Miles Sanders isn’t the best running back in the NFL. But he’s probably not the 30th-best either.
Former running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew recently ranked the league’s starting rushers, from No. 1 to No. 32. Coming in at No. 30, even off a career campaign while entering his age 26 season, is the new Carolina Panther.
Jones-Drew writes:
Sanders should probably be higher on this list, but to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what this offense looks like with Frank Reich calling plays for Bryce Young. Sanders had career highs in all major rushing categories in 2022 with the Eagles, but prior to last year, he had never rushed for 900 yards in a season.
Well, he’s not wrong. Before last year—where he rushed for bests in yards (1,269) and touchdowns (12)—Sanders finished with 754 yards in 2021, 867 yards in 2020 and 818 yards in his 2019 rookie campaign.
Those numbers, however, should come with some context. Sanders was never used as a prototypical bell cow with the Philadelphia Eagles—having to share a fairly substantial amount of carries with the likes of Jordan Howard, Boston Scott and Jalen Hurts in that three-year span.
But even while sharing, Sanders showed his efficiency. He averaged 4.6 yards per attempt in 2019, 5.3 in 2020 and 5.5 in 2021.
And now, with Reich and the Panthers looking to make Sanders the every-down back he wants to be, maybe he’ll end up higher on this list come next summer.
