Miles Sanders: The Every-Down Back Version

Jeff Bell's Miles Sanders: The Every-Down Back Version Jeff Bell Published 07/27/2023

See dozens of Player Spotlights here >>>

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times...

Miles Sanders recently concluded the best season of his career. He scored 11 touchdowns, more than doubling his previous career total of nine. His 1,269 yards were a career-high, exceeding his previous best by over 400 yards and ranking him fifth in the NFL. This total was the tenth-highest in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, and he now ranks eighth in franchise rushing yards.

Conversely, Sanders also experienced the worst season of his career. As a receiver, he posted career lows across the board, with 26 targets, 20 receptions, and 78 receiving yards. In points per reception formats, Sanders added just 1.74 points via the passing game. Among backs who finished in the top 30 in fantasy points, only Jamaal Williams contributed less to their fantasy total. In contrast, Austin Ekeler added over 12 points per game to his total through the passing game.

However, this was not always the case.

In his rookie season, Sanders recorded 50 receptions for 509 yards and three touchdowns. In the history of the NFL, only 11 rookie running backs have achieved at least 50 receptions, 500 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the growth in the passing game, especially the short, controlled passing game, and the willingness of NFL teams to involve rookies immediately, only five of these seasons have occurred in the last 20 years, and none since Sanders in 2019.

Table: Rookie Running Backs with at least 50 receptions, 500 receiving yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns

Rank NAME POS YR AGE EXP G REC RECYD YD/REC RECTD FANT PT
1 Mike Alstott rb 1996 23 1 16 65 557 8.57 3 129.4
2 Saquon Barkley rb 2018 21 1 16 91 721 7.92 4 292.8
3 Giovani Bernard rb 2013 22 1 16 56 514 9.18 3 168.9
4 Earl Cooper rb 1980 23 1 16 83 567 6.83 4 182.7
5 Abner Haynes rb 1960 23 1 14 55 576 10.47 3 217.1
6 Edgerrin James rb 1999 21 1 16 62 586 9.45 4 315.9
7 Alvin Kamara rb 2017 22 1 16 82 826 10.07 5 233.4
8 Terry Kirby rb 1993 23 1 16 75 874 11.65 3 162.4
9 Christian McCaffrey rb 2017 21 1 16 80 651 8.14 5 150.6
10 Miles Sanders rb 2019 22 1 16 50 509 10.18 3 168.7
11 Billy Sims rb 1980 25 1 16 51 621 12.18 3 288.4

Sanders presents a duality. He has demonstrated explosive ability, yet certain aspects of his game have left fantasy players unsatisfied. After all, his 11 touchdowns came on the heels of a season in which he failed to score.

Sanders's enigma persists as he embarks on a new chapter of his career with the Carolina Panthers. While the offense is wide open, devoid of any consistent playmakers, and Carolina prioritized Sanders in free agency, he is also leaving one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Can he thrive in this new offensive structure? How does he fit within the scheme?

Frank Reich's Record with Running Backs

Throughout his tenure as an offensive coordinator and head coach, new Panthers coach Frank Reich has typically favored a specialized, two-headed committee approach. However, it's reasonable to question how much of this usage was strategic planning versus simply utilizing the players at his disposal.

Reich inherited situations where players like Danny Woodhead and Darren Sproles, known as some of the NFL's best pass-catching specialists over the past decade, were already on the roster. Reich was the offensive coordinator when the Chargers selected Melvin Gordon in the first round of the 2015 draft and the head coach when Jonathan Taylor was picked 41st by the Colts. In both instances, the team began to shift away from committee usage immediately.

Year Team RB1 Rushes Targets RB2 Rushes Targets
2015 Chargers Melvin Gordon 184 37 Danny Woodhead 98 106
2016 Eagles Ryan Matthews 155 14 Darren Sproles 94 71
2017 Eagles LeGarrette Blount 173 8 Corey Clement 74 15
2018 Colts Marlon Mack 195 26 Nyheim Hines 85 81
2019 Colts Marlon Mack 247 17 Nyheim Hines 52 58
2020 Colts Jonathan Taylor 232 39 Nyheim Hines 89 76
2021 Colts Jonathan Taylor 332 51 Nyheim Hines 56 57

"Miles is a three-down back, and he can do a little bit of everything," coach Frank Reich said. "That signing was a really big signing for us. I knew we knew it at the time, but now we really know."

Sanders is excited about reuniting with running backs coach Duce Staley, his position coach as a rookie: "Most importantly, he knows what I'm about, and he's the one that drafted me. We're going to get back to what we've been doing."

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a PRO subscription.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
Share This Article

More by Jeff Bell

 

AMA Recap: Bell Cow Backs, Veterans, and Young Receiver Values

Jeff Bell

Footballguys Dynasty Captain Jeff Bell answered questions about bell cow running backs, how to package veterans for trades, and young wide receiver values.

06/21/25 Read More
 

A Best Ball Draft Strategy Based on NFL Fantasy Playoff Matchups

Jeff Bell

Jeff Bell creates a road map to generate a correlated fantasy playoff roster.

05/16/25 Read More
 

2025 NFL Schedule Release: Revenge Games

Jeff Bell

Following the NFL schedule release, Jeff Bell breaks down 2025 revenge games, when players may be playing for a bit extra.

05/15/25 Read More
 

Jeff Bell NFL Mock Draft Rounds 2 and 3

Jeff Bell

Jeff Bell breaks down a Day 2 mock draft, looking at players who can go in the second and third rounds.

04/25/25 Read More
 

Jeff Bell 2025 NFL Mock Draft - FINAL

Jeff Bell

Jeff Bell releases his final 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

04/24/25 Read More
 

NFL Draft Top 100 - Jeff Bell Final

Jeff Bell

Jeff Bell gives his top 100 players in the 2025 NFL draft.

04/22/25 Read More