Christian McCaffrey looks like the best pass-catching running back in the NFL right now on tape. He has some serious competition for that title, though – enough to warrant a deeper look into the numbers.
After some research and deep mid-July film diving, here’s how we rank the top 12 receiving backs in the league going into 2019.
1. Christian McCaffrey – Panthers
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 124 targets, 107 catches, 86.3% catch rate, 851 yards after catch, 8.1 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns, 0 drops
This was an extremely difficult and crowded list to make. If you need one anecdote to sell you on why McCaffrey deserves to be at the very top, consider this: according to Pro Football Focus, McCaffrey was one of only three players in the league in 2019 with 50 or more targets and zero drops last year. The others were Deandre Hopkins and Tyler Lockett. In addition to never dropping passes, McCaffrey is the most accomplished route runner of the bunch and can make catches and finish plays nobody else can.
2. Tarik Cohen – Bears
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 91 targets, 71 catches, 78% catch rate, 520 yards after catch, 10.2 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns, 1 drop
Cohen is an outstanding receiver for his size and his low center of gravity makes him a truly unique challenge for tacklers in space. His best comparison may be to Darren Sproles when he was in his prime. With Jordan Howard now out of the way, Cohen could become an absolute monster in Matt Nagy’s creative offense.
3. Alvin Kamara – Saints
2018 receiving stats: 15 games, 105 targets, 81 catches, 77.1% catch rate, 642 yards after catch, 8.8 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns, 3 drops
After McCaffrey, Kamara is definitely the second-best route-running back in the NFL. Sean Payton isn’t afraid to use him as a true down-field receiver, either. Kamara’s excellent balance and ability to tack on yards after contact makes him very difficult to bring down. He’s also incredibly slippery after the catch, similar to Cowboys wideout Cole Beasley.
4. Saquon Barkley – Giants
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 121 targets, 91 catches, 75.2% catch rate, 768 yards after catch, 7.9 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns, 4 drops
Barkley is nearly as ridiculous as a receiver as he is running the ball, and that’s saying something considering we have Barkley ranked as the top rusher in football by a big margin. If he ever gets paired with a more modern offensive play-caller than Mike Shula, he could surpass everybody else in this category, as well. A legitimate upgrade at the quarterback position wouldn’t hurt, either.
5. Kareem Hunt – Browns
2018 receiving stats: 11 games, 35 targets, 26 catches, 74.3% catch rate, 338 yards after catch, 14.5 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns, 3 drops
What sets Hunt’s average apart is how well Andy Reid used him in Kansas City. A lot of his big catch-and-run plays were cakewalks thanks to Reid’s clever calls, but Hunt helped himself by grinding out extra yards wherever he could and being dynamic after the catch. If Freddie Kitchens can put Hunt to use on screens half as well as the Chiefs, he will remain on this list a long time.
6. Le’Veon Bell – Jets
2017 receiving stats: 15 games, 106 targets, 85 catches, 80.2% catch rate, 688 yards after catch, 7.7 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns
Placing Bell on this list is difficult since he hasn’t played a game in 19 months. The Jets are also generally far more dysfunctional than the Steelers in every conceivable way, which will likely seep over into how much/well Bell is used as a receiver. Nevertheless, Bell’s impressive history earns him a spot here.
7. Dion Lewis – Titans
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 67 targets, 59 catches, 88.1% catch rate, 477 yards after catch, 6.8 yards per catch, 1 touchdown, 2 drops
Name a more underrated running back in the league than Lewis. Go ahead. You can’t do it. You simply can’t. Lewis has a phenomenal catch rate and could produce far more impressive receiving numbers if he didn’t have to share so much time with Derrick Henry.
8. Tevin Coleman – 49ers
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 44 targets, 32 catches, 72.7% catch rate, 275 yards after catch, 8.6 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns, 3 drops
In free agency, the Niners signed Coleman away from the Falcons, re-uniting him with his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Between Shanahan’s playbook and the talented trio of Coleman, Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco is poised to dominate this particular area of the game.
9. Ezekiel Elliott – Cowboys
2018 receiving stats: 15 games, 95 targets, 77 catches, 81.1% catch rate, 576 yards after catch, 7.4 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns, 2 drops
Elliott is not the receiver Cowboys fans think he is, but he’s also not as bad as some of his critics claim. Considering the limited passing concepts he has to work with, Elliott is productive if not spectacular as a receiver. His ability to simply run/jump/bulldoze over defenders and add yards after contact is his best quality in the passing game.
10. Melvin Gordon – Chargers
2018 receiving stats: 12 games, 66 targets, 50 catches, 75.8% catch rate, 537 yards after catch, 9.8 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns, 6 drops
Gordon is pretty underrated in almost every aspect of his game and he’s got a fair gripe about wanting more money from L.A. Such is life for a Charger. Gordon does drop a few too many passes for comfort, though. If he can get his drop rate down to a more respectable level, Gordon could rise up this list fast.
11. James White – Patriots
2018 receiving stats: 16 games, 123 targets, 87 catches, 70.7% catch rate, 665 yards after catch, 8.6 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns, 5 drops
New England did pass-catching backs before pass-catching backs were cool. Tom Brady’s endless arsenal of check-downs give White plenty of opportunities to shine. His hands could be better, but White is a stupendous red zone weapon and he produces in the clutch.
12. Todd Gurley – Rams
2018 receiving stats: 14 games, 81 targets, 59 catches, 72.8% catch rate, 587 yards after catch, 9.8 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns, 7 drops
Gurley gets in by sheer force of usage. Sean McVay knows how to use him as a receiver, but Gurley simply drops way too many passes to be considered an elite pass-catching threat at his position. Going forward, third-round draft pick Darrell Henderson may take some of the receiving load off of Gurley’s already overloaded shoulders.
