Buffalo Bills: Devin Singletary sneaks into PFF’s running back rankings

Buffalo Bills’ running back Devin Singletary recently ranked in the Top 20 players at the position in the NFL by Pro Football Focus

Last year, the run game got off to a slow start and it really didn’t improve until the Buffalo Bills made Devin Singletary the featured back in this offense.

In the final six games, including the playoffs, Singletary had 10 or more carries each game. He would average 72 rushing yards per game and would score eight rushing touchdowns during that stretch.

Singeltary finished the season with career highs in rushing yards (870), rushing touchdowns (7), and receptions (40).

PFF ranks Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singeltary 20th in the league

That strong finish to the season certainly had to help as Devin Singletary has started to get some recognition around the league. Recently, Pro Football Focus put together their top running backs in the league and Singletary was able to grab that final spot in their rankings at 20th.

Ben Linsey ranked Singletary in the tier titled “Good starters” that included James Connor with the Arizona Cardinals, Damien Harris with the New England Patriots, Miles Sanders with the Philadephia Eagles, and David Montgomery with the Chicago Bears.

"Like Montgomery, Singletary is difficult to bring down. He ranks fifth in rushing yards over expected over the last three seasons to go along with a 86.2 PFF rushing grade (11th among running backs with at least 300 carries). Singletary may not be a threat to break off many 50-yard runs or hurt a defense as a receiver out of the backfield — which is why they added Cook — but he is more than capable of moving the chains on the ground."

While the Bills did add two running backs this offseason, by signing free agent Duke Johnson and drafting James Cook, it is clear that the team is committed to Singletary as their featured running back and the one that should handle most of the work on the ground.

Both Johnson and Cook are better pass catchers and as Linsey notes, this shouldn’t really cut into Singletary’s work on the ground. He did have 50 targets and 40 receptions last year but that probably was more out of necessity rather than Singletary being a good receiver.

The Buffalo Bills improved the running back position this offseason but should still look to Devin Singletary as their primary running back this season.