What do Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary all have in common? They were all snubbed from Alex Kay's top running back room rankings... in large part because they were grouped together, but you're picking up what I'm putting down.
They didn't even make the honorable mentions section. **Pauses for gasps.**
And while I'm not saying it's an atrocity that rivals the "Miracle at the Meadowlands" or the 2002 Wildcard Playoff collapse against the 49ers, it's a close second. The top five teams -- one through five -- were the LA Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and New Orleans Saints. The honorable mentions were the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills.
It'd be hard to argue that either Skatt or Tracy is better than a Jahmyr Gibbs, a Bijan Robinson, or a De'Von Achane, but that's not the point of the exercise. The rankings were "based on a combination of skill, prior production, and potential amongst the platoon." So... where are the Giants?
Giants getting left out of top RB rankings is a major bummer
As if new fullback Patrick “Pancake Pat” Ricard needed any more motivation to pummel defenders into the earth, here’s another one. If the 300-pound human dump truck has anything to say about it, this might be the year to make those rankings look silly. He's basically a built-in, more athletic and mobile lineman, paving the way for some exciting backs.
Skatt is one of the most electric -- and unhinged -- RBs the league has seen in a long time. Every time he touches the ball, it's Lightning McQueen. A dislocated ankle cost him his rookie season, but all signs point to a full recovery and a Week 1 start. As for Tracy, the third-year back has a two-year 1,000-scrimmage-yard streak on the line, showcasing his versatility as a receiver and a rusher. And Singletary brings a respectable 4.4 yards per carry over his seven-year career.
Between the three of them, there's genuinely something interesting there. I get why they weren’t included, but leaving them out entirely still feels like a stretch.
Before the injury, Skattebo was on pace for 1,300 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns. As a rookie. Tracy Jr. posted back-to-back 1K all-purpose yard seasons himself in his second year. That certainly sounds like a pretty decent amount of potential and production if you ask me.
At the end of the day, they’ll get their chances. The opportunities are going to be there, the system fits, and there’s enough juice in the room to make this look like a complete misfire. Keep them off the rankings for now... it'll only make it that much sweeter when they shock the world.