7 running backs the Bills should look at in 2022

By: Jake Rajala

The Buffalo Bills lost in gut-wrenching fashion against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL divisional round. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes went blow for blow with each other, but the non-underdog, Ivan Drago-like figure Patrick Mahomes captured victory in overtime. The Bills yielded the NFL’s top defense and Allen, who threw four touchdowns and 328 passing yards in the contest, yet they couldn’t muster out a victory against the Kansas City Chiefs to advance in the playoff gauntlet.

An NFL fan could ask the following: what could the Bills Mafia possibly have done differently to beat the Chiefs and push for Super Bowl glory? Well, there still is room for improvement for the Bills offense and team. The Bills certainly could jolt their RB position and this would really open up the Bills offense with Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Dawson Knox.

The Bills had a surprise performance from Devin Singletary in 2021, who ousted 870 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and averaged 4.6 YPC. Still, the Bills could benefit from more juice in the backfield. The Bills will likely add a talented RB that won’t bring more fuel to the RB room, but also push Singletary for the starting gig. So, who could they target this offseason? Here are many profiles that would fit in well in Buffalo.

Cordarrelle Patterson – Atlanta Falcons

I don’t believe there is a playoff contender that needs the swiss army knife, Cordarrelle Patterson, more than the Buffalo Bills. Patterson was an absolute menace and eye-opener for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. Patterson had a career-high 1,166 total yards and personal best 11 total touchdowns for the Falcons offense. Patterson proved to be quite the late bloomer at 31 years of age last regular season. The Bills could desperately use Patterson at RB and WR, as Emmanuel Sanders is considering retirement. Cole Beasley is also a potential cap casualty and he could be out the door in 2022.

Patterson doesn’t only offer big play ability from the RB and WR spot, but he has also made three Pro Bowls as a return man. He is truly the ultimate x-factor for the very motivated AFC squad. If the Bills want to get a value pickup, who can play many positions, they should key in on Patterson. The former Viking did state that he would like to return to Minnesota, but the Bills could prioritize him and convince him to go up north east.

J.D. McKissic – Washington Commanders

The pass-catching machine from the RB position J.D. McKissic would be a fine complement to Devin Singletary. Prior to coming to Washington, McKissic had a career-high 453 total yards in a season. In 2020, the Washington skat back unveiled 954 total yards in 16 games. McKissic showed his production wasn’t a fluke, as he knocked out 609 total yards in 11 games last regular season.

McKissic could look to oust a career season on a one-year deal in Buffalo. The Bills need a pass-catching RB and the 28-year-old RB could fit in well, to say the least.

The Commanders running backs coach, Randy Jordan, nicely explained the magic of McKissic to the Washington Post. He stated, “To me, he’s probably one of the best pass-catching running backs, or I would just say football players, off of the catch and transitioning”. McKissic is one of the most under-the-radar all-purpose players in free agency and the Bills should look to ink McKissic if Patterson returns to Atlanta or Minnesota.

James Conner – Arizona Cardinals

If the Bills want to add a quality pure running back and play smash-mouth football with their running game, they should look to add James Conner to the RB group. The former Steelers RB opted to take a one-year prove-it deal with the Arizona Cardinals and it’s safe to say his decision served him well. Conner was a hammer with the Cardinals in 2021 and that was evident with his 15 rushing touchdowns and 752 rushing yards. Conner had 18 total touchdowns which is a very impressive touchdown tally from the RB position.

Conner did state that he would love to return to the Cardinals and I do expect a reunion to occur, but he would be an intriguing partner to Singeltary if he’s available. Singletary and Conner could be thunder and lightning.

Conner also has a few years left of quality play at least in this stage in his career (26 years old). Conner could really grow with the other key Bills offensive members and push for a Super Bowl appearance in the upcoming years.

Leonard Fournette – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning RB Leonard Fournette would be a nice spark to the Bills offense. Josh Allen could have used “playoff Lenny” in the 2022 playoffs. Fournette unleashed 812 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and continued his dominance in the 2022 playoffs. The Bucs halfback had two rushing touchdowns against the LA Rams and one of the touchdowns came on a pivotal 4th down. Fournette had a career-high 4.5 YPC in 2021 and a personal best 454 receiving yards. It’s moving to see the former LSU Badger reclaim his magic after being cast out of Jacksonville on a bad note.

Fournette should test free agency and the fit with Buffalo would make a lot of sense. Fournette is the most talented downhill RB in free agency, but I expect him to get overpaid by a squad not named Buffalo. He is the most coveted free agent RB and it would be hard for him to pass down the opportunity of getting paid a hefty amount at this stage in his career. The Bucs have Ronald Jones, so they may not pay him the money he desires as a quality starting RB. They also don’t have the seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to convince the key free agents to stay for another season.

Isaiah Spiller – Texas A & M

The Texas A & M ball-carrier was a bowling ball for the Aggies in 2021, as he unveiled 1,011 rushing yards, a career-high 5.6 YPC, and six rushing touchdowns. Spiller, who isn’t related to C.J. Spiller, could be a nice late second-round selection for the Bills. Spiller undoubtedly holds the most potential out of all RB options in the 2022 offseason.

Spiller has excellent size (6’1, 220) and he’s been consistently productive in the ultra-competitive SEC. He was second-team SEC in 2021 and first team SEC in 2020. Although, he doesn’t possess quality quickness and he isn’t a home run threat. He can certainly be a 1,000 yard RB and starting RB for the Bills in year one. The Bills could really deliver their will on opposing defenses late in playoff games with Spiller, Singletary, and Allen from the QB spot.

Trade for Christian McCaffrey

If the Bills want to make a splash move this offseason, while filling a position need, they could look to strike big with a trade for Christian McCaffrey. CMAC is coming off two disappointing seasons and he’s in a rebuilding situation. The Panthers are a couple of seasons at least away from being a playoff contender. It would make a ton of sense if the Panthers opted to move on from the household name and receive draft capita in the process.

CMAC should have a couple of elite seasons left if he can stay healthy. The former Stanford RB may not bounce back and win MVP as Adrian Peterson did, but he should return to Pro Bowl form. If the Bills brought in McCaffrey to join Allen and Diggs, there is no reason that the Bills aren’t seen as Super Bowl favorites. The Los Angeles Rams made a few big moves to push for Super Bowl glory with the acquisitions of Odell Beckham Jr, Sony Michel, and Von Miller. They are now in the driver’s seat to win Super Bowl LVI. The Bills could look to make a similar leap in 2022 by bringing in a couple of shiny profiles.

Trade for Alvin Kamara

The New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara will likely face a six-game suspension in 2022. It’s a grim outlook for Kamara and the Saints, who have a new head coach and a question mark at QB. I’d be surprised if the Saints traded AK, but the new leader Dennis Allen could look to make an example of the big-name RB by sending him out of the Big Easy.

The Bills could send their late first-round pick for Kamara and the Saints may like the thought of the extra first-round pick. If the Saints want a QB in round one, they could select a QB with the extra first-round pick, or use both first-rounders to trade up for the right QB. The Bills may prefer to have Kamara in place of selecting a RB like Spiller in round one. The Saints could have their future QB in the 2022 draft and they could still have Michael Thomas in their offense to impose their will on defenses.