Now, these guys are treated with all the respect of disposable diapers. But Gordon averaged more yards per carry last year than Williams. Sigmund Bloom: Barkley may not be 100% to start the season, and he might not truly be 100% until next season. 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). Subscription, Early-March Top 10 Defensive Back IDP Rankings, 5 RBs to Buy In Dynasty Before NFL Free Agency. Here are the players who received the most votes: And here are all of the players mentioned and the reasons why. Ryan Hester: Gibson is a unique case in fantasy football. 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. Jeff Haseley: Chase Edmonds scored in five different games in 2020, exceeding eight carries in a game only twice in 15 qualifying games. 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. Aaron Jones, Green Bay | Consensus Rankings RB7 | Consensus Projections RB6. 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. But career stats shouldnt have much emphasis on them for that reason. His value is trending in the wrong direction. 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. 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. Swift has already broken the injury seal with a groin issue in camp, and Jamaal Williams has already been spoken of highly as a potential 1A to Swift's No. Its almost always the other way around for top tier RBs. 5. When we go into advanced stats, we can tell even more about Bettis: * Note: The stats are Bettis averages per season, not total career. But he's 29, he's undersized, he had a hard time staying healthy last year, he adds little as a pass catcher, and the San Francisco backfield is awfully crowded now. Melvin Gordon III, Denver | Consensus Rankings RB29 | Consensus Projections RB28. Jason Garrett was one of the most uninspiring play-callers in the league last year. 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. Tevin Coleman is one of those veteran thorns in the sides of young backs to garner touches. Vegas used other backs last year and pigeonholed Jacobs as a two-down grinder. Even last year, as the Panthers starter, he averaged just 3.9 yards-per-carry. The team added Brian Robinson Jr Jr. on day two of the draft while retaining J.D. Phil Alexander: Michael Thomas' ankle injury opens up additional targets for Kamara, who will operate as New Orleans' de facto No. 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). But so far, there is nothing to suggest that it is, and all three running backs are likely to play plenty. Although the rookie saw an uptick in usage throughout his first season, he managed to eclipse 66% of his teams snaps just once. 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. However, the floor is lower than the surrounding running backs in cost. Most overrated players in Madden 21 J.J. Watt, defensive end, Houston Texans. Etienne's selection early in the late first signals he should have an immediate opportunity, especially with a new coaching staff in place. The Top Ten. Search my work, about me, and maybe -if I ever get around to it - my blog. And the Titans got worse this offseason, losing wide receiver Corey Davis, tight end Jonnu Smith, cornerback Adoree' Jackson, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. . 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. Andy Hicks: D'Andre Swift had a patchy rookie season. Jordan McNamara: Javonte Williams got a major bump in value in the offseason when Melvin Gordon III was a free agent. Here's our list of the greatest 30 running backs in NFL history. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will always cap Dobbins' upside in total carries and goal-line looks. It all depends on who works best in the new scheme and if the scheme works. 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. 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. Taylor can be a rock-solid option and still be pecked away with Hines and Mack enough to be more in the RB10-15 range. He has lapses in vision and decision-making. He was a liability during pass plays because of his inability to catch passes. When you select Dobbins in your drafts, you are banking on the hyper-efficiency of his limited touches to continue. Links to similar discussions on other positions: The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. 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. 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. 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. Sigmund Bloom: Not that the Texans offense was anything you wanted to go near in fantasy drafts in the first place, but Johnson's ADP needs to adjust by multiple rounds to the news that he will be sharing the backfield with Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram II and no longer in the lead back role. Jason Wood: We all want Dobbins to be an every-down workhorse. Andy Hicks: The Broncos dont seem overly excited to use Melvin Gordon III this year. This three-headed committee with a healthy Jones is bad news for Fournette and means he is way overvalued at current ADP. The fact is, he never . McKissic take the bulk of receiving work in Washington -- even though Gibson himself is a converted wide receiver. 2 fantasy back this year is a dubious decision. Unfortunately, he needs to stay hyper-efficient on the ground to stay fantasy relevant, as Ravens running backs have gotten a 70/30 carry split with Jackson over the last three years. 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. Projections, Get The Most Out Of Your Additionally, Brandon Bolden -- a member of Josh McDaniels' Patriot teams -- is with the club. The Steelers were 23rd in red zone attempts per game in 2020 and were recently ranked as having the fourth-worst offensive line ahead of the 2021 season by Pro Football Focus. In June 2008, Sports Illustrated polled nearly 500 players on the most overrated athlete in baseball, and Jeter was numero uno. Think about that for a moment. 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. Ryan Hester: This isnt a knock on Harris, whose athletic profile and projected workload are things fantasy players dream of. James Brimacombe: Johnson has been a fantasy hero for us in the past, but now entering Year 7, his best days are behind him. Jason Wood: Sanders is talented, and when healthy, was productive under former head coach Doug Pederson. 3) Micah Richards. Durability is atop the list after missing six games last year. 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. Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers | Consensus Rankings RB7 | Consensus Projections RB7. McDaniels is someone who deploys multiple backs throughout the course of the game. But then he missed a game, the Bears had a bye, and he finished at a torrid pace of 25.7 points per game as the overall RB1 from Weeks 12 to 17. He didnt have a top 5 offensive line, so that eliminates the argument that he was made by the offensive line. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings RB30 | Consensus Projections RB27. Awesemo fantasy expert Nick Lepri gives you the three MOST OVERRATED RBs, breaks down his running .. For example, take Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5, both very accomplished. He's a workout warrior - I get that, but whether or not he recovers immediately from this injury is yet to be seen, and because there is a doubt, he's someone I am avoiding at nearly all costs. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB21 | Consensus Projections RB22. Chad Parsons: McKissic is priced reasonably with an implied drop in targets. Myles Gaskin, Miami | Consensus Rankings RB24 | Consensus Projections RB22. Henry is one of my favorite players in the league, but there are preferable first-round picks for me in 2021. The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Chris "Beanie" Wells. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against Kamara repeating as the best player in fantasy football. Jamal Lewis 18. 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. Montgomery hasn't turned a corner in his career arc. Without the volume, he is hard to use. Jamal Lewis rushed for nearly 3,400 yards in the first two seasons back from his ACL tear. 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. They traded up in the draft to select Javonte Williams and, without the large contract, may have already released the former Charger. Draft capital is not a predictor of talent as much as a predictor of opportunity. Gaskin may be the top option for now, but that could change with a strong outing from veteran Malcolm Brown or Salvon Ahmed. 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. And while Johnson sits atop the Houston depth chart, Phillip Lindsay, Mark Ingram II, and perhaps Rex Burkhead will factor in as well. Andrew Davenport: Fantasy managers are drafting Carter as though he is the unquestioned starter. Its easy and lazy to make comparisons to "Todd Gurley under Sean McVay," but that hope is pushing him into a tier of running backs that he does not belong. Dillon is maturing as a receiver and might be used in that facet of the game despite his size profile suggesting hes a bruiser. He's never carried the ball more than 132 times in a season. Harris has the potential to be this year's Clyde Edwards-Helaire, as he may end up burning us relative to his current ADP of RB13 and 20th overall. Had more rushing touchdowns last year than Williams. There's zero appeal here. 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. The Commanders drafted Brian Robinson Jr on Day 2 of the draft, a bigger back who excelled in pass protection. Jerome Bettis 16. Barkley is a workhorse. There is no other way to explain a mid-range RB3 price when he is in one of the worst possible situations in Houston. Single 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. When Melvin Gordon III re-signed, many dismissed him as purely a backup player. Walter Payton 5. That role may not disappear completely, but the addition of Gio Bernard is a bad sign for Tampa Bay's intentions with Fournette. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) #26. 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. Chad Parsons: The price has vaulted up on Javonte Williams after a quality rookie season. Perhaps the political and social issues depicted in 'The Grapes of Wrath" were too controversial. Phil Alexander: What makes people so confident the Dolphins backfield is not a committee? Color me skeptical Sanders has a new ceiling for receiving production with Scott and Gainwell passing game-centric options, and Howard could be a goal-line option. NFL career: 1988-91, all with Cincinnati Bengals (4 seasons) Statistics/16 games: 659.5 rush yards/4.6 yards per . 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. 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. 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. Nick Chubb, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings RB10 | Consensus Projections RB11. The Eagles consistently added to the depth chart this offseason with Kerryon Johnson, Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell added to Boston Scott. 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. Give me Chris Carson or Josh Jacobs in a similar draft range with stronger probabilities to hit as a top-10 option. In 2020, James Conner ranked 36th and Benny Snell ranked 54th in expected yards-per-carry out of 55 qualifiers, a sign of a weak offensive line and scheme. 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. 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. From Weeks 13 through 17, Dobbins received a measly two total targets from quarterback Lamar Jackson. It probably comes off as harsh to call Montgomery one of the most overrated running backs of the past decade, but he is. Flick's Package Liquor Inc. PO Box 221 3320 Sterns Rd. There's just not enough upside here to justify taking Johnson anywhere near his ADP and no expectation of consistency in Johnson's usage or the Texans' ability to move the ball week to week. The next season he hit bottom with a knee injury that damaged his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. He doesnt have that much of a skill set difference with Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed either. Is he more talented than Melvin Gordon III at this point in their respective careers? . 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.. The role we envisioned for Johnson is already in question. Dave Kluge: The 49ers drafted Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell and signed free agent Wayne Gallman. In 2019, the Lions tried to steal him away with a restricted free agent offer. Brown should have a role, most likely on early downs and at the goal-line, which would sink Gaskins chances of living up to his ADP. However, I would ask - where is the upside to tilt a league here? In no way am I saying Bettis should not be a hall of famer. 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. History has shown us that Harris's ADP will likely move into Round 2 or 3 as the next few months pass. Optimizer Quick Start, Percent Rostered 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. Jamaal Williams is a fine receiver, route runner, and red-zone back who will limit Swift's upside to a low-end fantasy RB2, at best. Robinson can be successful this year, but he will need luck and to earn the trust of the new coaching staff. James Brimacombe: I view Melvin Gordon III this season a lot like I viewed Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville last offseason. I am a heretic in that regard. 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. 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. 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. We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. 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. I can't see Mostert getting enough work to justify his current ADP. 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.