5 Running Backs Who Drastically Outperformed Their Teammates in 2018
Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
Tarik Cohen is going to be a bit of a different discussion than we've had with other running backs on this list. With Cohen, there are pretty decent odds that the Chicago Bears add a back to their roster. They've failed to rule out pursuing Kareem Hunt despite his being investigated for three alleged acts of violence. And even if they don't add Hunt, Jordan Howard still has another year left on his rookie deal.
Cohen, though, may have enough talent to still get the ball in his hands, and he's sort of an ideal fit for a best-ball format.
When we think of Cohen, we're generally going to jump to his skills as a pass-catcher and just in the open field in general. Howard's the guy with the better rep as a pure runner. But even with that, Cohen provided a bit more juice with his rush attempts this year.
| In 2018 | Rushes | Rushing NEP per Carry | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Howard | 250 | -0.05 | 39.2% |
| Tarik Cohen | 99 | 0.00 | 43.4% |
It was in a smaller sample, but Cohen absolutely held the edge. Having him on the field forces the defense to prepare for a pass, and that seemed to pay dividends for Cohen as a rusher.
Because of Cohen's versatility, he provided extra efficiency to the Bears' offense in all aspects. They averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt and 4.6 yards per rush attempt with him on the field compared to 6.9 and 3.9, respectively, with him off, according to The Quant Edge. That seems like the type of player you want in the huddle more often, not less.
Head coach Matt Nagy seems like a smart dude, and he tailors the usage of his running backs based on his gameplan for the upcoming week. That's great for the offense and likely the best long-term strategy. It just can make Howard and Cohen a bit frustrating.
That's why Cohen can be so attractive for best-ball drafts. He had double-digit half-PPR points in 10 of 16 games last year, so the floor wasn't terrible, but he also had 17 or more points in five games. He had a ceiling, too; it's just hard to predict when that ceiling will show up. In best-ball, you don't have to.
If the Bears bring in a back who can handle work in the passing game, Cohen's stock will take a major hit, and we have to be cautious when buying him now as a result. If they decide to forgo that route, Cohen proved into 2018 that he belongs on the field and that he provides more to the offense than Howard. This is a backfield to track closely as the offseason gets underway.
