Corbin Young looks back at the season-long leaders in various running back advanced stats. He also looks ahead to the NFL playoffs to determine which RBs can take their teams deep into the bracket, and deliver NFL Playoff Contest titles for fantasy managers.  Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an…...

In the weekly running back advanced stats article, Corbin Young examines Rashaad Penny, plus the late-season surges from Devin Singletary and Rhamondre Stevenson. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers, how effective that blocking is, and how effective that RB is at making would-be tacklers…...

Corbin Young uses the Advanced Stat Explorer to examine late-season surges by Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel, Ronald Jones, and Justin Jackson, as well as to explore the prospects for a bounceback game from Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon in Week 17. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using…...

Corbin Young dives into the running back advanced stats to find the leading rushers in Week 15, including Jonathan Taylor, Craig Reynolds, Jeff Wilson, D’Onta Foreman, and Duke Johnson. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers, how effective that blocking is, and how effective that…...

Corbin Young looks at the leaders in advanced running back stats, including a RotoViz favorite and an unknown back from Kutztown University. He highlights some studs and deeper options from Week 14 to help you in the playoffs. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers,…...

We’ve mentioned Javonte Williams nearly every week in this article. He finally got his shot with Melvin Gordon sidelined. Heading into Week 13, Williams led all backs in yards after contact, broken tackle rate, and evasion rate amongst players with 100 attempts. Williams delivered on these promising peripherals, amassing nearly 180 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown.  Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and…...

Corbin Young helps you prepare for the fantasy playoffs with a look at the running back advanced stats. He searches for hidden gems and league leaders, including Leonard Fournette, Elijah Mitchell, and Joe Mixon. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers, how effective that blocking…...

Corbin Young dives into the running back advanced stats to examine the big games from Jonathan Taylor and D’Andre Swift, along with some hidden gems to pick up on the cheap before they emerge. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers, how effective that blocking…...

Week 10 was dominated by backup running backs in D’Ernest Johnson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and A.J. Dillon. These backs produced as RB1s given the opportunity, and the running back advanced stats back that up. This week we’re once again lowering the rush attempts thresholds to find some hidden gems that might not be getting the volume they deserve based on their advanced peripherals. Metrics like yards…...

In the first week without Derrick Henry, the Titans split the touches between Jeremy McNichols, D’Onta Foreman, and the ageless Adrian Peterson. Foreman and McNichols looked better on film and the running back advanced stats back it up. Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell you a lot about how an RB is using his blockers,…...

Corbin Young uses the Advanced Stat Explorer, NFL Stat Explorer, and Stealing Signals tool to examine the running back advanced stats. After noting two North Carolina running backs popped in the running back advanced stats, Michael Carter exploded on Sunday against the Bengals as the No. 1 ranked running back heading into Monday night. With two weeks of data in Carter’s favor, we’ll look at what the…...

Week 7 kicked off with D’Ernest Johnson smashing on Thursday night. According to the Advanced Stats Explorer, Johnson averaged 4.05 yards after contact with a 23% evasion rate. Sure, that’ll regress with more attempts, but the Broncos’ defense stuffed Johnson on only 5% of his runs in Week 7. He likely won weeks for fantasy managers. Last week’s theme involved rookies and second-year backs popping…...

Corbin Young looks at the advanced running back stats to find sneaky trade targets and waiver wire pickups with league-winning potential. Unfortunately, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt suffered injuries last week. Both players popped in the running back advanced stats through six weeks. With those injuries and six teams on bye, fantasy managers will need to dig deep in the waiver wire and uncover players…...

Hopefully, fantasy managers survived the injuries, even if they couldn’t be completely avoided, given the number of injuries in Week 5. After Cordarrelle Patterson popped in the running back advanced stats last week, he exploded on Sunday against the Jets. Patterson totaled 114 yards on 14 carries and seven receptions. Don’t quit on Javonte Williams, given the consistent running back advanced stats even though Melvin Gordon…...

Last week, we highlighted David Montgomery as a potential buy low based on the advanced metrics. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury on Sunday. After 23 carries for 106 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, Montgomery ranked fifth with 22.6 fantasy points heading into Monday night. Early reports indicate Montgomery avoided a torn ACL, but he’ll still receive further testing. The buy-low window is probably…...

Last week, we looked at leaders in several running back advanced stats. Devin Singletary’s elusiveness and David Montgomery’s yards after contact headlined Week 1. Some of the running back advanced stats explained Elijah Mitchell’s blowup Week 1 performance, even though his opportunity didn’t quite account for it. With the Titans establishing the run even from behind in Week 2, Derrick Henry’s low 1.8 yards after…...