Green Bay Packers: Running Back Best and Worst Case Scenarios
By Kenny Jilek
A.J. Dillon and Tyler Ervin
These two guys are both basically newcomers to this offense as Ervin had only four regular-season games and four touches in those games. Meanwhile, Dillon was drafted with the 62nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
A.J. Dillon – Rookie Bruiser Back
The Green Bay Packers shocked pretty much everybody when they went with a running back in the second round. A.J. Dillon, similarly but not quite on the same level of magnitude as Jordan Love, will have to overcome scrutiny that he himself had no part in putting himself under. He’s done nothing in a Packer uniform, but he’s already under the microscope this year.
How he plays this year will affect who gets a contract next season. If he does really well, maybe the Packers decide he’s a suitable replacement for Jones and just keep Williams on as a backup. If he doesn’t look like their guy for the future, maybe Aaron Jones gets a payday to stay in Green Bay.
We can’t know much about how his skills will transfer into the NFL or what his role will really be, but he’s shown the potential to be a workhorse and had at least 300 carries twice in college.
His best-case scenario would be to have a great camp and first few games, allowing him to become the top back while letting Jones take on more of a receiving role. Of course, there is also the possibility that he has rookie struggles early like ball security, trouble with the playbook, or just adjusting to the speed of the game, and he could get buried on the depth chart.
Best Case Stats: 800 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, 200 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Worst Case Stats: 300 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, 100 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
Tyler Ervin – Return Man/Change of Pace Back
Okay, so I don’t want to overreact after only a total of six games, including the playoffs, but I think Tyler Ervin may be the greatest return man of all time. In the regular season last year, he transformed one of the worst punt return units in history into a real game-changer. He made a splash with four returns for 51 yards in his first game and totaled 11 returns for 108 yards on the season.
Aside from his returning prowess, he could do some interesting things within the offense too. He may be the player I am most excited to see this season, and I wrote previously about the ways they might try to incorporate Ervin into the offense.
He might get a few carries here and there just to mix things up and add some speed, especially with two power backs now on the roster in Dillon and Williams. His real contribution could be in the passing game, where a wrinkle could be thrown in for him once or twice a game.
Best Case Stats: 30 punt returns for 400 yards, 2 touchdowns, 20 receptions, 300 yards, 3 touchdowns
Worst Case Stats: 20 punt returns for 100 yards, 0 touchdowns, 8 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown