Buffalo Bills: Interesting PFF grades for the AFC East running backs
The Buffalo Bills didn’t get much production from the running backs in 2018, but one individual stood out according to Pro Football Focus.
The fact Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills in rushing during the 2018 season tells the whole story.
The running backs were nearly nonexistent, but that didn’t stop Chris Ivory from receiving a surprisingly high grade from Pro Football Focus in 2018.
2018's highest-graded running backs in the AFC East pic.twitter.com/gqf1DGYRMB
— PFF (@PFF) February 15, 2019
Ivory finished the season with only 385 rushing yards, but did add 205 receiving yards. He only found the end zone one time all year.
Yet he shows up ahead of LeSean McCoy and talented players like Isaiah Crowell and James White.
White had 425 rushing yards and added 751 receiving yards. He also found the end zone 12 times. Then there was Crowell, who had 685 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
I am not in tune with the PFF grading scale, so it is interesting to see Ivory finish so high. I suppose that in his playing time, he did well. But it was nothing game-changing and it did not take the burden off of Allen in the running game.
Yet the grade is only a 74.2, so it is nothing wild that makes one question the grading scale.
Ivory is under contract in 2019 but the Bills could move on with only a $750,000 hit to the dead cap. I imagine they will keep him around for his veteran presence, and for the fact he had a highly rated year in 2018. If the offensive line improves in 2019, there is no reason why Ivory can’t be a weapon throughout the year.
Next. Still unlikely Antonio Brown ends up in Buffalo. dark
The veteran back didn’t show fans anything special in 2018. But he is another example of an addition made by Brandon Beane that provided value to the roster, at least according to PFF.