As advanced metrics become more innovative, the more difficult they are to track. Yards created being a prime example. But just because it is a difficult metric to track doesn’t mean we should stick to less significant stats. Yards after contact, for example, the closest living relative to yards created, is a common default in this area of analysis. The issue with yards after contact is that it can minimize the impact of smaller, more agile backs. Truck-sticking defenders all the way down the field is impressive, but isn’t the juke move to go untouched just as significant?
There are several ways a running back can gain “extra” yardage, so it’s only logical that we use several different metrics to measure a running back’s ability to create extra yards. There are different versions of yards created being tracked, and for this article, I’ll use SumerSports, which defines their metric as, “adjusting yards per carry based on situation and defensive pre-snap look.” Additionally, I will also utilize PFF’s elusiveness rating, which considers missed tackles forced and yards after contact per attempt. With all of this, we will zoom in on yards after contact to paint a full picture.
Here’s the full article on The Best & Worst Running Backs at Creating Yards. Let’s dive into a few notable names below.
Creating Yards in 2023 (Fantasy Football)
Bottom 10 RBs at Creating Yards
| Bottom 10 RBs in Yards Created per SumerSports | |
| Name | Yards Created |
| Miles Sanders | -0.83 |
| Javonte Williams | -0.98 |
| Rachaad White | -0.99 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | -1 |
| Elijah Mitchell | -1.01 |
| Dameon Pierce | -1.03 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | -1.04 |
| Jamaal Williams | -1.16 |
| Dalvin Cook | -1.19 |
| Cam Akers | -1.35 |
| Bottom 10 RBs in Elusiveness Rating per PFF | |
| Name | Elusiveness Rating |
| Gus Edwards | 32.3 |
| Josh Jacobs | 32.2 |
| Chase Edmonds | 32.1 |
| Matt Breida | 30.6 |
| Joshua Kelley | 27.3 |
| Jamaal Williams | 23.6 |
| Jeff Wilson Jr. | 21.3 |
| Latavius Murray | 21 |
| Darrell Henderson | 11.4 |
| Kareem Hunt | 10.1 |
| Bottom RBs in Yards After Contact per Attempt | ||||
| Name | Attempts | Yards | YAC | YAC per Attempt |
| Josh Jacobs | 233 | 805 | 547 | 2.35 |
| Cam Akers | 60 | 167 | 141 | 2.35 |
| Tank Bigsby | 50 | 132 | 117 | 2.34 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 70 | 223 | 161 | 2.3 |
| Dameon Pierce | 145 | 416 | 329 | 2.27 |
| Jamaal Williams | 106 | 306 | 239 | 2.25 |
| Latavius Murray | 79 | 300 | 177 | 2.24 |
| Dalvin Cook | 67 | 214 | 148 | 2.21 |
| Matt Breida | 55 | 151 | 121 | 2.2 |
| Kareem Hunt | 135 | 411 | 293 | 2.17 |
Jamaal Williams became a touchdown machine in Detroit, punching the ball across the goal line 17 times in 2022. In New Orleans, he only found the endzone once and it took a classic Jameis Winston moment in the season’s finale to get there. He ran for just 306 yards in 13 games and finished with the third-lowest yards created per attempt with -1.16. He also had the fifth-lowest elusiveness rating at 23.6, and the fifth-worst yards after contact per attempt with 2.25. Williams dipped from the RB8 in half-PPR scoring in 2022 to the RB61 in 2023, and it’s unlikely he ever sniffs RB1 status again.
Latavius Murray has kept air in the tires for quite some time, but they may now be deflating for the final time. Murray struggled enough that the Bills took a shot on Leonard Fournette late in the season, and Murray finished with the third-worst elusiveness rating at 21 and the fourth-fewest yards after contact per attempt with 2.24. In all fairness to Murray, he’s a physical, upright runner who has never been known for elusiveness and many of carries came in short yardage situations, making it tough to create extra yardage. Those are the reasons we don’t see him at the bottom of the yards created metric, but his effectiveness looks to be dwindling, nonetheless.
Another aging veteran past his prime, Dalvin Cook finished second from the bottom in yards created and third-worst in yards after contact, with -1.19 and 2.21 respectively. His career is trending in the Melvin Gordon direction.
Kareem Hunt’s last stint with the Cleveland Browns was quite effective while playing alongside Nick Chubb. However, this go-round, when he was signed to help replace an injured Chubb, Hunt was arguably the least efficient running back in the league, despite falling into the endzone nine times. Of course, doing so doesn’t always allow for many yards after contact, but Hunt also finished last in that category with 2.17 yards per attempt and last in elusiveness rating with 10.1. He is nearing the age of 29, and it’s difficult to see Hunt being a factor next season and beyond.
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