Pat Fitzmaurice: The Buccaneers' playoff run was the best four-game stretch for Fournette since the early part of the 2019 season. Sigmund Bloom: Brian Robinson Jr had an excellent preseason debut, while Antonio Gibson fumbled *again*, so this is trending in the wrong direction for Gibson's 2022 redraft value. In an attempt to point out these players, we asked our staff to look through the Top 150 and identify players that should underperform their draft position. Robinsons workload will dramatically decrease this season, and drafters arent taking that into account as much as they should. Drew Davenport: McKissic's price isn't super high, so anyone who believes in him isn't making a grave error where he's being drafted. Edmonds is a great player who offers a ton of talent on the field to help win games, but he will never be the high volume type of player that we are all desperately looking for each year. There's zero appeal here. These are players that will not put up stats commensurate to their draft spot, and avoiding them is another of the important keys to a successful fantasy team. That role may not disappear completely, but the addition of Gio Bernard is a bad sign for Tampa Bay's intentions with Fournette. For example, take Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5, both very accomplished. I understand the upside, but I don't want to take a huge miss if I'm drafting in Week 1. . Barry Sanders 3. He was used more as a receiver than anything. Jamaal Williams is a fine receiver, route runner, and red-zone back who will limit Swift's upside to a low-end fantasy RB2, at best. Brown has always been a strong contributor inside the five-yard line scoring 9 rushing touchdowns in the last two years in that hot zone. 25 Running Backs Overrated Players 10 Quarterbacks 12 Tight Ends 23 Wide Receivers 25 Running Backs Deep Sleepers 9 Quarterbacks 11 Tight Ends 15 Wide Receivers 13 Running Backs The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. Jamal Lewis-- RB, 2000-06 There have been seven running backs who have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, and Jamal Lewis is by far the least memorable of the bunch. The Raiders are sure to recoup as much production as they can on the $8.5 million guarantee they gave Drake on a two-year deal, so this will look closer to a committee than a true lead-back situation. With the second-year back getting selected in the early second round of most drafts, fantasy managers must be expecting that trend to continue in 2021. Brown never stopped earning playing time for the Rams despite the team investing early draft capital at the position. Ben Cummins: Henrys past two monster years were with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the head coach in Atlanta. He showed elite promise in his rookie year and followed it up with a top 10 season despite a high ankle sprain limiting his ascension. This year, his new head coach -- Josh McDaniels -- is an offensive mind who made his career in schemes that utilized multiple backs as specialists for each situation. Even if Winston wins the competition and keeps the New Orleans passing game afloat, Kamara will have a hard time repeating last year's 21 total touchdowns. That is not the stat line of an elite RB at all. Downing, USA Today Sports. His ADP has been climbing recently, and while his price says drafters are aware of the easy schedule down the stretch, he's still being overvalued at his current price. Even the best backs need help, and Harris is less likely to have consistent holes to run through than any of the backs going around him. He has the ability to handle that role and thrive in the process. In addition, Antonio Gibson finished the year banged up and ceding snaps to McKissic. There are no guarantees he fits with what Atlanta wants to do or whether he has the endurance to handle a workload after last year's use. Aaron Jones, Green Bay | Consensus Rankings RB7 | Consensus Projections RB6. Even when Barkley was a big fantasy hit, it took big plays that can be very mercurial from year to year to make it happen. Avoid. Jonathan Morris: As soon as Josh McDaniels came into the picture as the new head coach of the Raiders, my valuation of Jacobs immediately went down. Andy Hicks: The Broncos dont seem overly excited to use Melvin Gordon III this year. For both Cleveland backs to be values, the team would have to produce vintage New Orleans-level production for its backs. It seems the case that he is being drafted well above his upside. Tarik Cohen, Chicago | Consensus Rankings RB49 | Consensus Projections RB47. Dillon a lot, and reports from OTAs have been promising. Jamal Lewis 18. Simpson 13. Chad Parsons: Travis Etienne and Carlos Hyde were both chosen additions by the new Jaguars regime with either Round 1 pedigree (Etienne) or a productive NFL profile (Hyde). Even last year, as the Panthers starter, he averaged just 3.9 yards-per-carry. The current regime did not select Robinson. David Johnson 's fantasy fortunes have been a roller coaster ride over the past three seasons. He and Ameer Abdullah -- who played over Kenyan Drake in the first preseason game -- could take away tons of receiving work, while White is capable of obtaining shots around the goal line. Andrew Davenport: I've had ample opportunities to draft Gaskin and just haven't been able to do it. Jeff Bell: Gibson finished fourth in rushing attempts. Taysom Hill had nine carries from inside the opponent's five-yard line to Kamara's 15 in 2021 and won't be removed from the Saints' red-zone plans any time soon. Then as soon as they go south, we pile on like kids in a mosh pit? Most Overrated QB: Tom Brady 1 of 6 Harris stayed an extra year in college to improve his draft capital, and rightfully so, as the 2020 class was filled with elite running back talent. Jason Wood: Sometimes fate aligns, and that's what happened for Mike Davis last year in Carolina. Top 10 Most Overrated Athletes of All Time It's not that they aren't great players, they just aren't everything we've been led to believe. Sigmund Bloom: There are too many forces that Barkley has to swim upstream again to justify taking Barkley at his lofty ADP. McKissic on your fantasy squad, but his outlier of a 2020 season is going to cause some to reach for him heading into 2021. Drafting Jacobs around this price is drafting him at his ceiling -- perhaps even above it. They traded up in the draft to select Javonte Williams and, without the large contract, may have already released the former Charger. Gordon's arrow is pointing down for 2021, and he could be marginalized as the season goes on because the team also likes free agent signing Mike Boone. But drafting him as a high-upside No. Jameis Winston is a downfield passer, and Hill would rather run than check down. Jeff Haseley: Clyde Edwards-Helaire has all of the tools and skills to be a successful fantasy back but failing to finish runs in the end zone has slowed his progress. I just see way too much downside to take a risk on lightning striking twice. I would probably rank him around 43. It also must be remembered his journey through the NFL before that. Michael Carter, NY Jets | Consensus Rankings RB37 | Consensus Projections RB36. David Johnson, Houston | Consensus Rankings RB39 | Consensus Projections RB47. Yeah, us, too. Ryan Hester: If Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay, no Green Bay players will see their output exceed their price tag. After the Robinson selection, head coach Ron Rivera likened the potential Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr combination to the Jonathan Stewart and D'Angelo Williams pairing he used during his Carolina days. But Gordon averaged more yards per carry last year than Williams. It's not entirely his fault. The 49ers traded up to draft Trey Sermon, they brought in Wayne Gallman as a free agent, and Jeff Wilson is still around. Then we have the Taysom Hill conundrum. Detroit signed Jamaal Williams to take the heavy work and kicked the tires on Todd Gurley before declining his addition. If Robinson claims goal line work, there is an upward battle for returning a value in his ADP. With an almost entirely new coaching staff, quarterback and receivers, it is difficult to trust that Swift will be worth his asking price. But you do have to attribute some of his success to his top 10 run blocking. And the Titans got worse this offseason, losing wide receiver Corey Davis, tight end Jonnu Smith, cornerback Adoree' Jackson, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Melvin Gordon III, Denver | Consensus Rankings RB28 | Consensus Projections RB29. Curtis Martin 11. Again, these are not the stats of an elite RB. Jeff Haseley: Josh McDaniels' history of using multiple running backs in his offense is enough to be concerned about Josh Jacobs not having a full-time role as the lead back for the Raiders. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh | Consensus Rankings RB17 | Consensus Projections RB15. During the next few weeks, we here at NFL.com will unveil our Most Underrated and Overrated Players of All Time for all 32 teams and allow users to determine their choices as well.. Drafting running backs on the downside of their career, on bad offenses, in a platoon situation, is fraught with peril. 1 cornerstone. Martin is one of the best running backs of all time because he blended good ability with outstanding durability and versatility. Ten different running backs had more targets alone than the entire Ravens backfield in 2020. His knee injury involved multiple ligament tears, and the Giants are likely to bring him along slowly. McKissic is not your traditional committee back or injury-away dart throw for a big ceiling. 1 receiver for a significant chunk of the season. Murray scored 11 rushing touchdowns in 9 different games in 2020. It's possible that Las Vegas will lean on Jacobs, knowing he won't be back next year, but that goes against McDaniels' past style of play. Ryan Hester: Chubb shares his backfield with a very talented player in Kareem Hunt, and Hunt is the one who gets the lions share of the passing game work. There is no upside with drafting Gaskin this high. This is a major factor in any expectation that Robinson would be fantasy lineup-relevant without an injury to one of the other options, especially beyond the early weeks of the season. Christian McCaffery and Nick Chubb, running backs. John Riggins 19. The Top Ten. Should drafters trust the first 25 games of his career where he was a compiler with minimal ceiling or the final six games against bad defenses in 2020? "The Philadelphia Story," on the other hand, was a comedy, a genre not often seen as Best Picture worthy. 1 Barry Sanders Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. 21 RB Sleepers. The coaching staff did not ignore this, as they selected the best pass-catching running back in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in Kenneth Gainwell. McKissic. Yet, Travis Etienne was drafted in the first round, and Carlos Hyde, who Urban Meyer coached at Ohio State, was signed. Saquon Barkley, NY Giants | Consensus Rankings RB8 | Consensus Projections RB10. And free-agent acquisitions Mark Ingram II and Rex Burkhead didnt even play. So what's the concern? If he is still on the opening day roster, his workload will be usurped by the rookie when the coaching staff trusts him. The next season he hit bottom with a knee injury that damaged his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The current regime did not select Robinson. 3 back on the depth chart before the first preseason game. So as we can see, Bettis had about the 9th best run blocking offensive line in the NFL during his career. That is still great, but not quite as good as many people have him ranked. Jacobs is not the alpha; he's one of many in the Vegas backfield. Henry is one of my favorite players in the league, but there are preferable first-round picks for me in 2021. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans | Consensus Rankings RB3 | Consensus Projections RB2. Tatum Bell isn't the only Lions running back of the 2000s to get snakebitten. Andrew Davenport: Fantasy managers are drafting Carter as though he is the unquestioned starter. Unfortunately for him, the team replaced the coaching staff that he impressed and signed veteran Carlos Hyde and drafted Travis Etienne in the first round. Swift has already broken the injury seal with a groin issue in camp, and Jamaal Williams has already been spoken of highly as a potential 1A to Swift's No. But then he missed a game, the Bears had a bye, and he finished at a torrid pace of 25.7 points per game as the overall RB1 from Weeks 12 to 17. Single USA Today named the most overrated player on every NFL team in 2022 and for the Cleveland Browns, Jadeveon Clowney was given this unwanted distinction. Victoria Geary: The Ravens have "made it a point of emphasis" to get Dobbins more looks in the passing game for 2021, but we know coach speak isn't very trustworthy during the offseason. James Brimacombe: Johnson has been a fantasy hero for us in the past, but now entering Year 7, his best days are behind him. Gaskin was a revelation versus his cost a year ago but is a buyer beware in 2021. most overrated running backs of all time. James Brimacombe: I view Melvin Gordon III this season a lot like I viewed Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville last offseason. Before McKissic was injured with a concussion in Week 12, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season, Gibson was only getting targeted 2.6 times per game. The Eagles also resigned Jordan Howard and added Kerryon Johnson to the backfield, exhibiting their lack of trust in Sanders to be an every-down back. Pittsburghs front five looks nothing like last years group. Thurman Thomas 14.