Eagles’ Miles Sanders in Middle of Pack of PFF’s RB Rankings

Philadelphia Eages starting running back Miles Sanders not only landed in the middle of the pack of Pro Football Focus’ recent ranking of running backs, but he is also the lowest ranked starter in the NFC East.

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Sanders came in at No. 19 on PFF’s ranking of running backs heading into the 2021 season. Ahead of him in the NFC East on that list is Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who came in at No. 7, Cowboys running back Zeke Elliott at No. 11 and Washington's Antonio Gibson who came in at No. 15 on the list.

Sanders has been more productive than his PFF grades would suggest, though his grades have been partly dragged down by fumbles (four last season). He has impressive speed, with 14 carries of 15 or more yards since coming into the NFL to pair with an average of 3.3 yards after contact per carry.

Sanders recorded 867 rushing yards on 164 carries, adding 197 receiving yards on 28 catches last season.

This year, Sanders is joined in the backfield by a trio of backs, Kerryon Johnson, Jordan Howard and fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell.

Johnson missed 14 games during his first two seasons in Detroit and Howard has just 35 carries since the first half of the 2019 season after having a solid start for the Eagles in 2019 before an injury essentially ended his season.

Gainwell and Boston Scott are both third-down type of backs who will do most of their damage catching the ball out-of-the-backfield.

Sanders has shown big-play ability, breaking of some big runs like his 82-yard touchdown run against the Saints in Week 14 last season and showed his burst during his 74-yard run where he ended up injuring his knee, forcing him to miss two games.