James Robinson was one of the very few bright spots for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. An undrafted rookie out of Illinois State, Robinson was somewhat of a longshot to make the team, let alone see significant action during the season. But before the start of the season, Jacksonville waived 2017 fourth-overall pick Leonard Fournette, and now there was an opening at the position.
Robinson got the nod to start Week 1, and he never looked back. He finished tied for fifth in the NFL in yards with David Montgomery, totaling 1,070 on 240 carries to go with seven touchdowns.
The Jags finished tied with Tampa for the third-best rushing offense in football, and it did so with almost no help for Robinson. No one else finished even close to him on the Jacksonville roster, with Gardner Minshew coming in at second in rushing with just 153 yards.
Unsurprisingly, he had the highest carry percentage in the league by a running back last season, receiving 86% of the carries for the team.
Highest % of team's carries in 2020
1. James Robinson – 86%
2. Derrick Henry – 82%
3. David Montgomery – 74%
4. Dalvin Cook – 73% pic.twitter.com/iGhRBM0LtN— PFF (@PFF) March 4, 2021
Jacksonville asked Robinson to carry a heavy load as a rookie, and he stepped up to the plate. The likely addition of Trevor Lawrence should take a lot of pressure off him, and Robinson’s play should also alleviate the pressure off the rookie.
It may not be a bad idea for the Jags to try to add another depth option, as the next most productive running back was Dare Ogunbowale, who had a solid average but only managed 145 yards on his 32 attempts. With the staff understanding this, look for them to have interest in acquiring an RB2 this offseason.
Still, Robinson’s performance as an undrafted rookie can’t be understated, and he should provide an answer in the run game for the future.