RB Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons

HT: 6-2, WT: 233, Born: 7-22-1983, College: Oregon State, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 24

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: D Murray (25), P Harvin (26), Steven Jackson (27), F Gore (28), R White (29)
Position: M Jones-Drew (24-RB14), D Murray (25-RB15), Steven Jackson (27 - RB16), F Gore (28-RB17), D Wilson (32-RB18)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: D Murray (26), R White (27), Steven Jackson (28), D McFadden (29), S Ridley (30)
Position: C Johnson (21-RB13), D Murray (26-RB14), Steven Jackson (28 - RB15), D McFadden (29-RB16), S Ridley (30-RB17)
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Steven Jackson had very limited room to run in this game. Detroit knew that the Rams offense was limited and they made it a point of focus to stop Steven Jackson and the running game. Lion’s player swarmed all over Jackson in almost every play and routinely met him at the line of scrimmage. When he got some room to work with in the running game, Jackson ran with typical power and momentum as he rumbled forward for positive plays. He showed he hasn’t lost any of his play making ability in the passing game, catching check downs and screen passes for first downs often and the Rams used this when the 8 man box was becoming too much of a headache. Jackson ran very hard with passion in this game but he took a lot of big hits as his offensive line had to deal with many speedy defensive players and they couldn’t keep him clean for very long. He was the unquestioned #1 RB on Sunday though and almost ran the ball exclusively for the Rams. The Rams rarely got in the redzone which meant there were few opportunities for Jackson to score on the goal line but his production should increase under different circumstances. It was encouraging to see that the Rams stayed committed to the rushing attack and didn’t give up and become one dimensional.

Week 2 - Jackson did not have much burst to him on Sunday, but what he lacked in speed, he made up for in footwork, field vision, and generating yards after contact, careening off defenders. Bowling through the Redskins front seven, Jackson picked up a total of fifty-eight yards on nine carries. He did not factor into the passing game. The eight-year veteran and bell cow for the Rams found himself in Jeff Fisher’s doghouse after drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spiking the ball in frustration after what he thought was a one-yard touchdown run. Replay showed that Jackson easily broke the plane, but the officiating crew judged Jackson short of the stripe. Much to the chagrin of the fantasy football community, Jackson remained on the Rams’ sideline, seemingly healthy, for over two quarters, ceding his workload to rookie Daryl Richardson. Postgame reports revealed that Jackson nursed a groin injury right after he drew the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Week 3 - Jackson came into the game with a groin injury, but he showed little signs of it when he had the ball. He displayed his typical hard running style and was effective at times when running off tackle. However, the Bears defense was very physical, and smothered whoever had the ball. Jackson had his best run early in the third quarter, a 12 yard rumble off tackle after a quick dump from Bradford to Givens. Jackson carried the ball four times on the first five plays of that drive, gaining 16 yards total. Jackson had two catches in the game – one where he lined up outside on a short curl for five yards and the other was a screen pass that the Bears sniffed out immediately. He was seen on the sidelines a couple times with his thigh wrapped with a warming blanket to keep him loose, but overall he was ineffective against an aggressive Chicago defense.

Week 4 - Considering the circumstances – horrible offensive line, physical defense, lingering groin injury – Steven Jackson played a very good game. He was swallowed up by Seattle’s stout run defense but looked as if he has finally shaken off the injury bug, finishing with 18 carries for 55 yards as well as 1 reception for 12 yards. Jackson ran hard but was severely limited by his offensive line. He did show lateral quickness and ability to make a defender miss, however the problem was he was often met behind the line of scrimmage by two, three or four Seahawks. It was a step in the right direction for Jackson and when he is rolling, the offense is much more dynamic.

Week 5 - Jackson only ran the ball once in the opening quarter. On his second run, he burst up the middle and seemingly drags the pack with him for the first down. He looked great, running with power, but hardly saw the ball in the first half. In the second half, playing with a lead, he was used much more and had his way with the Arizona defense for parts of the game.

Week 6 - Steven Jackson was splitting time with Daryl Richardson from the opening snap against Miami. Richardson was far more dynamic in the game, making plays routinely when the ball was in his hands. That was not the case for Steven Jackson. Jackson was routinely stuffed within a couple yards of the line of scrimmage. The offensive line rarely opened a decent hole for the veteran back. Jackson’s biggest gains of the day came after contact in the running game and a 22-yard reception on a key third-and-long. Jackson faked a pass block, only to sneak out over the middle as a safety value for Bradford. There was man coverage on the third down play, which left a linebacker alone on Jackson, leading to the conversion. The Rams were backed up deep in their own end, down 11 points, and needing a play to gain momentum. That reception kept the game close and flipped field position for the Rams when the game could have gotten out-of-hand. Jackson’s lone chance at a touchdown came in the fourth quarter with the Rams at the goal line. Daryl Richardson got playing time over Jackson on the early downs. When Jackson was in the game on fourth down, Bradford got the touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

Week 7 - A mortal lock for one thousand-plus rushing yards every year for the past several seasons, Jackson is now a mere mortal caught in a running back-by-committee situation with rookie Daryl Richardson. Jackson did lead all Rams in carries with twelve and in rushing yards with fifty-seven, but his days as a three hundred carry feature back have gone the way of Zubaz. Jackson is still able to make defenders miss and remains difficult to tackle, but the nine-year veteran has but one speed and no giddyup to his game anymore. Jackson did rip off an impressive nineteen yard run by bouncing to the outside of the Green Bay front seven, and also rammed through them again on a six-yard touchdown run. Jackson’s physically dominant scoring effort brought the Rams to within seven of the Packers early in the fourth quarter. It is unfortunate that the face of the Rams franchise is relegated to a role that does not allow him to shine, but the tread on Jackson’s tires is wearing thin. Still, the running game for the Rams is probably the best thing it has going for it. The NFC West’s cellar dweller averaged nearly five yards per carry on twenty-two total rushing attempts.



Week 8 - Jackson was energetic and involved early in the game, but as it got out of hand he all but disappeared. Jackson picked up 27 yards on his first four touches including a swing pass in the open field and an inspired seven yard run through the arms of a tackler. The second quarter wasn’t quite as productive but he did make a good catch on a short pass behind him and then got up field for a seven yard gain. He also turned back the clock on a 5 yard run around the right edge, absolutely destroying the safety at the end of the play. Jackson had to fight too hard for every inch he got and by the time the 4th quarter rolled around gave way to Daryl Richardson in the blowout.

Week 10 - Throughout the game, Jackson ran hard in to the gut of the 49ers’. In the 1st quarter, the Rams’ offensive line was able to manhandle the 49ers’ defense, creating running lanes that Jackson hit with determination. When the 49ers were able to close the hole, Jackson was able to recognize where the cutback lane was and hit that gap. The combination of vision and hard running allowed to Jackson to consistently make the most of whatever blocking he got, and he used this combination to great success on his touchdown run. Seeing the hole in front of him, Jackson put his head down and barreled through the hole and his own blockers to reach the end zone. The pure rage Jackson possessed as he hit the hole lifted his teammates, such as when Jackson met Patrick Willis after catching a dump off, and instead of going down he kept his legs churning and bore right through one of the league’s best linebackers, resulting in a gang tackle as Jackson’s helmet was torn off. An emotionally invigorated Jackson had gained a first down when his run looked sure to be stopped short, and the energy this gave his teammates was evident. However, when the 49ers were able to shed blockers and meet him in the backfield, Jackson was unable to escape, and his overall speed was lacking. Though he ran hard and hit holes determined, Jackson never had the breakaway speed to really fly through the holes in order to break long gains. His ability to pass block was invaluable though, as on the Rams’ final touchdown drive, Patrick Willis had two steps to slam Sam Bradford and Jackson shot right in to the linebacker, giving Bradford enough time to throw a touchdown. Even with a huge workload, Jackson ran with the same power at the end of the game as he did at the beginning, and though his speed was even further diminished, his strength was not.

Week 11 - Jackson looked like the SJax of old on Sunday, rampaging his way into the Jets secondary, carrying multiple defenders and running over linebackers to the tune of 6.2 yards per carry. With the Rams down two scores early in the fourth quarter, they had to abandon the run, and SJax saw less time with Daryl Richardson playing in the passing down role. He surely would have gone over 100 yards if given a few more carries, but this was a promising development for Jackson. Many were down on his fantasy value as the dynamic Richardson started to take more touches, but it seems Jeff Fisher might’ve been keeping Jackson fresh to unleash him the second half of the season. Richardson will undoubtedly get many looks because he is the future, but if SJax continues to run with the ferocity as he has the last two weeks, his 3.9 yards per carry should be on the rise, and he could hold fantasy value down the stretch.

Week 12 - Jackson ran very well all day with inconsistent run blocking ahead of him. He repeatedly punished defenders in the first half, before breaking off a huge run from deep in Rams' territory. Jackson weaved through the Cardinals' front seven, before sprinting down the sideline and finishing the run with power for 47 yards. As soon as the Rams were in front in the game, they put the result on his shoulders. Jackson repeatedly pummeled through defenders and never risked losing the football on his way to a huge day.

Week 13 - Throughout regulation, San Francisco was able to close gaps and swarm Jackson. Without any space to run, Jackson was often forced to run head first in to a wall of tacklers, and numerous times Jackson was hit at the line of scrimmage or behind the line. This penetration prevented Jackson from generating much power or building speed. When St. Louis began to use Jackson more in the passing game, the running back was able to be much more effective. On the first drive of the second half, Jackson caught a dump off pass and with a little space he accelerated down the sideline for a 20 yard gain. A few plays later, Jackson caught a screen pass, broke a tackle as he cut inside and with the help of solid blocking, Jackson was able to gain 22 yards. As the game progressed through overtime, the defense wore down and San Francisco was unable to swarm as they did during regulation. Jackson looked even stronger and faster in overtime, picking up 4 and 5 yard gains on run plays that had garnered 1 and 2 yards earlier. On one play in overtime, his linemen blocked a gap up the middle that 49er defenders were moving to fill. Jackson slammed through the hole, his pads low, breaking arm tackles and even as his legs were wrapped, Jackson stretched for a few yards more. On another overtime play, Jackson got the short pass, stiff armed one tackler to the ground, and then sprinted along the sideline until he could bury his shoulder in to the safety.

Week 14 - Like the rest of the St. Louis offense, Jackson struggled to get much going for the majority of his carries (four of his 19 carries went for 50% of his yardage total) on Sunday. When the rest of the offense struggled early (namely Bradford), it was Jackson, however, who picked up the only two first downs the offense had in their first six drives. Essentially the exact opposite of his counterpart, Jackson’s best runs came when he was able to attack middle of the line. If Spiller makes the crowd hold their breath in anticipation, Jackson plays the role of door ram, bludgeoning the opposing team (and fans) with vicious downhill runs. On the Rams’ fourth drive, after being hit at the line on his first two runs, Jackson opened the drive with runs of 12 and seven yards to get the Rams their first 1st down. Two drives later, Jackson showed some nice hesitation in the hole before bursting through for eight yards. Consecutive one-yard runs (nothing spectacular, but effective) from Jackson earned the Rams their second 1st down of the game. Jackson also scored the first points of the game for St. Louis, taking a one-yard plunge through mound of bodies into the end zone on the Rams’ opening drive of the 2nd half. After being held in check on the next three drives, Jackson returned to pick up another crucial first down on the Rams’ game winning drive. A no nonsense carry, Jackson met contact five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but carried the tackler an extra four to set up a short 3rd down. Jackson was able to easily pick the 1st down up, picking up four yards on one his few successful outside runs. After being targeted four times in the passing game, Jackson and Bradford finally connected on the fifth target as Jackson picked up a crucial nine yards on the short crosser on the game winning drive.

Week 15 - Have you ever been in a nightclub with your girlfriend, when a club rep girl comes over and starts talking to you? Typically, the girl you are with looks much less appealing when the girl who is paid to be attractive is talking to you. That is essentially what it felt like being a Rams' fan watching Steven Jackson today. Jackson was outstanding, but comparing him to Peterson was like comparing the best looking girl in your school to a super model. When you just look at what Jackson did today, you should be very impressed as he consistently ran hard and intelligently. Jackson remains one of the best veteran running backs in the whole league. He was very active as a receiver also today. Late in the third quarter, Jackson gained nine yards to give him over 10'000 career rushing yards. Typically, Jackson didn't acknowledge the applause or the announcer as he focused on the next play.

Week 16 - The violent running style of Steven Jackson created gaps out of bodies. Tampa Bay sold out to stop the run for most of the day, and even when gaps were filled, Jackson ran with such power and rage that filled holes were simply stop-gaps. Often the defense was able to shed their blockers and meet Jackson at the point of attack, but Jackson lowered his shoulders and used them as levers to force his way past, turning 1 yard gains in to 4 yard gains. When St. Louis was able to block a hole, Jackson sprinted through and Tampa often closed at the second level, but Jackson had the power to roll through the defenders, not breaking long runs but adding extra yardage. His touchdown run was an example of his power, as Jackson ran through the middle and shrugged off the tacklers that wrapped his legs, chugging through and extending over the goal line. In the 2nd half, Jackson ran with increasing power as holes began to open. When St. Louis was able to block open a hole on the left side, Jackson sprinted through and past the second level, meeting two tacklers 19 yards downfield, bowling them over. His next run, the line pushed right and Jackson shifted to the middle to sprint through the cutback lane, running through arm tackles. Even when Tampa Bay was able to create a wall, Jackson was able to hit his line and Tampa’s, pushing the pile forward.

Week 17 - Jackson only had 11 carries on Sunday, averaging 4.7 yards a carry and eclipsed 1,000 yards for the 8th straight season. Always powerful, Jackson looked especially so on his longest run of 15 yards. Jackson took the carry up the middle and hurdled the mess of bodies at the line of scrimmage. With normal humans losing all their power when they leave their feet, Jackson proved he is no normal being as he crushed waiting LB Malcolm Smith, sloughing the poor tackler off as he took the carry for 11 more yards after initial contact. Not particularly brutal looking, the run was more beautiful, like there should have been didgeridoo playing in the distance as he went through Smith. Jackson also had seven targets, catching all seven but only averaging 6.4 yards on the underneath throws. Jackson did lose five carries to rookie Isaiah Pead, including one goal line tote as the Rams were perhaps looking to see what life without the bruising RB would look like in 2013.