Bounce Backs: Running Backs Who Will Improve on Their 2020 numbers – AFC edition

These backs mostly underwhelmed through the whole of 2020, but they’re all in solid position to improve their fantasy production significantly in 2021: 

Joe Mixon, Bengals
Mixon totaled under 600 all-purpose yards in 2020 and played in only 6 games, so there’s a lot of room for improvement this season. OC Brian Callahan has reiterated his desire to keep Mixon on the field on 3rd downs ad nauseum, and the fact that the team let Gio Bernard go seems to back up that sentiment. Expect Mixon to vie for the league-lead in touches, should he stay healthy, with close to 60 receptions.

Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Ekeler had a serviceable 2020, playing 10 games and putting up 933 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs, but it didn’t come close to the almost 1,600 yard, 8 TD season Ekeler had in 2019. He should have an epic season under new OC Joe Lombardi, who helped turn the Saints run game into the versatile and potent system that it is today, one in which Ekeler clearly has a lot in common from a profile-perspective to Alvin Kamara. Lombardi runs an uptempo offense that will be a boon to Ekeler’s fantasy production.

Tevin Coleman, Jets
Coleman was slated to be a major contributor in the 49ers offense last season, but injury troubles and a crowded backfield kept him from fulfilling his potential. Coleman is now a Jet, and the backfield is still crowded, but as a former player for HC Robert Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur in SF, Coleman has a leg up on his competition as the only back who is familiar with the new Jets offense. He’ll be pushed hard, especially by rookie Michael Carter, but Coleman won’t have to do much to top the 87 yards he totaled in 2020.

Mike Boone, Broncos
Boone’s signing in Denver seems innocuous at first glance, but he’s got a path to considerable touches in 2021. The former Viking had less than 70 yards all together in 2020, as the third back in a stacked Minnesota backfield, and though he’s probably running 3rd in Denver right now, he has an injury prone Melvin Gordon and unproven rookie Javonte Williams in front of him.  He was one of George Paton’s first free-agent signings after taking over the Broncos GM job following his long tenure in Minnesota, where he was part of the staff that brought in Boone as a UDFA in 2018. HC Vic Fangio has stated that he wants all three backs to be involved on gameday, and Boone offers an explosiveness and pass-protection capability that may surpass the other backs’. Boone is primed to have a career year on a team that will have to lean heavily on the run all season, due to an underwhelming QB situation.