Ranking the AFC East RB rooms: Where do Breece Hall and the NY Jets stand?

While the running back position has seen a devaluation over recent years, stars and productive committees can still be a team's offensive engine. The AFC East is loaded with intriguing running backs who can be difference-makers in the race for the divisional crown.

The division features a variety of different running backs including bonafide superstars, bruising power backs, receiving specialists, and speed merchants. This all makes for an interesting analysis.

As we previously did with the quarterbacks, we're going to rank the units from worst to first with all names on the depth chart considered. Unlike the QBs, the names further down on the depth chart will have significant roles and expectations to contribute this year beyond simply as an injury fill-in.

With that said, let's take a deep dive into the pros and cons of each unit and come up with the definitive rankings of where each team stands.

4. The New England Patriots led by Rhamondre Stevenson

The depth chart: Rhamondre Stevenson will once again be counted upon to be the lead back. Antonio Gibson will also play a big role, especially as a pass catcher and third-down back. Kevin Harris provides depth and Ja'Mycal Hasty is more of a special teams contributor at this point.

The powerful Stevenson looks to bounce back after a somewhat poor 2023 season in which he was limited to just 12 games due to an illness and a couple of leg injuries. In fact, an ankle injury ended his season after Week 12.

2022 was a different story for the former fourth-round pick. Stevenson rushed for 1040 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry along the way. He also added 69 catches for 421 yards. His rookie season in 2021 saw him play in a smaller role, but he still averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

Entering 2023, he looked like a burgeoning star. A big, powerful back who also possessed some receiving chops, he looked to be a weapon that New England could rely on given their shaky QB situation. His yards per carry dropped to a career-low 4.0, and save for a couple of big games he was largely ineffective both as a rusher and receiver.

Given the landscape of the AFC East's running back units, the questions raised by his 2023 performance won't allow him to raise this group any higher at this point with Stevenson as the lead back.

The Patriots made a sizeable investment (when scaled to the running back market) in former Washington Commanders back/gadget player Antonio Gibson. Gibson, known primarily for his receiving skills, looks to fill a crucial role in the New England offense.

Historically, the Patriots have favored a committee approach with a pass-catching running back as a focal point. Over the past several years, the NY Jets faithful have watched players like Danny Woodhead, Dion Lewis, and James White tear them apart in the passing game.

They've often paired those players with a bruising power back, just as they have now with Stevenson and Gibson. Gibson, a former third-round pick out of Memphis, was actually a wide receiver in college, who occasionally got touches running the ball as a running back and in other alignments. It wasn't until he entered the NFL that he converted to the position full-time.

During his four-year career, the results of this experiment have been mixed. While he looked the part of a lead back in 2020, his rookie season, rushing for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry. The following year as the lead back in Washington he topped 1000 yards but saw his yards per carry drop to a pedestrian 4.0.

2022 saw Washington draft another running back, Brian Robinson Jr., in the third round intent on replacing Gibson as the lead back. Those plans were delayed on August 28th when Robinson was the victim of a gunshot during an attempted robbery attempt.

Despite his injuries from the gunshot, Robinson did eventually take over for Gibson as the starter, and Gibson saw his worst performance to date, averaging just 3.7 yards per attempt. In 2023, he was full-on relegated to the third-down back role, logging a career-low 65 carries but posting a career-high 48 catches.

Secondly, he was learning the running back position on the fly and has an interesting combination of speed and size. If New England can unlock him as a receiving and change of pace back he could be a deadly weapon, however, if Washington is proven right and he continues his inconsistent play the Patriots may regret this signing.

Rounding things out we have former sixth-round pick Kevin Harris. At 5-foot-10, 225 pounds, Harris has the build of another power back, however throughout his two-year career he's managed just 34 carries and averaged just 3.4 yards per attempt. He seems to be at best a very low-end backup to Stevenson.

Then there's JaMycal Hasty. A four-year veteran, Hasty got most of his run during his first two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, a team that favors the wide zone run scheme, which makes him an odd fit for New England's gap/power scheme. More likely, he's a special teamer as that is where most of his snaps have come over the last two seasons.

All in all, the Patriots could have a dynamic attack out of the backfield with Stevenson and Gibson, but that will depend on whether or not those two reach their full potential. Even if they do, it's questionable how much better they could rank given the quality of their division rivals' backfields.

3. The Buffalo Bills rushing attack led by James Cook

The depth chart: 2023 Pro Bowler James Cook leads the unit while rookie fourth-round pick Ray Davis seems poised to be the No. 2 back. Rounding out the depth chart is former NY Jets running back Ty Johnson and former Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears running back Darrynton Evans.

Buffalo's total rushing attack, if we included Josh Allen's contributions on the ground, would probably rank higher than third. That said, we've already given Allen his due in the QB rankings, and in the interest of this exercise, we're focusing strictly on the positional groupings. Even without Allen, this Bills rushing attack has the potential to be potent.

Cook, the younger brother of the much-maligned Dalvin Cook, was a second-round pick in 2022. In his rookie season, he was primarily the third-down back playing second fiddle to former Bills running back Devin Singletary. This made sense given his pass-catching prowess coming out of Georgia and concerns about his durability given his lean frame, tipping the scales at just 190 pounds.

After the 2022 season, the Bills let Singletary walk and handed the reigns over to Cook in 2023. He responded in a big way, rushing for 1122 yards on a 4.7 average while also hauling in 44 passes for 445 yards. His 10.1 yards per reception are nearly unheard of for a running back and speak to his explosiveness in the passing game.

This offensive eruption made him a Pro Bowl selection, and his dynamic two-way production led to him finishing sixth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage. With his tantalizing combination of speed, agility, toughness, and receiving prowess Cook could be just scratching the surface of his potential.

The only question is whether he'll be durable enough to continue shouldering such a heavy workload.

Last season the Bills struggled to find a consistent complement to Cook. They ran out veteran retreads like Latavius Murray, Leonard Fournette, Damien Harris, and Ty Johnson to varying degrees of failure.

Enter fourth-round pick Ray Davis out of the University of Kentucky. After playing in relative obscurity at Temple and then Vanderbilt, Davis transferred to Kentucky for his final season.

He finished the year rushing for 1129 yards on 199 carries, good for a 5.7 average yards per attempt while adding 33 catches for 329 yards. He scored 21 combined touchdowns, 14 on the ground and seven through the air.

A compact player listed at 5-foot-8, 211 pounds at the NFL combine, he boosts a skillset similar to that of Cook. Some scouts believe Davis can develop into a starting-caliber back in time, citing his ability to run with power and produce as a receiver out of the backfield. On the flip side, Davis lacks speed and explosiveness while also struggling as a pass protector.

That makes the fit next to Cook somewhat clunky. Davis does well what Cook does well but to a lesser degree. That makes him a nice backup insofar as no scheme adjustments are necessary should Cook miss time, but he doesn't add much as a compliment.

There's also the question of who will handle third-downs, as both are good receivers but neither is a solid pass protector, which is a key trait for a third-down back. All said, Davis is mostly a question mark until we see him in live game action, though the potential to be a good player is there.

Ty Johnson was one of Buffalo's most effective reserves last season, in limited action. He only logged 30 carries but recorded a very respectable 4.4 yards per attempt. He also chipped in seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Jets fans are very familiar with Ty Johnson as the speedy Maryland product tantalized at times with his playmaking ability and frustrated with his mental errors which often led to dropped passes and missed blocking assignments. All in all, he's a solid third running back on the depth chart, but don't expect much more.

Rounding out the room is Darrynton Evans who's struggling to hold on to a spot in the league. Billed as a speedy and elusive outside zone runner coming out of Appalachian State, Evans has struggled with the increased level of competition in the NFL.

Now on his fourth team, the fourth-year veteran has only logged 64 carries in his entire career. Unless he has a big training camp, it's hard to see him actually making the final roster.

The Bills can't rank higher than third until Ray Davis proves his worth. If he proves he can be a productive back alongside Cook, the Bills could have a fearsome two-headed monster in the backfield. If not, the likes of Johnson and Evans don't inspire much confidence to step up.

2. The Miami Dolphins and their speedy backfield by committee

The depth chart: veteran Raheem Mostert leads the way, but plenty of carries will also be given to second-year speedster De'Von Achane who may end up usurping Mostert when all is said and done. Rounding things out are rookie fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright and veteran Jeff Wilson Jr.

Mostert spent the first couple of years of his career bouncing around from practice squad to practice squad before latching on with the San Francisco 49ers. While he got some limited run as a member of the 49ers running back committee, he didn't fully break out until 2019, his fifth season in the league.

That's when he arrived and generated national attention, slicing and dicing vaunted defenses during the 9ers Super Bowl run. In particular, he gashed Aaron Rodgers' Packers for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the NFC Championship game.

After the 2021 season, Mostert moved on to Miami where he's enjoyed the best two years of his career from 2022-2023. 2023 saw him top 1,000 yards for the first time while leading the league with a whopping 18 touchdowns, chipping in three more through the air.

Now 31 years old, injuries have been a problem for Mostert at points, being limited in 2020 to just 8 games, and then suffering a knee cartilage tear in the 2021 season opener, that cost him basically the entire season. He's been mostly healthy since, playing in 31 of a possible 34 games for Miami.

That said, after 30 running backs tend to break down, and while Mostert has lower mileage than most, it is something to be considered.

Mostert might not even end up as Miami's top rushing option in 2024. That might go to 2023 third-round pick De'Von Achane. In 11 games last season, Achane rushed 103 times for 800 yards posting a whopping 7.8 yards per carry. That average is basically unheard of, especially at that volume.

Achane dealt with a nagging knee injury that he later aggravated causing him to miss time. At just five-foot-nine and 188 pounds, injuries and durability will always be a concern. His blazing speed, evidenced by his 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, will make him a home run threat any time he touches the ball, however.

Despite the prolific production of their top two backs, Miami went back to the well once more during the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Tennessee product Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. In his final year for the Vols, Wright put up his own video game-like numbers rushing for over 1000 yards on 7.4 yards per carry.

Another speed demon, Wright posted a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, but at 210 pounds has proto-typical running back size. His combination of speed, strength, and agility have some believing he could eventually be a starter in the league.

As with all rookies, we'll have to see how they fare under the bright lights of regular-season action. Wright has the physical tools, but he has some questions about vision and pass protection that may hold him back.

Lastly, we arrive at Jeff Wilson Jr. perhaps the most over-qualified fourth running back in the league. Another former 49er, Wilson is another experienced wide-zone back familiar with the Shanahan system that Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel employs.

Acquired in a trade during the 2022 season, Wilson put up his best season as a pro splitting time between the 49ers and Dolphins. He rushed 176 times for 860 yards and five touchdowns on 4.9 yards per carry.

Last season saw him take a reduced yet still productive role, rushing just 41 times for 188 yards, but still averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per attempt.

It's unknown whether Miami will carry four backs on their final 53-man roster, but if they do, Wilson provides excellent depth to weather any injury setbacks.

The Dolphins' superior depth is what made the margin between them and the first-place team razor-thin. While they possess numerous quality backs, none of them have established themselves as true stars.

1. NY Jets RB Breece Hall is a true superstar leading a promising young unit

The depth chart: superstar Breece Hall leads the way. Rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are penciled in behind him while veteran Tarik Cohen and second-year back Israel Abanikanda round out the depth chart.

Breece Hall is a star. Capitalize it, underline it, whatever you want to do, but it's the truth. While he's highly regarded among Gang Green faithful and looked upon favorably nationally, he still is somehow underrated.

That star power is what gives the Jets the edge in these rankings. Depth is important, but stars are what wins championships.

So why is Breece Hall perhaps the NFL's most underrated superstar? Well, he's one of, if not the most, gifted and well-rounded ball carriers in the league. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he shouldn't have 4.38 speed, but he does. He has power. He has elite agility. He has soft hands and the ability to run actual routes.

Hall can do it all, and his 2023 performance is even more impressive when you consider his circumstances.

First, he was recovering from a torn ACL which is the type of injury that can take running backs a full year after recovery to regain their form. Second, his early season workload was limited with a doomed time share with the cooked Dalvin Cook.

Then there's his supporting cast. Hall once again saw his offensive line decimated by injury and ineffectiveness. Aside from four snaps, he played with by far the worst QB situation in the league.

Outside of Garrett Wilson, there wasn't a single receiver threatening enough to loosen up the box for him, and in fact, he ended up playing the role of de-facto No. 2 receiving option.

Hall is a top-three RB in the league. He has the ability to score on any given play whether on the ground or through the air. He's posted numbers that rank amongst the league's best while recovering from a devastating injury and with the league's worst supporting cast.

Despite all of these hurdles, Hall rushed for 994 yards while adding in 76 catches for another 591 yards. His 1585 yards from scrimmage ranked fourth in the league, and the only running back with more was the 49ers' stud Christian McCaffrey.

Now with a revamped offensive line, a reinforced wide receiver corps, and the return of Aaron Rodgers, the rest of the league is on notice.

The early leader in the clubhouse to be the Robin to Hall's Batman is fourth-round rookie Braelon Allen. At 235 pounds, Allen is a hulking presence who one would believe is a pure power back. While power is certainly an element of Allen's game, he's no one trick pony.

Possessing surprising agility and speed for a man of his size, Allen can make plays in a variety of different ways. As he's shown off in OTAs thus far, he's also got soft hands and some receiving chops too.

All of this is to say, he's not just a short yardage back. There's some inconsistency, but also a lot to like, about his technique in pass protection as well. All of this projects to a player who could be a true three-down back.

The caveat with rookies as always applies. It's one thing to show out in padless OTAs, but against real NFL competition things can be very different. Allen will be just 20 years old for the entirety of the 2024 season, and that youth is just another reason to believe in his potential.

Allen isn't the only rookie RB on the team as they also drafted former South Dakota State product Isaiah Davis in the fifth round. Another bigger back and one that truly fits the power mold, Davis seems like a perfect fit in the Jets' new power/gap rushing scheme.

At the FCS level, Davis dominated putting up 1,478 yards and 1578 yards in the last two seasons respectively. That said, he'll be facing an uphill battle making the jump from that inferior level of competition up to the pros.

Davis is less versatile than Allen. A North-South runner he is very much the prototypical "four yards and a cloud of dust" type back. That said, he could carve out a role as a short yardage and goal line back to start while developing his skills over time.

Next on the list is veteran Tarik Cohen, who last appeared in a regular season game in 2020. Injuries and personal tragedies have derailed the former All-Pro return man's once-promising career, and after such a long layoff and several devastating injuries, it's questionable if he has anything left in the tank.

Cohen may be here primarily to compete for the return man job, but he'll be given every opportunity to prove his worth as a running back as well. In his prime, the shifty speedster was an undersized jitterbug, contributing mostly as a receiver and taking hand-offs as the occasional change of pace back.

That has some value, and if he can still produce in that way he will be a nice complement to the other backs on the roster. That might be a long shot, but it sure is hard not to really root for the guy.

Lastly, we arrive at last year's fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda. Abanikanda failed to earn the coaching staff's trust despite a dire need last season that saw Michael Carter and Dalvin Cook both be released mid-season.

Ball security and pass protection issues plague the speedy Pitt product, and he was largely ineffective with his limited opportunities averaging just 3.2 yards per attempt on 22 carries.

The writing may be on the wall for Abanikanda as he's been working behind Cohen so far in the offseason program. He's also a better scheme fit for the Jets' former preference, wide zone as opposed to the current power running scheme.

The margin for this number one spot is razor thin, and an argument can be made that Miami's more proven depth should leapfrog the Jets. However, stars are what wins championships and no running back in the division is a bigger star than Breece Hall.

Combine that with the unproven, but intriguing depth provided by Allen and Davis, and the Jets edge out the Dolphins to take the AFC East running back crown.

It will be interesting to look back at this after the season and see if the promise of Allen and Davis lived up to the hype, and where all these teams stand once the games have actually been played.