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Josh Jacobs was the big name rookie running back in the NFL last season and he didn’t disappoint, as the Las Vegas Raiders star finished his rookie season with 1,150 rushing yards and was second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Jacobs did most of his damage early on, while a star was born in Philadelphia, as Miles Sanders came on after Jordan Howard’s injury and paired with Carson Wentz to help carry the Eagles offense into the playoffs.
Sanders is preparing for an MVP season and one former NFL running back believes the Eagles star will have a breakout campaign. Maurice Jones-Drew is an analyst for NFL.com and recently broke down three second-year running backs set for breakout seasons.
Sanders made the list, joined by the Bills Devin Singletary and the Bears David Montgomery.
Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles · RB
Year 1: 16 games | 179 att | 818 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 3 rush TDs | 50 rec | 509 rec yds | 3 rec TDsSanders played well behind an Eagles’ offensive line that was among the best in the league in run-blocking in 2019. With 38-year-old veteran Jason Peters swinging inside to take over for injured guard Brandon Brooks, the second-year running back will have to do more and create more lanes on his own. The Eagles have shuffled through running backs over the last five seasons, so the pressure is on Sanders to solidify himself as a mainstay in the backfield. If he doesn’t, the Eagles will have no issue moving on, like they’ve done in the past. That should be a big motivator for Sanders. I think he’ll rise to the challenge, even with the Eagles adding to the passing game this offseason in an effort to get Carson Wentz back to the MVP form he displayed in 2017 before his season-ending knee injury. That said, I predict Sanders will earn 1,500 scrimmage yards, including 1,000 rushing yards (which would make him Philly’s first 1,000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy in 2014) and 10 total TDs.
Sanders could be the running back that finally allows the Eagles to do away with their running back by committee approach. Sanders has the potential to be a top-10 running back in 2020 and if he can avoid nagging injuries, could push for 1,000+ yards rushing and receiving.
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