PFF: Eagles' Running Backs Ranked in Bottom Half of League

The Philadelphia Eagles running back will have a new starting running back to open the 2020 season, with Miles Sanders taking over the role from Jordan Howard. However, even though Sanders dazzled during his brief stink as the lead back in 2019, the change wasn’t enough for Pro Football Focus to rank the group in the top half of the league.

Even while Sanders finished with 1,327 all-purpose yards, leading all rookies, and was one of just seven rookies in league history to account for 800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards - the Eagles’ running backs were ranked No. 20 by PFF.

Eagles running backs have been playing behind one of the best run-blocking lines in the league over the past few years, and last season was no different. Rookie second-rounder Miles Sanders took advantage to the tune of 4.5 yards per carry, though two fumbles and two botched mesh-point handoffs hurt his overall grade. Sanders adds a strong receiving element, too, as he graded at 74.7 while averaging 10.2 yards per reception last season.

The website seems to like the depth and the talent, but there just isnt a lot of substance on the resumes from this group heading into the season. The two pieces that are likely to be contributors behind Sanders, Boston Scott and Corey Clement have very little NFL experience between them.

Backup Boston Scott finally had a chance to show off the skills that made him so difficult to tackle when coming out of Louisiana Tech in 2018. Scott picked up the slack down the stretch of the 2019 campaign and did his best work in the pass game, where he earned an 85.3 receiving grade and forced eight missed tackles on 27 catches. Expect more from Scott catching the ball out of the backfield this season.
Corey Clement is a depth piece who played just three snaps last season. He did his best work as a rookie in 2017 with a 74.1 overall grade. The Eagles have a solid group of backs, including multiple options who can help in the pass game.

The site called the Eagles backs a "solid group of backs" and listed their versatility as a positive.

There are other players on the Eagles roster at that position who PFF did not mention who have a chance to make the team and get some playing time.

Elijah Holyfield, a 2019 undrafted rookie by the Carolina Panthers from Georgia and is a between-the-tackles runner, who the Eagles want to take a look at in camp.

Mike Warren is a 2020 undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati and a highly productive back as a junior, running for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final year with the Bearcats. The 5-foot-9, 226-pound tailback is considered a physical ball-carrier with soft hands out of the backfield.

Another undrafted rookie, Adrian Killins Jr. out of UCF, will fight for a role, projecting as a third-down back.