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Preseason rushing leaders

Sifting through lesser running back options

I notice that three players ran for 180-plus yards in August, and only one made his team’s 53-man roster – Jacob Saylors, who’ll likely be the 2nd-, 3rd- or 4th-string running back in Detroit. Teams don’t value the preseason like they used to.

The Cardinals had two of the 180-yard rushers, but they released Evan Hull (who’s been trying to gain a foothold in the league for years) and dished off Corey Kiner to the Patriots for a seventh-round pick. For now, Kiner is the third back in New England, playing special teams and backing up Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.

Not that the preseason simply serves no purpose. In large part because of what he did on the field, Saylors (pictured) is on Detroit’s roster. He may open the season as their backup running back. (Isiah Pacheco is banged up, and Sione Vaki has a limited background at the position – he was mostly a defensive back in college). If Saylors gets a fill-in start for Jahmyr Gibbs, I’m interested.

And there was other movement on depth charts around the league. Malik Davis was able to beat out second-year backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah in Dallas. That may make him the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams, but the Cowboys are also mulling Emari Demercado (claimed on waivers today).

Emmett Johnson appears to have secured the backup job in Kansas City. He’s similarly worthy of a stash roster spot, with it more likely than not that Kenneth Walker breaks down at some point.

But overall, the preseason tends to be pretty meaningless. The guys running for the most yards in August tend to be more likely to wind up on practice squads or simply out of the league.

Below are the top 5 rushers (among running backs) from each of the last six seasons. I’ve got them in descending order by rushing yards.

PRESEASON RUSHING LEADERS (2021-)
YearPlayerAttYardsAvgLgTD
2023Emanuel Wilson (GB)382235.9802
2021Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)302177.2915
2026Evan Hull (ARZ)381895.0472
2021Mekhi Sargent (TEN)491873.8161
2026Jacob Saylors (DET)311876.0270
2026Corey Kiner (ARZ)391804.6162
2021J.J. Taylor (NE)231797.8211
2021Jamycal Hasty (SF)351765.0353
2023Julius Chestnut (TEN)291746.0551
2026Mike Washington (LV)231687.3530
2026Gregory Desrosiers (LAC)231667.2341
2021Nate McCrary (BLT)421633.9221
2022DeeJay Dallas (SEA)281635.8271
2022Jason Huntley (PHI)351634.7672
2024Frank Gore (BUF)331634.9171
2025D'Ernest Johnson (BLT)461633.5162
2024Emanuel Wilson (GB)371604.3231
2023Tank Bigsby (JAX)281595.7340
2024Velus Jones (CHI)251586.3392
2024Boston Scott (LAR)361574.4340
2022Brittain Brown (LV)341524.5362
2025Jacardia Wright (SEA)211477.0611
2023Elijah Dotson (LAC)181468.1402
2023Salvon Ahmed (MIA)161428.9650
2024Kenny McIntosh (SEA)171428.4561
2022Caleb Huntley (ATL)381383.6211
2025Zonovan Knight (ARZ)1213811.5671
2025Rasheen Ali (BLT)371353.6192
2022Malik Davis (DAL)311324.3161
2025Ollie Gordon (MIA)261264.8211

If we take those same backs and look at what they did in the regular season, it doesn’t amount to much. Three snuck into the top 50 in leagues using PPR scoring. I see 5 TDs each for 2021 Rhamondre Stevenson, 2024 Emanuel Wilson and 2025 Bam Knight. Knight (with Arizona’s top 2 backs both getting hurt) was the only one of the backs on this list to start more than two games.

Of the 22 other running backs on this list, only Ollie Gordon finished with top-70 numbers (4 touchdowns, 199 rushing yards and 7 catches for 32 yards put him 68th among running backs last year).

Of the top 5 rushers this year, Mike Washington is the one that interests me the most. He looks like he could be pretty good should banged up Ashton Jeanty miss any games.

PRESEASON RUSHING LEADERS IN REGULAR SEASON
YearPlayerGRushingReceivingPPRRk
2021• Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.12133-606-514-123-0116.947
2021Mekhi Sargent, 3 tm75-11-00-0-01.1161
2021J.J. Taylor, N.E.519-37-24-8-020.5111
2021Jamycal Hasty, S.F.1116-68-123-157-051.577
2021Nate McCrary, Balt.11-(-1)-00-0-0-.1--
2022DeeJay Dallas, Sea.1535-186-017-126-048.275
2022Jason Huntley (DNP)00-0-00-0-0.0--
2022Brittain Brown (DNP)00-0-00-0-0.0--
2022Caleb Huntley, Atl.1276-366-12-3-044.979
2022Malik Davis, Dall.1238-161-16-63-034.486
2023Emanuel Wilson, G.B.714-85-04-23-014.8103
2023Julius Chestnut, Ten.30-0-00-0-0.0150
2023Tank Bigsby, Jac.1750-132-21-6-026.887
2023Elijah Dotson, LAC44-6-02-13-03.9130
2023Salvon Ahmed, Mia.822-61-116-88-142.973
2024Frank Gore (DNP)00-0-00-0-0.0--
2024• Emanuel Wilson, G.B.17103-502-411-48-196.048
2024Velus Jones (DNP)00-0-00-0-0.0--
2024Boston Scott (DNP)00-0-00-0-0.0--
2024Kenny McIntosh, Sea.1731-172-03-22-022.498
2025D'Ernest Johnson, 2 tm814-25-00-0-02.5128
2025Jacardia Wright, Sea.15-20-00-0-02.0131
2025• Zonovan Knight, Ari.1282-269-422-160-194.949
2025Rasheen Ali, Balt.157-24-09-68-124.290
2025Ollie Gordon, Mia.1770-199-37-32-154.168

—Ian Allan

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