NFC East running back rotations ranked from worst to best in 2023

[SuperBowlz]

Agreed - but I think the OL is just as, if not more, important than Hurts.

That said, looking at just the room, I don't know how the Eagles are ahead of the Giants if it's assumed Saquon is playing. He's the best back in the division and it isn't close.

That's true and that's what you really want. Even though Philly goes 4 deep you can't consistently run 4 RB's. I'd way rather have the best RB than have 4 good RBs.

 

[SlammedZero]

I do think the team is going to be feeling a little pressure at the position once the season starts. I'm a big Pollard fan, but he needs help. We have nothing behind him that convinces me he has that help. I'm excited for Deuce, but he is going to be a gadget player. Honestly, I'm with some of you, it might just be Zeke. So be it. Let's just get this offense rolling.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

You’re so annoying how you offer nothing but want attention.

Lol.....the likes of you lecturing others about being annoyed and craving attention..... hilarious good one! Funny boy.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

That's true and that's what you really want. Even though Philly goes 4 deep you can't consistently run 4 RB's. I'd way rather have the best RB than have 4 good RBs.

4 good rbs is a way better rotation than "the best"....if there even is such a thing these days.

I agree with whoever said they'd rather have the best o line....but that isn't the subject.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

If we try to be a run heavy team this season, things will not go our way. It’s gonna be up to Dak to throw 4,000 yards this season if they want any real success. That being said, I think our run game can be effective, but not close to dominant.

 

[gimmesix]

I know what it says.

The Giants have the best back so they have the best rotation. Matt Breida vs. Kenneth Gainwell is irrelevant.

I do think that the rotations should be weighted, giving more emphasis to the lead back because he's going to get the vast majority of the carries. I'm not sure I'd give the Eagles the nod simply because I don't know if they have a lead back better than Barkley or Pollard. They have the most proven depth, though, with some questions injurywise.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Lol.....the likes of you lecturing others about being annoyed and craving attention..... hilarious good one! Funny boy.

Your problem is you never mind your business. The most sensitive person on this site wants my attention. You have it. What do you want? You have an issue with me but never the crap people say to me you always see my rebuttals. The second most annoying person on this site…

 

[Typhus]

I think they are likely banking these ratings on upside. And the upside of Philly pretty much tops everyone. I wouldn't have minded us taking a flier on Penny, even with his injury history. If he can somehow stay healthy, he's got big upside. Pairing him with Pollard, which would have limited his carries for sure, may have kept him healthy for longer.

I think we have a really good team heading into 2023 but Philly is also really, really loaded offensively. And they have a good DL and a good secondary, LB appears to be a big question mark.

Having said that, in looking at some of the more advanced stats from 2022, I could see some regression in Hurts.

Penny was never worth a penny, Pete knew it was time to cut bait with his former 1st round investment that never did anything, but now that he is with Philly everyone is saying what a great move.
I would rather have Ronald Jones over Penny any day, and we do already.

 

[plasticman]

In a 17 game season the Cowboys desperately need a 2nd quality back. They are putting all their hopes on undrafted free agents and a 5'6, 170 LB 6th round draft pick.

I think they want to see if they have something during the preseason. If the results ae disappointing then they have no choice but to pull the trigger on getting a known commodity.

 

[goshan]

Pollard has even said he's not an every down back. That's what I'm worried about. That's what the Jones boys tried to do with Barber and it ruined him.

he won't be an everydown back

 

[Kingofholland]

Miles Sanders rushed for nearly 1300 yards and 11tds at 4.9 a carry. That's a significant chunk of productivity lost. I certainly think Swift, Penny, and Gainwell can be a solid combo as part of a committee approach, but this may not be as pretty of a situation as painted out in this article.

The reality is, though the Eagles may have the best RB depth in the division they very well could have the 4th best starting RB1 in the division.

 

[VaqueroTD]

A lot of credit for Pollard because rest of the gang hasn’t shown anything yet.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I do think that the rotations should be weighted, giving more emphasis to the lead back because he's going to get the vast majority of the carries. I'm not sure I'd give the Eagles the nod simply because I don't know if they have a lead back better than Barkley or Pollard. They have the most proven depth, though, with some questions injurywise.

They don’t have a running back anywhere near as good as Barkley or Pollard. They may have the right idea, though. If you feature a RB it increases the chance he’s injured or worn out by seasons end. Better to plan on using many running backs all season long.

 

[gimmesix]

They don’t have a running back anywhere near as good as Barkley or Pollard. They may have the right idea, though. If you feature a RB it increases the chance he’s injured or worn out by seasons end. Better to plan on using many running backs all season long.

Right idea to build depth, but possibly the wrong idea to replace a Pro Bowl back who can stay healthy with two rotational backs who couldn't. I hope it bites them (not that I wish injury on any player, just that they aren't as good as Sanders).

Frankly, I was more concerned about Philly drafting Bijan Robinson than Jalen Carter.

 

[LonnieElam]

The running back position is a major weakness despite all the Pollard worship here. Yall about to find out RBs really aren't a dime a dozen.

They're also not worth being picked #4 overall, or 90 million dollars.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Right idea to build depth, but possibly the wrong idea to replace a Pro Bowl back who can stay healthy with two rotational backs who couldn't. I hope it bites them (not that I wish injury on any player, just that they aren't as good as Sanders).

Frankly, I was more concerned about Philly drafting Bijan Robinson than Jalen Carter.

Sanders rarely managed to stay healthy. He did last season, but by Super Bowl Philly turned to a back up who was a better receiving back. Sanders must have been out of gas. Eagles probably had 10 different lineman higher on their board before the first running back they’d consider drafting. I think they draft by tonnage, not skill.

 

[KJJ]

It seems like most have been wanting Pollard as the lead back, but I don’t think fans are going to be so thrilled with his performance as the lead back, if he gets the brunt of the carries, especially coming off a serious injury. Everyone wanted Troy Hambrick to be the lead back years ago and Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Joseph Randle. None of those backs were as good once they started receiving a brunt of the carries. Hopefully the Cowboys are smart with Pollard and don’t try feeding him the ball 20 times a game. He won’t be nearly as effective if they turn him into a workhorse and it won’t take long for fans to become unhappy with him in that role. He’s not a back that’s going to pick up a lot of the so called dirty yards. If we struggle in that area it’s going to lead to problems, especially if we struggled a punch the ball in the endzone from up close.

 

[Bobhaze]

He got 10 million to be an every down back……

He’s never been that- even in college. I see him as a major weapon to be used wisely and as often as possible. But not as a traditional every down back. He’s not physically built for that kind of every down punishment.

Pollard is best when he has about 12-15 carries and 3-5 receptions each game. And he can be used as a slot receiver as well as a RB. If he gets his share of splash plays and makes the defense have to account for him at all times, he will be worth his price tag. But he’s definitely not a traditional “every down back” IMO.

The Cowboys are going to need a committee of RBs to be effective.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

He’s never been that- even in college. I see him as a major weapon to be used wisely and as often as possible. But not as a traditional every down back. He’s not physically built for that kind of every down punishment.

Pollard is best when he has about 12-15 carries and 3-5 receptions each game. And he can be used as a slot receiver as well as a RB. If he gets his share of splash plays and makes the defense have to account for him at all times, he will be worth his price tag. But he’s definitely not a traditional “every down back” IMO.

The Cowboys are going to need a committee of RBs to be effective.

Oh they should’ve let him walk and addressed RB earlier in the draft then if they expect him to get 12-15 carries.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Oh they should’ve let him walk and addressed RB earlier in the draft then if they expect him to get 12-15 carries.

15 carries is a lot, especially as the primary receiving back too. There were only 5-6 RBs who averaged more than that per game last year.

We're talking 300 touches at that rate.