Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Factoid

Penny lovers

Rashaad Penny makes strong case for big contract

Rashaad Penny has quickly morphed from an intriguing possibility to one of the plums of free agency. He’s going to have a strong market if he hits unrestricted free agency in three months.

Penny ran for at least 135 yards in four of his last five games. While three of those were against lesser teams with lesser run defenses, it gets harder to poke holes in what he did on Sunday – 190 yards and a touchdown against an Arizona team that could have won the NFC West if they could have stopped him.

Penny closed the season by running for 671 yards in his final five games. In the Super Bowl era, only 17 players have run for more yards in their final five games. In those 56 seasons, it’s been done only 44 times, and the vast majority of said backs were big-time players.

600 RUSHING YARDS IN FINAL FIVE GAMES
YearPlayer, TmAttYardsAvgTD
2012• Adrian Peterson, Min.1358616.45
1976O.J. Simpson, Buff.1308436.54
1997Barry Sanders, Det.1158427.37
1973O.J. Simpson, Buff.1158007.03
2002Ricky Williams, Mia.1317976.16
1984Eric Dickerson, Rams1397855.77
2005Larry Johnson, K.C.1457825.411
2020• Derrick Henry, Tenn.1227706.35
2005Tiki Barber, NYG1357425.53
1977Walter Payton, Chi.1407235.25
2009Jamaal Charles, K.C.1127146.45
2000Mike Anderson, Den.1347115.310
1998Jamal Anderson, Atl.1367085.24
2003Jamal Lewis, Balt.1227025.87
1985Marcus Allen, Rdrs.1286965.43
1993Emmitt Smith, Dall.1156886.02
2002Clinton Portis, Den.1046726.58
2021Rashaad Penny, Sea.926717.36
1974Otis Armstrong, Den.1186705.74
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1196695.67
2006Ladell Betts, Wash.1326665.13
1979Earl Campbell, Hou.1236585.46
2003Fred Taylor, Jac.1256535.22
1993Jerome Bettis, Rams1236535.33
2020• Jonathan Taylor, Ind.976516.77
2011Ray Rice, Balt.1126425.74
1997Corey Dillon, Cin.1346354.76
1980Earl Campbell, Hou.1286345.04
2008DeAngelo Williams, Car.1016326.311
2012Alfred Morris, Wash.1276315.07
1998Garrison Hearst, S.F.1016316.33
1995Curtis Martin, N.E.1336314.74
2001Marshall Faulk, Rams1226305.27
2004Kevin Jones, Det.1226265.14
2000Jamal Lewis, Balt.1386264.54
2018• Derrick Henry, Tenn.976256.48
1990Earnest Byner, Wash.1416154.44
2008Michael Turner, Atl.1256114.94
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.1416104.35
1976Don Calhoun, N.E.1056085.80
2021• Jonathan Taylor, Ind.1236064.94
2001Dominic Rhodes, Ind.1146065.34
2009Jerome Harrison, Clev.1236054.95
2007LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.996026.16

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com (In the above chart, Penny is in bold, while other active players are tagged.)

I would think the Seahawks will try to get him signed to a new deal before he hits the market. Once that happens, after all, who knows if there’s some team out there who thinks Penny might be ready to be one of the league’s top few backs for the next few years. Dolphins? Falcons? Anybody, really.

The Seahawks have Chris Carson coming back (or trying to come back) from a neck injury, but he’s well into his career and has a big contract. For the 2022, Penny needs to make a lot more than Carson. They’ve got DeeJay Dallas, but he remains more of a speculative project than somebody who can be considered a contender to start. And Alex Collins is more of a depth-type guy rather than somebody they want start.

Penny after the Arizona said his hope is to stay in Seattle. Seahawks would be wise to nail him down before he changes his mind.

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index