RADIO
Anthony McFarland Jr.: A Flash of Lightning Buried on the Depth Chart
4 years agoBy all accounts, the Pittsburgh Steelers fielded the NFL's worst rushing attack in 2020. Marks of 3.6 average yards per carry, 1,351 rushing yards, and 84.4 rushing yards per game left the Steelers, who once fielded heralded backs such as Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, and "fast" Willie Parker, with the worst rushing offense in the league. McFarland failed to separate himself from the uninspiring pack of James Conner and Benny Snell Jr. last season and gets more challenging competition for carries in the form of 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris. Harris, who starred at Alabama, is widely expected to take the lion's share of the rushing opportunities while also playing a three-down back role with the ability to catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger. This leaves McFarland on the outside, likely to compete with Snell for the primary backup role. McFarland's 5-foot-8 frame and game-breaking foot-speed as evidenced by his impressive tape as a Maryland Terrapin does provide a glimmer of hope, but for now, he should be viewed as no more than an insurance policy to teams that roster Harris.
Source: Anthony McFarland practice tape
Source: Anthony McFarland practice tape
