2021 TOP 24 RBS vs. 2022 Rookie RBs
How the heck do these NFL running backs separate themselves from the pack, and become one of the best? We'll look at how they do in combine and pro day drills. Then, what metrics they rank best in. And finally, which rookies are likeliest to become the next top RB.
Top 24 RBs in PPR points per game
Extra tabs were created on the spreadsheet to separate the RBs into groups: under 217 lbs, and 217+ lbs. Why? Because that is the NFL average-sized RB, about half of the top 24 RBs are either under or over 217 lbs. As you can see in the charts, speed matters more for smaller RBs, and strength matters more for larger RBs. When grading the rookies in their size groups, the smaller RBs will include their 20 and 10 yard split times, and larger RBs will include bench press. Like the rookie WRs in the previous article, we will not be including bench press, three cone drill or shuttle because not enough rookies ran those drills. Here is how the top 24 RBs did in combine and pro day drills: (it's actually 25 RBs, because Melvin Gordon and Rashaad Penny tied for 24th)
Under 216 lbs
11/12 40 yard dash - 91.6%
8/9 broad jump - 88.9%
9/11 vertical leap - 81.8%
5/7 three cone drill - 71.4%
7/10 20 yard split - 70%
7/10 10 yard split - 70%
2/3 60 yard shuttle - 66.7%
4/8 20 yard shuttle - 50%
2/8 bench press - 25%
217+ lbs
8/10 broad jump - 80%
5/7 20 yard shuttle - 71.4%
9/13 40 yard dash - 69.2%
7/12 vertical leap - 58.3%
6/12 20 yard split - 50%
6/12 10 yard split - 50%
4/8 bench press - 50%
2/7 three cone drill - 28.5%
A lot of football analysts will tell you that these workouts don't matter. They might not matter much to NFL GMs and scouts, but check the numbers. These drills matter when becoming a top RB. Now we'll look at how the top 24 RBs ranked in advanced metrics:
Top 24 RBs Advanced Metric Averages
Yards per route run - 17.67
Yards per touch - 21.29
Breakaway run rate (carries of 15+ yds %) - 21.5
Yards created per touch - 23.58
Stacked front carry rate - 23.62
Juke rate (evaded tackles per touch) - 23.69
Base front carry rate - 24.88
Points per opportunity (points per touch) - 28.44
Light front carry rate - 28.79
Average defenders in the box - 29.2
Shotgun carry rate - 30.67
True yards per carry - 32.28
As you can see, the most important metrics for RBs is being a receiving RB, and being a playmaker with the ball in their hands. Surprised?
Now, bring on the rookies...
Top 33 Rookie RBs
Kenneth Walker
Sig Score rank - 1st
Under 217 lbs rank - 1st
Positives
40 yard dash - 1st
20 yard split - 1st
Gap scheme grade - 1st
Elusiveness grade - 2nd
Missed tackles forced per touch - 2nd
10 yard split - 3rd
2019 PFF overall grade - 3rd
Yards after contact per touch - 3rd
Carries of 15+ yards % - 3rd
2020 PFF overall grade - 4th
2021 PFF rushing grade - 5th
Weaknesses
Yards per route run - 29th
Rachaad White
Sig Score rank - 2nd
Under 217 lbs rank - 2nd
Positives
Yards per route run - 1st
Vertical leap - 2nd
Broad jump - 3rd
2021 PFF overall grade - 3rd
Gap scheme grade - 4th
2020 PFF overall grade - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Kennedy Brooks
Sig Score rank - 3rd
Under 217 lbs rank - 3rd
Positives
2019 PFF overall grade - 2nd
Carries of 15+ yards % - 2nd
2021 PFF rushing grade - 3rd
Gap scheme grade - 5th
Missed tackles forced per touch - 5th
Weaknesses
Yards per route run - 30th
Dameon Pierce
Sig Score rank - 4th
217+ lbs rank - 1st
Positives
2021 PFF overall grade - 1st
2021 PFF rush grade - 1st
Missed tackles forced per touch - 1st
Zone scheme grade - 2nd
Elusiveness grade - 3rd
Yards per route run - 3rd
Weaknesses
20 yard split - 24th
10 yard split - 26th
2019 PFF overall grade - 27th
Breece Hall
Sig Score rank - 5th
217+ lbs rank - 5th
Positives
Vertical leap - 1st
Broad jump - 2nd
20 yard split - 5th
Weaknesses
Yards after contact per touch - 29th
Pierre Strong
Sig Score rank - 6th
Under 217 lbs rank - 4th
Positives
2019 PFF overall grade - 1st
Zone scheme grade - 1st
Carries of 15+ yards % - 1st
40 yard dash - 2nd
Broad jump - 4th
2021 PFF rush grade - 4th
20 yard split - 5th
10 yard split - 5th
Vertical leap - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Jerrion Ealy
Sig Score rank - 7th
Under 217 lbs rank - 6th
Positives
2020 PFF overall grade - 3rd
Elusiveness grade - 4th
Yards after contact per touch - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Ty Chandler
Sig Score rank - 9th
217+ lbs rank - 2nd
Positives
2020 PFF overall grade - 1st
Zone scheme grade - 3rd
2021 PFF overall grade - 4th
Yards after contact per touch - 4th
2019 PFF overall grade - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Tyler Allgeier
Sig Score rank - 9th
217+ lbs rank - 2nd
Positives
2020 PFF overall grade - 1st
Zone scheme grade - 3rd
2021 PFF overall grade - 4th
Yards after contact per touch - 4th
2019 PFF overall grade - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Keaontay Ingram
Sig Score rank - 10th
217+ lbs rank - 4th
Positives
2021 PFF rush grade - 2nd
Zone scheme grade - 4th
Weaknesses
2020 PFF overall grade - 30th
ZaQuandre White
Sig Score rank - 11th
Under 217 lbs rank - 8th
Positives
Elusiveness grade - 1st
Yards after contact per touch - 1st
Yards per route run - 2nd
Carries of 15+ yds % - 4th
Vertical leap - 5th
Weaknesses
40 yard dash - 26th
10 yard split - 29th
2020 PFF overall grade - 31st
Zamir White
Sig Score rank - 12th
Under 217 lbs rank - 7th
Positives
Broad jump - 1st
Gap scheme grade - 2nd
20 yard split - 3rd
10 yard split - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Brian Robinson
Sig Score rank - 13th
217+ lbs rank - 3rd
Positives
2019 PFF overall grade - 4th
Zone scheme grade - 5th
Weaknesses
None
James Cook
Sig Score rank - 14th
Under 217 lbs rank - 10th
Positives
Broad jump - 4th
Yards per route run - 4th
Weaknesses
None
Tyler Badie
Sig Score rank - 15th
Under 217 lbs rank - 11th
Positives
10 yard split - 3rd
Weaknesses
None
Hassan Haskins
Sig Score rank - 16th
217+ lbs rank - 6th
Positives
2021 PFF overall grade - 2nd
Gap scheme grade - 5th
Weaknesses
None
Abram Smith
Sig Score rank - 17th
Under 217 lbs rank - 9th
Positives
2021 PFF overall grade - 5th
Weaknesses
2019 PFF overall grade - 28th
Jerome Ford
Sig Score rank - 18th
Under 217 lbs rank - 12th
Positives
Gap scheme grade - 3rd
Weaknesses
None
D'vonte Price
Sig Score rank - 19th
Under 217 lbs rank - 14th
Positives
40 yard dash - 4th
Weaknesses
2019 PFF overall grade - 26th
Isaiah Spiller
Sig Score rank - 20th
217+ lbs rank - 7th
Positives
Elusiveness grade - 5th
Carries of 15+ yards % - 5th
Negatives
Broad jump - 19th
40 yard dash - 27th
10 yard split - 27th
Trestan Ebner
Sig Scores rank - 21st
Under 217 lbs rank - 15th
Positives
Yards per route run - 5th
Weaknesses
2020 PFF overall grade - 29th
2021 PFF rush grade - 29th
Gap scheme grade - 31st
Ronnie Rivers
Sig Score rank - 22nd
Under 217 lbs rank - 13th
Positives
2020 PFF overall grade - 2nd
Vertical leap - 3rd
Weaknesses
None
Jaylen Warren
Sig Score rank - 23rd
Under 217 lbs rank - 17th
Positives
Missed tackles forced per touch - 3rd
Weaknesses
None
Zonovan Knight
Sig Score rank - 24th
Under 217 lbs rank - 21st
Positives
Missed tackles forced per touch - 4th
Negatives
Broad jump - 19th
20 yard split - 25th
10 yard split - 28th
2019 PFF overall grade - 29th
2021 PFF overall grade - 30th
Gap scheme grade - 32nd
Kyren Williams
Sig Score rank - 25th
Under 217 lbs rank - 18th
Positives
None
Weaknesses
Broad jump - 18th
20 yard split - 25th
10 yard split - 25th
40 yard dash - 29th
Zone scheme grade - 29th
2019 PFF overall grade - 30th
Carries of 15+ yards % - 30th
Jashaun Corbin
Sig Score rank - 26th
Under 217 lbs rank - 16th
Positives
Yards after contact per touch - 2nd
Weaknesses
2020 PFF overall grade - 27th
2021 PFF overall grade - 29th
Missed tackles forced per touch - 29th
Tyler Goodson
Sig Score rank - 27th
Under 217 lbs rank - 20th
Positives
Vertical leap - 3rd
20 yard split - 5th
10 yard split - 5th
Weaknesses
Elusiveness grade - 31st
Missed tackles forced per touch - 31st
2021 PFF overall grade - 32nd
2021 PFF rush grade - 32nd
Zone scheme grade - 32nd
Gap scheme grade - 33rd
Yards after contact per touch - 33rd
Isaih Pacheco
Sig Score rank - 28th
Under 217 lbs rank - 19th
Positives
20 yard split - 1st
40 yard dash - 2nd
10 yard split - 2nd
Weaknesses
2020 PFF overall grade - 28th
Carries of 15+ yards % - 29th
Yards per route run - 32nd
Elusiveness grade - 33rd
Missed tackles forced per touch - 33rd
Tyrion Davis-Price
Sig Score rank - 29th
Under 217 lbs rank - 22nd
Positives
None
Weaknesses
Broad jump - 16th
Yards after contact per touch - 30th
Zone scheme grade - 31st
Yards per route run - 31st
CJ Verdell
Sig Score rank - 30th
Under 217 lbs rank - 23rd
Positives
None
Negatives
Broad jump - 16th
40 yard dash - 29th
Vertical leap - 29th
Gap scheme - 29th
Elusiveness grade - 29th
2021 PFF rush grade - 30th
Missed tackles forced per touch - 30th
Carries of 15+ yards % - 33rd
Snoop Conner
Sig Score rank - 31st
217+ lbs rank - 8th
Positives
None
Weaknesses
Vertical leap - 29th
Elusiveness grade - 30th
Yards after contact per touch - 32nd
Leddie Brown
Sig Score rank - 32nd
Under 217 lbs rank - 24th
Positives
None
Negatives
20 yard split - 23rd
40 yard dash - 27th
Zone scheme grade - 30th
2021 PFF overall grade - 31st
2021 PFF rush grade - 31st
Carries of 15+ yards % - 31st
Greg Bell
Sig Score rank - 33rd
Under 217 lbs rank - 25th
Positives
None
Negatives
Gap scheme grade - 30th
Yards after contact per touch - 31st
Elusiveness grade - 32nd
Missed tackles forced per touch - 32nd
Carries of 15+ yards % - 32nd
2021 PFF overall grade - 33rd
2021 PFF rush grade - 33rd
Zone scheme grade - 33rd
Yards per route run - 33rd