Second-lowest DYAR and DVOA

Football Outsiders’ two running back metrics DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) and DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) – calculate a running back’s performance and value compared to the replacement level. DYAR represents the rushers’ total value, while DVOA represents his value per play. Bell ranked 43rd in both metrics, once again behind only Barber.

This means that Bell was one of the least-valuable running backs in the league both overall and on a play-by-play perspective, at least by analytics standards. Is this a truthful assessment of Bell as a player? Probably not. But it’s at least a solid representation of his usage in New York, and a potential reason to trade him away to lessen his burden on the salary cap.