Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are up-and-coming quarterbacks. At least for now, it’s what they do as runners that really makes them special.
Jackson, of course, threw a bunch of touchdowns last year. He’s really launched. But it’s his running ability that thus far has really opened things up for him.
With Allen, he’s got the cannon arm but hasn’t gotten it going yet. It’s his tendency to bull in for touchdowns on his own that makes him an intriguing fantasy option.
Playing around with the numbers, I notice that both of these quarterbacks would be viable options if they were simply running backs.
That is, take the rushing production (per game) for the last two years. Both Jackson and Allen would grade out among the top 24 among running backs.
On the chart here, you’re looking at just rushing. The receiving production – catches, yards and touchdowns – has been removed. But these quarterbacks run it as if they’re simply running backs.
Jackson thus far averages more rushing yards per game than the three running backs who have been selected with top-10 picks in the last three years – Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette. Allen averages more rushing touchdowns than all but eight running backs.
| LEADING RUSHERS (last 2 years) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | St | Att | Yards | TD | Pts/G |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 31 | 16.7 | 83.8 | .90 | 13.8 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 29 | 16.5 | 72.7 | 1.00 | 13.3 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 24 | 14.0 | 67.7 | .96 | 12.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 31 | 19.5 | 90.0 | .58 | 12.5 |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 25 | 17.3 | 78.6 | .72 | 12.2 |
| Nick Chubb, Cle. | 26 | 18.2 | 89.1 | .54 | 12.1 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 32 | 15.8 | 77.7 | .72 | 12.1 |
| Chris Carson, Sea. | 29 | 18.1 | 82.1 | .62 | 11.9 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 29 | 16.5 | 79.7 | .59 | 11.5 |
| Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 22 | 13.4 | 80.1 | .50 | 11.0 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 24 | 14.0 | 62.4 | .75 | 10.7 |
| Dalvin Cook, Min. | 25 | 15.3 | 70.0 | .60 | 10.6 |
| James Conner, Pitt. | 23 | 14.4 | 62.5 | .70 | 10.4 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 30 | 17.2 | 76.8 | .43 | 10.3 |
| Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 25 | 14.2 | 68.1 | .56 | 10.2 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 29 | 12.6 | 57.9 | .69 | 9.9 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O.-Bal. | 27 | 12.6 | 61.6 | .59 | 9.7 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi.-Phi. | 25 | 14.8 | 58.4 | .60 | 9.4 |
| Carlos Hyde, Cle.-Hou. | 23 | 16.1 | 63.7 | .48 | 9.2 |
| Sony Michel, N.E. | 29 | 15.7 | 63.6 | .45 | 9.0 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 23 | 17.3 | 69.2 | .35 | 9.0 |
| Adrian Peterson, Was. | 31 | 14.9 | 62.6 | .39 | 8.6 |
| Kerryon Johnson, Det. | 17 | 13.3 | 60.4 | .35 | 8.2 |
| Josh Allen, Buff. | 27 | 7.2 | 41.3 | .63 | 7.9 |
| David Montgomery, Chi. | 16 | 15.1 | 55.6 | .38 | 7.8 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 24 | 14.2 | 51.8 | .33 | 7.2 |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 23 | 11.4 | 59.0 | .17 | 6.9 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl.-S.F. | 28 | 10.3 | 46.8 | .32 | 6.6 |
| Miles Sanders, Phil. | 16 | 11.2 | 51.1 | .19 | 6.2 |
—Ian Allan