Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb is the best running back in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ 2023 running back rankings.
The Cleveland Browns superstar is fresh off of his most productive season yet after posting a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema noted Chubb’s consistency as the leading reason behind his No. 1 ranking.
From Sikkema:
Chubb takes the top honor here for his consistency. He’s never posted a rushing grade below 80.0, and his most recent grade of 90.7 in 2022 was a career high. Along with being one of the most physically gifted backs, he regularly forces missed tackles at one of the highest rates in the NFL and ranks near the top in yards-per-carry average.
In 2022, Chubb’s overall grading of a 90.3 ranked third in the NFL. His 90.7 run grading ranked him tied for second.
Chubb is a former second round pick in the 2018 NFL draft and has had a phenomenal start to his pro career.
Chubb’s first five years in the NFL:
| Year | Carries | YPC | Rushing Yards | Total TDs |
| 2018 | 192 | 5.2 | 996 | 10 |
| 2019 | 298 | 5.0 | 1,494 | 8 |
| 2020 | 190 | 5.6 | 1,067 | 12 |
| 2021 | 228 | 5.5 | 1,259 | 9 |
| 2022 | 302 | 5.0 | 1,525 | 13 |
Chubb, UGA’s second all-time leading rusher, had more than 1,000 yards after contact in 2022 and forced 83 missed tackles last year for the Browns.
Through his first five seasons as a pro, Chubb has amassed an astounding 6,341 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry), 52 total touchdowns and 119 receptions.
Looking ahead to the 2023 NFL season, Chubb is a preseason candidate to win the Offensive Player of the Year Award. He currently has the eighth best odds, according to FanDuel, at +2,500.
PFF also has Chubb ranked as the No. 16 overall player in a points-per-reception (PPR) league for the upcoming 2023 Fantasy Football season.
As far as “running back room rankings,” the Browns have the NFL’s third best group of ball carriers entering 2023, according to PFF.
The lack of depth behind him is what drops the Browns to three on this list. Chubb is tremendous, though, and is coming off a career-high 90.7 PFF rushing grade, which was tied for second-best in the NFL. He forced 83 missed tackles on 302 carries, the second most in the league last season.
Now that Kareem Hunt is gone, behind Chubb on the depth chart this year is Jerome Ford, Demetric Felton Jr. and John Kelly Jr….That’s not exactly ideal for Cleveland if Chubb were ever to miss time.
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