Rachaad White hasn’t been a big factor as a runner. He’s averaging only 3.3 yards per carry, and the Bucs don’t run it a whole lot. They rank 30th in rushing. But I like they’re doing with him as a pass catcher.
Especially recently. White caught 6 passes for 65 yards against Atlanta, and he caught 7 passes for 70 yards at Buffalo. He had a catch of 20-plus in both of those games.
For the season, he’s averaging 4 catches for 23 yards. Couple that with his modest rushing production (44 yards per week), and he’s a serviceable option in PPR formats. It would be nice if he had more than just the one touchdown.
But I’m impressed by how much they’re using him in the passing game, and by how effective he’s been in that capacity. He’s caught all but one of the 30 passes than have been thrown his way. Among running backs with at least 20 targets (and there are 28 of them), that ranks No. 1. (A completion rate of 97 percent – you don’t see that at some Pro Days.)
For whatever reason, a lot of teams this year have been unable to properly scheme up their pass plays to running backs. Of those 28 running backs with at least 20 targets, a quarter of them are under 6 yards per catch. White is up at a healthy 8 yards per reception, which is what you’re hoping for on those plays.
Marrying the two metrics, White is averaging 7.8 yards per pass play. That ranks 5th among those 28 running backs. He’s not having a great year, but he hasn’t been a misfire either. He might eventually be more effective as part of a one-two punch (with a lighter rushing load and getting more of the passing downs work).
| CATCH RATES, RUNNING BACKS (20-plus targets) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | No | Yds | TD | Pct | Yds/Tgt |
| Rachaad White, T.B. | 30 | 29 | 233 | 0 | 96.7% | 7.8 |
| Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 27 | 24 | 160 | 1 | 88.9% | 5.9 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 44 | 39 | 228 | 1 | 88.6% | 5.2 |
| Tony Pollard, Dall. | 30 | 26 | 178 | 0 | 86.7% | 5.9 |
| Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 37 | 32 | 292 | 4 | 86.5% | 7.9 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs, Det. | 33 | 28 | 165 | 0 | 84.8% | 5.0 |
| D'Andre Swift, Phil. | 33 | 28 | 135 | 1 | 84.8% | 4.1 |
| Samaje Perine, Den. | 26 | 22 | 231 | 0 | 84.6% | 8.9 |
| Antonio Gibson, Was. | 24 | 20 | 185 | 1 | 83.3% | 7.7 |
| Raheem Mostert, Mia. | 23 | 19 | 151 | 2 | 82.6% | 6.6 |
| James Cook, Buff. | 22 | 18 | 192 | 1 | 81.8% | 8.7 |
| Jaylen Warren, Pitt. | 32 | 26 | 184 | 0 | 81.3% | 5.8 |
| Zack Moss, Ind. | 20 | 16 | 123 | 1 | 80.0% | 6.2 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 24 | 19 | 127 | 0 | 79.2% | 5.3 |
| Javonte Williams, Den. | 22 | 17 | 78 | 1 | 77.3% | 3.5 |
| Travis Etienne, Jac. | 35 | 27 | 266 | 1 | 77.1% | 7.6 |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 21 | 16 | 177 | 1 | 76.2% | 8.4 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 25 | 19 | 87 | 2 | 76.0% | 3.5 |
| Tyjae Spears, Ten. | 24 | 18 | 120 | 0 | 75.0% | 5.0 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E. | 34 | 25 | 173 | 0 | 73.5% | 5.1 |
| Jerick McKinnon, K.C. | 21 | 15 | 125 | 2 | 71.4% | 6.0 |
| Jerome Ford, Cle. | 21 | 15 | 106 | 2 | 71.4% | 5.0 |
| Breece Hall, NYJ | 27 | 19 | 189 | 1 | 70.4% | 7.0 |
| Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 37 | 26 | 189 | 2 | 70.3% | 5.1 |
| Alexander Mattison, Min. | 32 | 21 | 109 | 2 | 65.6% | 3.4 |
| Josh Jacobs, L.V. | 43 | 28 | 242 | 0 | 65.1% | 5.6 |
| Miles Sanders, Car. | 24 | 15 | 81 | 0 | 62.5% | 3.4 |
| Kyren Williams, LAR | 24 | 13 | 105 | 1 | 54.2% | 4.4 |
—Ian Allan