Taylor Bicht
2 min read • August 19, 2023
Posted in
Going into 2023, the Arizona Cardinals face low expectations, largely due to concerns about the health of their quarterback, Kyler Murray. If Murray does miss games or underperforms when on the field, the responsibility to generate offense will likely fall on James Conner.
Last season, Conner carried the ball 183 times over 13 games. With Murray's potential limitations in the run game, his average of 95.5 rush attempts per season could now be up for grabs.
The Cardinals have not significantly invested in the running back position, either through money or draft capital, which suggests Conner will be at the heart of their offensive strategy throughout the season.
Conner managed to average 4.3 yards per carry during the 2022 season behind a subpar O-line that was racked by injuries.
This performance showcases his ability to produce even behind an offensive line that ranks in the league's bottom ten.
Expect Conner to be a shining light in a challenging season for the Cardinals. It's likely he'll exceed 200 carries, which should propel him past his projected yardage mark.
The Baltimore Ravens' running back, J.K. Dobbins has faced a challenging couple of years, plagued by knee injuries. Over the past two seasons, he has managed to play in only 8 games. In 2021, he suffered multiple ligament tears in his knee, which led to another surgery later in the season due to persistent discomfort.
As of now, while Dobbins hasn't returned to practice, he has been activated off the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.
However, our Pro Football Docs express concerns about his past knee issues affecting his performance in the upcoming season. This mirrors our analysis last season on sicscore.com, where we had flagged similar concerns.
Adding to this, with the Ravens' new offensive coordinator aiming for a more pass-heavy attack, Dobbins' opportunities might further diminish. Dobbins is not only in competition with superstar Lamar Jackson, who often takes carries himself, but he's also been observed losing late-game carries to Gus Edwards.
Notably, Edwards is making his comeback from an injury of his own. Expect another down year for the former Ohio State running back.
The former Raiders tight end will embark on a new chapter in 2023, joining the New York Giants. He has an immediate opportunity to become quarterback Daniel Jones's primary target due to a spate of injuries in the wide receiver group.
Both veteran Sterling Shepard and second-year talent Wan’Dale Robinson suffered season-ending injuries last year. Consequently, neither is expected to be at full health for most of the first half of the upcoming season.
Though Darren Waller has grappled with injuries in recent years, he has been a dominant force in the red zone. This aligns well with the Giants' offensive strategy, which boasted a commendable track record last year, finishing fifth in the NFL in red zone scoring percentage. Waller seems poised to integrate seamlessly into this potent red zone offense.
With Robinson and Shepard likely to be more effective in 2024, Waller stands out as the leading candidate for the lion's share of targets this year. Expect him to become a favorite for Jones and likely exceed his projected touchdown count.
Written by Taylor Bicht
