The Raiders have a lot of diverse depth with several different pass catchers, speed backs, and bruisers at the running back position for Jacobs to be drafted at his current ADP. Kevin Coleman: Antonio Gibsons value took a hit this offseason. His current draft price is almost his upside. That number of targets limited his ceiling, and he was barely a low-end RB2. McKissic this offseason and added Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr Jr. in the 3rd round of the NFL draft. Gibson fumbled in the preseason opener, and ball security has been an issue as he coughed up the football four times last year. Miami will use a committee as none of the backs on the roster can handle the lead-back role. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia | Consensus Rankings RB21 | Consensus Projections RB21. 5. By the season's end, Mike Davis will be a case of "I knew it," but the guy who pushes him down or out is pure guesswork at this stage. NFL's 5 Most Overrated Running Backs No Name August 6, 2011 Over the past decade, the NFL has really evolved into a passing league. Hes the favorite for running back targets, but the offense doesnt really throw to the running backs. Sep 20, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina . Victoria Geary: Sanders 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). While Hunt has moderate standalone value playing alongside Chubb, he'll need to either break a long run, vulture a touchdown at the goal-line, or catch a score to help you win a weekly matchup -- all things that are difficult to bank on. 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. Also, Jalen Hurts is poised to siphon a few short-range scores from the running back position. That looks like a mistake from where the situation sits now. Optimizer Quick Start, Percent Rostered Daniel Jones was one of the most uninspiring quarterbacks in the league last year. THE MOST OVERRATED FANTASY FOOOTBALL RBs | 2022 Fantasy Football Advice 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. Draft capital is not a predictor of talent as much as a predictor of opportunity. Preseason may help a little. James is the more physically gifted player. He doesnt have that much of a skill set difference with Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed either. When Melvin Gordon III re-signed, many dismissed him as purely a backup player. No thanks. And free-agent acquisitions Mark Ingram II and Rex Burkhead didnt even play. Green Bay Packers: Most underrated, overrated players of all time - NFL.com Brown never stopped earning playing time for the Rams despite the team investing early draft capital at the position. most overrated running backs of all time - cldaniels.com That has shown to be largely untrue so far in camp as Williams and Gordon have been splitting first-team reps nearly 50-50 until Gordon has missed time with a foot injury. Pat Fitzmaurice: This is the type of player I won't draft at any cost. This was largely in line with his previous year's 10.7 per game which allowed him to plod his way to an uninspiring RB24 finish. McKissic will get passing down work, so Gibson's floor and ceiling will be lower than last year, the only question is how much lower. Jamal Lewis rushed for nearly 3,400 yards in the first two seasons back from his ACL tear. Gaskin may be the top option for now, but that could change with a strong outing from veteran Malcolm Brown or Salvon Ahmed. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB22 | Consensus Projections RB24. Lynn will also rely on the hot hand approach - and Swift is more likely to run hot than Williams - but how often will this offense and team play well enough to give Swift a favorable game script. David Montgomery looked the part of a workhorse profile after Cohen left the lineup, and Khalil Herbert is a rookie to watch for upward mobility on the depth chart. Manchester City's most overrated players in the Premier League 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. Nick Chubb, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB10 | Consensus Projections RB12. Coach Brian Flores comes from New England, where they liked employing a committee, and now they have come out publicly to say this will, in fact, be a committee in Miami. There are backs going after Chubb who will receive bigger shares of their teams usage. Over the past decade, the NFL has really evolved into a passing 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. In June 2008, Sports Illustrated polled nearly 500 players on the most overrated athlete in baseball, and Jeter was numero uno. Harris has the potential to be this year's Clyde Edwards-Helaire, as he may end up burning us relative to his climbing ADP. Jeff Haseley: We know what Saquon Barkley is capable of, but we haven't seen him perform much in Jason Garrett's offense under Joe Judge's rule. 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. "Footballguys is the best premiumfantasy football The final reason why Jerome Bettis is the most overrated RB of all time is because of the offensive line he ran behind. Dave Kluge: To close out the 2020 season, Cam Akers saw 21, 29, 15, and 21 carries over his last four games. Even if he receives most of the early-down and passing game work, it still wont be very valuable on a putrid offense. But drafting him as a high-upside No. But the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender and won't veer from the system that's gotten them to the peak. His primary use has been as an excellent pass-catching back. No one can take away his heroics stepping in for Christian McCaffrey, and he was rewarded in the offseason when Atlanta presumably signed him to be new coach Arthur Smith's feature back. Adrian Peterson 10. Sigmund Bloom: Barkley may not be 100% to start the season, and he might not truly be 100% until next season. In college, he played wide receiver as much as (if not more than) running back. 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. Even when Barkley was a big fantasy hit, it took big plays that can be very mercurial from year to year to make it happen. He has the ability to handle that role and thrive in the process. NFL career: 1988-91, all with Cincinnati Bengals (4 seasons) Statistics/16 games: 659.5 rush yards/4.6 yards per . Tony Dorsett 12. Expect a more even split in touches than many are forecasting and potentially for Brown to earn the lead role. O.J. The depth behind Ekeler is average, but there are enough players to steal touches. With an almost entirely new coaching staff, quarterback and receivers, it is difficult to trust that Swift will be worth his asking price. 31 Unsung Running Backs in NFL History | Stadium Talk The problem is it never really felt like we stopped moving Edmonds up the board even after the signing of James Conner. The Raiders are sure to recoup as much production as they can on the $8.5 million guarantee they gave Drake on a two-year deal, so this will look closer to a committee than a true lead-back situation. Overall: 98 and 96. His week one status is in doubt, and there are reports he may not be ready for 12-15 touch workloads until October. This slideshow lists the most underrated and overrated quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in the NFL, and the choices might shock you. From Weeks 13 through 17, Dobbins received a measly two total targets from quarterback Lamar Jackson. Murray scored 11 rushing touchdowns in 9 different games in 2020. 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. We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. The Top Ten. Nick Chubb, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB10 | Consensus Projections RB11. 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. That makes me want to be high on Josh Jacobs, but unfortunately, all reports point to a backfield by committee. Most Overrated RB Of All-Time - Bleacher Report Footballguys staff members discuss running backs who are overvalued. But, man, there are all sorts of asterisks to add to that description. Gordon is a massive red flag at his ADP. As a model for other running backs, one of the greatest running backs of all time is a horrible example. In five games without Mark Ingram II in 2020, Dobbins only out-carried Gus Edwards 13 to 11.6. Take Carter later as a committee back with some possible upside, but he's being overvalued by drafters right now. Additionally, Brandon Bolden -- a member of Josh McDaniels' Patriot teams -- is with the club. Without the volume, he is hard to use. Give me Chris Carson or Josh Jacobs in a similar draft range with stronger probabilities to hit as a top-10 option. Search my work, about me, and maybe -if I ever get around to it - my blog. Finally, Sanders has continued fumbling and dropping passes in camp -- problems that plagued him last season. 25 Overrated Running Backs - Footballguys The final reason why Jerome Bettis is the most overrated RB of all time is because of the offensive line he ran behind. During the next few weeks, we here at NFL.com will unveil our Most Underrated and Overrated Players of All Time for all 32 teams and allow users to determine their choices as well.. It's possible that Las Vegas will lean on Jacobs, knowing he won't be back next year, but that goes against McDaniels' past style of play. Henry is one of my favorite players in the league, but there are preferable first-round picks for me in 2021. There is no upside with drafting Gaskin this high. Andy Hicks: When looking at the Falcons backfield, it is clear there is no one currently there to challenge Mike Davis to start the season. Notre Dame's Kyren Williams was one of them and Georgia's James Cook was the other player named. While 3,000 hits is nothing to scoff at, his place as an. The 49ers traded up to draft Trey Sermon, they brought in Wayne Gallman as a free agent, and Jeff Wilson is still around. Jeff Haseley: Chase Edmonds scored in five different games in 2020, exceeding eight carries in a game only twice in 15 qualifying games. This NFL season, which isn't even over yet, 5 running backs have already rushed for more yards and 16 have more touchdowns. The Ravens view Gus Edwards and Dobbins as co-starters who are both vital cogs, and the front office rewarded Edwards with a new contract supporting his role. This is a major factor to any expectation that Robinson is fantasy lineup-relevant without an injury to one of the other options, especially beyond the very early weeks in the season. Overrated Sleepers Running Backs Values Overrated Sleepers The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Should drafters trust the first 25 games of his career where he was a compiler with minimal ceiling or the final six games against bad defenses in 2020? And the Titans got worse this offseason, losing wide receiver Corey Davis, tight end Jonnu Smith, cornerback Adoree' Jackson, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Sigmund Bloom: One year after the signing of Gordon indicated a lack of faith in Phillip Lindsay -- that bore out with Lindsay being allowed to leave in free agency this offseason -- the Broncos moved up in the second round to take Javonte Williams, indicating a lack of faith in Gordon. Links to similar discussions on other positions: The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. The depth behind Ekeler is average, but there are enough players to steal touches. Top 10 Most Overrated Athletes of All Time It's not that they aren't great players, they just aren't everything we've been led to believe. 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. If Gordon's injury is extended, Williams could be appropriately priced, but until there is more information, he is an avoid at cost. Terrell Davis, Edgerrin James, Reggie Bush, Rashard Mendenhall, Jamaal Charles, and recently, Dalvin Cook all took over a season of play to return to form if they did at all. He has the ability to handle that role and thrive in the process. First, Johnson turns 30 in December, and considering all the injuries he's dealt with in his NFL career, it's hard to see him aging well. Ten different running backs had more targets alone than the entire Ravens backfield in 2020. D'Andre Swift, Detroit | Consensus Rankings RB12 | Consensus Projections RB14. Williams can still be a great producer, but at his ADP, I won't be drafting him when he isn't getting the bulk of the touches. There have been personnel changes and a change in offensive coordinator to Matt Canada. James Brimacombe: Once Kenyan Drake was out of the picture, we shot Edmonds up the draft board naturally. Top 10 Most Overrated Athletes of All Time - TheTopTens Projections, Get The Most Out Of Your However, James Robinson is a better runner than Etienne at this point. At times he looked like the future back Detroit has been looking for this century. And Hill is only touchable due to the cheat code rushing factor for quarterbacks. His career marks are high because he played long (13 yrs) and was consistent. Anthony Amico: The new regime for the Raiders is not particularly reassuring of Jacobs' role with the team. Tatum Bell isn't the only Lions running back of the 2000s to get snakebitten. We've seen J.D. Here is the player who received the most votes: And here are all of the payers mentioned and the reasons why. There is also the slight concern that he will need some ramp-up time to fully be healed from his ACL tear from a season ago. . McDaniels is someone who deploys multiple backs throughout the course of the game. 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. 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. The uncertainty of Fournette's touch volume will make it hard to start him with confidence throughout the season, so a late-sixth-round ADP seems steep. That is still great, but not quite as good as many people have him ranked. Nobody should ever try to run like Barry Sanders, because they will never be Barry Sanders. The Eagles consistently added to the depth chart this offseason with Kerryon Johnson, Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell added to Boston Scott. Leave him there for the next guy to take him. Andrew Davenport: Montgomery was the 26th-ranked PPR running back in points per game at 12.2 a contest through nine games last year. 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. Single 2 fantasy back this year is a dubious decision. His fantasy value was bolstered late in the year due to an insane usage rate in the passing game, seeing a whopping 8.6 targets per game when Alex Smith started. There is no other way to explain a mid-range RB3 price when he is in one of the worst possible situations in Houston. Pat Fitzmaurice: First, a hat tip: For a guy who was a nonfactor in Purdue's offense for four years and was mostly a special-teamer in his first four NFL seasons, Mostert turned out to be a pretty good running back. Jason Wood: We all want Dobbins to be an every-down workhorse. Andrew Davenport: Fournette's production in the playoffs was artificially inflated by the injury to Ronald Jones II, and part of Fournette's regular-season fantasy production last year was due to his pass-catching role. 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. Swift also picked up bad footwork habits working alongside a different style of back in Adrian Peterson last year, opting for inefficient jump cuts that hurt his game. most overrated running backs of all time. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will always cap Dobbins' upside in total carries and goal-line looks. Victoria Geary: Sanders has talent and breakaway ability, but he may not garner a large enough workload to be worth his ADP this season. Davis was great in relief of Christian McCaffrey in Carolina last year, but he got tired quickly. 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. He's as gifted a receiver as he is a runner, which allows him to have huge games regardless of game script. His value is trending in the wrong direction. Why Bo Jackson is the Most Overrated Player of All Time Frank: Most overrated and underrated Eagles: RBs | RSN In addition, teammate Gus Edwards just signed a two-year, $10M contract extension in June, so he isnt going anywhere any time soon. 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. Drew Davenport: Through nine games last year, Montgomery was the 26th ranked PPR running back in points per game at 12.2 a contest. A new offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh also adds uncertainty to the situation. ESPN lists Georgia's James Cook as one of two 'most overrated' running 19 Overrated Running Backs - Footballguys Its a knock on his offensive line. World's top 10 most overrated football players in history Compared to Jim Brown (5.2 YPC), Larry Csonka (4.3 YPC), and Earl Campbell (4.3 YPC). Bettis was also a nonfactor in the passing game. 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. The Top Ten 1 David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham is (born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the current president & co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City.. Gaskin may be the best receiver of the trio, but Ahmed isn't far behind. They might be lucky to win three games, which means limited touchdown potential for Johnson and a shortage of run-friendly game scripts. 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. Jerome Bettis 16. The coaching staff did not ignore this, as they selected the best pass-catching running back in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in Kenneth Gainwell. 1 Tom Brady Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr., is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. However, I would ask - where is the upside to tilt a league here? Melvin Gordon III, Denver | Consensus Rankings RB28 | Consensus Projections RB29. The Lessons of Barry Sanders - Grantland Chad Parsons: The price has vaulted up on Javonte Williams after a quality rookie season. most overrated running backs of all time He's never carried the ball more than 132 times in a season. The addition of James Conner, plus the knowledge that Kyler Murray could steal goal-line carries, also adds a bit of skepticism. Arizona Cardinals: All-time underrated, overrated players Without the volume, it is going to be difficult to get decent fantasy numbers. 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. Perhaps the political and social issues depicted in 'The Grapes of Wrath" were too controversial. As a rookie, Montgomery was a disappointment, averaging just 10.7 fantasy points per game. Thurman Thomas 14. The Five Most Overrated Fantasy Football Running Backs in 2019. 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. The 39 Most Overrated Bands Of All-Time While they might have some catchy tunes, some bands are really overrated. 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. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore | Consensus Rankings RB18 | Consensus Projections RB19. 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. Victoria Geary: We should not steer clear of Harris completely for the 2021 season, but we should lower our expectations for a locked-and-loaded RB1 finish. Subscription, Early-March Top 10 Defensive Back IDP Rankings, 5 RBs to Buy In Dynasty Before NFL Free Agency. Jordan McNamara: Javonte Williams got a major bump in value in the offseason when Melvin Gordon III was a free agent. There have been 49 running backs taken among the first 10 picks since 1960, and Byars has the lowest rushing average of the bunch. 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.