Lately, I put collectively an thought to introduce a Speeding ANY/A stat. It was impressed by the nice passing ANY/A metric, which has an plain correlation with successful the Tremendous Bowl. The brand new speeding ANY/A isn’t right here to switch that truth, but additionally has a powerful monitor report over the past 14 years. Take a look at the hyperlink above if you wish to study extra about that for context.
Immediately, I needed to take a look at it from a 2025 participant perspective. Included within the article are operating backs with 200 or extra rush makes an attempt. And right here is the speeding ANY/A formulation: (rush yards – misplaced rush yards + (20 * rush touchdowns) – (45 * rush fumbles)) / (rush makes an attempt + misplaced rush yard makes an attempt).
Now, the outcomes:
As a reminder, that is operating backs with 200 or extra makes an attempt. So the imply strains are “average” among the many high rushers of 2025. That’s the place gamers of curiosity to the Steelers land within the speeding ANY/A outcomes.
Jaylen Warren is the returning member of the backfield, whereas Rico Dowdle is getting into his first season with Pittsburgh. Dowdle had the stronger 4.8 speeding ANY/A that ranked eleventh out of the 21 qualifiers with the Panthers. Warren landed subsequent at twelfth, actually a tick behind Dowdle at 4.7.
Throughout the NFL, we see that Colts RB Jonathan Taylor had the very best steadiness of the 2 stats (323 carries – first, 5.7 speeding ANY/A – second). Included on this had been 1,585 rush yards (third), 18 rush TDs (first), and one fumble (T-fifth). Payments RB James Prepare dinner led the NFL with 1,621 rush yards. However fewer speeding TDs (12) had been an vital think about a decrease 5.0 ANY/A than guys like Taylor and Derrick Henry (18 TDs, 5.5 speeding ANY/A).
The very best speeding ANY/A lot of the group was Miami RB De’Von Achane at 5.9. He had 1,350 rush yards (fifth), 238 rush makes an attempt (14th), eight rush TDs (tenth), one fumble (T-fifth), and 53 misplaced rush yards (twelfth). 5.7 yards per try led the group, together with the formulation crediting his plus scoring and ball safety given his alternatives. Clear worth within the speeding ANY/A stat, certainly.
Now, a extra particular view on Warren and Dowdle:
Dowdle: 236 makes an attempt (Fifteenth), 1,076 yards (14th), 6 TDs (T-Fifteenth), 1 FUM (T-Fifth), 20 misplaced yards (1st).
Warren: 211 makes an attempt (least), 958 yards (nineteenth), 6 TDs (T-Fifteenth), 1 FUM (T-Fifth), 31 misplaced yards (T-Third).
Pittsburgh merely didn’t run the ball sufficient as a staff final season (twenty eighth), so it’s no shock that Warren had the fewest makes an attempt of this group. Dowdle was a thousand-yard rusher, true for 17-of-21 qualifiers. The brand new duo’s stats had been eerily comparable in some ways, together with yards per try, so Warren would have completed this with extra alternatives.
In addition they matched each other in rush TDs (six) and fumbles (one). The latter was very encouraging to study, contemplating how vital ball safety has been in Pittsburgh. Clearly, extra rush TDs for main rushers can be extra excellent. They had been each nice at limiting misplaced yardage, too; Dowdle held the highest rank, and Warren was within the high three.
Curiously, they’re the one qualifiers that shall be teammates in 2026, so it can hopefully be a pleasant complementary end result for one another. Talking of which, former Steeler Kenneth Gainwell was the 2025 staff MVP, specifically for his receiving prowess. As a rusher, he had underneath half the frenzy makes an attempt (114) than Dowdle (236). For these curious, although, Gainwell had a 4.9 rush ANY/A that was barely higher than the brand new duo.
The way in which the carries are distributed between Warren and Dowdle (barring damage) in 2026 shall be very fascinating to look at unfold. On a staff stage throughout the league, the typical variety of speeding makes an attempt the previous few seasons has been round 450, with high groups nearer to 550.
Assuming Warren and Dowdle get the overwhelming majority of carries this season, there’s undoubtedly an opportunity that each may get 200 rush makes an attempt and 1,000 yards every if issues go swimmingly. Even when that’s not the case, a powerful speeding ANY/A for every is extra vital for my part. I can’t wait to see the way it pans out in 2026.
