2021 Position Group Breakdown: Running Backs
SimBull has blended sports and the stock market to offer you a new way to invest in and profit off your favorite teams. Use your sports knowledge to buy low, sell high, and earn cash payouts when your teams win. Join the 2000+ early adopters who have started to invest in their favorite teams. The Stock Market for Sports is just a tap away – create a free account in seconds and start profiting from your sports knowledge!
June 17, 2021
by Jamual Forrest
In March, when we did a draft preview for the running back position group, Washington needed more depth to help reduce running back Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic’s workload:
“Washington’s running back group is one of the more vital positions in offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s scheme. Between running back’s Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and Peyton Barber, their all-purpose yardage accounted for 44.6 percent of the team’s offense in 2020. The usage rate alone is the sole reason why one should never be comfortable going into the 2021 season with just Gibson and McKissic as the featured players. While Barber was effective in a limited role, he only averaged 2.7 yards per carry, which is not ideal for any spell back.”
That was my position in March. So, how does the position group stack up now, heading into training camp?
Well, to date, the top of the position group remains the same. Additionally, Washington added undrafted free agent Jaret Patterson and signed veteran back Jonathan Williams to the roster. It is clear that Gibson will be the team’s number one back following the moves made this off-season but between veterans Lamar Miller, Peyton Barber, and Jonathan Williams, who can be the spell back for Gibson for five to eight touches per game? Or, can that be the rookie Patterson?
To start with the rookie, head coach Ron Rivera stated that Patterson’s skillset reminded him of Darren Sproles as he watched film on him, as Rivera had spent some time with Sproles during his time as a coach in San Diego. “Yeah, he is small, but he is explosive, he is dynamic, he is stout,” Rivera said during a media session at rookie minicamp. “He looks like a football player.” Additionally, Rivera stated that he would give Patterson every opportunity to see if he can make their football team, so Patterson is clearly in good with the coaches and will need to show them why they are right in their thinking.
Lamar Miller (30) is a wildcard, at least for this team, given his resume. Before 2020, Miller amassed 5,864 rushing yards (4.3 yards per carry), 32 touchdowns, and 1,571 receiving yards on 211 receptions. He is experienced and talented. How he can work himself back into a backfield rotation is the question for him at this point. He has the versatility to backup both Gibson and McKissic.
Like Miller, Barber is the experienced veteran competing for a roster spot. Last season Barber averaged 2.7 yards per carry in a very specific role for this offense, and that was to convert on short-yardage situations primarily. To his credit, he was successful in his role, but if you are always looking to upgrade, Washington can do better than the production he provided. This is also why some fans never wanted to get rid of Adrian Peterson to begin with, but that is a different story for another day.
Lastly, Jonathan Williams is the unknown commodity of this group, but not for the same reasons as Patterson or Miller are. Williams, who is entering his fifth season in the NFL, has been a journeyman throughout his career. In the fifth season, with his fifth team, Williams has not been productive at any stop throughout his career. This is unfortunate, but this indicates that the man is talented, which is why he is still in the league and getting chances, but time is running out for Williams, which may motivate him to dominate the opportunity that Washington gave him off-season. So we will see if it works out for him.
How do you assess the running back position group? Who stays and who goes?