5 Running Backs Who Drastically Outperformed Their Teammates in 2016

Bilal Powell, New York Jets

Bilal Powell's entering his age-29 season, so youth may not be on his side, but he proved in 2016 that he's currently a much better running back than Matt Forte.

Powell had a respectable sample size of 131 carries this year, managing to finish fourth in Rushing NEP per carry and second in Success Rate. Forte was 35th and 41st in those categories, respectively. This one wasn't even close.

This obviously wasn't the first major opportunity for Powell, and it also wasn't the first time he succeeded when given carries. Powell's career Success Rate on 534 carries is 42.88% with 0.00 Rushing NEP per carry. Both of those marks are above average for running backs. We should probably accept that Powell may actually just be a good player.

Forte's contract almost guarantees he'll be around in 2017, and that puts a serious dent in Powell's value. The New York Jets' offense as a whole has a similar effect, limiting Powell's touchdown expectation.

However, with the abilities he has shown in the receiving game and the potential for a larger role, Powell's a name we should at least be tracking throughout the offseason.