Tony Dorsett 12. Vegas used other backs last year and pigeonholed Jacobs as a two-down grinder. There are too many risk factors to comfortably draft Ekeler as a No. Malcolm Brown should play plenty, and this offense isn't likely to be explosive enough to support two running backs in any meaningful way. Mike Davis, Atlanta | Consensus Rankings RB24 | Consensus Projections RB23. most overrated running backs of all time. As everyone knows by now, Montgomery faced some of the worst run defenses in the league over that finishing stretch to put up those huge numbers. Martin is one of the best running backs of all time because he blended good ability with outstanding durability and versatility. The new coaching staff is inexperienced (second-youngest in the NFL), the system is unproven, the quarterback is going to gobble up a ton of rushing yards and touchdowns, and the front office has added running back depth aggressively in the offseason. Andy Hicks: Austin Ekeler isnt going to rush anyone to a fantasy title. James Robinson, Jacksonville | Consensus Rankings RB29 | Consensus Projections RB30. only site on the planet. 15 Best Running Backs of All-Time; Green Bay seems to like A.J. Myles Gaskin, Miami | Consensus Rankings RB24 | Consensus Projections RB22. Unfortunately, Dobbins is on a team with an elite rushing quarterback in Lamar Jackson, who will always cap Dobbins' upside in total carries and goal-line looks. A new offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh also adds uncertainty to the situation. This slideshow lists the most underrated and overrated quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in the NFL, and the choices might shock you. Single Its a knock on his offensive line. 2 fantasy back this year is a dubious decision. Marshall Faulk 7. Victoria Geary: Sanders has talent and breakaway ability, but he may not garner a large enough workload to be worth his ADP this season. Additionally, Brandon Bolden -- a member of Josh McDaniels' Patriot teams -- is with the club. This is a major factor in any expectation that Robinson would be fantasy lineup-relevant without an injury to one of the other options, especially beyond the early weeks of the season. Drafting running backs on the downside of their career, on bad offenses, in a platoon situation, is fraught with peril. But the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender and won't veer from the system that's gotten them to the peak. Even if he isn't named the Saints' starting quarterback, Hill's continued presence in the red zone and at the goal-line infringes on Kamara's touchdown opportunity. Andy Hicks: The Broncos dont seem overly excited to use Melvin Gordon III this year. Gaskin was a revelation versus his cost a year ago but is a buyer beware in 2021. With talented guys like Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers. Phil Alexander: Hunt finished last season as the RB10 in PPR scoring, but his cumulative stats were buoyed by a four-game stint as Cleveland's starter when Nick Chubb was out with an MCL sprain. Jan 26 . 5. That is still great, but not quite as good as many people have him ranked. The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Investing in Sanders as your RB2 is likely to leave you feeling disappointed. Take Carter later as a committee back with some possible upside, but he's being overvalued by drafters right now. There's zero appeal here. This was largely in line with his previous year's number of 10.7 per game, allowing him to plod his way to an uninspiring RB24 finish. Bursting onto the scene in our list is Micah Richards. Nick Chubb, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB10 | Consensus Projections RB12. These players will not put up stats commensurate to their draft spot, and avoiding them is another of the important keys to a successful fantasy team. For example, take Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5, both very accomplished. The depth behind Ekeler is average, but there are enough players to steal touches. 25 Running Backs Overrated Players 10 Quarterbacks 12 Tight Ends 23 Wide Receivers 25 Running Backs Deep Sleepers 9 Quarterbacks 11 Tight Ends 15 Wide Receivers 13 Running Backs The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Brown never stopped earning playing time for the Rams despite the team investing early draft capital at the position. Not to mention I expect this offense to throw the ball a lot more than last year due to the addition of Russell Wilson and new Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett. Johnson is the incumbent with the largest contract, and yet he's being downshifted in favor of Mark Ingram II -- who did his best work in Baltimore, where Texans head coach David Culley comes from -- and Phillip Lindsay. His retirement all but guarantees some drop-off in Kamara's receiving numbers regardless of whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill is named the Saints starting quarterback. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis | Consensus Rankings RB8 | Consensus Projections RB7. Harris stayed an extra year in college to improve his draft capital, and rightfully so, as the 2020 class was filled with elite running back talent. We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. Cam Akers, LA Rams | Consensus Rankings RB12 | Consensus Projections RB13. Ricky Watters 20. Pat Fitzmaurice: The appeal is that he's an inexpensive lead back. Melvin Gordon III, Denver | Consensus Rankings RB28 | Consensus Projections RB29. Daniel Jones was one of the most uninspiring quarterbacks in the league last year. Drew Davenport: Gordon hasn't been a special player for a while now, and at times last year looked completely ineffective. They traded up in the draft to select Javonte Williams and, without the large contract, may have already released the former Charger. He yields passing work to J.D. That number of targets limited his ceiling, and he was barely a low-end RB2. But the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender and won't veer from the system that's gotten them to the peak. Matt Waldman: Many of my peers at Footballguys are worshippers of draft capital as a predictor of talent. 3 back on the depth chart before the first preseason game. But drafting him as a high-upside No. Jordan McNamara: Malcom Brown drew the starter role in the first preseason game, and the team has shown the willingness to change starters against conventional wisdom when Gaskin was a surprise starter in Week 1. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia | Consensus Rankings RB20 | Consensus Projections RB20. Single Gibson fumbled in the preseason opener, and ball security has been an issue as he coughed up the football four times last year. McKissic take the bulk of receiving work in Washington -- even though Gibson himself is a converted wide receiver. Adding another trip around the sun and competition from two young, capable running backs is the recipe for the bottom to fall out for Gordon. Here are some stats from footballoutsiders.com: * Note: ADY =. Lineup Builder Quick Start, Multi-Lineup Jason Wood: Preseason depth charts aren't perfectly predictive, but the new Texans coaching staff clearly sent a message listing Johnson as the No. He also is a touchdown liability -- he's scored 5, 6, and 4 touchdowns in three of his four seasons (11 the other season), which had led to finishing outside the Top 25 each of those years. Yes, but it doesn't feel like he'll be a top-10 type of running back, even in the Chiefs' potent offense. O.J. McKissic this offseason and added Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr Jr. in the 3rd round of the NFL draft. Sep 20, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina . With the second-year back getting selected in the early second round of most drafts, fantasy managers must be expecting that trend to continue in 2021. He has lapses in vision and decision-making. It is also quite possible that Gordon isn't even on the team by the time Week 1 rolls around. Anthony Amico: Dobbins is being drafted as if he has a far greater stranglehold on this Ravens backfield than he likely will. There is no upside with drafting Gaskin this high. Byars is the only running back in modern NFL history taken in the first 10 picks of the draft who had at least 800 career carries and a per-carry average of 3.6 yards or worse. You wrote in to criticize me immediately following a 4-0 win against Forest where, for the first time all season, Moyes bowed to enormous pressure and played a back 4, told Declan to actually be . It also must be remembered his journey through the NFL before that. Melvin Gordon III, Denver | Consensus Rankings RB29 | Consensus Projections RB28. Phil Alexander: Hunt finished last season as the RB10 in PPR scoring, but his cumulative stats were buoyed by a four-game stint as Cleveland's starter when Nick Chubb was out with an MCL sprain. 1 receiver for a significant chunk of the season. Here is the player who received the most votes: And here are all of the payers mentioned and the reasons why. Wait until next year. Has no highlight reel. Ben Cummins: Robinson was an awesome story in 2020 as he just kept producing while seeing 21.43 opportunities per game (6th most in the league) from Weeks 1-16. Barkley is a workhorse. Christian McCaffery and Nick Chubb, running backs. WHO ARE THE MOST OVERRATED FANTASY FOOTBALL RUNNING BACKS? Gordon's arrow is pointing down for 2021, and he could be marginalized as the season goes on because the team also likes free agent signing Mike Boone. Ten different running backs had more targets alone than the entire Ravens backfield in 2020. By the end of the year, that may change, but Etienne will be a change-of-pace and gadget player who might earn flex value this year until then. That looks like a mistake from where the situation sits now. Notre Dame's Kyren Williams was one of them and Georgia's James Cook was the other player named. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was used as a space player last year, and his lack of a red-zone presence placed a ceiling on his fantasy value. Durability is atop the list after missing six games last year. He's more powerful and understands how to work between the tackles. But career stats shouldnt have much emphasis on them for that reason. This year, his new head coach -- Josh McDaniels -- is an offensive mind who made his career in schemes that utilized multiple backs as specialists for each situation. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Director: Jonathan Demme. Most Overrated QB: Tom Brady 1 of 6 The more problematic issue is that the Texans are a train wreck. But after he sat a game due to injury, the Bears' lead runner came out hot after their bye, and he finished at a torrid pace of 25.7 points per game as the overall RB1 from Weeks 12 to 17. The current regime did not select Robinson. Jason Wood: We all want Dobbins to be an every-down workhorse. Adrian Peterson 10. I believe he should be elected because he was able to maintain a good level of consistency throughout his 13 years. Jason Wood: Jacobs was the only projected Raiders offensive starter to play in the Hall of Fame game, which should be a blaring red flag for how much new head coach Josh McDaniels values Jacobs as a centerpiece. Footballguys staff members discuss running backs who are overvalued. It appears as if theres a change of guard happening in San Fransisco. There are no guarantees he fits with what Atlanta wants to do or whether he has the endurance to handle a workload after last year's use. His knee injury involved multiple ligament tears, and the Giants are likely to bring him along slowly. Barring an injury to Chubb, Hunt will drive you crazy trying to figure out when to start him as anything other than a flex option. He's never carried the ball more than 132 times in a season. Eric Dickerson 8. Jalen Hurts will inevitably take away carries and goal-line rushes from the backfield, capping any true remaining upside Sanders may have been clinging to. Pat Fitzmaurice: The Buccaneers' playoff run was the best four-game stretch for Fournette since the early part of the 2019 season. Now, if the right-back fully lived up to his potential, then he could have been a Man City great. Taysom Hill had nine carries from inside the opponent's five-yard line to Kamara's 15 in 2021 and won't be removed from the Saints' red-zone plans any time soon. This three-headed committee with a healthy Jones is bad news for Fournette and means he is way overvalued at current ADP. The team added Brian Robinson Jr Jr. on day two of the draft while retaining J.D. Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers | Consensus Rankings RB9 | Consensus Projections RB9. "Matthew Berry, ESPN. Davis was great in relief of Christian McCaffrey in Carolina last year, but he got tired quickly. His fantasy value came in catching 59 receptions, which won't happen in Arthur Smith's offense that doesn't throw to the tailbacks much. Sigmund Bloom: Swift is surely more likely than Jamaal Williams to be the hot hand in the Detroit backfield, but Swift's ADP is too high for any back that has to rely on the hot hand approach to get the majority of the volume in the backfield. Also, Jalen Hurts is poised to siphon a few short-range scores from the running back position. He had the second-worst catch rate in the league last year among running backs, catching only 56% of his targets and dropping eight passes along the way (tied for most with Ezekiel Elliot). Instead, McKissic is a receiving-centric option where targets will be at a premium considering the competition in Washington, which was not present in the 2020 version with notable wide receiver additions Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, and Dyami Brown. Yeah, us, too. Emmitt Smith 4. The only reason Johnson had fantasy value last year was a superhuman effort from Deshaun Watson to move the offense and produce points. The final reason why Jerome Bettis is the most overrated RB of all time is because of the offensive line he ran behind. Here are the NFL running backs with the most career touchdown runs over 50 yards (based on stats through 2016). Mckissic, and there was talk of rookie Brian Robinson Jr taking on the short yardage work. Edgerrin James 17. And even if he played all three downs, the target competition is strong (Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow). The Commanders made it a priority of theirs to bring back J.D. Worst of all, he is now playing on the Houston Texans, who have no identity on offense heading into the season. Jeff Haseley: The Dolphins have a three-headed approach to the running back position this year. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore | Consensus Rankings RB18 | Consensus Projections RB19. In 2019, the Lions tried to steal him away with a restricted free agent offer. He's not a player to build your team around if you pick in the top half of the first round. The investment in veteran wideout Sammy Watkins and rookies Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace almost cements Dobbinss capped upside in the passing game. Had more rushing touchdowns last year than Williams. Then as soon as they go south, we pile on like kids in a mosh pit? But Gordon averaged more yards per carry last year than Williams. Nobody should ever try to run like Barry Sanders, because they will never be Barry Sanders. That enthusiasm should be tempered because Canada was the offensive coordinator fired by LSU before LSU hired Joe Brady, who oversaw Joe Burrow's historic season. His career YPC was 3.9. Barkley could hit on pure talent and above-average recuperative ability, but everything else is going against him to return value on his lofty ADP. James Brimacombe: Once Kenyan Drake was out of the picture, we shot Edmonds up the draft board naturally. USA Today named the most overrated player on every NFL team in 2022 and for the Cleveland Browns, Jadeveon Clowney was given this unwanted distinction. Gordon isn't going away just because fantasy managers want him to. Projections, Get The Most Out Of Your Without the volume, he is hard to use. Jamal Lewis 18. Links to similar discussions on other positions: 12 Quarterbacks11 Tight Ends28 Wide Receivers25 Running Backs, 10 Quarterbacks12 Tight Ends23 Wide Receivers25 Running Backs, 9 Quarterbacks11 Tight Ends15 Wide Receivers13 Running Backs. Jeff Haseley: It's easy to succumb to the notion that Saquon Barkley is one of the best running backs in the league. The Eagles also resigned Jordan Howard and added Kerryon Johnson to the backfield, exhibiting their lack of trust in Sanders to be an every-down back. He also spent his first 5 years on the saints, where he got 20 carries exactly 2 times there. Jalen Hurts will inevitably take away carries and goal-line rushes from the backfield, capping any true remaining upside Sanders may have been clinging to. Its almost always the other way around for top tier RBs. Whenever a new coaching group comes in, especially an inexperienced one, there is always the risk that players with a high fantasy price underachieve. 21 RB Sleepers. He's a strong talent with some flaws with a better all-around back ahead of him. In addition, teammate Gus Edwards just signed a two-year, $10M contract extension in June, so he isnt going anywhere any time soon. There are backs going after Chubb who will receive bigger shares of their teams usage. When you select Dobbins in your drafts, you are banking on the hyper-efficiency of his limited touches to continue. The first thing that pops out at us is that Jerome Bettis 3.9 YPC is a good deal lower than the offensive lines mark of 4.29 (ADY). Andy Hicks: Austin Ekeler isnt going to rush anyone to a fantasy title. Sigmund Bloom: The Raiders are going to adopt a frustrating Patriots-style committee at running back under Josh McDaniels, which means that Jacobs will be at best Damien Harris in this offense. He showed elite promise in his rookie year and followed it up with a top 10 season despite a high ankle sprain limiting his ascension. McKissic, one the league's better pass-catching backs. Malcolm Brown is one of the least-sexy names in fantasy football, but NFL teams sure seem to love him. The role we envisioned for Johnson is already in question. His average DVOA of 0.085% would rank him 31st in the NFL in 2009, right behind Rashard Mendenhall. 31 Unsung Running Backs in NFL History By Paul Ladewski on August 3, 2021 Chris O'Meara / AP Photo Before franchise quarterbacks took pro football hostage, there was something known as franchise running backs. Downing, USA Today Sports. 5. D'Andre Swift, Detroit | Consensus Rankings RB14 | Consensus Projections RB10. Finally, Sanders has continued fumbling and dropping passes in camp -- problems that plagued him last season. Dave Kluge: To close out the 2020 season, Cam Akers saw 21, 29, 15, and 21 carries over his last four games. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB22 | Consensus Projections RB24. It's not entirely his fault. On top of these issues, the Texans added Rex Burkhead, Mark Ingram II, and Philip Lindsay to compete for touches. If he is still on the opening day roster, his workload will be usurped by the rookie when the coaching staff trusts him. The fact is, he never . Here are some stats from footballoutsiders.com: * Note: ADY = adjusted line yards, PSR = power success rank, SR = stuff ranking Average ADY: 4.29 Average PSR: 11th Average SR: 9th * These stats werent kept until 1996, so this doesnt include Bettis first 3 years in the NFL. Heading into this season, their offensive line is mediocre, their quarterback situation is a mess, they have a new coach, and the rest of the skill position players are uninspiring. I am a heretic in that regard. The Commanders drafted Brian Robinson Jr on Day 2 of the draft, a bigger back who excelled in pass protection. Dave Kluge: The 49ers drafted Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell and signed free agent Wayne Gallman. Bettis was nothing more than an average RB for a long period of time (13 years). Sigmund Bloom: There are too many forces that Barkley has to swim upstream again to justify taking Barkley at his lofty ADP. This is more important for Barkley than most backs because he relies on his immense gifts more than most backs. Here's our list of the greatest 30 running backs in NFL history. His lack of use as a runner has to be a concern. Preseason may help a little. 5 / 30. Harris stayed an extra year in college to improve his draft capital, and rightfully so, as the 2020 class was filled with elite running back talent. Unless his ADP falls a bit, he's a pass where he's being drafted right now. Sigmund Bloom: Barkley may not be 100% to start the season, and he might not truly be 100% until next season. Though volume is important in fantasy football, Harris could struggle behind his offensive line and not garner an elite share of red zone touches. When I was comparing Bettis stats to the the 3 RBs I mentioned above, I saw that Bettis was highly overrated. Ryan Hester: Short of Taysom Hill (if he wins the job), this whole offense is an avoid for fantasy football right now. Drew Davenport: McKissic's price isn't super high, so anyone who believes in him isn't making a grave error where he's being drafted. 2022/07/02 . Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings RB33 | Consensus Projections RB31. Kansas City had 40 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores. Henry has never caught more than 19 passes in a season, and that limited production as a receiver is an issue. There have been 49 running backs taken among the first 10 picks since 1960, and Byars has the lowest rushing average of the bunch. But just like Logan Thomas, McKissic benefitted from a perfect storm of low average depth of target throws from the quarterbacks last year and the lack of receivers outside of Terry McLaurin. Subscription, Early-March Top 10 Defensive Back IDP Rankings, 5 RBs to Buy In Dynasty Before NFL Free Agency. 15 receptions, 111 yards, less than a TD per year. Detroit signed Jamaal Williams to take the heavy work and kicked the tires on Todd Gurley before declining his addition. But the Broncos re-signed Melvin Gordon III, which cannot be interpreted as anything short of a re-commitment to a 50/50 committee. Michael Carter, NY Jets | Consensus Rankings RB37 | Consensus Projections RB36. Saquon Barkley, NY Giants | Consensus Rankings RB8 | Consensus Projections RB10. Jeff Bell: Gibson finished fourth in rushing attempts. Gaskin is a nice player, but the signings by this staff the last two offseasons say they don't have confidence that Gaskin is their guy. Walter Payton 5. His best year came in 2011 when he ran for 10 touchdowns and 1,047 yards, but other than that he didn't do much else. At present, I'm avoiding Gaskin because I do not trust the role, especially ahead of projected starters like Mike Davis and other players with higher upside like Travis Etienne. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will always cap Dobbins' upside in total carries and goal-line looks. Along with McKissic, Gibson will have to contend with Brian Robinson Jr, a rookie from Alabama. There have been personnel changes and a change in offensive coordinator to Matt Canada. Combine a true committee situation with a quarterback who racks up 1,000 yards and a handful of scores, and you have a ceiling on Dobbins that won't be unlocked without a rash of injuries. Jamal Lewis-- RB, 2000-06 There have been seven running backs who have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, and Jamal Lewis is by far the least memorable of the bunch. Ryan Hester: Chubb shares his backfield with a very talented player in Kareem Hunt, and Hunt is the one who gets the lions share of the passing game work. More of the stats of an average RB, which Laurence Maroney and Rashard Mendenhall are. After the Robinson selection, head coach Ron Rivera likened the potential Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr combination to the Jonathan Stewart and D'Angelo Williams pairing he used during his Carolina days. Swift relied heavily on touchdown production for his fantasy numbers. From Weeks 13 through 17, Dobbins received a measly two total targets from quarterback Lamar Jackson. Gaskin may be the top option for now, but that could change with a strong outing from veteran Malcolm Brown or Salvon Ahmed. Photo: Isaiah J. The Top Ten. Jason Wood: Sanders is talented, and when healthy, was productive under former head coach Doug Pederson. The only other way for one of them to achieve high-end RB1 value would be an injury that allows the other to see an increased workload. McKissic returns from injury to his role as the pass-catching back, and Washington also drafted Brian Robinson Jr in the third round. Ryan Hester: Gibson is a unique case in fantasy football.