Sophomore Running Back Rankings For 2022

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If you have been following me for the last 7 months, you know that I’m a firm believer in doing the work and research year-round for fantasy football. If you are willing to do that, you can and will be very successful in your leagues year after year. 

With that being said, it is never too early to start planning ahead, figuring out rankings for 2022, and preparing yourself for drafts and acquisitions. So, to start off the 2022 Fantasy Football “Off-Season” or “Pre-Season,” I’m going to dive into a short analysis and ranking for the 2021 rookie running backs and my thoughts on their upcoming 2022 season.

5) Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) – As long as Uncle Bill is running the Patriots, they will forever be a run-heavy team. Stevenson isn’t even the starting back for New England, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be effective and score fantasy points. He proved that this last season. Damien Harris is their clear-cut RB1, but, there are injuries that happen more often than people would like to admit for Harris.

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Rhamondre Stevenson played in 12 games this season. In those games, he averaged 4.5 ypc on 113 attempts, ran for 605 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. With those numbers, he finished as the RB47 on the year; ahead of names like Kareem Hunt, Zack Moss, and Kenyan Drake. If Damien Harris continues to be injury-prone for the Patriots, Stevenson is going to see opportunities, and in fantasy football, the more of those you have the more it helps your point total. He will have chances, but it just really depends on the health of Harris, and the play of Mac Jones.

4) Michael Carter (NYJ) – Oh the Jets. I just don’t know when they’re going to figure it out. But, on the bright side that if they can, they have 3 very young and talented players that can help them be successful for a long time. One of those being running back Michael Carter. Carter should be the RB1 going forward for the Jets, but that really depends on their coaching staff and how they decide to run the ship. The rookie finished the season as the RB29, and he didn’t lack opportunities by any means. He tallied 202 of them, and 147 of them were rushing attempts. Now, that is a good step in the right direction for Carter, but instead of 55 targets, I sure would like to see that number get closer to 65-70.

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Carter had a total of 639 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns on the season. If the Jets can find a way to get him the ball through the air just a tad bit more, and if Michael Carter can find the end zone more than 4 times, then his stock would certainly rise. But in order for that to happen the Jets have to figure things out offensively, and I just don’t know if they’re capable of doing so. Until that happens, I really am nervous about having Michael Carter on my fantasy squad.

3) Javonte Williams (DEN) – I wanted more than anything to throw Williams up on my list to number 2, but as long as Melvin Gordon is in the picture I’m not willing to do it. I know, Gordon’s contract is up, and teams are going to be looking into him since he had a great season. But I most definitely can see a world where the Broncos re-sign him. It’s not far-fetched, the 2 headed backfield worked. He and Williams literally had the EXACT amount of attempts this season (203). Javonte Williams finished as the RB17, and Gordon finished as the RB21.

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Back to Williams. His production is great, and you can obviously see in his play that he is more explosive and dynamic than Gordon. He will get touches, and loads of opportunities both on the ground and through the air, BUT, if Melvin hangs around, it immediately tampers his value. Williams had 903 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground, while also mustering up 316 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air on 43 catches. Imagine him solo in this offense. You’re looking at over 1,600 yards on the ground and probably 60+ catches. That’s the world I want to live in, but it’s all on Gordon’s presence.

2) Elijah Mitchell (SF) – Elijah Mitchell is a god damn blast to watch; he’s shifty, fast as hell, strong, and makes more out of what looks to be nothing. Mitchell only played in 11 games, and he still ended the season as the RB26. That’s saying something. He ran for 963 yards on 207 carries with a solid average of 4.7 ypc. He had 5 rushing touchdowns and added another one through the air.

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People will be worried about him. They should be a bit. There is a lot that comes into play for the running back, including being in San Francisco where Kyle Shanahan likes to throw superstar Deebo Samuel in the backfield. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t matter. I don’t care that Shanahan does that with Deebo, I don’t care that the backfield has 6 running backs to choose from, I don’t care, period. Mitchell should without a doubt be their RB1. You have to remember the good things about Shanahan, one being his tendency to run first ask questions later, which bodes well for Mitchell. Also, if they can get him in the open field more times this season with some screens, the possibilities are endless for him. He only had 20 targets through the air, and I think the team realizes they need to get him the ball more. Stick with Mitchell, I think you’ll end up thanking me later.

1) Najee Harris (PIT) – Harris is an absolute machine out there. You knew and the entire NFL knew the Steeler’s plan for Harris when they drafted him, and guess what, they still couldn’t stop him. With Big Ben out and the quarterback position up in the air for Pittsburgh, I don’t see Harris’ opportunities and touches decreasing a whole hell of a lot. They know what they have in him, and that is one of the few workhorse running backs in the league.

(Photo by Don Wright/AP Photo/via bleacherreport.com)

Najee saw a whopping 401 opportunities this season and 307 of them were rushing attempts. With those, he tallied up 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns. Now, add in the 94 targets, which ended up being 74 catches for 467 yards and 3 touchdowns. Delicious. When it was all said and done, with all of those stats, Harris finished the year as the RB3. I don’t see the touches going down much, the targets will most likely come down a bit, but if he can make things happen and just continue to push through people I don’t think it matters. He will continue to pound and pound until the defense is exhausted, on a weekly basis, and there isn’t a running back going into their sophomore NFL season that I would rather have than Najee Harris.

SKOL

- JD