One of the better backup running backs in the NFL and fantasy football, Philadelphia Eagles RB Boston Scott projects to be a late-round pick once again as his 2022 fantasy outlook suggests he will be fighting for reps in a committee. With the NFL season and fantasy drafts closing in, what is Scott’s fantasy outlook in 2022, and could he prove to be a value at his current ADP in fantasy drafts?
Boston Scott’s fantasy outlook for 2022
What if I told you an Eagles running back in 2021 had the same number of rushing touchdowns as Najee Harris and Antonio Gibson and had more than Dalvin Cook, D’Andre Swift, Alvin Kamara, and Aaron Jones? What if I also told you this running back had seven more rushing touchdowns than Miles Sanders despite finishing with 50 fewer carries? Believe it or not, that player was Boston Scott.
Rushing just 87 times in 16 games, Scott carried the ball for 373 yards with a whopping seven touchdowns. He also had 13 receptions on 16 targets for 83 yards. Scott capitalized in games where Sanders missed due to injury. In games where both Scott and Sanders played (five), Scott averaged 8.3 PPR, eight rushes, 29 yards, and 0.6 TDs. Without Sanders (four), Scott averaged 12 rushes, 57 yards, one touchdown, and 14.78 PPR.
Yet, for as great as Scott was when Sanders was out, when healthy, Sanders was the clear RB1, although his passing volume dried up. Between Weeks 11-15, Sanders averaged 16.8 carries and 1.8 targets a game. Scott, on the other hand, averaged 6.6, which included a 15-carry outing in Week 12 and 12 in Week 15.
Scott will once again play second fiddle to Sanders and even Kenneth Gainwell in 2022. Unfortunately, he is also unlikely to see any significant usage in the passing game. I don’t believe the Eagles will lead the NFL in rushing as they did last year from Week 8 through the end of the season. Instead, they will throw more as they did to start the season. While he will have weeks of relevance if/when Sanders misses time, Scott is not someone to keep on the radar for standard 2022 fantasy drafts.
How the Philadelphia Eagles’ depth chart impacts Boston Scott’s fantasy projection for the season
As the depth chart would suggest, this is expected to be Sanders’ show in 2022. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, there is no incentive not to utilize him as much as possible. If anyone in the NFL is due for positive touchdown regression, it’s Sanders. To have 163 touches with zero TDs is both remarkable and puzzling. Sanders is too talented, as is this Eagles offense, to let this happen again.
However, this backfield is not just Sanders or Scott; there is also Kenneth Gainwell, who heads into Year 2. If you are looking for the RB with the most pass-catching upside, Gainwell is the one to target for fantasy. Pass catching was his calling card coming out of Memphis, and Gainwell showed promise in this area as a rookie. Gainwell led the Eagles’ backfield across the board, catching 33 of 50 targets for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Pass-centric backs will always struggle a bit when paired with a mobile QB, as it is easier to tuck it and run than dump it off. Jalen Hurts’ skills in this area will hamper Gainwell and the entire backfield. In what will be a committee approach led by Sanders (55% rush share), Scott is the next man up for the rushing, with Gainwell the primary passing-down RB in 2022, diminishing everyone’s fantasy upside in the process.
Scott’s ADP for 2022
With an ADP of 263, Scott is coming off the boards as the RB70 in PPR formats, placing him outside the range of typically drafted players in 12-team fantasy leagues. For comparison, Sanders has an ADP of 71 (RB27), with Gainwell at 156 (RB47).
In PFN’s 2022 fantasy football redraft rankings, Scott is significantly higher as the RB62 and 174th overall ranked player. I am lower as Scott is my RB75 in my rankings and 230th player overall. Be sure to check back, as rankings will fluctuate between now and the start of the season.
The Eagles are going to run a committee as usual, much to the chagrin of fantasy managers. Scott’s value resides solely on his touchdown upside, as without it, there is not enough volume to roster him in standard leagues.
Whether due to Sanders getting a breather or by design, Gainwell is the primary “handcuff” but is closer to a 1A/1B, if anything. During the second game in the preseason, Gainwell came in on the second drive, saw double-digit carries, and simply looked to be the better running with the ball. If not for a hip injury the team is working around, Gainwell would have started, not Scott.
Scott is more likely to annoy fantasy managers when he steals a TD than he is to find his way into your roster. While there is a role, there is not enough upside to hold on to, unfortunately. I would leave him off your draft board.
