Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Will Rachaad White Be Bucs’ RB1 In 2024?

The way things are going heading into the close of the 2023 season, the Bucs will enter the 2024 offseason with plenty of personnel needs. Whether or not the Bucs will re-sign Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans could push quarterback and wide receiver to the top of the needs list.

Finding another safety, a starting inside linebacker, a starting-caliber pass rusher, possibly to replace Shaq Barrett, a starting safety and perhaps a cornerback are among the Bucs’ other needs, followed by an upgrade at tight end.

But what about running back? Does Tampa Bay simply need to bolster the depth behind Rachaad White or find another starting-caliber running back to supplant White atop the depth chart in 2024?

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have five more weeks to make that determination, but White has been helping his cause down the stretch with some more determined runs as well as some breakaway dashes in recent weeks. Gone is the hesitancy White had at the beginning of the season.

After rushing for 50 yards or more just twice in the first seven games of the season, there were some serious concerns if White ran with enough sense of urgency. One thing that helped White’s game – and the Bucs offense – was offensive coordinator Dave Canales using the talented running back as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Starting with the Falcons game in Week 7, White had six catches for 65 yards, followed by a career game with seven receptions for 70 yards at Buffalo. White totaled 99 yards against Atlanta and had 109 total yards versus Buffalo. With 73 yards on the ground and 46 yards through the air at Houston, White had a combined 119 yards to go along with two touchdowns.

The next week in a 20-6 win against Tennessee, White had 51 yards on the ground and three catches for 47 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown on a screen pass. White and the Bucs offense struggled at San Francisco, as he totaled 58 yards and a touchdown. But White bounced back with a 100-yard rushing effort – his first of the season – along with 10 yards receiving at Indianapolis.

“You know, just a tough moment,” White said of his second career 100-yard game. “My other 100-yard game was better [versus Seattle in 2022] because we won. But it was just a good confidence [booster] for me and the O-line just going forward. I think our run game has been getting better week to week and we just put a lot of work in. You see the passion that guys block with and me just running the ball for them.”

White had a career-long 38-yard run against the Colts, and then had a 30-yard run to help ice the win over the Panthers late in the fourth quarter. Can White and the Bucs make it three weeks in a row with a big gain on the ground?

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Considering the fact that Tampa Bay ran the ball for 73 yards against Atlanta in Week 7, with 31 of those yards came on a late scramble by quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Bucs need to continue the momentum they’ve built in the run game this Sunday in Atlanta if they want to have a chance of beating the Falcons and reclaiming the lead in the NFC South.

“What can we carry over, and then what can we build off of what we did the first time,” offensive coordinator Dave Canales said. “I thought [the Falcons defense] played a fantastic game against us. You know we had a couple of big runs come away from us because of the holding calls that Rachaad had.”

With Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett now on injured reserve and the Falcons’ other starting defensive tackle David Onyemata questionable to play with an ankle sprain, the Bucs’ ground game should have more success this time around.

For White, if he can piece together another 100-yard-plus day with combined yardage on the ground and through the air, and add a touchdown or two versus the Falcons, it will not only help the Bucs’ chances of winning in Atlanta, but continue to foster belief within the organization that he can remain the starting running back next year, too.

FAB 2. Rachaad White’s Game Is More Similar To Alvin Kamara’s

When the Bucs drafted Rachaad White in the third round in 2022, there were comparisons made to Eric Dickerson due to White’s upright running style, in addition to Le’Veon Bell because of his patience at the line of scrimmage, waiting for holes to open. But to this point, White has not shown that he is in their class.

Dickerson ran for 1,808 yards as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams and had 2,105 yards in his second season. Of his eight career 1,000-yard seasons, three were for 1,800 yards or more.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bell was a dual threatwho had excellent hands in the passing game. But he was also an accomplished running threat with three seasons with over 1,200 yards rushing, including a career-best 1,361 yards on the ground in his second year at Pittsburgh. He also added a career-high 854 yards that year in 2014.

Is White capable of having a 2,000-yard season in terms of combined yardage? Well he’s already over 1,000 yards of total offense this year with 643 yards on the ground and 386 yards through the air.

So instead of being more like Dickerson or Bell, a more realistic comp is actually that of Saints running back Alvin Kamara.

Kamara has never had a 1,000-yard rushing season in seven seasons in New Orleans, yet he’s been a five-time Pro Bowler because he’s a true dual threat as a runner and a receiver. He came close in 2020, rushing for 932 yards, and he’s also had three other seasons where he’s rushed for over 800 yards and a pair of seasons where he’s topped 700 yards on the ground.

Yet Kamara has never had a season in which he’s totaled less than 1,300 yards. What has made Kamara a special running back over the years is his production in the passing game.

He actually had more yardage through the air (826) than on the ground (728) as a rookie in 2017. And he’s had three seasons in which he’s had over 700 yards receiving. Kamara has had no fewer than 439 receiving yards in any NFL season, and has 413 yards through the air in nine games so far in 2023.

White has long admired Kamara’s game.

“I watch a lot of guys and I like a lot of guy’s games,” Kamara said. “Now in today’s NFL, a lot of guys do everything, and the term bellcow is whatever they say – one way or [another]. There are a lot of guys that still protect, catch the ball very well, run very good routes and run the ball very efficiently.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucs NCB Christian Izien – Photo by: USA Today

“Alvin Kamara is one of them guys I like to watch. I mean, when I watch him – it’s just different when you watch yourself and you just try to be you. [He’s in a] solid system and got a lot of good guys up front.”

After hauling in 50 catches for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his rookie season, White has 46 receptions for 386 yards and a TD this year. He’s on pace to finish with 546 receiving yards this season, which would fall short of James Wilder’s 685 receiving yards in 1984, the most by a Bucs running back in team history. Mike Alstott is the only Tampa Bay running back with over 500 yards receiving in a season with 557 yards in 1996 as a rookie.

What’s noticeable is that White’s yards per catch average has gone from 5.8 yards per reception as a rookie to 8.4 yards per catch in 2023. That’s on par with Kamara’s career 8.5-yard receiving average.

In his two seasons at Tennessee in 2015-16, Kamara averaged 9.2 yards per reception on 74 catches for 683 yards with seven touchdowns. White didn’t find the end zone nearly as much as a receiver at Arizona State with just two TDs. But he did catch 51 passes for 607 yards and an impressive 11.9-yard average.

White may not be the kind of back capable of rushing for 100 yards per game on a weekly basis, but combining his rushing and receiving yards, he is capable of having 100-yard days and finishing with 1,300-1,500-yard seasons in terms of total offense – similar to Kamara.

FAB 3. Rachaad White Is Chasing His First 1,000-Yard Season

While Bucs running back Rachaad White has already topped 1,000 yards of total offense this season, he still has a chance to have his first 1,000-yard rushing season. That’s the goal of every running back – whether it’s in college or the NFL.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With 643 yards rushing, he needs just 357 yards over the next five games to hit 1,000 yards. He’s on pace to finish with 910 yards rushing if he continues at his season average.

White needs to average 71.4 yards per game on the ground over the next five weeks to hit 1,000 yards. So far this season, he’s averaging 53.6 yards, but over the last two weeks, White is averaging 92 yards per game and has some momentum.

“A lot of guys’ goal is to be a 1,000-yard rusher,” White said. “I still look at it right now and I’m still on the cusp. I truly believe in my big guys up front. And five more games like the [the Colts and Panthers games] and I’m going to get that 1,000 yards rushing.”

But even if he falls short of his 1,000-yard goal, the team-oriented White knows that his total yardage is what really matters to the Bucs.

“It’s all about, as a running back, we all just try to do the best we all can do to help the team,” White said. “Some days are running days, some days are passing days. If you’re a good guy who can run routes and catch the ball out of the backfield and things like that and make plays happen out in space then I’m pretty sure – yards are yards.

“Scrimmage yards are a huge deal today in the NFL. There are a lot of things that are a huge deal. I mean, for fantasy, catching the ball is huge, and things like that for people and in general. You just see how big and how huge it is. I would say yards are yards, scrimmage yards and all that, it all makes sense.”

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Still, White would love to hit 1,000 yards rushing this season and wind up well over 500 yards receiving to finish his first season as Tampa Bay’s starting back.

“You’re proud of yourself, but you’re not really that upset because if I don’t get 1,000, but I get 800-900 rushing yards and 500-600 receiving yards, you still got 1,500 all-purpose yards or so,” White said. “Then add in whatever touchdowns you would finish with, so it still adds up. But obviously, if you had 1,000 [rushing] and then 600 [receiving] you’ll have 1,600 so it’s just huge. Yards are yards man, any production at the running back level nowadays has a huge impact on the team.”

Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is proud of White’s progress as a runner this season.

“He has continually improved,” Canales said. “It’s obviously a new system for him. Some of the run schemes are similar to what he has done in the past, but like I said with the run game improvement, a lot of that is on the O-line. But also him with his eyes where he’s looking at how to read these blocks. Obviously, he is a special athlete when he’s got the ball in space. We know that, but just his improvement in setting blocks up has been a huge difference.”

FAB 4. 2024 Draft Has Less Than Steller RB Draft Class

Regardless of whether or not the Bucs believe Rachaad White can be the team’s feature back in 2024, the team is expected to draft another running back next season. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht has not had much luck in signing free agent running backs when signing them to lucrative deals, dating back to Doug Martin’s contract extension in 2016, and continuing with Leonard Fournette’s multi-year extension in 2022. I don’t think he’s going to look to sign any running backs in free agency as a result.

Michigan RB Blake Corum – Photo by: USA Today

The problem with this year’s draft class is that it is not good in terms of quality, although there is decent quantity. Maybe a dozen running backs get drafted this year, but as I was chatting with my good friend and Pewter Report alum Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus, he said this year’s draft class reminds him of 2014. That year, Bishop Sankey was the first running back selected with the 54th overall pick.

The running back class of 2014 was pretty bad. You can click on this link and have a look for yourself.

There is certainly not a first-round talent in this year’s running back class. There’s no Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey, and certainly no Bijan Robinson nor Jahmyr Gibbs, both of whom were first-round picks last year.

Last year, there were 16 RBs drafted last year and seven of them were selected by the end of Day 2. This year, maybe four or five get drafted on Day 2 with the rest getting selected on Day 3.

Texas’ Jonathon Brooks was the leading contender to be the first back selected, but suffered a torn ACL late in the year. Other names to get to know are Michigan’s Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, Florida State’s Troy Benson, Notre Dame’s Audric Estime, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, Kentucky’s Ray Davis, Memphis’ Blake Watson and New Hampshire’s Dylan Laube, who compares favorably to Austin Ekeler and will be at the Senior Bowl.

Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: USA Today

Not only has Licht struggled to find a quality running back in free agency with Fournette (the 2021 season) being the best one, he’s had an even harder time drafting one. Charles Sims, a third-round pick in 2014 was nothing more than a third-down back. Ronald Jones II had one good season in 2020, but never lived up to his second-round draft billing.

Jeremy McNichols, a fifth-round pick in 2017, didn’t even make the 53-man roster after his rookie preseason. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, a third-rounder in 2021, has done nothing notable in his time in Tampa Bay and won’t be re-signed. He’s just not an NFL-caliber back.

So far, White has clearly been Licht’s best drafted running back, but we aren’t really sure how high his ceiling is yet. Usually, greatness shows up early at the running back position. Maybe White has some greatness in him that we haven’t quite seen yet. Maybe he’s a late bloomer.

Or maybe White is more like former Bucs running backs Reggie Cobb and Errict Rhett than he is Warrick Dunn, Mike Alstott or James Wilder. Either way, Tampa Bay will draft another running for depth and competition, and let’s hope Licht chooses wisely.

FAB 5. Day 3 Sleeper Running Backs I Like

Let’s finish out this running back-focused SR’s Fab 5 with a couple of sleeper running backs I like. Considering that the Bucs won’t re-sign Ke’Shawn Vaughn and likely won’t bring Chase Edmonds back, Tampa Bay will only have two backs on the roster in 2024 – Rachaad White and undrafted free agent Sean Tucker, who just can’t get on the field, allegedly due to pass protection issues.

With more pressing needs at other positions, the Bucs will likely wait until Day 3 to draft a running back. So here are a few Day 3 sleepers I like.

Monmouth RB Jaden Shirden

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Shirden is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which is the equivalent of the FCS Heisman Trophy. After a breakout sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging a gaudy 8.4 yards per carry, Shirden has been more of a marked man as a junior. Still, he’s rushed for 1,478 yards and 10 TDs with a 6.7-yard average. And he’s been more involved in the passing game with 20 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in 2023.

There may not be a more explosive home run-hitter in college football with 13 runs of over 50 yards in his career, including eight over 70 yards. Shirden has good vision and breakaway speed, but there won’t be nearly as many clean alleyways for him to run through in the NFL compared to Monmouth. Is he elusive enough in tight quarters and can he slip and break enough tackles at the next level? Those are questions scouts must answer prior to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it is. Gore’s father is the legendary NFL runner and future Pro Football Hall of Famer. At 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, Gore didn’t get many offers from bigger schools, and he lacks his father’s size, as the elder Gore was 5-foot-9, 212 pounds. Yet he does have some of his dad’s running instincts, contact balance and quick burst.

Gore has rushed for 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns in four years with the Eagles, while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He ran for 1,382 yards and nine TDs with a 6.1-yard average in 2022, and posted 1,131 yards with 10 scores and a 4.9-yard average this season. Gore is a quality receiver out of the backfield with 75 catches for 692 yards (9.2 avg.) and four TDs in his career.

Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks

The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Brooks is a load to bring down. He’s a violent runner with excellent tackle-breaking ability and enough wiggle for a big man. Brooks has been a goal line threat for much of his Texas Tech career, evidenced by 27 touchdowns, but wasn’t the lead back until 2023. After a 691-yard, seven-touchdown season in 2022, Brooks had 268 carries for 1,443 yards and nine TDs along with a 5.4-yard average.

Brooks is not the fleetest of foot and doesn’t do much after the catch, but he does have good hands. He has hauled in 70 catches for 349 yards (5.0 avg.) and a touchdown in his Red Raiders career.

Troy RB Kimani Vidal

At 5-foot-8, 215 pounds, Vidal is a thick, muscular back with decent speed and exceptional tackle-breaking ability. He’s had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, rushing for 1,132 yards and 10 touchdowns with a 4.9 average in 2022, followed by 1,582 yards on the ground and 14 scores and a 5.7-yard average this season.

Vidal is fresh off a 233-yard, five-touchdown performance in a win over Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Championship Game, but he’s not just a good runner. He’s also been a factor in the passing game for four seasons, catching 91 passes for 697 yards (7.7 avg.) and one touchdown.

Which one of these running backs do you like? Who would be a great fit in Tampa Bay? Let me know below in the article comments.