Jerome Bettis (2015), Terrell Davis (2017), Edgerrin James (2020), Curtis Martin (2012), LaDainian Tomlinson (2017).
Running Backs: Jerome Bettis (2015), Terrell Davis (2017), Edgerrin James (2020), Curtis Martin (2012), LaDainian Tomlinson (2017).
With no Running Backs entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class in 2022, this is the third straight year since we began this process that the Modern Positional Average for Running Backs remain unchanged. These are lofty numbers by the last five but it will likely rise when Davis is no longer among the last five RBs inducted.
2022 Pre-Season Return #33, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #48, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #66.
It seems a little strange on the surface to have Alvin Kamara as the highest ranked Running Back, especially considering that he never had a 1,000 rushing season, but Kamara is not your typical back. The workhorse does at much in the air as he does on the ground, and has 8,888 Yards from Scrimmage and a stellar 71 Touchdowns in only six years. Last year was the first time that he was not chosen for the Pro Bowl, and as he faces a three-game suspension to begin 2023, it will be a large obstacle for him to gain number six. We might have seen the end of his peak, but we haven't, look out!
2022 Pre-Season Rank #47, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #53, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #55.
It will be strange for us to see "Zeke" in a Patriots uniform in 2023, and with all due respect to Elliott, he will not replictate in New England what he did in Dallas. Elliott, who is still under 30, is a two-time rushing champion and should get to 10,000 Yards in 2025, but his path to Canton might have to be through the end zone, as he cuurently has 80 Touchdowns combines. If he has a huge Po Bowl type season with New England it will be huge, but the Pats are a team who historically don't rely on RBs as much as other teams.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #47, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #70, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #108.
In 2019, it felt like Derrick Henry won the Rushing Title out of nowhere, as he was in his fourth year, and it he only had 1,059 Yards the year before. In 2020, Henry won his second Rushing Title, shattering his previous mark, and joined the 2,000 Yard Rushing club and winning the Offensive Player of the Year. Had he not gotten injured during the 2021 season, Henry was on his way to his second straight OPOY. After a bounce back 2022 that saw him net his third 1,500 Yard campaign, Henry has 10,000 Yards in his sights, but we have seen the diminished role of the RB in recent years. It will get harder and harder for players like Henry to enter Canton, but he has the skills to get it done.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #66, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #76, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #81.
McCaffrey had a decent rookie year, a good second year, and a fantastic third season, where he led the NFL in Yards From Scrimmage (2,392) and Touchdowns (19). The Running Back also rushed for over 1,000 Yards and caught passes over 1,000 Yards, a rare feat indeed! Due to injury, he could not follow up on the two years that followed, but when he was healthy last year, and returned to Pro Bowl form, he was surrounded by a team that threw in the towel and traded him to San Francisco. McCaffrey is one of the most versatile Running Backs out there, but his position is meant for ailments. What he does in 2024 might decide whether he has a shot at the Hall.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #77, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #117.
As god as Dalvin Cook was with the Vikings, the elite Running Back is giving way to the elite Wide Receiver, and he was released by the Vikings after a four-year run of Pro Bowls and over 5,000 Yards. He jins the Jets this year with a chip on his shoulder and a team that is a sexy pick to win it all.
2022 PrepSeason Rank #114, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #140.
Chubb emerged as the top rusher for an improving Browns offense, and he has been a Pro Bowl Selection the last four seasons. The hard-luck Cleveland franchise will need every bit of Nick Chubb to have any shot at contending this year.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #111
After a good rookie year, Taylor exploded, leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,811) and Rushing Touchdowns (18), and you need a year like this to place you on the tips of tongues of Hall of Fame voters. Last year, Taylor had a great start to the season, but was held to 11 Games due to ankle issues. He enters 2023 holding out, and we have seen this derail promising career before.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #97, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #102, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #130.
Gordon is a seven-year vet and has been in that second tier of Running Backs since he arrived. A two-time Pro Bowl Selection, Gordon has to reach another level for him to gain any real Hall of Fame traction and that is hard to do when you begin the season on the practice squad.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #122, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #127.
Jones has played all six of his years in Green Bay, and he has exceeded 1,000 Yards in 2019, 2020 and 2022, setting a personal best in Rushing Yards (1,121) but a low in Touchdowns (2). The Packers will depend on him more in 2023 with Aaron Rodgers no longer as the Packers Quarterback.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #143
Mixon entered the NFL in 2017 after a controversial career at Oklahoma and in his fifth year (2021), he went to his first Pro Bowl with his third 1,000-Yard rushing year and first with 1,500 Yards From Scrimagge campaign.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #132 2021 Pre-Season Rank #101, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #100.
Barkley was the stud that we expected him to be as a rookie, earning a Pro Bowl and leading the NFL in Yards From Scrimmage. His output dropped as a sophomore, but was still strong, and there was no reason to think that he couldn’t dominate in 2020, but a torn ACL early took that away. Barkley started 2021 on the IR, and when Running Backs get hurt, they struggle to regain top form more than other position players. Barkley had that return he eeded in 2022 with a career-high in Rishing Yards (1,312) and a second Pro Bowl, but he has a lot of catch up to do in regards to his initial Hall of Fame promise. A player injured that badly, and early always struggles , and Barlkley is no different.
2022: Pre-Season Rank: Unranked
Jacobs was last season’s breakout rushing star, winning the Rushing Title (1,653) and punching it into the end zone 12 times. He earned a First Team All-Pro, which always helps anyone’s eventual Hall of Fame chances. The early knock on Jacobs (and we think this matters), is that he does not have a receiving touchdown as of this writing.