With the 2022 NFL season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look back at some of the top performers in various categories.
PFF receiving grade goes beyond basic metrics, encompassing the overall performance of a player running routes in the passing game. Here are the top 10 running backs (with a minimum of 30 targets) in PFF receiving grade from the 2022 regular season and playoffs.
1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 92.4
McCaffrey was everything the 49ers were hoping for when they traded for him during the 2022 season, finishing the regular season with just three drops on 88 catchable targets.
2. Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 81.1
Despite seeing just 32 targets over the season, Abdullah was pretty productive for the Raiders. He averaged 8.4 yards per reception, with 8.0 of that coming after the catch.
3. Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 80.5
Gibson saw 57 targets in the 2022 regular season, turning them into 46 receptions for 353 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
4. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 79.8
Coming on strong as the receiving back in the Steelers offense in the second half of the 2022 season, Warren finished his rookie season with 28 receptions for 214 yards on 32 targets.
4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 79.8
No running back saw more targets in the 2022 regular season than the 123 Ekeler did. He finished the season with 27 missed tackles forced on 107 receptions.
6. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 78.0
McCaffrey and Ekeler were the only running backs in football to pick up more receiving yards than the 523 produced by Fournette during the 2022 season.
7. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 77.0
Mixon had his most productive season as a receiver in 2022, picking up 60 receptions and 441 yards from 70 targets — all three were career-high numbers.
8. Nyheim Hines, Buffalo Bills
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 76.7
Hines joined the Bills at the trade deadline in 2022 but was a more productive receiver with the Colts in the first half of the season. He saw just nine targets in the second half of the regular season with the Bills.
9. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 76.0
Pollard set career highs in targets (50), yards (371) and yards per catch (9.5) in 2022 with the Cowboys and now heads for free agency with the evidence that he can be a three-down back.
10. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF RECEIVING GRADE: 71.6
The second Buccaneers running back to rank in the top 10 in receiving grade, White turned 56 regular season targets into 50 receptions for 290 yards, forcing 10 missed tackles in the process.
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