Factoid

June 19, 2022

Running Back Sweet Spot

Hall and Walker selected in nice area

There were no running backs selected in the first round this year, but there were two drafted in the first half of the second round. Breece Hall went to the Jets at the 36th pick, and Ken Walker went to the Seahawks with the 41st selection. It's a really nice area for running backs to go in these days.

In the last decade, there have been 12 other running backs selected between picks 33-48; the first 16 picks of round two. Those guys have been part of a lot of top fantasy seasons -- almost all of them.

Six of the 12 running backs selected in that area of the draft since 2012 have had at least one top-1o fantasy season (PPR). Five of those six have had two such seasons. Four of the remaining six have had a top-20 season. Two of them (D'Andre Swift and Javonte Williams) seem likely to deliver a top-10 season at some point in their careers; maybe even 2022.

Collectively those 12 players have combined for 55 NFL seasons. They've ranked in the top 20 at their position in just about half of them (27). In the table, top-10 seasons are in bold and top-20 in italics. (Even the misses, T.J. Yeldon and Kerryon Johnson, had top-25 and top-35 seasons, respectively.)

RUNNING BACKS DRAFTED PICKS 33-48, 2012-PRESENT
Pk	Year	Player	G	Att	Yds	Rec	Yds	TD	Rk
41	2021	Jonathan Taylor, Ind.	17	332	1811	40	360	20	1
48	2021	Joe Mixon, Cin.	16	292	1205	42	314	16	4
35	2021	Nick Chubb, Cle.	14	228	1259	20	174	9	13
35	2021	D'Andre Swift, Det.	13	151	617	62	452	7	15
41	2021	Dalvin Cook, Min.	13	249	1159	34	224	6	16
35	2021	Javonte Williams, Den.	17	203	903	43	316	7	17
45	2021	Derrick Henry, Ten.	8	219	937	18	154	10	22
38	2021	Ronald Jones, T.B.	16	101	428	10	64	4	62
37	2021	Giovani Bernard, T.B.	12	8	58	23	123	3	73
48	2021	LeVeon Bell, 2TM	8	39	101	5	30	3	89
41	2020	Dalvin Cook, Min.	14	312	1557	44	361	17	2
45	2020	Derrick Henry, Ten.	16	378	2027	19	114	17	3
41	2020	Jonathan Taylor, Ind.	15	232	1169	36	299	12	6
35	2020	Nick Chubb, Cle.	12	190	1067	16	150	12	11
35	2020	D'Andre Swift, Det.	13	114	521	46	357	10	16
38	2020	Ronald Jones, T.B.	14	192	978	28	165	8	19
37	2020	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	16	124	416	47	355	6	30
48	2020	Joe Mixon, Cin.	6	119	428	21	138	4	48
48	2020	LeVeon Bell, 2TM	11	82	328	16	138	2	63
43	2020	Kerryon Johnson, Det.	16	52	181	19	187	3	64
36	2020	T.J. Yeldon, Buff.	3	10	70	1	22	1	118
45	2019	Derrick Henry, Ten.	15	303	1540	18	206	18	5
41	2019	Dalvin Cook, Min.	14	250	1135	53	519	13	6
35	2019	Nick Chubb, Cle.	16	298	1494	36	278	8	8
48	2019	Joe Mixon, Cin.	16	278	1137	35	287	8	13
48	2019	LeVeon Bell, NYJ	15	245	789	66	461	4	16
38	2019	Ronald Jones, T.B.	16	172	724	31	309	6	25
43	2019	Kerryon Johnson, Det.	8	113	403	10	127	4	54
37	2019	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	16	53	170	30	234	0	60
36	2019	T.J. Yeldon, Buff.	6	17	63	13	124	0	89
48	2018	Joe Mixon, Cin.	14	237	1168	43	296	9	10
45	2018	Derrick Henry, Ten.	16	215	1059	15	99	12	16
35	2018	Nick Chubb, Cle.	16	192	996	20	149	10	17
36	2018	T.J. Yeldon, Jac.	14	104	414	55	487	5	22
41	2018	Dalvin Cook, Min.	11	133	615	40	305	4	30
43	2018	Kerryon Johnson, Det.	10	118	641	32	213	4	33
37	2018	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	12	56	211	35	218	3	52
38	2018	Ronald Jones, T.B.	9	23	44	7	33	1	95
48	2017	LeVeon Bell, Pitt.	15	321	1291	85	655	11	2
37	2017	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	16	105	458	43	389	4	29
48	2017	Joe Mixon, Cin.	14	178	626	30	287	4	33
45	2017	Derrick Henry, Ten.	16	176	744	11	136	6	37
36	2017	T.J. Yeldon, Jac.	10	49	253	30	224	2	55
41	2017	Dalvin Cook, Min.	4	74	354	11	90	2	72
48	2016	LeVeon Bell, Pitt.	12	261	1268	75	616	9	3
36	2016	T.J. Yeldon, Jac.	15	130	465	50	312	2	34
37	2016	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	10	91	337	39	336	3	41
45	2016	Derrick Henry, Ten.	15	110	490	13	137	5	45
37	2015	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	16	154	730	49	472	2	18
36	2015	T.J. Yeldon, Jac.	12	182	740	36	279	3	28
48	2015	LeVeon Bell, Pitt.	6	113	556	24	136	3	49
48	2014	LeVeon Bell, Pitt.	16	290	1361	83	854	11	1
37	2014	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	13	168	680	43	349	7	18
37	2013	Giovani Bernard, Cin.	16	170	695	56	514	8	13
48	2013	LeVeon Bell, Pitt.	13	244	860	45	399	8	15

Both Hall and Walker are joining teams that have credible running backs in place. The Jets have Michael Carter, who had 964 total yards as a rookie. and the Seahawks have Rashaad Penny, the former first-round pick who was one of the most productive backs the second half of last season. Not a given that Hall or Walker starts right away (not out of the question, either). Either way, they'll have a role, and with injuries likely, they'll doubtless start some games.

If recent history is any indication, it won't be long before they're cranking out top-1o or top-20 seasons.

--Andy Richardson

Breece Hall Ken Walker

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