Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the top utilization stats you need to know from Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season.
Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season before you make any waiver-wire claims this week.
Dillon’s yards per carry, rushing yards per game and yards per touch have all dropped during the 2022 season.
Six carries for 13 yards. That was AJ Dillon’s stat line in Green Bay’s latest loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Packers were hoping to see a jump from Dillon in Year 3, but instead, the 2022 season has been an utter disappointment for the former second-round pick.
During his first two years, Dillon had some good moments. No one will forget his two-touchdown, 124-yard performance against Tennessee as a rookie in snowy conditions at Lambeau Field, but the flashes of a dominant back built for the cold haven’t fulfilled his 62nd overall selection.
This season, Dillon’s bruising running style looks benign, if not clumsy, on his way to averaging a new career low of 4.0 yards per carry. According to Pro Football Focus, Dillon ranks 17th with 2.93 yards after contact among running backs with at least 100 rushing attempts. Plus, any wiggle he had in previous years has been absent in Dillon’s fall to 29th in PFF’s elusive rating, which measures the success and impact of a runner with the ball independent of his blocking.
And yes, Green Bay’s offensive line play hasn’t been great. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued their unit all season, but the same can be said for last year when Dillon was more effective. In 2021, behind an offensive line missing two premier blockers in David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins for most of the season and with multiple rookies starting, Dillon averaged 3.18 yards after contact and forced more missed tackles. Meanwhile, his elusive rating was nearly 25 points higher.
While Dillon has struggled to stay on his feet, one of his goals was to become a more complete back as a pass catcher. However, that hasn’t come to fruition either. After being praised during the offseason for his strides in the passing game, Dillon’s four drops trail only two other running backs. Also, his 6.4 average yards per catch is 30th among running backs with at least 20 targets.
Adding salt to the wound, this was a season where the Packers needed their best players to step up more than ever. Aaron Rodgers included Dillon when he stated in training camp that the offense would need to have its 11 best players on the field. Even though Dillon has played a higher percentage of snaps than his previous two seasons, his production has regressed.
Looking back, it’s easy to question Green Bay’s selection of Dillon when it was somewhat confusing to begin with. Not only did they already have two stable running backs at the time, but few scouts deemed Dillon worthy of a second-rounder. Perhaps they were right about the limitations of a player whose tread may have already been wearing thin after maxing out at 845 carries in three seasons at Boston College.
Nevertheless, there is still time for Dillon to turn things around. He has six games and another season to improve his play and determine what his next contract will be worth when he eventually becomes a free agent in 2023. Unfortunately, through the first 11 weeks of this season, he has been yet another disappointment for a disappointing Packers team.
From Justin Fields’ awareness to Kyler Gordon’s rough evening, here are our takeaways from the Bears’ loss to the Packers.
The Chicago Bears played the Green Bay Packers in a primetime game at Lambeau Field and got their doors blown off. It’s become a tradition at this point, no matter who’s coaching the Bears. It was Matt Eberflus’ maiden voyage into Green Bay as the Bears head coach and unlike most of his recent predecessors, he was unable to have success his first time up there.
The Bears took an early lead thanks to a punishing ground game, but soon fell behind quickly thanks the Packers own running game giving the defense fits. Green Bay relied on their two-headed running back monster of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon and they carried the team to a 27-10 win. The Bears and Packers both settle at 1-1 two weeks into the season and the Bears will go back to Halas Hall to figure out how they can improve heading into their matchup against the Houston Texans next weekend.
As usual, there aren’t many positives from this game for the Bears. Here our initial takeaways from Sunday’s primetime loss.
The Packers may be reeling, but they still have immense talent across their team. Here are six players to keep an eye on.
It’s been a long time since we have been able to say the Chicago Bears are undefeated and the Green Bay Packers are winless. That streak has a chance to continue this weekend when the two teams renew their historic rivalry.
The Bears are coming off an improbable victory in week one against the San Francisco 49ers but now face the reigning NFC North champion Packers, who are reeling after a divisional loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has dominated this rivalry, however, and is looking to bounce back on primetime. Rodgers isn’t the only Packer the Bears should be worrying about, however. Here are six Packers players to keep an eye on heading into the week two matchup.
The Packers want Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the field together, but Matt LaFleur knows he must be “mindful” of how often he uses the look.
Having Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the field together creates an added stressor for opposing defenses. Unfortunately, finding them playing time together isn’t as simple as drawing up a few more plays; there is another big factor to consider.
This is a Green Bay Packers offense in search of playmaking ability, and both Jones and Dillon provide that as two of their better players. The versatility that each player brings, which allows Matt LaFleur to move them around with ease, provides him with more flexibility as a play caller, and it creates issues for defenses–not only in having to defend both players at the same time but in terms of preparation, there is more that they have to get ready for.
Last season, Jones and Dillon were on the field together for only 2% of the Packers’ offensive snaps, according to Sharp Football. There is the obvious in that getting Jones and Dillon touches is a good thing for the Packers and something they’ll have to do more of against Chicago. But the entire offense can also benefit from the added issues that these two can create for defenses.
Over a quarter of those snaps together during the 2021 season came in one game against Minnesota in Week 17. As Pete Dougherty of Packers News would note following that game, the Packers offense as a whole averaged 7.4 yards per play on those snaps. For some context, their season average in 2021 was 5.8 yards, which ranked ninth in the NFL.
Even this past weekend in Minnesota, we saw one of the Packers’ bigger gains take place with Jones and Dillon on the field, and neither of them touched the ball. Dillon was in the backfield, and Jones began on the left side of the formation and motioned across. At the snap, the Packers ran play-action with Dillon; Jones ran a clear-out route to take the defender with him downfield, which left a ton of space on the right side open for Robert Tonyan, who was running a crossing route. The end result was a 23-yard gain.
Understandably so, one of the talking points this summer was around getting Jones and Dillon more snaps together. However, Matt LaFleur was asked this by reporters on Wednesday and said that it’s not as simple as it may seem.
“I think we are mindful (of playing Jones and Dillon at the same time), I wouldn’t say limited, but you don’t want to wear them out, and then certainly if you have a huge package and something happens to one of those guys then that package goes bye-bye, and there goes half your offense, or however big of a package that is. I think you have to be mindful of that, and it’s a little bit of a feel thing of where we are in a game, but certainly having those two guys on the field presents some problems for defenses.”
It’s a valid concern, for sure, especially with only two true running backs on the roster, and it also provides us with some insight into why these specific play packages have been limited.
Perhaps once Kylin Hill comes off the PUP list, which he is eligible to do after Week 4, we will see LaFleur implement more play packages for his playmaking running backs. Hill was used sparingly in 2021 prior to his injury, but he has shown he can be dynamic with the ball in his hands. With some experience and familiarity with the offense, now that Hill is in his second season, LaFleur may feel more comfortable with him taking on a larger role if needed, which could result in more opportunities for Jones and Dillon together.
Based on the handful or so of snaps that Jones and Dillon played together in Week 1, they are already on pace to spend a lot more time on the field together than what they did in 2021. However, based on what LaFleur had to say, I’m not sure it will ever be a large portion of the offense, even with the questions at wide receiver.
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The Packers are finally on the board in 2022. RB A.J. Dillon scored the team’s first touchdown of the season in the third quarter Sunday.
.@ajdillon7 takes it in for the score!
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#GBvsMIN | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/HsjautxHyv
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 11, 2022
The Green Bay Packers are finally on the board in 2022. Running back A.J. Dillon powered into the end zone from two yards out, scoring the team’s first touchdown of the 2022 season and cutting the Minnesota Vikings’ lead to 20-7 in the third quarter.
The Packers’ scoring drive went 75 yards in seven plays. Aaron Jones got the drive moving with a 29-yard run, but Dillon added an 11-yard run and rookie Romeo Doubs added an 11-yard run and a 9-yard catch.
Dillon has rushed 10 times for a team-high 45 yards. He also has a team-high three catches for 25 yards.
The Packers had a few close calls in the first half: Rookie Christian Watson dropped what would have been a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and Dillon was stuffed on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the first half.
Last season, Dillon scored seven total touchdowns.
These running backs aren’t getting the love they deserve in fantasy football drafts.
Fantasy football managers love sleepers, players who end up outperforming their average draft position (ADP) and return great value during the season.
With limited workhorse running backs in the NFL, it can be especially important to land value picks at RB, a position that gets thin quickly after the early rounds of the draft.
Here’s a quick look at seven sleeper running backs who could provide great depth to your roster and potentially become starter-worthy RBs at some point during the season.
These 10 running backs are part of backfield committees, but they still offer standalone value in fantasy football.
Typically in fantasy football, drafting a workhorse is the best strategy at running back. But fewer and fewer teams are relying on one running back going into the 2022 NFL season.
Beyond the top options of backs, like Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry and Najee Harris, most RBs are part of some kind of backfield rotation. Fortunately, there are many backfield duos with each RB offering some standalone value in fantasy, even if both players stay healthy.
Here’s a look at five running back committees that feature a pair of RBs who are both worth drafting in your fantasy football league.
Analyzing Green Bay Packers RB AJ Dillon’s 2022 fantasy football ADP and where you should target him in your drafts.
It is always difficult to have two running backs that make a case to be a regular in a fantasy football lineup – sometimes even at the same time. Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon has found himself in that category.
Below, we look at AJ Dillon’s 2022 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.
Dillon wasn’t just a sidekick to Aaron Jones last season. Dillon led the team in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns and had the 4th-most catches with 34 receptions. Jones is viewed as a late-RB1 or a very early RB2, but his ADP has him ranked as an RB3, which is extremely high for a player viewed as the 2nd option in a 2-man backfield.
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
Dillon has been gaining steam since last season and his ADP proves his value. Despite Jones being the No. 12 running back by ADP numbers (20.70), Dillon is No. 25, placing him ahead of several backs viewed as the top guy in their offenses.
Dillon is solidly behind Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders) at 57.31 and Elijah Mitchell (San Francisco 49ers) at 60.06 and ahead of Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs) at 69.74 and Devin Singletary (Buffalo Bills) at 77.76.
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Games: 17
Carries | rushing yards: 187 | 803
Rushing touchdowns: 5
Receptions | receiving yards: 34 | 313
Receiving touchdowns: 2
This is one of the more complicated picks on the board. At the point Dillon has been coming off draft boards, 8 teams – including some really good ones – haven’t had their projected top guy taken.
What can’t be ignored is that the Packers play in a relatively easy division if past history is a sign of future failure. You don’t need a passing juggernaut to win consistently in the NFC North and the Packers likely won’t be an offensive force.
QB Aaron Rodgers lost more than just WR Davante Adams (now with Las Vegas) in the offseason. The Packers lost 3 wide receivers who had various roles. Rodgers finds himself in a no-man’s land of veterans at the end of the line and rookies expected to play significant roles.
When that happens, the run game has to take over because the receiver corps can’t be trusted. I think this ranking is spot on because, as an RB3, Dillon doesn’t have to start every week, but he’s going to have enough big weeks that he needs to be factored in every week.
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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wants 50 catches for both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. He also wants both of them on the field together and to consistently get them the ball in space.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sure sounds like he’s expecting running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to be the foundational pieces of the team’s new-look offense in 2022.
Not only does Rodgers think Jones and Dillon can each catch 50 passes this season, but he’s expecting the Packers to find ways of having both players on the field together and he’s certain the focal point of the scheme will be getting them the football in space.
“We’re going to have to use him and 28,” Rodgers said after Tuesday’s joint practice with the Saints. “You’ve seen today, we had them in multiple packages where they’re both in the backfield. We have a lot of stuff out of that. We have runs to both of them. We have swing passes to them. We have screens. We have down-the-field stuff. We have action stuff. We have scat protection. We have six-man, seven-man protection stuff. There’s a lot in the offense for those two guys. We’ve got to get out best 11 on the field, and it seems like those two are in our best 11.”
Last season, Jones and Dillon combined for 2,306 total yards and 17 touchdowns. In the passing game, Jones caught 54 passes, while Dillon finished with 34. Both were career-highs.
Getting Jones and Dillon both over 50 catches is certainly possible in 2022.
“I think 50 is really realistic. I think 50 for both of those guys is realistic,” Rodgers said.
Getting to 50 catches would require around three per game over a full 17-game schedule for both player.
Rodgers said he trusts Jones as a receiver “any time” and in all situations. Dillon continues to work on his passing game ability as he attempts to become an “all-purpose back” in 2022.
Earlier this month, Rodgers complimented Dillon’s development as a receiver.
“His pass-catching ability is really, really solid,” Rodgers said. “He’s made difficult catches look easy over the last couple of years and this training camp. I couldn’t be more proud of 28 and his approach.”
With the receiver room in transition, Rodgers said getting both backs on the field together should be a focal point of the scheme. The team’s usage of the two-back look dropped significantly after the Packers lost Jamaal Williams in 2021, but the formation could be making a big comeback this year.
“I feel like 28 and 33 being on the field is going to be important. Gotta figure out how to do that,” Rodgers said.
Maybe most importantly, losing Davante Adams this offseason has opened the door to Jones and Dillon becoming the go-to players each and every week.
“Last year, you wanted to get the ball in 17’s hands in space,” Rodgers said. “This year, 33 and 28 are going to get a lot more opportunities.”
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