RADIO
The 2022 NFL season was filled with drama, intrigue, excitement, busts, and breakouts. From a fantasy perspective, we will concentrate on which players didn't perform up to expectations, and which went above and beyond preseason predictions.
The running back position had numerous players who both failed and achieved success, with some ending up exactly where expected.
Today, let's take a look at who broke out this past season and who will thrive as a result in 2023.
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Biggest Running Back Breakouts in 2022
The one position with perhaps the most attrition of any in fantasy football is running back. Fresh legs are imperative if one wants to produce, be successful, and sustain longevity. Younger players tend to perform better, and long careers aren't commonplace for those that carry the rock. The goal in fantasy is to find players that have the most upside, durability, skill, and potential to lead your team to a championship.
In this column, I'll give you my three top RB breakouts of 2022 based not only on their statistics but also on the likelihood they continue that success this upcoming season.
#1. Kenneth Walker III
Stats: 1,050 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, 165 receiving yards, and 202.5 fantasy points.
Despite not becoming the true starting back for the Seahawks until Week 6, Kenneth Walker III showed that in his first season in the NFL, he is a star in the making.
The Seattle Seahawks haven't had a consistent and productive running back stay healthy for a full season and lead the offensive backfield since the days of Marshawn Lynch. Due mostly to injuries the past few seasons, the team has struggled mightily to find stability at the position. That may have changed in 2022, as the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft took the fantasy world by storm.
With his unique ability to break tackles and his creative and bruising approach to downfield running, number nine appears to be the real deal. The rookie out of Michigan State University remained healthy all year, something that the team hasn't seen from a running back since the days of Lynch, as aforementioned. He was so good in fact, that he was nominated for the 2022 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was just narrowly edged out for the award by New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Walker has what all fantasy managers look for when drafting stud running backs: sustainability. After becoming the full-time starter, he handled the overwhelming majority of carries, and every time you looked up at the box score, he was either rushing for over 100 yards or scoring touchdowns. With plenty of room to grow, a potent offense around him, young and fresh legs, and plenty of opportunity, the 22-year-old has all the makings of a fantasy football superstar.
#2. Rhamondre Stevenson
Stats: 1,040 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 88 targets, 69 receptions, 421 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown.
This one was surprising. Rhamondre Stevenson, the second-year pro out of Oklahoma, wasn't supposed to be this good. In his first year in the NFL, 2021, he split carries with Damien Harris, and was considered a "nice piece". This past season he was so successful that he not only took over as the starting RB, but he was also the best overall offensive weapon for the New England Patriots.
What made Stevenson so successful from a fantasy perspective was his ability to not only produce on the ground but also threw the air. His 88 targets were third-most among all fantasy running backs, trailing only the likes of Austin Ekeler and Christian McCaffrey. Not bad company to keep.
Coach Bill Belichick clearly made the 25-year-old the focal point of his offense, leaned heavily on him week in and week out, and showed the utmost confidence in his young tailback. Stevenson flashed glimpses as a rookie in 2021, but it was his sophomore campaign where he broke out, becoming the first Patriot to reach 1,000 yards since LeGarrette Blount in 2016.
He finished as the RB9 in total points and led the team in receptions with 69. There is no question he will be a top 2o overall pick in fantasy drafts in 2023, and with Harris a pending free agent, his stock could only go up.
#3. Breece Hall
Stats: 463 yards, four rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 31 targets, 218 receiving yards, and one rushing touchdown.
It wasn't the rookie season Breece Hall and the New York Jets had hoped for when it ended prematurely after seven games due to a torn ACL, but he still finished the season as the RB7 in points per game. Perhaps more importantly, before getting hurt, the 36th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft showed glimpses of superstardom.
There was a reason the Jets made him the first RB selected in the draft. He has the ability to become a fantasy monster if he is able to stay on the field. His combination of speed and skill makes him a legit weapon out of the backfield. It is way too early to consider Hall injury prone, but with such attrition at the position, he must prove he can maintain his body well enough to lead the team's offense for years to come.
In 2023 he will need to answer questions about his recovery, and when he will be able to return. And when he does return to the field, doubters will wonder if he will still have the same ability to perform at an elite level. Through almost seven full games in his inaugural NFL campaign, Hall averaged an incredible 5.8 rushing yards per attempt, while accumulating 681 total yards and five touchdowns. If healthy, the 21-year-old out of Iowa State has the potential to be a top 5 fantasy running back in 2023.
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