The new NFL season is upon us and free agency has been exciting and on course amid the nationwide quarantine. There is something that has happened (or not happened) with free agency this year and that is the lack of RBs in the headlines. Outside of the David Johnson trade, the tagging of Henry and Drake, and Todd Gurley being cut, there has been little action with the rushers. What if you could sign the perfect RB free agent this year? One guy who possessed the best parts of each of the best guys. Imagine a player with the size of Saquon Barkley and the hands of Christian McCaffrey or….
Football IQ
Dalvin Cook – Minnesota
Dalvin Cook seems to be underrated when it comes to his smarts on the field. When it comes to understanding run concepts and reading leverage, Cook is elite. As one of the better zone runners, you have to be able to process and react in an instant.
Vision
Aaron Jones – Green Bay
No Le’Veon Bell? While Bell has shown he is one of the best with his patience and ability to find the best hole, he has struggled as of late while Aaron Jones has thrived. Jones can find holes that others seem to miss and is likely one of the best in the red zone/goal line formation. He has the patience, speed, and cutting ability to be a threat in the backfield. Instead of lowering his head to fight for extra yards, he keeps his chin up and uses his peripheral vision to process his surroundings.
Frame
Saquon Barkley – NY Giants
He is 6’0” and 230 pounds. Barkley was a second overall pick and just by looking at him you can see why. He is the prime RB who has the power and speed. Barkley carries it well, which speaks even louder. There is great body control and balance there for such a large frame that can dash down the field.
Legs- Power/Speed
Matt Breida – San Francisco
Breida has seen newfound fame with San Francisco after playing a major role in the NFL’s second-best rushing attack. He’s been playing under the radar through his first three seasons. At his pro day, he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, 42 inch vertical and 11 foot 2-inch broad jump. If he were to attend the combine that year, those would have been 1st place stats. The undrafted rookie recorded the fastest speed on the field this year (22.30) and finished fifth in the NFL with 5.1 yards-per-carry. He finished in the top 10 in this category in all three seasons in the league. There’s a reason the 49ers placed a second-round tender on this guy. The cherry on the sundae is that despite his stats (1,902 yards over 3 years) and speed, he has some of the freshest legs in the league from running in a committee.
Footwork
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans
When you look at his game film, you catch yourself on the edge of your seat when Kamara has the ball. He might not be the fastest, largest, or most elusive runner but his footwork is next level. His balance complements his footwork well. Kamara stays on his feet amid the most bizarre scenarios and is difficult to bring down.
Grit
Derrick Henry – Tennessee
You could say Henry fits in several of these categories and you would be right. He’s matured as a generational talent in the backfield. The one thing that stands out the most is his grit on the gridiron. His team asks him to go above and beyond for them and he showed he can deliver. He doesn’t leave a single yard on the field and fights on every carry. Above all else, Henry is producing high numbers with a heavy, heavy workload.
Hands/Receiving
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina
Hands down, CMC is one of the best receiving backs in the league. In three years, he has 303 receptions for 2,523 yards and 15 TDs. He had 1,000 yards just this year alone. He was second overall with receptions…overall. It’s not just stats though. He had a catch rate of 81.7%, better than Michael Thomas and George Kittle. His route-running is crisp and fluid. The footwork is there as well, with most of his yardage coming after the catch.
Bonus – Intangibles
Josh Jacobs – Las Vegas
This is something that can’t easily be measured or seen. Intangibles are characteristics like leadership, swagger, coachability, etc. Josh Jacobs had a lot of praise surrounding him when he entered the league as a first-round rookie from Alabama. The talk in the locker room is that he has emerged as a young leader, even going as far as standing up for the veterans. Everyone loves watching him on gameday. His coaches are able to train him and mold him into the best RB he can be. He is level-headed and disciplined to the fullest.
