Rashaad Penny 2023 Outlook: Explosive Rushing Upside Behind Stout Offensive Line In High-Octane Attack
1 year agoRunning back Rashaad Penny settled for a one-year, prove-it deal with the Philadelphia Eagles early in this past offseason's open market. The 27-year-old has been encumbered by multiple significant injuries over his NFL career, suffering a torn ACL and meniscus during late 2019 in addition to a fractured tibia early in 2022. Penny leads the league with 6.2 yards per carry, though, across his last two campaigns, encompassing 15 games. The hyper-efficient runner looked on pace for a dynamic year after putting up 346 rushing yards across roughly four and a half games due to the Week 5 season-ending leg injury. While Penny's total was amplified by some breakaway runs (10.5% rate), he notably sat first among RBs with 5.4 "true YPC", which excludes runs greater than 10 yards. The five-year tailback's 2023 ADP has fluctuated a bit with Miles Sanders leaving for the Carolina Panthers, but D'Andre Swift joining the club amid the NFL Draft. The pass-catching aficionado's presence renders Penny a format-specific fantasy preference, one who could push for RB2 value in standard leagues. He could struggle for RB3/FLEX value in PPR settings, however, with a negligible receiving projection. Penny, having caught just 10 passes since 2021, also vies with backups Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott for touches. Consider Penny the favorite for backfield carries in Philadelphia's high-flying offense, in any event. The former first-rounder could even be a dark-horse candidate to pile up touchdowns in double figures behind an elite Eagles offensive line. Penny is ultimately a zero-RB target and promising choice overall in the early double-digit rounds of 10-team leagues.