When we start preparing for fantasy drafts next summer, we’ll focus our running back research on the stats that drive fantasy production: TDs, yards, catches, etc. This makes sense, given how fantasy scoring is tabulated. However, the prior year’s output is not always repeatable since opportunity and game flow are a huge part of a player’s fantasy success. To assess the players’ talent, reviewing other statistics that aren’t tied directly to the players’ opportunities and circumstances can be helpful. Two metrics that are useful in assessing the players’ talent are the two “YACs”: yards-after-contact and yards-after-catch.

2023 Fantasy Football Takeaways

Yards-After-Contact measures what it implies and can be misleading without context since a player’s attempts will influence the number. Thus, it’s more useful to look at the player’s average yards-after-contact and % of yards-after-contact as these break it down to the play level. Here are the players who excelled after contact in the 2022 season (minimum 125 attempts):

2022’s Best & Worst Running Backs at Creating Yards

How impressive is Tony Pollard? He’s the smallest of these running backs and proved the hardest to pull down. Rhamondre Stevenson broke out this year after Damien Harris (RB – NE) was injured in Week 5 and looks like a legit first-round pick next year. Tyler Allgeier emerged as the best back on the Falcons by the end of the season and seems primed to take a big leap next year. It’s no surprise to see Nick Chubb on here, as he’s been one of the best between-the-tackles runners since his rookie season.

If we flip the script, here are the players who were the worst after contact last season:

Perhaps the Commanders were correct to limit Antonio Gibson’s role this season. With the emergence of Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS), Gibson looks like he’ll be a flex play at best next year. Dalvin Cook’s YPC was the lowest of his career, and though his usage keeps him relevant for fantasy, one has to wonder if his best years are behind him. Miles Sanders is the most surprising name on this list, as he had the best season of his career in 2022. The threat of Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI) taking off may have helped Sanders see bigger holes this season. Fortunately for Sanders, that threat should be there again in 2023. It’s not surprising to see Leonard Fournette on this list, given his struggles running the ball last season. Much of this may be due to Tampa’s offensive line, as Rachaad White (RB – TB) also had a relatively low YPC and YAC. However, White is younger and cheaper than Fournette, so it will be interesting to see if Uncle Lenny is back with the Bucs next season.

Yards-After-Catch is a similar metric for the passing game and an essential component of an RBs fantasy success. Most running backs are targeted near the line of scrimmage, so their production as a receiver is usually tied to how well they perform in the open field. Elusive backs who break and avoid tackles are far more likely to generate big plays. Below are the RBs who performed best after the catch last season, focusing again on their average and percentage and filtered to those with 30 or more receptions:

Travis Etienne Jr. offset missing his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury by showing Jaguars’ fans how good he is this season. The shifty back was an excellent runner also and should be a borderline RB1 next year. Injuries limited D’Andre Swift’s rushing attempts this year, but he was still dynamic in the passing attack for the Lions. Jamaal Williams (RB – DET) had a career year running the ball, but Swift should be able to regain some rushing volume next year if he can stay healthy. James Conner did most of his damage down the stretch after Kyler Murray (QB – ARI) succumbed to injuries. With a new coaching staff coming in for the Cardinals, it’s hard to know what the future holds for Conner, but he proved that he’s still effective when healthy. Samaje Perine is the most interesting name on this list, given his relatively low profile. He played a fair number of snaps down the stretch for the Bengals after Joe Mixon (RB – CIN) returned from his concussion in Week 11 and could be an attractive sleeper in PPR leagues next year if he’s back with the Bengals.

Conversely, these players didn’t do much after the catch in 2022:

Najee Harris’ fantasy production during his first two seasons has been volume-based, as he hasn’t been very productive running or catching the ball. Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT), who averaged 8.3 yards-after-catch last season, appears to be a better option in the passing game and could cut further into Harris’ snap count next year. Gibson receives the dubious honor of making both of our “worst” charts. It may be best to treat him as fantasy depth in drafts next summer. Raheem Mostert’s 31 receptions were a career-high, as he wasn’t used in the passing game much during his time in San Francisco. None of the Miami backs were very effective after the catch, including the departed Chase Edmonds (RB – DEN), who succeeded in this regard after being traded to Denver and during his time in Arizona. Perhaps Miami’s scheme isn’t conducive to creating space for their RBs in the passing game. In any case, Mostert’s age and injury history are more prominent reasons to worry about him going forward.

Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.

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