I always get nervous selecting running backs from lousy teams – like James Conner, Cam Akers and Rachaad White this year. Those guys are starters who should get plenty of touches, but can they overcome the crappy situations around them?
Conner (pictured) in particular. Arizona is currently favored to lose in all 17 of its games. They’ve got two against the Rams and a game against the Texans; that should allow them to avoid becoming the first 0-17 franchise. But they don’t seem like they’ll be scoring often or spending much time in the red zone.
With these three backs (along with Dameon Pierce) all being similarly placed on my board, I looked at the comp numbers some. They’re not as dire as I expected.
In the 32-team era, there have been 42 teams that have failed to win more than 3 games. (I think it’s fair to say Arizona won’t win more than 3 games, and we might also decide to stick that label on Tampa Bay before opening day – Rams and Texans, probably a little higher.) Of those 42 teams, 18 had a running back who finished with top-20 numbers. Another nine had a back who ranked in the top 30.
So in general, you have backs like these – Akers, White, Conner – I think it can be fair to have them coming in around 20th on your board (if there are qualities about the player you like).
In the chart below, you’re seeing the most productive running back of each of those 42 teams. Four teams had a second back who also finished with top-40 stats (using PPR scoring), and I also included those four players, tagging them with black dots.
BEST RUNNING BACKS FROM AWFUL TEAMS | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | W-L | Run | Rec | Tot | TD | PPR | Rk |
2020 | James Robinson, Jac. | 1-15 | 1070 | 344 | 1414 | 10 | 252.4 | 7 |
2009 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 1-15 | 1416 | 322 | 1738 | 4 | 248.8 | 8 |
2018 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 3-13 | 940 | 446 | 1386 | 10 | 250.6 | 9 |
2012 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 2-14 | 1509 | 236 | 1745 | 6 | 245.5 | 9 |
2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 3-13 | 1313 | 298 | 1611 | 7 | 232.1 | 10 |
2011 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 2-14 | 1145 | 333 | 1478 | 6 | 225.8 | 10 |
2017 | Duke Johnson, Cle. | 0-16 | 348 | 693 | 1041 | 7 | 220.1 | 11 |
2006 | Kevin Jones, Det. | 3-13 | 689 | 520 | 1209 | 8 | 229.9 | 12 |
2019 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 2-14 | 1137 | 287 | 1424 | 8 | 225.4 | 13 |
2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Cle. | 1-15 | 952 | 319 | 1271 | 7 | 209.1 | 14 |
2008 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 2-14 | 1042 | 379 | 1421 | 8 | 230.1 | 15 |
2011 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 3-13 | 970 | 139 | 1109 | 13 | 206.9 | 15 |
2005 | Domanick Williams, Hou. | 2-14 | 976 | 337 | 1313 | 6 | 206.3 | 15 |
2007 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 3-13 | 1002 | 271 | 1273 | 6 | 205.4 | 15 |
2002 | Corey Dillon, Cin. | 2-14 | 1311 | 298 | 1609 | 7 | 245.9 | 16 |
2008 | Kevin Smith, Det. | 0-16 | 976 | 286 | 1262 | 8 | 213.2 | 17 |
2016 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 2-14 | 988 | 163 | 1151 | 9 | 198.1 | 18 |
2013 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 3-13 | 1275 | 78 | 1353 | 7 | 186.3 | 20 |
2002 | James Stewart, Det. | 3-13 | 1021 | 333 | 1354 | 6 | 217.4 | 21 |
2009 | Kevin Smith, Det. | 2-14 | 747 | 415 | 1162 | 5 | 187.2 | 21 |
2007 | Ronnie Brown, Mia. | 1-15 | 602 | 389 | 991 | 5 | 170.1 | 23 |
2022 | David Montgomery, Chi. | 3-14 | 801 | 316 | 1117 | 6 | 181.7 | 24 |
2004 | Kevan Barlow, S.F. | 2-14 | 822 | 212 | 1034 | 7 | 180.4 | 24 |
2021 | James Robinson, Jac. | 3-14 | 767 | 222 | 989 | 8 | 177.9 | 24 |
2015 | Duke Johnson, Cle. | 3-13 | 379 | 534 | 913 | 2 | 164.3 | 24 |
2009 | Cadillac Williams, T.B. | 3-13 | 823 | 217 | 1040 | 7 | 174.0 | 26 |
2013 | Ben Tate, Hou. | 2-14 | 771 | 140 | 911 | 4 | 149.1 | 30 |
2019 | Adrian Peterson, Was. | 3-13 | 898 | 142 | 1040 | 5 | 151.0 | 32 |
2016 | • Duke Johnson, Cle. | 1-15 | 358 | 514 | 872 | 1 | 146.2 | 32 |
2017 | • Isaiah Crowell, Cle. | 0-16 | 853 | 182 | 1035 | 2 | 145.5 | 32 |
2015 | • Isaiah Crowell, Cle. | 3-13 | 706 | 182 | 888 | 5 | 137.8 | 33 |
2016 | T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 3-13 | 465 | 312 | 777 | 2 | 139.7 | 34 |
2017 | Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 3-13 | 751 | 116 | 867 | 5 | 137.7 | 36 |
2014 | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 3-13 | 534 | 212 | 746 | 2 | 122.6 | 36 |
2010 | Mike Goodson, Car. | 2-14 | 452 | 310 | 762 | 3 | 134.2 | 38 |
2011 | Donald Brown, Ind. | 2-14 | 645 | 86 | 731 | 5 | 119.1 | 38 |
2014 | Denard Robinson, Jac. | 3-13 | 582 | 124 | 706 | 4 | 117.6 | 38 |
2011 | • Toby Gerhart, Min. | 3-13 | 531 | 190 | 721 | 4 | 119.1 | 39 |
2008 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 2-14 | 874 | 74 | 948 | 5 | 141.0 | 40 |
2014 | Bobby Rainey, T.B. | 2-14 | 406 | 315 | 721 | 2 | 117.1 | 40 |
2014 | Bishop Sankey, Ten. | 2-14 | 569 | 133 | 702 | 2 | 100.2 | 44 |
2005 | Antowain Smith, N.O. | 3-13 | 659 | 46 | 705 | 3 | 100.5 | 45 |
2015 | Antonio Andrews, Ten. | 3-13 | 520 | 174 | 694 | 3 | 114.5 | 46 |
2020 | Frank Gore, NYJ | 2-14 | 653 | 89 | 742 | 2 | 102.2 | 46 |
2006 | Justin Fargas, Oak. | 2-14 | 659 | 91 | 750 | 1 | 94.0 | 48 |
2012 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 2-14 | 414 | 86 | 500 | 2 | 76.0 | 54 |
—Ian Allan