The NFL running back dominoes have now fallen — and as a result, the AFC East has a brand new look. After a long offseason of speculation, Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott now have new homes — and both in the same division.
Which team now has the best collection of backs? And what does that mean for the AFC East going forward? We explore with our new AFC East running back rankings.
AFC East Running Back Rankings
New York Jets
Projected Week 1 depth chart:
- Dalvin Cook
- Breece Hall
- Michael Carter III
- Israel Abanikanda
Analysis:
The Jets don’t just have the best collection of running backs in their division. They might have the best collection of running backs in the entire league.
Assuming Hall makes anything close to full recovery from a torn ACL — and it should be said that he has not practiced since suffering the knee injury 10 months ago — this will be as potent of a 1-2 punch as we’ve seen in some time.
Just one day after the Jets signed Cook, in fact, Hall has been taken off the PUP list, according to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt. He’ll remain limited in practice for the time being as he returns.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 14, 2023
Hall — who gained 463 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries as a rookie — ranks 12th in PFN’s latest running back rankings. Cook, who agreed to a one-year deal with New York worth upwards of $8.6 million, ranks 17th.
Cook just turned 28, which isn’t a great age for running backs. But he also just came off a nearly 1,200-yard season in which he scored eight rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Between that talent infusion and Aaron Rodgers stretching a defense in a way that last year’s Jets QBs could not, New York should have enough firepower to make up for what to this point has been an underwhelming offensive line.
New England Patriots
Projected Week 1 depth chart:
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Ezekiel Elliott
- Pierre Strong Jr.
- Kevin Harris
Analysis:
The Patriots swapped out Damien Harris for Elliott, whom PFN ranks the No. 32 running back. Was it a net plus?
It depends on how much Elliott has left in the tank at age 28. The Dallas Cowboys apparently don’t believe he’s the same guy that averaged over 1,350 yards in his first four seasons. But that doesn’t mean he still isn’t a more-than-capable No. 2.
1️⃣5️⃣
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) August 14, 2023
And the Pats already have a true featured back in Stevenson (ninth in PFN’s RB rankings). The former fourth-round pick averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his first two NFL seasons.
Miami Dolphins
Projected Week 1 depth chart:
- Raheem Mostert
- Jeff Wilson Jr.
- Salvon Ahmed
- De’Von Achane
Analysis:
The Dolphins were in on Cook, but not as big as many fans might have believed. The Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins “never made Jets-bound Dalvin Cook an offer that was seriously considered. Ultimately, they would have taken him at bargain basement number but never felt they really needed him. Nor did Jets interest worry them one iota.”
Translation: They like their group — led by Mostert (4.9 yards per attempt in 2022) and Wilson (4.7) — and saw adding Cook as a luxury, not a need, particularly after selecting Achane in the third round of the 2022 draft.
Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier have assembled a true “by-committee” backfield that could go five deep if they keep Myles Gaskin. The team’s philosophy is that running backs are largely interchangeable, and that paying top dollar for one is a mistake.
Are they right?
We’ll soon find out.
Buffalo Bills
Projected Week 1 depth chart:
- James Cook
- Damien Harris
- Latavius Murray
- Reggie Gilliam
Analysis:
The Bills’ depth took a body blow when Nyheim Hines suffered a season-ending knee injury in a jet ski accident during the offseason. That left them with a diminished but not depleted group of backs, led by Cook, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, albeit in just 89 attempts
That means an enhanced role for Harris, who is still just 26 years old and had a 15-touchdown season in 2021.
The Bills’ top two backs are more than serviceable, but they come in fourth out of four due to their depth. Murray had had an excellent career, but he’s 33 years old, and Father Time is undefeated.