Detroit signed Jamaal Williams to take the heavy work and kicked the tires on Todd Gurley before declining his addition. Victoria Geary: Sanders has talent and breakaway ability, but he may not garner a large enough workload to be worth his ADP this season. Gary Davenport: Drafting an RB1 based on wishful thinking isn't an ideal strategy, yet Williams keeps getting picked inside the top-12 at his position. Dave Kluge: Sure, youre not giving up any crazy draft capital to get J.D. Top 20 Most Overrated NFL Players Of All Time | TheRichest 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. Along with McKissic, Gibson will have to contend with Brian Robinson Jr, a rookie from Alabama. McDaniels is someone who deploys multiple backs throughout the course of the game. Lineup Builder Quick Start, Multi-Lineup 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. Tarik Cohen, Chicago | Consensus Rankings RB49 | Consensus Projections RB47. He feasted on unsustainable opportunities and a soft schedule. Investing in Sanders as your RB2 is likely to leave you feeling disappointed. So 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? Ten different running backs had more targets alone than the entire Ravens backfield in 2020. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore | Consensus Rankings RB18 | Consensus Projections RB19. Mostert is now 29 years old and has the highest draft position of anyone in this stable of capable running backs. 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. This is exactly what the Steelers tried to do by selecting Najee Harris in the first round in the NFL Draft. The additions of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, and a healthy Antonio Gibson should blunt his numbers and make his season look more like 2020's first half when he averaged 4.7 targets and 3.6 receptions per game instead of his second half when he saw 8.6 targets and 6.1 catches an outing. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas | Consensus Rankings RB19 | Consensus Projections RB19. Victoria Geary: The Ravens have "made it a point of emphasis" to get Dobbins more looks in the passing game for 2021, but we know coach speak isn't very trustworthy during the offseason. 1 status. The notorious "Frankenstein" graphic did him no favors. Without the volume, it is going to be difficult to get decent fantasy numbers. He doesnt have that much of a skill set difference with Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed either. But the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender and won't veer from the system that's gotten them to the peak. 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. Dillon is maturing as a receiver and might be used in that facet of the game despite his size profile suggesting hes a bruiser. The current regime did not select Robinson. His current draft price is almost his upside. Jeff Haseley: The Dolphins have a three-headed approach to the running back position this year. Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time by Team | Stadium Talk I think this is pretty unfair to call him the most overrated. McKissic. Overrated David Boston -- WR, 1999-02 Boston was a former first-round pick by the Cardinals who had an epic Pro Bowl /All-Pro season in 2001 when he caught 98 passes for nearly 1,600 yards and. I understand the upside, but I don't want to take a huge miss if I'm drafting in Week 1. Gaskin's current draft position is indicative of him being the top back in Miami, and it's not a foregone conclusion that he is. It all depends on who works best in the new scheme and if the scheme works. most overrated running backs of all time. Without the volume, he is hard to use. Gibson was even in the game after Robinson was out. Overrated Sleepers Running Backs Values Overrated Sleepers The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Best Football Running Backs of All Time - TheTopTens Now, these guys are treated with all the respect of disposable diapers. 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. Gaskin has an RB2 ceiling, but an RB3 value is a much stronger likelihood than many realize, whether it's Brown or a summer free-agent acquisition like Todd Gurley, Adrian Peterson, or a recent starter a team lets go to make room for an emerging force. Investing in Sanders as your RB2 is likely to leave you feeling disappointed. He was a liability during pass plays because of his inability to catch passes. 19 Overrated Running Backs - Footballguys 9 Tim Brown Via nfl.com I was one of many who publicly voiced outrage over the fact that Tim Brown had to wait until 2015 get his Hall of Fame honor. Then we have the Taysom Hill conundrum. Murray scored 11 rushing touchdowns in 9 different games in 2020. 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. NFL draft 2022 running back projections - Rankings, historical comps 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. While the opportunity is undeniable, it's risky betting on Davis as the answer. Top 10 Most Overrated Athletes of All Time - TheTopTens At cost, D'Andre Swift and others are better combinations of floor and ceiling. Barkley is a workhorse. Jason Wood: We all want Dobbins to be an every-down workhorse. Subscription, Early-March Top 10 Defensive Back IDP Rankings, 5 RBs to Buy In Dynasty Before NFL Free Agency. Mike Davis, Atlanta | Consensus Rankings RB24 | Consensus Projections RB23. Nyheim Hines is one of the premier pass-catching options, and Marlon Mack's health is a wildcard in the Colts' backfield rotation. Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers | Consensus Rankings RB9 | Consensus Projections RB9. 15 receptions, 111 yards, less than a TD per year. 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. Lets take a look at the average Jerome Bettis season: 277 carries, 1051 yards, 3.9 YPC, 7 TDs. If he is still on the opening day roster, his workload will be usurped by the rookie when the coaching staff trusts him. Never a good idea. You are better off investing in a more consistent player for your RB2 when you get to the late second or early third round of drafts. Derrick Henry, Tennessee | Consensus Rankings RB4 | Consensus Projections RB4. However, Melvin Gordon III returning is the lynchpin for tepid upside expectations outside of a Gordon injury. Andy Hicks: If people are using a fourth or fifth-round pick on Myles Gaskin, they will end up disappointed. 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. Ryan Hester: This isnt a knock on Harris, whose athletic profile and projected workload are things fantasy players dream of. 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. If Johnson is the starter, he is probably a value where he is being drafted, but I'm not taking him at his current cost without some reassuring news about his role in the coming weeks. Yes, but it doesn't feel like he'll be a top-10 type of running back, even in the Chiefs' potent offense. Gaskin may be the top option for now, but that could change with a strong outing from veteran Malcolm Brown or Salvon Ahmed. World's top 10 most overrated football players in history Projections, Get The Most Out Of Your Bursting onto the scene in our list is Micah Richards. Ty Johnson has strong athleticism and played over Carter in the first week of the preseason, and La'Mical Perine has a similar profile to Carter. Lambertville, Michigan 48144. most overrated running backs of all time(734) 854-2000 Here are the players who received the most votes: And here are all of the players mentioned and the reasons why. But drafting him as a high-upside No. The 39 Most Overrated Bands Of All-Time - msn.com The Five Most Overrated Fantasy Football Running Backs in 2019. Gibsons problems with fumbles have been a complaint of Ron Rivera, and he has already shown it is not gone in the preseason. Jacobs is not the alpha; he's one of many in the Vegas backfield. 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. Sigmund Bloom: Barkley may not be 100% to start the season, and he might not truly be 100% until next season. Ricky Watters 20. The only reason Johnson had fantasy value last year was a superhuman effort from Deshaun Watson to move the offense and produce points. In 2019, his last full season, Cohen averaged 5.8 yards per catch and 4.4 yards per target -- terrible numbers for a third-down back. Henderson was arguably the best blocking fullback during the late 90s, paving the way for nine 1,000 yard rushers in his 12 years in Green Bay. Victoria Geary: Dobbins is an elite talent on the best rushing offense in the NFL. 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. The problem is it never really felt like we stopped moving Edmonds up the board even after the signing of James Conner. There have been 49 running backs taken among the first 10 picks since 1960, and Byars has the lowest rushing average of the bunch. Sigmund Bloom: Anthony Lynn basically told us that he will run a committee of Swift and free agent pick Jamaal Williams when he called Williams his "A" back. If Gordon's injury is extended, Williams could be appropriately priced, but until there is more information, he is an avoid at cost. This three-headed committee with a healthy Jones is bad news for Fournette and means he is way overvalued at current ADP. But so far, there is nothing to suggest that it is, and all three running backs are likely to play plenty. 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. O.J. Adrian Peterson 10. The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Christian McCaffery and Nick Chubb, running backs. Top 20 Most Overrated NFL Players Of All Time - TheSportster 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. David Johnson, Houston | Consensus Rankings RB27 | Consensus Projections RB31. James Brimacombe: Johnson has been a fantasy hero for us in the past, but now entering Year 7, his best days are behind him. Brown has always been a strong contributor inside the five-yard line scoring 9 rushing touchdowns in the last two years in that hot zone. If you're optimistic about the Lions running game, take Williams at a deep discount from Swift's highly aspirational price tag. 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. Ben Cummins: The Raiders offense should be fun this season with the additions of Davante Adams and new head coach, Josh McDaniels. Henry is one of my favorite players in the league, but there are preferable first-round picks for me in 2021. Gibson fumbled in the preseason opener, and ball security has been an issue as he coughed up the football four times last year. Simpson 13. Gordon has always been a runner that needs a large workload to produce fantasy stats. 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. For example, take Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5, both very accomplished. Jason Wood: Williams has the talent to be a top-10 fantasy back for years. Marcus Allen 15. 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. 20 20. 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. 2 fantasy back this year is a dubious decision. Jacobs could easily wind up as a player who does a lot of work between the 20s with no meaningful fantasy production. 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. This slideshow lists the most underrated and overrated quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in the NFL, and the choices might shock you. 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. Tatum Bell isn't the only Lions running back of the 2000s to get snakebitten. 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 . This NFL season, which isn't even over yet, 5 running backs have already rushed for more yards and 16 have more touchdowns. Anthony Amico: The story with Gibson is somewhat similar to that of Jacobs but with a proof of concept already complete. The team likes fourth-round pick Zamir White and passing down back Ameer Abdullah, and Kenyan Drake is still on the roster, so Jacobs is going to have trouble being consistent enough to merit an every-week RB2 start. My, my, how the game has changed. Johnson was once a big name at the running back position and is still getting drafted based on that name and past production. Lineup Builder Quick Start, Multi-Lineup We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. Gaskin was a revelation versus his cost a year ago but is a buyer beware in 2021. Earl Campbell 9. Phil Alexander: What makes people so confident the Dolphins backfield is not a committee? 1 receiver for a significant chunk of the season. 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.. Robinsons workload will dramatically decrease this season, and drafters arent taking that into account as much as they should. Edgerrin James 17. He's not a player to build your team around if you pick in the top half of the first round. 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. Chad Parsons: McKissic is priced reasonably with an implied drop in targets. But I do not believe The Bus should be in the list of the top 40 RBs of all time. Theyre going to be one of the worst teams in NFL History. Jeff Bell: Gibson finished fourth in rushing attempts. The only defense in that group to finish above the bottom quartile in Football Outsiders' rush defense DVOA metric was Green Bay, who allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to enemy running backs last season. He finally received the workhorse role fantasy players have craved. Jeff Haseley: Clyde Edwards-Helaire has all of the tools and skills to be a successful fantasy back but failing to finish runs in the end zone has slowed his progress. Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers | Consensus Rankings RB7 | Consensus Projections RB7. David Montgomery Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections The Brazilian won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and has been inducted into the Milan hall of fame for his impact between 2008 and 2011 before heading back to his homeland. Chad Parsons: The price has vaulted up on Javonte Williams after a quality rookie season. He's never carried the ball more than 132 times in a season. The 4.29 ADY by the Steelers offensive line would be tied for 8th place in the NFL in 2009. Backs who will receive bigger shares of their teams usage are going after Chubb. Ryan Hester: Short of Taysom Hill (if he wins the job), this whole offense is an avoid for fantasy football right now. 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. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh | Consensus Rankings RB15 | Consensus Projections RB13. He and Ameer Abdullah -- who played over Kenyan Drake in the first preseason game -- could take away tons of receiving work, while White is capable of obtaining shots around the goal line. Is he more talented than Melvin Gordon III at this point in their respective careers? Is the 40 Yard Dash the Most Overrated Test for Running | STACK 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. Sep 20, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina . The Ravens have had the #1 rushing offense in the league for the last two years straight but have finished 31st overall in total running back targets in that same time span. Miami will use a committee as none of the backs on the roster can handle the lead-back role. James Brimacombe: Once Kenyan Drake was out of the picture, we shot Edmonds up the draft board naturally. However, I would ask - where is the upside to tilt a league here? Hes the favorite for running back targets, but the offense doesnt really throw to the running backs. For both Cleveland backs to be values, the team would have to produce vintage New Orleans-level production for its backs. Daniel Jones was one of the most uninspiring quarterbacks in the league last year. It looked like Williams would consolidate the lead role in the offseason. Has no highlight reel. 25 Overrated Running Backs - Footballguys Even if Winston wins the competition and keeps the New Orleans passing game afloat, Kamara will have a hard time repeating last year's 21 total touchdowns. But, man, there are all sorts of asterisks to add to that description. Kevin Coleman: Antonio Gibsons value took a hit this offseason. 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. The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. To point out these players, we asked our staff to look through the Top 150 and identify players that should underperform their draft position. 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. Michael Carter, NY Jets | Consensus Rankings RB37 | Consensus Projections RB36. But Gordon averaged more yards per carry last year than Williams. The Steelers were 23rd in red zone attempts per game in 2020 and were ranked as having the fourth-worst offensive line ahead of the 2021 season by Pro Football Focus. The Commanders made it a priority of theirs to bring back J.D. Pat Fitzmaurice: The appeal is that he's an inexpensive lead back. Matt Waldman: Many of my peers at Footballguys are worshippers of draft capital as a predictor of talent. Before his 2020 campaign, McKissic had never rushed for more than 205 yards in a season. And Hill is only touchable due to the cheat code rushing factor for quarterbacks. Top 50 Running Backs of All Time List - Sports Articles "The Philadelphia Story," on the other hand, was a comedy, a genre not often seen as Best Picture worthy. Daniel Jones was one of the most uninspiring quarterbacks in the league last year. Running back Chris Wells of the Arizona Cardinals was a first-round draft pick, 31st overall, in 2009 who always seemed to be on the injured list year after year. Chad Parsons: Travis Etienne and Carlos Hyde were chosen additions by the new Jaguars regime with either Round 1 pedigree (Etienne) or a productive NFL profile (Hyde). That, plus the uncertainty of Edmond's role, leaves me more concerned than excited. most overrated running backs of all time. Expect some early-season force-feeding of Etienne until there's a realization that the usage is predictable and inefficient. It's not entirely his fault. As well as he played in the postseason, Fournette is still an inefficient committee back ticketed to share work with Ronald Jones II and Giovani Bernard. He made general managers look like geniuses with more than 2,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns in 2016. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will always cap Dobbins' upside in total carries and goal-line looks. He also spent his first 5 years on the saints, where he got 20 carries exactly 2 times there. He rewarded those believers with an RB18 PPG season. 54 touchdowns. He has the ability to handle that role and thrive in the process. There are plenty of clarified RB1 types later in the draft to avoid taking the variable shot on Williams. The Top Ten. And was brought back by a new staff that keeps saying he will be a significant part of the offense. Jonathan Morris: I can't endorse a high pick on Javonte Williams when he will yield a lot of work to Melvin Gordon III. Mckissic, and there was talk of rookie Brian Robinson Jr taking on the short yardage work. 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. Finally, Sanders has continued fumbling and dropping passes in camp -- problems that plagued him last season. The more problematic issue is that the Texans are a train wreck. Vegas used other backs last year and pigeonholed Jacobs as a two-down grinder. This should be a fair competition, considering that Miami is changing its scheme this year. Jamal Lewis rushed for nearly 3,400 yards in the first two seasons back from his ACL tear. Worst of all, he is now playing on the Houston Texans, who have no identity on offense heading into the season. Sigmund Bloom: Brian Robinson Jr had an excellent preseason debut, while Antonio Gibson fumbled *again*, so this is trending in the wrong direction for Gibson's 2022 redraft value. Only he and Jim brown had a full career average of 5.0 ypc lifetime. I feel like most drafting Gordon right now are doing it on name value, but he now has plenty of competition with Javonte Williams and Mike Boone as priority adds this offseason. I am a heretic in that regard. These are players that will not put up stats commensurate to their draft spot, and avoiding them is another of the important keys to a successful fantasy team. Gordon has always been a runner that needs a large workload to produce fantasy stats. 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. Leave him there for the next guy to take him. James Brimacombe: I view Melvin Gordon III this season a lot like I viewed Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville last offseason. 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. Yeah, us, too. Additionally, Brandon Bolden -- a member of Josh McDaniels' Patriot teams -- is with the club. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia | Consensus Rankings RB21 | Consensus Projections RB21. This likely puts Gibson two injuries away from a full workload, and Robinson is capable of taking away money touches in the redzone as well. 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. Think about that for a moment. When you select Dobbins in your drafts, you are banking on the hyper-efficiency of his limited touches to continue. He's a strong talent with some flaws with a better all-around back ahead of him. David Johnson, Houston | Consensus Rankings RB39 | Consensus Projections RB47. However, James Robinson is a better runner than Etienne at this point. Jordan McNamara: Fixing your running game by drafting running backs is a losing strategy. 24 Overrated Running Backs - Footballguys There's too much risk to draft him as an ever-week starter. 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. In an attempt to point out these players, we asked our staff to look through the Top 150 and identify players that should underperform their draft position. Jordan McNamara: Like Gaskin, David Johnson is in a cloudy situation after Philip Lindsay drew the starting role in Houston in week 1. I would probably rank him around 43. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings RB30 | Consensus Projections RB27. His average DVOA of 0.085% would rank him 31st in the NFL in 2009, right behind Rashard Mendenhall. The Raiders declined to exercise Jacobs fifth-year option this offseason, drafted Zamir White in the fourth round, signed Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden, and Kenyan Drake returns from injury. The Lessons of Barry Sanders - Grantland Every Prem club's most overrated player and Arsenal fans must end Ben Cummins: Im a big fan of Antonio Gibsons talent, but he will have to overcome a lot of hurdles to pay off his current ADP. Emmitt Smith 4. Got the exact same number of carries as Williams. It all depends on who works best in the new scheme and if the scheme works. The Top Ten. NFL's Most Overrated/Underrated QBs, RBs and WRs . They did not pick up his fifth-year option and took Zamir White in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Arizona Cardinals: All-time underrated, overrated players The final reason why Jerome Bettis is the most overrated RB of all time is because of the offensive line he ran behind. Notre Dame's Kyren Williams was one of them and Georgia's James Cook was the other player named. 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. Lynn's mauling offensive line and run-first mentality give Swift a chance to make good on his ADP, but he is being drafted at his ceiling. The Five Most Overrated Fantasy Football Running Backs Its almost always the other way around for top tier RBs. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB21 | Consensus Projections RB22. only site on the planet. Montgomery hasn't turned a corner in his career arc. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco | Consensus Rankings RB31 | Consensus Projections RB35.