Michael Warren II is a Featured Back for Cincinnati. Michael's 2018 season ranks in the 57th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 245 plays — a average rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
| Nick Wilson | Arizona | 2014 | 250 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 102.5 |
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2017 | 240 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 98.4 |
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @UCLA | W26-17 | -0.4 | 35 | 141 | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 0.26 |
| 2 | @Miami (OH) | W21-0 | -0.7 | 29 | 91 | 3.1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | vsAlabama A&M | W63-7 | — | 6 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 20 · Rush Yds 166 · Avg 8.3 · Rush TD 2
| 78 |
| 13.0 |
| 1 |
| 1 |
| 18 |
| 0 |
| 1.14 |
| 4 | vsOhio | W34-30 | 4.0 | 23 | 124 | 5.4 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.19 |
| 5 | @UConn | W49-7 | -26.4 | 13 | 106 | 8.2 | 2 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 0.84 |
| 6 | vsTulane | W37-21 | -3.5 | 18 | 123 | 6.8 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 0.01 |
| 8 | @Temple | L17-24 | 2.9 | 25 | 132 | 5.3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.19 |
| 9 | @SMU | W26-20 | -5.4 | 14 | 67 | 4.8 | 0 | 6 | 45 | 0 | 0.47 |
| 10 | vsNavy | W42-0 | -10.2 | 15 | 68 | 4.5 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.46 |
| 11 | vsSouth Florida | W35-23 | -1.2 | 28 | 151 | 5.4 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 1 | 0.38 |
| 12 | @UCF | L13-38 | 16.5 | 18 | 81 | 4.5 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0.13 |
| 1 | vsVirginia Tech | W35-31 | 3.9 | 20 | 166 | 8.3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.44 |