After a brief hiatus, the 32 Observations returns this week. The focus this time around is all on running backs. In some cases it's looking at a situation in which they perform better than others, in others it’s looking at just how dominate the running back is.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: While a number of running backs have yet to drop a pass, no other running back has more catches without a drop than Fred Jackson. He has 33 catches and no drops.
Miami Dolphins: No running back has run the ball more within 10 yards of the end zone than Lamar Miller at 14. He also has more yards than any other back in those situations at 41, and tied for the most touchdowns with four.
New England Patriots: Of Shane Vereen’s 53 carries, 24 have been for 5 yards or more. That is a rate of 45.3% which is the best for running backs with at least 30 carries.
New York Jets: Chris Ivory is averaging 3.1 yards after contact per carry which is the best rate in the league.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: When Justin Forsett has run between the guards, he has 272 yards on 41 carries for two touchdowns. His average of 6.63 yards per carry between the guards is the highest rate for those with at least 20 carries between the guards.
Cincinnati Bengals: When rookie Jeremy Hill has run with the ball within 5 yards to go for a touchdown, he’s ended up scoring 75% of the time. That is tied for the best rate for those with more than two carries. He has converted three of four carries for 12 yards.
Cleveland Browns: There are four running backs in the league with 10 or more carries on pitch plays. Three of them are Ben Tate, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. Tate has 65 yards on 17 carries, Crowell has 83 yards on 13 carries and West had 56 yards on 12 carries.
Pittsburgh Steelers: When LeGarrette Blount has run between the tackles, he has 159 yards on 21 carries. That’s an average of 7.57 which is the best for backs with at least 20 carries between the tackles. When rushing outside of the tackles, he has just 63 yards on 23 carries for a 2.74 yard average.
AFC South
Houston Texans: When Alfred Blue runs outside the tackle he has more yards than inside (97 to 75) even though he has nearly twice as many carries inside the tackles than out (30 to 16).
Indianapolis Colts: On Ahmad Bradshaw’s 70 carries, he has picked up 3 or more yards after the carry on 29 of them. That is a rate of 41.4%, which is the best in the league and much higher than the league average of 27.2%.
Jacksonville Jaguars: On Denard Robinson’s 50 carries, he’s gotten at least 3 yards on 34 of them. That is a rate of 68% which is fourth-best in the league.
Tennessee Titans: Of Shonn Greene’s 44 carries, only one has been for a loss. His 97.7% rate of non-negative yards is the best in the league for those with at least 30 carries.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: When the Broncos are running between the left tackle and right guard, they have 362 yards on 67 carries for an average of 5.4 yards per carry. When they run to the left of the left tackle or the right of the right guard, they have 205 yards on 76 carries for an average of 2.7 yards per carry.
Kansas City Chiefs: Of Knile Davis’ 352 rushing yards, 161 have come on his seven carries of 15 or more yards. That gives him a Breakaway Percentage of 45.7% which is the highest rate in the league.
Oakland Raiders: It isn’t often that a run up the middle goes for a long gain, but Darren McFadden has broken four of his 26 carries up the middle for 12 or more yards. That is a rate of 15.4% which is twice as high as the league average of 7.4%.
San Diego Chargers: No running back has more attempts on draw plays than Branden Oliver. He has 61 yards and a touchdown on 12 draws.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Running back DeMarco Murray has 28 carries of 10 or more yards. That is 10 more carries than any other player.
New York Giants: No running back has rushed more against a dime defense than Rashad Jennings. Against the dime he has 23 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. That’s an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Only two other running backs have more than 65 yards against the dime.
Philadelphia Eagles: Of Darren Sproles’ 32 carries carries, eight have been for 10 or more yards. That 25% of rate is the best for backs with at least 30 carries.
Washington: Roy Helu is averaging 12.5 yards per catch which is the highest rate for backs with at least five catches.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: The king of running back screens this year has been Matt Forte. He has 16 catches for 192 yards with 245 yards coming after the catch. All three of those lead the league. No other running back has more than eight catches on screens.
Detroit Lions: When rushing to the left end or right end, Reggie Bush has 84 yards on 17 carries for a 4.9 yards per carry average. When going anywhere in between, he has 79 yards on 31 carries for a 2.5 yards per carry average.
Green Bay Packers: A few running backs have yet to allow a pressure this year, but none have stayed in to block as much as Eddie Lacy. On 36 pass blocks, Lacy has a perfect Pass Blocking Efficiency of 100% with zero pressures allowed.
Minnesota Vikings: When Jerick McKinnon faces four or fewer defensive backs, he has 218 yards on 35 carries for a 6.23 yards per carry average. That is the best rate for those with at least 30 snaps against a base or goal-line defense.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons have the top two leaders in Yards Per Route Run. Antone Smith has a Yards Per Route Run of 5.92 which dominates the league, while Devonta Freeman is at 3.04. No other player in the league has more than 11 targets and a YPRR higher than 2.25.
Carolina Panthers: On 12 of Jonathan Stewart’s 42 carries, at least one defensive player missed a tackle on him. That is a rate of 28.6% which is the best for those with at least six carries.
New Orleans Saints: When running to the left, Mark Ingram has 97 yards on 16 carries for 6.06 yards per carry. That leads the league for players running to the left. When running to the right he has 62 yards on 18 carries for a 3.44 rushing average.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Running back Bobby Rainey has an Elusive Rating of 88.0 which is the best rate in the league.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: In Week 5, Andre Ellington had the longest catch for a running back since Week 12 of 2012 at 81 yards.
St. Louis Rams: When running to the left of the left guard, Tre Mason has 92 yards on 11 carries. When running elsewhere he has 32 yards on 12 carries.
San Francisco 49ers: On Carlos Hyde’s 48 carries, he has 5 or more yards after contact on 10 of them. That is a rate of 20.8% of his carries which is the best in the league. The second-best rate belongs to quarterback Colin Kaepernick at 20.4%.
Seattle Seahawks: Marshawn Lynch leads all running backs in ‘counter' runs, yards on counters and touchdowns on counters. He has 212 yards on 39 carries and two touchdowns.
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