Every Wednesday from now until preseason I’ll be going through each position group in the NFC South. I’ll rank them from worst to first. Here is a list of the positions already covered:

Quarterbacks

Moving to the skill position that receives the next highest volume of touches, the NFC South sports a couple of running back rooms on the rise and one that is falling.

NFC South Running Backs

4. Tampa Bay Bucs

Rachaad White

Bucky Irving

Chase Edmonds

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

There is a lot to be hopeful about with the Bucs headed into 2024. Rachaad White had an improved sophomore season where he turned into one of the best receiving backs in the NFL. Adding to the room is fourth-round pick Bucky Irving, who was one of the best running backs in all of football at creating yards after contact and forcing missed tackles. Add in the re-signing of Chase Edmonds, who improved late last season, and a rosy picture can be painted about Tampa Bay’s running back room.

But the reality is that White, as a runner, has yet to show he’s an above average back for two years running (pun absolutely intended). Setting aside the issues with run blocking last year, he ranked 16th in missed tackles forced, 32nd in missed tackles forced rate and 30th in yards after contact per attempt. None of those ranking’s scream “quality back.”

For all of the potential Irving has as a tackle-breaker, he was a fourth-round pick for a reason. And there’s no guarantee he beats out Edmonds for the RB2 role in his rookie season. Edmonds had a couple of solid appearances early in 2023 before missing several games due to injury. It took him a while to regain his form after returning to action in week eight. But from week 14 through the playoffs, he averaged 3.9 yards per carry while carrying an average of 4.0 yards per carry or better in five of those seven games.

3. New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara

Jamaal Williams

Kendre Miller

Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

It’s easy to write off the Saints for having an aging and ineffective running back room. And while the first part of that statement may be true (both Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams will be 29 when the season opens), the second part may not be as true as you might think.

Kamara ran for 694 yards and five touchdowns last year while averaging 3.9 yards per carry after coming off a three-game suspension to begin the season. He added 75 catches for 466 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. While he may not be peak Kamara of 2017-2020, he is still an effective all-around back. The question with Kamara will be whether he can stave off age-related decline for another season.

Williams followed up a 2022 season where he led the NFL in touchdowns with an extremely disappointing 2023 where he averaged 2.9 yards per carry along with a very controversial touchdown in Week 18. The Saints receive no cap savings if they release the veteran running back, even after June 1 so they will most likely roll with him for one more year. But unless he has a huge improvement this year, he is not long for the team past 2024.

Miller registered 41 carries in his rookie season after the Saints took him in the third-round last year. He forced 10 missed tackles and averaged over three yards after contact per carry. The Saints would be wise to find him more touches in 2024.

2. Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard

Jonathan Brooks

Miles Sanders

Rashaad Penny

Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby and Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Some may be surprised to see the Panthers ranked in the top half of the division in any position group given how disappointing their 2023 campaign was. But the truth is Carolina has three starter-capable backs on their roster. And it’s anyone’s guess how the final depth chart may shake out.

Chuba Hubbard finished the 2023 season as Carolina’s top running back. He ran for 902 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.8 yards per carry. He added 39 catches for 288 yards as a sure-handed but non-explosive pass-catcher. Hubbard is a reliable, if unspectacular option who is probably best served as a part of a committee.

The Panthers made Brooks the first running back off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting him 46th overall. Coming off of a torn ACL, Carolina will likely ease him into the offense early in the season. But Brooks had a fantastic season for the Longhorns before succumbing to the injury. He ran for 1,135 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He forced 63 missed tackles and averaged over 11 yards per reception on 25 catches. Given the draft investment it is apparent the Panthers are looking at Brooks as the future of their running game.

The Panthers signed Miles Sanders to a sizable contract last year after running for 1,419 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Eagles in 2022. Carolina gave Sanders over $25 million ($13 million guaranteed). The investment did not pay off as Sanders averaged only 3.3 yards per carry while running for just 432 yards. He lost his starting job to Hubbard by Week 5.

Penny is a wild card, but he had some history with Dave Canales dating back to Seattle. He is not likely to make the team, but the NFL can’t quit him. Why? When healthy, few running backs average as many yards per carry. Health has been the kicker for Penny though as he has been unable to avoid injuries since entering the league in 2018. Last year Penny barely saw the field for Philadelphia gaining just 33 yards on 11 carries as a depth piece for the Eagles.

1. Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson

Tyler Allgeier

Avery Williams

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: USA Today

This should come as no surprise that the Falcons have the best running back room in the NFC South. It all starts with Bijan Robinson, whom Atlanta took with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft. Robinson was heralded as a generational talent and showed glimpses of that talent at times throughout his rookie season.

But Robinson was plagued by lack of use as former head coach Arthur Smith failed to get him at least 12 carries in eight games last year. Robinson finished the season with 969 yards rushing and 487 yards receiving eight combined touchdowns.

Behind Robinson is a talented running back who has popped every time he has been given a chance. After rushing for over a 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, the Falcons opted to bring Robinson in and kick Allgeier to the bench. He still put up almost 700 yards and four touchdowns as a backup. In a position group that experiences attrition at such a high rate, Allgeier gives the Falcons the best backup in the division.

Avery Williams has moved from fourth string to third string with the departure of Cordarelle Patterson. He has less than 25 career carries, all in 2022. Yet he averaged 5.0 yards per carry.