There’s a reboot underway in Washington, with Alex Smith taking over for Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Samaje Perine probably will be their starting tailback, and he hardly played in the first half of last year. But Chris Thompson quietly should be a huge part of that offense.
Thompson missed almost half of last year, but when he broke his fibula at New Orleans, he was leading the team in both rushing and receiving. He’s a deluxe third-down back – at least he was last year.
Thompson was particularly effective in the passing game, consistently busting loose for long gains. He caught 39 passes (almost 4 per game), and he averaged 13.1 yards per reception. I believe the last time a running back caught more passes and averaged more yards per reception was Joe Cribbs for Buffalo back in 1981. Weird.
In this century, only five running backs have caught 30-plus passes and averaged over 12 yards per reception. Oddly, all five of them have occurred in the last three years. (All three came from teams with well-regarded offensive minds – Kyle Shanahan, Andy Reid, Jay Gruden, Bruce Arians and Sean McVay.)
Washington, of course, has to figure out how to keep Thompson going. Defenses likely will make him more of a priority this season. And he’ll have to adjust to a new quarterback. But Alex Smith has tended to prefer throwing safe, short passes underneath. I expect Thompson will be a big part of that offense. They’ll probably use a larger back as their main ball carrier (Perine, most likely) but mix in Thompson plenty. He might finish with more total yards than any other third-down type back in the league.
Two other backs last year caught 30-plus passes and averaged over 10 yards per reception, and both are very well regarded – Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara.
BACKS AVERAGING 10 YARDS PER CATCH | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD |
2016 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 31 | 421 | 13.6 | 3 |
2016 | Spencer Ware, K.C. | 33 | 447 | 13.5 | 2 |
2017 | Chris Thompson, Wash. | 39 | 510 | 13.1 | 4 |
2015 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 36 | 457 | 12.7 | 4 |
2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 64 | 788 | 12.3 | 6 |
2011 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 53 | 617 | 11.6 | 2 |
2014 | Roy Helu, Wash. | 42 | 477 | 11.4 | 2 |
2011 | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 39 | 442 | 11.3 | 0 |
2011 | Michael Bush, Oak. | 37 | 418 | 11.3 | 1 |
2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 32 | 363 | 11.3 | 1 |
2012 | Danny Woodhead, N.E. | 40 | 446 | 11.2 | 3 |
2004 | Tiki Barber, NYG | 52 | 578 | 11.1 | 2 |
2010 | Danny Woodhead, N.E. | 34 | 379 | 11.1 | 1 |
2002 | Clinton Portis, Den. | 33 | 364 | 11.0 | 2 |
2009 | Darren Sproles, S.D. | 45 | 497 | 11.0 | 4 |
2013 | Charles Clay, Mia. | 69 | 759 | 11.0 | 6 |
2015 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 51 | 561 | 11.0 | 4 |
2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 80 | 879 | 11.0 | 4 |
2004 | Onterrio Smith, Min. | 36 | 394 | 10.9 | 2 |
2005 | DeShaun Foster, Car. | 34 | 372 | 10.9 | 1 |
2002 | Marcel Shipp, Ariz. | 38 | 413 | 10.9 | 3 |
2010 | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 47 | 507 | 10.8 | 3 |
2015 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | 36 | 388 | 10.8 | 2 |
2010 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 51 | 547 | 10.7 | 3 |
2011 | LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ | 42 | 449 | 10.7 | 2 |
2012 | C.J. Spiller, Buff. | 43 | 459 | 10.7 | 2 |
2003 | Duce Staley, Phil. | 36 | 382 | 10.6 | 2 |
2002 | Duce Staley, Phil. | 51 | 541 | 10.6 | 3 |
2010 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 45 | 468 | 10.4 | 3 |
2013 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 52 | 539 | 10.4 | 2 |
2005 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 33 | 343 | 10.4 | 1 |
2002 | Charlie Garner, Oak. | 91 | 941 | 10.3 | 4 |
2013 | Joique Bell, Det. | 53 | 547 | 10.3 | 0 |
2013 | Marcel Reece, Oak. | 32 | 331 | 10.3 | 2 |
2014 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 83 | 854 | 10.3 | 3 |
2000 | Tiki Barber, NYG | 70 | 719 | 10.3 | 1 |
2015 | James White, N.E. | 40 | 410 | 10.3 | 4 |
2000 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 81 | 830 | 10.2 | 8 |
2002 | Kevin Faulk, N.E. | 37 | 379 | 10.2 | 3 |
2007 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 40 | 407 | 10.2 | 0 |
2014 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 42 | 427 | 10.2 | 4 |
2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 41 | 419 | 10.2 | 2 |
2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 81 | 826 | 10.2 | 5 |
2006 | Mewelde Moore, Minn. | 46 | 468 | 10.2 | 1 |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 50 | 503 | 10.1 | 2 |
2009 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 43 | 436 | 10.1 | 0 |
2009 | Kevin Smith, Det. | 41 | 415 | 10.1 | 1 |
2010 | Knowshon Moreno, Den. | 37 | 372 | 10.1 | 3 |
2005 | Brian Westbrook, Phil. | 61 | 616 | 10.1 | 4 |
2000 | Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Car. | 34 | 341 | 10.0 | 2 |
2006 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 41 | 410 | 10.0 | 2 |
—Ian Allan