hell consistently break through arm tackles the same as hell run around defenders with impressive elusiveness. 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. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers He looked way more confident andRead more , I might give you the Saints as having a better deeper RB room but not the Panthers. 12:07 left in this one. For him to step up like that at just 23 years old is a testament . 'I know that I can't do that': DJ Moore says unsportsmanlike penalty cost Panthers. 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. But it remains to be seen, after he's missed time each of the last two seasons, if Freeman can stay on the field. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Despite having the seventh-worst rushing offense in football last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Eagles running back Miles Sanders had a solid season. He very well could be the starter in 2021. Pro Football Network, LLC. And I still really like Vaughn. Jones is set to be the bell cow in the Green Bay backfield for what seems like the first time in his career. bucs He has been more productive than Darrell Henderson. That wont change. Ranking The NFC South: Running Backs - Pewter Report Jeff Demps. Lets take a look at CMCs stats for his last healthy season: ~1400 yards rushing, 15TDs, 1000+ yards receiving 4TDs. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. The former fourth-round pick showed some really good signs last season, rushing for 435 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles Drake has yet to put together a great full season, but will get his chance as the Cardinals No. Nick Chubb is arguably the NFLs most elusive ball carrier. //]]> Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! The age listed under each player's name is the age he will be on Sept. 9. (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/hIRCqWUuda. Dwayne Washington The NFC West has a number of talented running backs. And you nailed it, RoJo comes back every year improved. Its imperative to note that we havent seen enough from the rookies slated to see action this year. 1 in Green Bay. Fantasy Fallout: With Gavin Lux Out, Could A Sleeper Emerge? The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Ty Montgomery Wayne Gallman, a 27-year-old running back, was waived by the NFC South franchise on Saturday afternoon, according to reports. With Tom Brady back, can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make another Super Bowl run? Fullback Keith Smith has 12 career rushing attempts, but will mostly just contribute as a blocker. 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. Here is my top 10: 1. Nelson might miss the start of the 2021 regular season as he recovers from foot surgery, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a three-time first-team All-Pro. Chubb has been an instrumental part of the Browns' new winning culture as a focal point in Kevin Stefanski's offense. Its taken him a couple seasons, but hes our best pure runner. Drake has yet to put together a great full season, but will get his chance as the Cardinals' No. Davis impressed as McCaffreys backup last year, but now there is limited depth in Carolina. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears Unthinkable! 4 spot on this list, but his career is currently in limbo. With amazing contact balance and tremendous lower body strength, no defender is safe from Barkeys highlight reel. An incredibly important aspect of Minnesotas offensive game plan, as Cook goes, so will the Vikings in 2021. 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. Elliott has now hauled in multiple receiving touchdowns and at least 300 receiving yards in four of his five seasons. The New Orleans Saints have won the last three NFC South titles because they have one of the most talented rosters in the league. 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. 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. Akers will likely become the Rams top running back as a rookie. 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. I rank him above Carlos Hyde simply because he is trending up, while Hydes career is on the back end and he will be a backup to Chris Carson. 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. Hubbard was a solid mid round choice and could prove to be a capable #2but hes just that right now: an unproven mid-round rookiebasically their version of KeShawn Vaughn last season. 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. The competition with Fournette should produce a formidable tandem and best in our division. Further, the Falcons are going to be bad this year. NFC West. Which team has the most wins as home dogs since 2016? 3. 19. The guy was a totally different player. Theres much to do about the top running backs in the NFL entering the 2021 season.