Packers: AJ Dillon deserves a higher ‘Madden NFL 23’ rating

Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon deserves a higher rating in the ‘Madden NFL 23’ video game.

On Wednesday, the “Madden NFL 23” running back ratings were revealed. Green Bay Packers star AJ Dillon should be a little disappointed.

Despite leading the Packers in rushing and putting up 1,116 all-purpose yards with seven total touchdowns in 2021, Dillon’s overall rating is just 80.

That is lower than running backs Tony Pollard, James Conner, and J.K. Dobbins.

Dillon’s teammate Aaron Jones was given an 89 overall rating, which puts him eighth in the NFL at the position.

While it’s fair to say Jones is the better of the two running backs, the Packers split the carries almost exactly in half. Dillon ended up with slightly more carries and led the team in rushing as a result.

Where Dillon is most harshly rated is in the receiving game — his catching rating is just 68.

While Dillon might not be the best pass-catching running back in the NFL, he is way better than he is given credit for.

According to Pro Football Reference, Dillon has a catch rate of 92.3 percent in his first two seasons. He has caught an impressive 36 of 39 targets for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He averages 9.3 yards per reception.

Only three times has the ball been thrown his way and not completed. It’s also worth noting that Dillon has zero drops.

This is an area of Dillon’s game that is underappreciated. He is a talented pass-catcher and has made some key plays as a receiver in his first two seasons.

Dillon is powerful and tough to tackle, and has averaged a healthy 4.5 yards per carry since 2020. According to Pro Football Focus, Dillon earned their highest rushing grade in the NFL last season.

Dillon deserves more credit for his great work over the past two seasons, and his “Madden” rating should be higher.