Focus: Ahmad Bradshaw Is The #1 RB In NFL

Leave it to Pro Football Focus to dispense with all the egos, the hype, and really all of the meaningless talk and get down to who the best running back really is in the NFL:

Ahmad Bradshaw

Here’s the deal. According to the NFL statistics, the Giants have the top 5 rushing attack in the NFL officially. Bradshaw of course leads the Giants with 582 yards, making him the #3 back in the league in terms of total yards. He leads the NFL stats with #1 in 10+ and 20+ yard carries.  He’s averaging over 5 yards per carry… he’s enjoying a fantastic year as the Giants featured running back in 2010.

However, it’s easy to overlook his other accomplishments that puts him with (and at times above) the players renowned to be the very best backs in the National Football League. Enter Pro Football Focus with the bigger picture:

• In terms of pure running ability, Ahmad Bradshaw and Adrian Peterson are tied for #1 with a 7.9 rating.
• Overall, Bradshaw is listed as the #4 RB, his passing and penalty statistics dragging down his other accomplishments.
• Bradshaw is the #1 blocking RB in the NFL.  (Note: Last year he was #2 behind Jones-Drew)
• Bradshaw enjoys the #4 ranked rushing average at 5.3 ypc.
• Bradshaw has the most Yards After Contact of any back in the league — #1 with 422.
• Yards after contact per attempt – 3.8 is tied for #1 in the league.
• Bradshaw has the #2 ranking in getting defenders to miss their tackles… 24 to Adrian Peterson’s 27.
• He also has the most fumbles in the league with 3.

In the end, the stats that matter most to determine who really is the best RB go to Bradshaw without a doubt.  Pure running, yards per carry, yards after contact, and yards after contact per attempt– #1, #4, #1, #1. That is just incredible.

If like me, you’ve wanted to see #44 become the featured back for the Giants for the past couple of years — in the face of Brandon Jacobs lovers and offensive line apologists/experts… it feels good to be vindicated. Especially now that the line has been struggling since preseason, and since Brandon Jacobs has been reduced to his old role of complementing a much more versatile player – Bradshaw.  The offense looks much better with Bradshaw starting, the big plays are still there, they’ve gone 100% in the red zone the past couple of weeks with a fresh Jacobs picking up his short yardage goals… and even if the defense does get an edge there’s no guarantee that Bradshaw can’t cut back and turn a busted play into a nice gain.  Everything just seems to be falling into place, and bravo to all involved.

All things considered – with Bradshaw putting up some of the best numbers in the business, if not THE best… I’m sure the Giants are glad we got our wish too that #44 is their go-to guy in the backfield.