Power Ranking the Running Back Rooms in the NFC East
Newsweek · C · trust 44/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. NFL training camps are in full swing, and as teams ease back into on-field drills and practices in the dead of the summer, football fans have a reason to rejoice.
The preseason officially begins when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers face off in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC. The rest of the first week of the preseason kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As the start of the NFL regular season inches closer (Sept. 9), we are continuing to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams. We’ve already looked at the top position battles to watch, rookies with the best chance of winning a starting job, and the players in the most danger of being cut, plus we’ve ranked the top head coaches, quarterbacks, and wide receiver rooms by division.
Now, we’re power ranking the running back rooms in each division. Next up is the NFC East.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman excels at building depth at seemingly every position, and running back is no different. Saquon Barkley is a top-five running back in the league, and he’s totaled 3,145 yards rushing in his two seasons in Philadelphia.
But behind Barkley, the Eagles may have the deepest RB room in the NFL. Tank Bigsby totaled 344 yards and two touchdowns after being traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. Will Shipley is more dangerous as a receiver and kick returner, but he’s also got some value as a change-of-pace back as well.
Dameon Pierce played five games last season due to injury, but at 26 he still has plenty of potential. He’s just three years removed from his 939-yard rookie season. Elijah Mitchell has also battled his share of injures over the years too. But he showed promise during his 963-yard rookie season in 2021. If healthy, he could make the RB competition interesting.
Cam Skattebo played in just eight games as a rookie before a leg injury ended his season prematurely. However, he rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns and added 24 catches for 207 yards and two scores, showing he had future RB1 upside.
With Skattbeo out, Tyrone Tracy put forth a strong showing. He totaled 740 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and he added 36 catches, 288 yards, and two more scores through the air. New York also has Devin Singletary waiting in the wings too. He’s started 72 games and rushed for 4,923 yards and 29 touchdowns across six seasons.
Losing Chris Rodriguez Jr. was a blow for Washington, but adding Rachaad White should help offset it. The 27-year-old White logged 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns in four years with the Buccaneers, and if Jacory Croskey-Merritt stumbles, White should have no issue stepping into the starting role.
Croskey-Merritt totaled 805 yards and eight touchdowns last year, and the RB1 job is his to lose. Jerome Ford is better used as a receiver than a runner, which is how the Commanders will probably use him.
Kaytron Allen is the wild card. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in his final two years at Penn State. He also scored 39 touchdowns during his college career. The 23-year-old could be groomed as Washington’s running back of the future over the next few years.
Javonte Williams rushed for a career-best 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns last season — his first year in Dallas — but the Cowboys’ depth behind him is why they’re ranked at the bottom of the NFC East.
Jaydon Blue has lots of promise, but he played in just five games as a rookie last year while recovering from injury. Malik Davis is a fine backup, but he’s not someone the team should rely on if Williams misses any significant amount of time.
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