Fantasy Index

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

Factoid

Preseason stats

How important is preseason success for a running back?

Just how important are these preseason games? Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker, after all, were both underwhelming in the preseason last year. They got a lot better in the real games.

In the case of Hall, he carried 14 times for 29 yards in August last year. He was also iffy in New York’s initial games, before evolving into the difference maker they expected him to be when they drafted him early in the second round.

Maybe we should all just enjoy vacations in August, showing up in early September to draft the guys we were going to select in the first place.

There are exceptions, of course. I remember Adrian Peterson ripping off a long run against the Jets in his first preseason. Both Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara averaged over 10 yards per carry. And Dameon Pierce played his way onto my radar last year by carrying 11 times for 86 yards, consistently breaking tackles.

When it comes to watching preseason football, there’s an eyeball test element (does the guy look like an NFL player?). And it makes sense to look at where the team is using him – big difference between the first quarter and the fourth quarter of a preseason game.

Raw numbers, though. I don’t know that they’re all that useful. Especially in 2023, with teams more reluctant to put front-line players on the field.

Below see the 43 running backs who’ve finished with top-30 overall numbers as rookies (using PPR scoring). In the table below, you’re seeing the rushing stats from their first preseason. The final three columns show their rushing yards and rushing touchdown totals in the regular season, along with their PPR ranking (which, of course, includes receiving stats that aren’t listed).

PRESEASON RUSHING BY ROOKIES WHO ENDED UP BEING GOOD
YearPlayerAttYardsAvgTDRS YdsRS TDPPR Rk
2016Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.7486.901631152
2018Saquon Barkley, NYG44310.801307112
2021Najee Harris, Pitt.13423.20120073
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.99610.7172883
2017Kareem Hunt, K.C.18794.40132784
2020Jonathan Taylor, Ind.dnpdnpdnpdnp1169116
2020James Robinson, Jac.dnpdnpdnpdnp107077
2015David Johnson, Ariz.17643.8058187
2013Eddie Lacy, G.B.18362.001178118
2017Christian McCaffrey, Car.17875.1143529
2015Todd Gurley, St.L.dnpdnpdnpdnp1106109
2014Jeremy Hill, Cin.411904.601124910
2016Jordan Howard, Chi.361734.811313610
2017Leonard Fournette, Jac.9313.411040910
2013Giovani Bernard, Cin.271164.33695513
2018Phillip Lindsay, Den.13705.401037913
2020Antonio Gibson, Was.dnpdnpdnpdnp7951114
2019Miles Sanders, Phil.8344.30818315
2013LeVeon Bell, Pitt.492.30860815
2020D'Andre Swift, Det.dnpdnpdnpdnp521816
2018Nick Chubb, Cle.451403.12996817
2021Javonte Williams, Den.12494.10903417
2022Kenneth Walker, Sea.5193.801050918
2013Zac Stacy, St.L.23683.01973721
2019Josh Jacobs, Oak.4215.301150721
2020Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.dnpdnpdnpdnp803422
2020J.K. Dobbins, Balt.dnpdnpdnpdnp805924
2019David Montgomery, Chi.3165.31889624
2015Duke Johnson, Cle.144.00379024
2022Dameon Pierce, Hou.11867.81939425
2014Branden Oliver, S.D.351614.61582326
2013Andre Ellington, Ariz.22572.60652326
2021Elijah Mitchell, S.F.6244.00963526
2014Andre Williams, NYG381955.12721727
2017Tarik Cohen, Chi.191216.40370228
2018Nyheim Hines, Ind.13191.50314228
2015T.J. Yeldon, Jac.8101.31740228
2015Javorius Allen, Balt.35882.50514129
2021Michael Carter, NYJ24863.60639429
2016Devontae Booker, Den.21602.90612429
2014Tre Mason, St.L.431242.90765430
2015Jeremy Langford, Chi.281535.51537630
2022Tyler Allgeier, Atl.17684.011035330

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index