Anthony McFarland

Anthony McFarland

25-Year-Old Running BackRB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
McFarland was on the Steelers' practice squad to begin the 2022 season but was elevated to the active roster in Week 12 (for his lone game appearance) after Jaylen Warren sustained an injury. The 2020 fourth-rounder appeared in just one game and logged eight touches, but Pittsburgh still brought him back on a reserve/future contract during the offseason. McFarland has three years of experience with the team but will presumably have to settle for a backup role in 2023 if he lands a spot on the active roster. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Released by the Steelers in December of 2023.
Back on Pittsburgh's practice squad
RBFree Agent
December 25, 2023
McFarland signed with the Steelers' practice squad Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
McFarland was waived by Pittsburgh on Thursday and ultimately went unclaimed. He has primarily been a member of the practice squad this season, but the 24-year-old has suited up three times to serve as a returner.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Anthony McFarland's 2023 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
0.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.17
 
% Team Air Yards
0.0%
 
% Team Targets
0.4%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.5 Yds
 
Catch Rate
100.0%
 
Drop Rate
0.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
5.0
 
% Targeted On Route
50.0%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.75
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Anthony McFarland lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Anthony McFarland Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Anthony McFarland's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 8"
 
Weight
193 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.44 sec
 
Vertical Jump
29.5 in
 
Broad Jump
116 in
 
Bench Press
0 reps
 
Hand Length
8.88 in
 
Arm Length
30.38 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Anthony McFarland See More
Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes, Air Yards & Personnel from Week 10
136 days ago
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren had a season-high for carries for the second straight week and topped 50 percent snap share for the first time all season.
Weekly Rankings: Week 2 Value Meter
197 days ago
Puka Nacua had a whopping 15 targets in Week 1 against the Seahawks. See where he ranks this week with the Rams facing the Niners.
Backfield Breakdown: RB Usage Rates and Role Analysis from Week 1
198 days ago
Week 1 always brings backfield surprises, and this year was no different with Kyren Williams and Kenneth Gainwell in featured roles. RotoWire's Jerry Donabedian digs into the stats and breaks it all down.
Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes and Air Yards from Week 1
199 days ago
Jerry Donabedian looks at usage rates, advanced stats and personnel groupings from every Week 1 contest, showing all the important stuff that isn't in your basic box score (but maybe should be?).
2023 Pittsburgh Steelers Preview: Roster Moves, Depth Chart, Schedule, Storylines and More
241 days ago
No matter the hand dealt to coach Mike Tomlin, he churns out at least a .500 record in any given season. In 2023, he's entrusted the Steelers offense in second-year QB Kenny Pickett, for better or worse.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Competing for RB3 spot
RBPittsburgh Steelers
July 22, 2023
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic notes that McFarland has the inside track to be the third running back on the depth chart behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
ANALYSIS
McFarland spent most of 2022 on the practice squad but did play one game in Week 12, when he posted 41 yards from scrimmage in replacement for Warren. McFarland, a 2020 fourth-round pick, hasn't done much in the NFL, recording just 146 yards on 42 carries in three seasons, but he could have more opportunities in 2023 with Benny Snell still unsigned. There's still no guarantee that the Steelers will dress a third running back on game days, so McFarland may have to show versatility on special teams if he wants to stay elevated off the practice squad.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
After recording 113 rushing yards as a rookie in 2020, McFarland took on a minimal role last season after the Steelers drafted Najee Harris. McFarland spent nearly two months on injured reserve to begin the season due to an unspecified injury, and he was a healthy scratch in most games after being activated from IR. He totaled just four touches and is unlikely to be a fantasy-relevant running back as long as Harris remains healthy.
A fourth-round pick in 2020, McFarland never got going as a rookie despite running for 42 yards on only six carries in his Week 3 debut. In fact, it took him eight more weeks to equal that yardage total on the ground. The Maryland product offers top-tier speed in the open field, but the rest of his skills seemed a bit lacking and two drops on only nine targets highlight how far he has to go to become even a passing-down complement to new lead back Najee Harris. Depending on how much progress he makes in turning himself into a more well-rounded player, McFarland could emerge as the No. 2 back for the Steelers and see a consistent role in the offense, but the fact that he wasn't used at all on special teams last year suggests his hold on a roster spot could be tenuous if he isn't an offensive contributor.
While the collapse of the Steelers offense last year was largely due to Ben Roethlisberger's injury, the lack of spark provided by the backfield committee of James Conner, Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels was hard to ignore. Enter McFarland, a fourth-round pick out of Maryland who ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at the combine. McFarland's acceleration and agility make him dangerous in the open field, and while he may lack the power and vision to make an impact between the tackles, Pittsburgh already has plenty of options on the roster to handle those duties, and he'll be running behind an offensive line that won't make him work too hard to find holes. He also needs to sharpen his blocking and receiving skills if he wants to emerge as a consistent third-down weapon. McFarland might not be ready to handle a large touch volume, but he offers the Steelers big-play upside that even a healthy Conner can't match.
More Fantasy News
Gets cut loose
RBFree Agent
December 21, 2023
McFarland was waived by the Steelers on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Healthy scratch against Cincinnati
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Coach's Decision
November 26, 2023
McFarland (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Gets activated from IR
RBPittsburgh Steelers
November 6, 2023
Pittsburgh activated McFarland (knee) from its injured reserve list Monday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
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Full practice Wednesday
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee
October 18, 2023
McFarland (knee) was a full participant at the Steelers' practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official website reports.
ANALYSIS
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Back at practice
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee
October 16, 2023
McFarland (knee) returned to practice Monday.
ANALYSIS
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