Cohen Ranks As One Of NFL's Most Valuable RBs...........
Dec 18, 2018 5:53:45 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 5:53:45 GMT -6
Pro Football Focus rates Tarik Cohen as one of NFL's most valuable RBs
By: Bryan Perez | 9 hours ago
Cohen has amassed more than 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns as a runner and receiver and has been the Bears’ go-to-guy when a big play is needed.
His talents were on display Sunday against the Packers when he picked up 52 total yards and an electrifying touchdown en route to the Bears clinching the NFC North for the first time since 2010.
According to Pro Football Focus, Cohen is one of the league’s most valuable players at his position this year.
Cohen’s 80.0 two-year overall grade, which is dragged down by his 63.1 rushing grade, ranks just 13th among the 66 NFL running backs with at least 400 offensive snaps since Week 1 of the 2017 season. But Cohen, largely because of his modest frame, isn’t asked or expected to run with the best. Chicago plays to his strengths in the passing game, and his value is among the league’s best as a result.
Heading into Week 15, Cohen led all running backs in PFFs’ WAR (Wins Above Replacement) metric at 1.34. New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley was slotted at No. 2 (1.29).
Barkley is garnering the kind of praise often reserved for generational talents, making Cohen’s ranking above him all the more impressive.
Cohen’s big season will raise questions about Jordan Howard’s future with the Bears. Howard has been better of late, but he’s having by far the least productive season of his career in Chicago.
Howard has just 773 yards through 14 games and is averaging a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry. He’s scored six touchdowns, however, which matches his rookie year output.
Still, Cohen has emerged as the irreplaceable player on the Bears’ roster at running back. His role will continue to grow as the offense continues to expand under Nagy and with QB Mitchell Trubisky.
