Miles Sanders Offers an Enticing Blend of Rushing and Receiving

Johnny Kinsley

Sometimes your best receiver is a player you wouldn’t expect, and the Philadelphia Eagles showed one such case of this scenario in 2019.

Injuries to DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery exploited the weaknesses of the endangered Eagles’ receiving corps in 2019. Sure, the tight end depth was set thanks to the super high-quality duo of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, but the traditional receiving end was mostly lacking, and the liability of one Nelson Agholor meant that there wasn’t a consistent vertical threat at the position.

Even more disappointing was that rookie wideout JJ Arcega-Whiteside struggled to get on the field throughout his first season in the NFL (even with the injuries and lack of quality), only catching ten passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. As a result, what was thought to be a Super Bowl contender just barely made the playoffs at 9-7, good enough to win the NFC East. Still, wide receiver is a huge need for Philadelphia in 2020 and they must do whatever they can to get that right this off-season.

But this is also Penn State running back Miles Sanders was a much-needed breath of fresh air at the skill position. The rookie ended up with more receiving yards than any player outside of the two aforementioned tight ends. On one hand, it’s not good news that a rookie receiving back has more yards than any wide receiver on your team, but on the other hand, it also speaks to the skill set and level of quality Sanders offered the Eagles offense.

In his first season as a professional, Sanders made a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year thanks to 818 rushing yards, three touchdowns on the ground, and 50 catches for 509 yards and three touchdowns in the air. He also led the offense in rushing yards, and it’s impressive that he was able to get over 800 in spite of a crowded backfield.

FantasyData also received Sanders’ rookie season warmly, as his 168.7 fantasy points were 54th among all players in 2019. This was also 15th out of every running back as well. For a team that had also drafted Andre Dillard and Arcega-Whiteside, it’s the running back who stood out the most as a rookie.

It’s difficult to name out “generational talents” at the running back position considering how much of a landfill the position is currently in (mostly due to the fact that there are so many quality backs out there), but having said that Sanders is an extremely enticing young star in the making. So what made him stand out in the air and in the ground? Let’s take a look for ourselves and go over Sanders’ rookie tape.

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As a runner, Sanders reminds me a little bit of Le’Veon Bell (before his 2019 season was wasted by the Jets) with a little more acceleration. Obviously I’m not trying to Sanders is near the level prime Bell was, but in terms of his skill set, he has the patience that became the former Steelers’ trademark ability.

Here, Sanders has a hole open on the right side of the formation, but instead of speeding right through it, he stops and hesitates. This moment of hesitation allows for space to open up to Sanders’ left, allowing him to pick up further yards on the run.

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Again, Sanders’ patience comes with good use on this third and seven handoff. Handoffs on this down and distance are usually taboo in the NFL, but in this case, Sanders’ pause is beneficial. With a stop n go move, he’s able to make an improbable first down in a situation where you’d normally pass the ball.

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Under center or in the shotgun, Sanders is an elusive, intelligent runner between the tackles. The first play sees him use a stutter step then a sudden burst of acceleration to clinch a huge victory over the Cowboys before sliding down to allow time to run out. In the second play, Sanders uses more of that Bell-esque patience and jump cuts outside before disintegrating the ankles of Quandre Diggs (#37). This is arguably the best run of Sanders’ career thus far.

From my time on Twitter, I noticed several Eagles accounts mentioning how Sanders was their only vertical threat. Based on my encounter with his tape, that theory is correct. Not only was he Philadelphia’s most consistent field stretcher, but he was a damn good one when used that way.

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Sanders’ talents allow him to collect first downs on short distances, but it’s his deep abilities that show where he was truly at his best in his rookie season. Out of the backfield on this play, he’s able to speed past the linebacker guarding him, and with a more precise throw this likely results in a touchdown. Either way, however, Sanders makes the adjustment on the ball and corrals it in.

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This play is even better. Eric Kendricks proved his worth as one of the absolute best linebackers in football in 2019, but not even he could prevent getting left in Sanders’ trails. With a small head fake and a quick hip turn, the back is able to separate and create leverage for Carson Wentz, who hits him in stride for the 32-yard touchdown. A great route rewarded for the score.

Miles Sanders was a lifesaver for the Eagles offense, and especially for Wentz, who found himself the playmaking receiver he was looking for (again outside of the tight ends). And Sanders was equally as impressive on the ground, with an exciting blend of patience and sudden acceleration as the bread and butter of his style. In the passing game, Sanders proved time after time his value down the field, consistently coming up with big plays.

Sanders is an easy mid-round pick in a dynasty draft. While studs such as Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, and Nick Chubb will be scooped up early, it’s guaranteed that a guy like Sanders will be there for the taking later on. And based on how good of a runner/receiver he was in his rookie season, he should offer excellent value for any newcomer to dynasty football. So don’t wait and consider Sanders in your team’s plans.

johnny kinsley