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Back ups and spare parts at RB (1 Viewer)

Birds 24/7 (Eagles)Running back: McCoy and Brown both figure to see plenty of action in this offense.Behind them, Polk, Felix Jones and undrafted free agent Matthew Tucker will be competing for roster spots. Polk has dropped weight from a year ago and seemed to be ahead of the other two during spring practices.Jones provides versatility and could have a leg up if he can be effective as a returner and stay healthy.Since the Eagles don’t have a fullback on the roster, they could potentially keep four running backs.
Does that make McCoy slightly overvalued right now?
Given how much I expect Chip to run, no. I'd love to draft McCoy mid-late 1 and cuff Brown to him around 10 or so.

 
MAC_32 said:
Birds 24/7 (Eagles)Running back: McCoy and Brown both figure to see plenty of action in this offense.Behind them, Polk, Felix Jones and undrafted free agent Matthew Tucker will be competing for roster spots. Polk has dropped weight from a year ago and seemed to be ahead of the other two during spring practices.Jones provides versatility and could have a leg up if he can be effective as a returner and stay healthy.Since the Eagles don’t have a fullback on the roster, they could potentially keep four running backs.
Does that make McCoy slightly overvalued right now?
Given how much I expect Chip to run, no. I'd love to draft McCoy mid-late 1 and cuff Brown to him around 10 or so.
The Eagles will be contenders for most offensive plays attempted for this upcoming season, along with the Patriots and Broncos, so there should be no shortage of snaps for the Eagles running backs.

 
Rotoworld:

Beat writer Jim Thomas "really" thinks the Rams will use a running back committee.
Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy are the top candidates for the starting role and inside rushing. Coach Jeff Fisher has said he wants to get the ball to Daryl Richardson in space as much as possible. And fullback-type Terrance Ganaway could be used as a short-yardage specialist. "We're going to try to play to their strengths," OC Brian Schottenheimer said. "With (Steven Jackson) last year, it was a little different. It was harder to do the committee because every time you took him out, you knew you were missing his leadership and his toughness. This year I think we've got nice pieces to try and blend in and differently attack people."


Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
 
Rotoworld:

Beat writer Jim Thomas "really" thinks the Rams will use a running back committee.
Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy are the top candidates for the starting role and inside rushing. Coach Jeff Fisher has said he wants to get the ball to Daryl Richardson in space as much as possible. And fullback-type Terrance Ganaway could be used as a short-yardage specialist. "We're going to try to play to their strengths," OC Brian Schottenheimer said. "With (Steven Jackson) last year, it was a little different. It was harder to do the committee because every time you took him out, you knew you were missing his leadership and his toughness. This year I think we've got nice pieces to try and blend in and differently attack people."


Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Awesome post Faust and sure it's June, maybe one fo them makes it impossible not to play them but if I were betting real money, I would say the Rb1 for St Louis in 2014 is not on the present team. Much like the WRs had to be shuffled and flushed out including nice talent like DAlexander. They have a 2nd invested with Pead so maybe he will be he COP back in 2014 and so forth but DRich and Stacy, little to nothing invested so if they can stop gap for a year until the next draft then Fisher will be fine with that.

Would not shock me if a vet is cut that the Rams would bring him in. I'm not sold long term on any of these guys.

 
Rotoworld:

Coach Jeff Fisher hinted that the Rams envision second-year RB Daryl Richardson as a space player.
Richardson is a work in progress as an inside runner, but the Rams love getting his sub-4.5 speed on the edge. "We have to get the ball to him in the passing game more," said Fisher. "We were spreading it out, but we weren’t necessarily going to the backs as much as we would’ve liked. Any time we can get Daryl the ball in space, it’s going to put added pressure on the other team." Richardson projects as a 5-12 touch-per-game back in 2013.

Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
 
Rotoworld:

Beat writer Jim Thomas "really" thinks the Rams will use a running back committee.
Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy are the top candidates for the starting role and inside rushing. Coach Jeff Fisher has said he wants to get the ball to Daryl Richardson in space as much as possible. And fullback-type Terrance Ganaway could be used as a short-yardage specialist. "We're going to try to play to their strengths," OC Brian Schottenheimer said. "With (Steven Jackson) last year, it was a little different. It was harder to do the committee because every time you took him out, you knew you were missing his leadership and his toughness. This year I think we've got nice pieces to try and blend in and differently attack people."


Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Awesome post Faust and sure it's June, maybe one fo them makes it impossible not to play them but if I were betting real money, I would say the Rb1 for St Louis in 2014 is not on the present team. Much like the WRs had to be shuffled and flushed out including nice talent like DAlexander. They have a 2nd invested with Pead so maybe he will be he COP back in 2014 and so forth but DRich and Stacy, little to nothing invested so if they can stop gap for a year until the next draft then Fisher will be fine with that.

Would not shock me if a vet is cut that the Rams would bring him in. I'm not sold long term on any of these guys.
I think that there is a very strong probability that the statement in bold is the way that this will play out.

 
I thought this might be a good place to mention rookie C.J. Anderson. I know Footballguy CalBear has been following him through his career and I was interested to see if anyone like Cecil had any more info on him after seeing him in practice.

The Denver Post 06/14/2013Minicamp practice on a hot Wednesday afternoon had ended, and all but three Broncos players headed to the locker room to lighten their load for the upcoming weightlifting session. The three players who stayed behind on the field for an extra 15 minutes of work were veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and rookie running backs Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson. link
 
I thought this might be a good place to mention rookie C.J. Anderson. I know Footballguy CalBear has been following him through his career and I was interested to see if anyone like Cecil had any more info on him after seeing him in practice.

The Denver Post 06/14/2013 Minicamp practice on a hot Wednesday afternoon had ended, and all but three Broncos players headed to the locker room to lighten their load for the upcoming weightlifting session. The three players who stayed behind on the field for an extra 15 minutes of work were veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and rookie running backs Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson. link
Check out the Audible from last Thursday. He got a bit of discussion there.

 
I thought this might be a good place to mention rookie C.J. Anderson. I know Footballguy CalBear has been following him through his career and I was interested to see if anyone like Cecil had any more info on him after seeing him in practice.

The Denver Post 06/14/2013 Minicamp practice on a hot Wednesday afternoon had ended, and all but three Broncos players headed to the locker room to lighten their load for the upcoming weightlifting session. The three players who stayed behind on the field for an extra 15 minutes of work were veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and rookie running backs Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson. link
Check out the Audible from last Thursday. He got a bit of discussion there.
link @ 37:40

 
Detroit: Reggie Bush is starting. LeShoure or Bell? I am interested because of Bush missing some time here and there. high powered offense, always good to have a spare part from a team that actually can score a lot. Anyone with insight into this please post below.
Looks like Joique Bell is second behind Reggie Bush not Mikel LeShoure

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130615/SPORTS0101/306150056

On the bubbleThere is a real good battle brewing at running back between Theo Riddick, the team’s sixth round pick, and Steven Miller, an undrafted free agent.

The Lions will probably keep six running backs on the 53-man roster, the fifth being special teams leader Montell Owens. After Bush, Joique Bell and Mikel Leshoure, there is one spot left.

Miller has been getting a lot of reps, both as a returner and in the offense. His speed is electrifying. Riddick, though he isn’t the sub-4.4 sprinter that Miller is, plays fast. His burst through the line was every bit as quick as Bush’s.

Interestingly, Riddick hasn’t been in the mix as a return man. But his skill set in terms of being able to run and catch is as advertised.

Leshoure vs. BellIt was interesting to hear Leshoure say last week that he didn’t have anything to prove to his coaches or teammates. I would say he has a lot to prove.

Bush is going to be the lead back. The Lions want to complement his skills with more of a power component. They want Leshoure to be that guy, but Bell has the same set of tools and is better in the pass game.

The Lions always say they don’t have depth charts just position groupings. OK, then here’s how the running backs will be grouped coming into training camp: first group, Bush; second group, Bell; third group Leshoure.

 
Where the NFL's running back battles stand: AFC

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

Last Friday, we ran down where things stood among the NFL's quarterback battles following "football in shorts" season. Now let's move on to the running backs:

Buffalo Bills: This isn't exactly a battle, but coach Doug Marrone made it clear that C.J. Spiller would be a clear No. 1 back over Fred Jackson. Spiller will no longer come off the field in the red zone. There is an expectation that Marrone will run the ball plenty, so it sure sounds like Spiller's usage will go up.

Cincinnati Bengals: Even though we expect him to be a difference maker, rookie Giovani Bernard should have a complementary role behind starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Denver Broncos: With Willis McGahee gone, it's a three-way battle between Ronnie Hillman, rookie Monte Ball and veteran Knowshon Moreno. A local Denver paper suggested Hillman is the favorite to be a Week 1 starter, but that's hard to imagine. He is a classic third-down back; executive John Elway has said as much. Ball should be the guy, with Moreno hanging around if things go poorly for the rookie.

Indianapolis Colts: Ahmad Bradshaw still might be in a walking boot, but The Indianapolis Star projects him as the team's starter over Vick Ballard. We're not sure the starter designation will matter much. It would be a surprise if either back topped 200 carries.

Miami Dolphins: Second-year pro Lamar Miller might not even truly have to compete for the starting job. Miller, one of Wesseling's favorite breakout picks, looks like the clear leader over Daniel Thomas for the starting job. Thomas currently is working ahead of rookie Mike Gillislee.

New England Patriots: New pickup LeGarrette Blount reportedly did not impress during offseason work. If everyone stays healthy, Blount could have a tough time making the team with Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington and possibly Branden Bolden ahead of Blount.

New York Jets: Running backs are much easier to evaluate when pads come on, but we didn't hear anything to dispute the line of thinking that offseason acquisition Chris Ivory will step into a top role. Bilal Powell could challenge Mike Goodson for the third-down back role. Fourth-stringer Joe McKnight, meanwhile, only is talking to the media on designated days. We'll miss the Rex Ryan era.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Rookie Le'Veon Bell is the favorite to start, but coach Mike Tomlin doesn't like handing jobs to rookies. It's believed that Isaac Redman is ahead of Jonathan Dwyer among returning backs. LaRod Stephens-Howling and Baron Batch also are trying to make the team.

Bell has a good chance to rack up touches as a rookie, but he has to prove he can pass protect in training camp.

San Diego Chargers: This isn't a battle as much as a situation. The Chargers want Ryan Mathews to take a step forward this season, but he's going to have far fewer snaps even when he's healthy. Danny Woodhead fully is expected to take over third-down duties after a standout offseason. Mathews has struggled in pass protection.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
 
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Rotoworld:

The Cowboys reportedly believe fifth-round pick Joseph Randle can be a "full-time back" if DeMarco Murray suffers another injury.
Also injury prone in college, Murray has missed nine games through two NFL seasons. While we weren't fans of Randle's college tape -- he is straight-linish and not particularly elusive or explosive -- he's going to be a worthy handcuff for drafters of Murray. Randle can get what's blocked and catch the ball.


Source: ESPN Dallas
 
Where the running back battles stand: NFC

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

We've broken down the quarterback battles and the running back battles in the AFC following the majority of minicamps. Now, let's take a look around the NFC backfields.

Arizona Cardinals: We didn't hear a ton about this battle throughout the offseason. The coaching staff spoke highly of third-year pro Ryan Williams, coming off another injury, but actions speak louder than words. The team brought in free agent Rashard Mendenhall and two rookies (Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington) to compete for snaps. Mendenhall reportedly looked healthy and ran as the No. 1 back throughout organized team activites, at least according to one radio report.

Only two years removed from a very productive season, Mendenhall has the highest ceiling of any player here and looks like the leader in the clubhouse.

Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Stewart's recovery from multiple ankle surgeries is par for the course considering his offseason history. The team seems unsure whether he'll be ready for camp. The new contract for DeAngelo Williams makes it more likely he'll stick around after this year and open the season as the starter. For now, there's no reason to believe that Mike Tolbert or rookie Kenjon Barner will get significant snaps if Stewart and Williams are healthy.

Dallas Cowboys: The starting job is all set with DeMarco Murray in place, but the backup spot is a mystery with fifth-round draft pick Joseph Randle having missed all of OTAs after wrist surgery. We wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys wind up signing a veteran like Willis McGahee for depth, but they could wait to see how the young kids look in training camp.

Detroit Lions: Look for a committee between Reggie Bush, Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell, probably in that order. Leshoure wasn't 100 percent throughout the offseason and must prove he can stay healthy. It sounds like Bush's role with the Lionis could be just as big or even better than with the Dolphins.

Green Bay Packers: This might be the most fascinating, wide open and impactful battle in the league. Third-year pro Alex Green took the snaps with the No. 1 offense during the offseason, yet absolutely no one seems to believe he'll stay there. Rookie Eddie Lacy is theoretically the favorite to start. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers lauded his patience as a runner and alluded to Lacy's learning curve in the offense. (This is typical for any rookie.) Rodgers also wondered aloud what DuJuan Harris could do as a feature back; Harris is expected to be ready for camp after having a cyst removed from his lung.

And we haven't even mentioned promising rookie Johnathan Franklin and James Starks yet. In short: Lacy and Harris might have a slight edge in this battle heading into camp, but it's the competition to watch above all others in August.

New Orleans Saints: Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram all are going to get plenty of touches. But there is reason to believe that Thomas' role could be increasing this year, while Ingram takes more of a back seat. No matter who leads the way, look for the Saints to focus on the running game more this season.

New York Giants: David Wilson is fully expected to be the Giants' starter. That much is clear after minicamps, but there is a big question of how big a workload the Giants will give him. Andre Brown reportedly could be a goal-line back, but it's an underwhelming group behind Wilson. A veteran addition would make sense here, too.

St. Louis Rams: Jeff Fisher probably doesn't have a true primary back between Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy. Even Terrance Ganaway could get short-yardage carries. Richardson had the most carries last year, but he looks more like a third-down player. Pead's one-game suspension shouldn't hurt his chances of being a factor. His work ethic is a bigger concern.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
 
Rotoworld:

ESPN Dallas suggests Lance Dunbar could still win the No. 2 running back job.
Fifth-round rookie and presumed backup Joseph Randle (thumb surgery) missed all of OTAs and minicamp. Meanwhile, Dunbar reportedly had a "terrific" offseason and has the trust of Tony Romo. It's something to keep an eye on given DeMarco Murray's checkered injury history.

Related: Joseph Randle

Source: ESPN Dallas
 
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Rotoworld:

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys RB Phillip Tanner looked "quicker and more explosive" in OTAs.
DallasCowboys.com reported earlier this offseason that Tanner "remade" his body. "I lost a little weight and leaned up a little bit," he said. "I’m able to see things and hit the hole without hesitating." Tanner is in a dogfight with Lance Dunbar for No. 3 duties after being phased out down the stretch last season. Owner Jerry Jones has already anointed rookie Joseph Randle as his No. 2 back.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
For service in the off season that goes above and beyond, Faust you are awesome. I can't always get to everything but I can miss a day or two and pop back in here, all the important stuff will be pasted with links into the OTAs, this thread, few others you repeatedly bump with fresh info. I know I speak for many on this board, thank you thank you thank you.
I appreciate the kind words!

 
Rotoworld:

CSN Houston projects UDFA RB Cierre Wood to make the Texans' as the No. 3 back.
The Texans' No. 3 back is worth monitoring because overworked starter Arian Foster is already injured, and backup Ben Tate has been oft-hurt since entering the league. In CSN Houston's projection, Wood makes it over fellow UDFAs Ray Graham and Dennis Johnson because Wood "just seems like a better runner" and "is the kind of guy who might end up being a No. 2 next season."

Source: CSN Houston
 
RB Handcuffs – An Early Look

Mike Clay

When filling out your bench in the later stages of a fantasy football draft, your primary focus should be on high-upside handcuffs at the running back position.

It’s no secret that the game of football causes a significant number of injuries each year, but the injury rate at running back is higher than at any other offensive skill position. The casual fantasy football owner knows to handcuff the backs he or she drafted in the first few rounds, but many will overlook high-upside backups on other teams. Additionally, if a top pick’s primary backup isn’t very good, the correct move is to pass on him and look elsewhere for a bench stash.

Today, I’ll be ranking each of the 32 primary running back handcuffs. Some of the top players on this list will cost you a mid-round pick on draft day. Others, however, are flying under the radar and are available late in drafts (or going undrafted altogether).

Note that this isn’t necessarily a ranking of the player’s talent or where they’d rank on a weekly basis in-season. The idea here is to determine which handcuffs would have the most fantasy value should the player ahead of him on the depth chart get benched or go down with an injury. Additionally, a back in a situation where the player above him on the depth chart is on a short leash, injury prone, or just not very good will get a bit of a boost.

Editor’s Note: For all the latest NFL and fantasy information, check out Rotoworld’s Player News Page. Be sure to follow @MikeClayNFL and @Rotoworld_FB on Twitter.

1. Giovani Bernard – Bengals – ADP: 80

Bernard gets the top spot because it’s a matter of when (not if) he takes over as Cincinnati’s lead back. The top rookie selected in April’s draft, Bernard will play a situational role behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis early. If the veteran goes down with an injury or is demoted, Bernard will enter the RB2 conversation.

2. Ben Tate – Texans – ADP: 107

If we eliminated each of the league’s 32 starting tailbacks and re-ranked the running back position, Tate would be No. 1 on most lists. The Texans are extremely run-heavy and—minus an injury-plagued 2012 season—Tate has been excellent when called upon. If Arian Foster goes down with an injury, Tate becomes a top-12 fantasy back.

3. Bernard Pierce – Ravens – ADP: 116

Pierce was excellent as Ray Rice’s backup last season which figures to lead to a larger role in 2013. Either way, with Anthony Allen No. 3 on the depth chart, Pierce would have an easy path to a three-down workload if Rice were to miss action.

4. Bryce Brown – Eagles – ADP: 100

The Eagles are going to run the ball a ton with Chip Kelly calling the shots. We saw in 2012 that Brown has big-time ability. If LeSean McCoy misses time, Brown would lead the Eagles’ backfield, with Felix Jones providing only minimal pressure for snaps.

5. Fred Jackson – Bills – ADP: 98

Jackson is 32 and durability is a major question mark, but no longer will he be asked to handle the full workload. If C.J. Spiller misses action, Jackson will handle most of the backfield snaps. Tashard Choice isn’t much of a threat.

6. Kendall Hunter – 49ers – ADP: 174

Hunter is extremely undervalued so far this offseason. Frank Gore just turned 30 after handling 321 carries over 19 games last season. If Gore finally succumbs to the large workloads, Hunter would lead a committee with LaMichael James in a high-scoring, run-heavy offense.

7. Zac Stacy – Rams – ADP: 121

The Rams’ backfield was the trickiest to sort out because there are a lot of uncertainties. The assumption here is that Isaiah Pead will settle in as the starter. If Pead stumbles or misses time, Stacy is the next best player on the roster, and a better fantasy bet than Daryl Richardson.

8. Shonn Greene – Titans – ADP: 133

Greene is far from the flashiest player in the league, but he’s a solid between-the-tackles workhorse. If Chris Johnson goes down, Greene’s primary competition for snaps will be Jalen Parmele and Darius Reynaud. Greene is a fine late-round target.

9. Robert Turbin – Seahawks – ADP: 157

I went with Turbin, the incumbent No. 2 back, but Christine Michael should be valued about the same. If Marshawn Lynch misses action, the two young backs figure to split the workload. The early edge would go to Turbin, but Michael, a second-round pick in April, has a much higher ceiling.

10. Shane Vereen – Patriots – ADP: 88

Vereen is going to see a ton of reps on passing downs, so he’s going to be drafted well before many of the names I already listed. That being said, the reason he’s so “low” here is because his fantasy ceiling isn’t quite as high as the aforementioned players. If Stevan Ridley misses time, Vereen’s role will increase, but not significantly. Brandon Bolden and, to a lesser extent, LeGarrette Blount will be worked in, especially inside-the-five.

11. Andre Brown – Giants – ADP: 73

Brown does not appear to be a threat to David Wilson for the Giants’ lead back gig, but he’s next in line for the job if the sophomore back stumbles. Brown would enter the RB2 discussion if called upon to start.

12. Johnathan Franklin – Packers – ADP: 124

Assuming Eddie Lacy earns the Packers’ lead back job, Franklin will be the favorite for No. 2 duties. Of course, he won’t be guaranteed a full workload if Lacy were to miss action. DuJuan Harris was strong in a small sample of work last year and Alex Green remains in the mix. Franklin has a ton of talent, but there’s unlikely to be a clear path to 15-plus touches each game.

13. Toby Gerhart – Vikings – ADP: 164

Overlooked because of Adrian Peterson’s freakish healing abilities, Gerhart has very little competition for snaps should Peterson miss action due to injury. The Vikings’ passing game is poor, which means they’d rely heavily on the running game regardless of who is in the backfield. Gerhart would approach 20 touches most weeks as the starter.

14. DeAngelo Williams – Panthers – ADP: 117

We saw in the later stages of the 2012 season that Williams can still be an effective back when called upon to handle a significant workload. If Jonathan Stewart misses time, Williams will handle a bulk of the carries, but Mike Tolbert will be heavily involved on passing downs and inside the five.

15. Michael Bush – Bears – ADP: 145

Utilized in a short-yardage capacity last season, Bush averaged just 3.6 yards-per-carry, but did score five times on 114 carries. He’s now 29 years old, but we’ve seen before that he can be effective when called upon to spot start.

16. Vick Ballard – Colts – ADP: 76

Penciled in as the Colts’ lead back before they pounced on Ahmad Bradshaw, Ballard now falls back into handcuff territory. If Bradshaw’s knees begin to act up again, Donald Brown won’t provide Ballard with much competition for snaps. Ballard’s ADP will continue to drop as Bradshaw’s role as lead back becomes clearer.

17. Ryan Williams – Cardinals – ADP: 126

Williams is one of the league’s most injury-prone players over the last two years, but he’ll get another shot at lead-back duties if Rashard Mendenhall stumbles. Of course, the leash here will be short with rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington also in the mix.

18. Ronnie Hillman – Broncos – ADP: 114

Hillman is undersized (5’10/190) and figures to settle in as a change-of-pace back, but he would get a long look as Denver’s lead back if Montee Ball were to miss time. Knowshon Moreno would certainly be involved, but he’s a below average producer.

19. Jacquizz Rodgers – Falcons – ADP: 125

Despite leading the Falcons’ backfield in snaps last season, Rodgers wasn’t much of a fantasy asset because of his struggles between the tackles. If Steven Jackson goes down with an injury, Rodgers will enjoy a sizable boost in snaps, but he’d share the workload with bruiser Jason Snelling. Rodgers’ low ceiling keeps up from a higher ranking.

20. Mikel Leshoure – Lions – ADP: 102

Leshoure is a guy who seems more attractive as a handcuff than he actually is. He’s going to see plenty of work behind Reggie Bush this season, but his role doesn’t figure to increase if Bush goes down with an injury. Instead, Joique Bell—seemingly a better all-around back than Leshoure—would pick up a large chunk of Bush’s snaps, including all passing-down work.

21. Danny Woodhead – Chargers – ADP: 109

Like Vereen, Woodhead will be drafted before a lot of names already listed (and rightfully so), but the issue is that his role won’t be much different in the event of a Ryan Mathews’ injury. Woodhead has never been a workhorse back and coach Mike McCoy is not going to ask him to run between the tackles 15 times-per-week. Instead, Ronnie Brown will take on a chunk of Mathews’ snaps.

22. Mike James – Buccaneers – ADP: N/A

James was only a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, but the Buccaneers are badly in need of a competent No. 2 option behind workhorse Doug Martin. It appears James has secured the gig, but it’s likely he’d share duties with Brian Leonard and Michael Smith in the event of a Martin injury. Still, those investing a top-five overall pick in Martin should be considering James in the later rounds, especially in deeper leagues.

23. Pierre Thomas – Saints – ADP: 131

I probably should’ve just grouped Woodhead, Vereen, and now Thomas together. The long-time Saints utility man remains a solid contributor as a runner and pass catcher, but he requires several injuries in order to land a 15-plus touch role. If Mark Ingram or Darren Sproles miss time, Thomas’ snaps will increase, but Travaris Cadet will play a sizable role. The ceiling here is too low to warrant much fantasy intrigue.

24. Mike Goodson – Jets – ADP: 175

Goodson is dealing with some legal issues, but he’s currently slotted in as Chris Ivory’s primary backup. Goodson will handle a lot of the passing down work regardless, but he’d lead a committee with Bilal Powell in the event of an Ivory injury. The Jets’ poor offense limits his fantasy intrigue.

25. Montario Hardesty – Browns – ADP: N/A

The Browns loaded up with replacement-level running back depth this offseason, but Hardesty remains locked in as Trent Richardson’s primary backup. Should the sophomore workhorse go down with an injury, Hardesty would take on a bulk of the snaps. One of Chris Ogbonnaya, Dion Lewis, and Brandon Jackson would take on a situational role.

26. Isaac Redman – Steelers – ADP: N/A

The Steelers drafted Le’Veon Bell in the second round of April’s draft. If the rookie struggles or misses time, it’s Redman that would be the favorite for lead back duties. LaRod Stephens-Howling would certainly help out on passing downs and, assuming he keeps his roster spot, Jonathan Dwyer would be in the mix. The ceiling here is low.

27. Knile Davis – Chiefs – ADP: N/A

Davis is a very polarizing player, with many draft pundits scratching their heads following his selection in the third-round of April’s draft. Regardless, the lead back in an Andy Reid-offense tends to land on the fantasy radar. Should Jamaal Charles miss time, Davis figures to lead a committee that would also include Shaun Draughn and potentially Cyrus Gray.

28. Daniel Thomas – Dolphins – ADP: 168

Thomas has been extremely underwhelming since being selected in the second round of the 2011 draft. It appears, however, that he has a firm grasp on the No. 2 job behind sophomore Lamar Miller in Miami. Should Miller stumble or miss time, Thomas would take over. Rookie Mike Gillislee and potentially Jonas Gray or Marcus Thigpen, would be heavy-involved, however, and Thomas’ leash would be short.

29. Justin Forsett – Jaguars – ADP: N/A

A source inside the Jaguars’ organization informed me that Justin Forsett is the clear handcuff to Maurice Jones-Drew. There’s a lot of chatter/hype surrounding Denard Robinson, but his role—at least in 2013—will be as a part-time situational receiver/back. Forsett has always been underrated, but the Jaguars’ offense isn’t going to score a lot of points.

30. Evan Royster – Redskins – ADP: N/A

Royster is considered to be on the roster bubble, but the run-first Redskins seemingly do not have enough roster depth to warrant cutting him loose. Roy Helu and Chris Thompson are in the mix, but if the season began minus Alfred Morris today, Royster would be the favorite to start.

31. Joseph Randle – Cowboys – ADP: 146

The Cowboys utilize one of the league’s pass-heaviest offenses and the running back situation behind DeMarco Murray is very volatile. Randle, a fifth-round pick in April’s draft, is the favorite for No. 2 duties, but he’s dealing with a thumb injury. Should he get back to full health, and Murray were to miss time, Randle would need to fend off Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner for snaps.

32. Latavius Murray – Raiders – ADP: N/A

You could make a case that Rashad Jennings is currently No. 2 on the Raiders depth chart, but let’s be honest, he’s not very good. If Darren McFadden misses time, Murray and Jennings would share the workload, but Murray, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, offers slightly more intrigue.
 
Rotoworld:

The Cowboys reportedly had a third-round grade on Joseph Randle.
Randle ended up lasting until the fifth round, watching 10 running backs go before him. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys' scouts love to overrate prospects that come from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. They insist that Randle will be a significant upgrade on Felix Jones, but we didn't see much evidence of that on his Oklahoma State game tape. Randle will be a strict handcuff for DeMarco Murray owners -- not a standalone fantasy pick.


Source: ESPN Dallas
 
Gore is getting older but still solid, the guy I think benefits and has added 10 pounds of muscle this off season is LaMichael James. I love that he is an after thought right now, absolutely a perfect RB3 you can get at an RB4 price and I think he will have a chance to crack the top30 rather easily.

Great OL, young QB who is going to be looking for other options besides Boldin, defense will set up a lot of short fields for the offense, you could do a lot worse once the big names come off the board. I would rather have James over probably 8-10 "starters" from other teams that look more like an RBBC with messy offenses to begin with.

PPR leagues he is an auto start in the flex.
I often read LaMichael James will have PPR value, but I don't know why. Going back to Oregon, he didn't have more than 20 receptions in a season. During his NFL rookie season he recorded 3 catches.

Does he not have the ability to catch a bunch of passes, or has he not been given the opportunity? The 49ers haven't used the RB in the passing game since Harbs started coaching there, despite Gore's pass catching skill set. I'm curious as to why you expect that to change this year with James.

 
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Gore is getting older but still solid, the guy I think benefits and has added 10 pounds of muscle this off season is LaMichael James. I love that he is an after thought right now, absolutely a perfect RB3 you can get at an RB4 price and I think he will have a chance to crack the top30 rather easily.

Great OL, young QB who is going to be looking for other options besides Boldin, defense will set up a lot of short fields for the offense, you could do a lot worse once the big names come off the board. I would rather have James over probably 8-10 "starters" from other teams that look more like an RBBC with messy offenses to begin with.

PPR leagues he is an auto start in the flex.
I often read LaMichael James will have PPR value, but I don't know why. Going back to Oregon, he didn't have more than 20 receptions in a season. During his NFL rookie season he recorded 3 catches.

Does he not have the ability to catch a bunch of passes, or has he not been given the opportunity? The 49ers haven't used the RB in the passing game since Harbs started coaching there, despite Gore's pass catching skill set. I'm curious as to why you expect that to change this year with James.
His skillset would logically make sense in the passing game, but you're right in that he's never been used that way. He was routinely put in position during college to operate in space, which is when he is at his best. Chip Kelly did that via the run game though, not the pass.

 
21. Danny Woodhead – Chargers – ADP: 109

Like Vereen, Woodhead will be drafted before a lot of names already listed (and rightfully so), but the issue is that his role won’t be much different in the event of a Ryan Mathews’ injury. Woodhead has never been a workhorse back and coach Mike McCoy is not going to ask him to run between the tackles 15 times-per-week. Instead, Ronnie Brown will take on a chunk of Mathews’ snaps.

***

Not that I'm going out of my way to load up on Chargers' RBs, but might the coaches ask more of Woodhead if Matthews goes down? Or is there someone else on the roster who could make a contribution? I seem to remember that Brown looked pretty done last year. IIRC he was losing touches to Jackie Battle!

 
Lord Fantasy said:
21. Danny Woodhead – Chargers – ADP: 109

Like Vereen, Woodhead will be drafted before a lot of names already listed (and rightfully so), but the issue is that his role won’t be much different in the event of a Ryan Mathews’ injury. Woodhead has never been a workhorse back and coach Mike McCoy is not going to ask him to run between the tackles 15 times-per-week. Instead, Ronnie Brown will take on a chunk of Mathews’ snaps.

***

Not that I'm going out of my way to load up on Chargers' RBs, but might the coaches ask more of Woodhead if Matthews goes down? Or is there someone else on the roster who could make a contribution? I seem to remember that Brown looked pretty done last year. IIRC he was losing touches to Jackie Battle!
My impression is that Woodhead isn't that good of a runner. Should Mathews go down, the Chargers would likely pick someone else up, like Beanie or Benson or McGahee. Brown I thought looked good last year, but Norv kept him in a 3rd down role. He caught more passes than he had rushes (46 vs. 49). He did put up 4.8 ypc when he ran. Maybe the new staff would give him a good. He was a stud when healthy back in Miami.

 
Lord Fantasy said:
21. Danny Woodhead Chargers ADP: 109

Like Vereen, Woodhead will be drafted before a lot of names already listed (and rightfully so), but the issue is that his role wont be much different in the event of a Ryan Mathews injury. Woodhead has never been a workhorse back and coach Mike McCoy is not going to ask him to run between the tackles 15 times-per-week. Instead, Ronnie Brown will take on a chunk of Mathews snaps.

***

Not that I'm going out of my way to load up on Chargers' RBs, but might the coaches ask more of Woodhead if Matthews goes down? Or is there someone else on the roster who could make a contribution? I seem to remember that Brown looked pretty done last year. IIRC he was losing touches to Jackie Battle!
Michael Hill is an interesting prospect
 
I like Dion Lewis as the dark horse for Trent Richardson's handcuff. Very solid measurables, 4.7 career ypa, seems much more promising than Hardesty who has been the definition of mediocre for 3 seasons now.

 
Lord Fantasy said:
21. Danny Woodhead Chargers ADP: 109

Like Vereen, Woodhead will be drafted before a lot of names already listed (and rightfully so), but the issue is that his role wont be much different in the event of a Ryan Mathews injury. Woodhead has never been a workhorse back and coach Mike McCoy is not going to ask him to run between the tackles 15 times-per-week. Instead, Ronnie Brown will take on a chunk of Mathews snaps.

***

Not that I'm going out of my way to load up on Chargers' RBs, but might the coaches ask more of Woodhead if Matthews goes down? Or is there someone else on the roster who could make a contribution? I seem to remember that Brown looked pretty done last year. IIRC he was losing touches to Jackie Battle!
Michael Hill is an interesting prospect
This. I think Woodhead will be locked in as the passing back, but doubt he would ever be a 3 down RB or even approach 15 carries a game. RB is one of the most replaceable positions, look at what McCoy and the Broncos did last year when McGahee went down - everyone expected Hillman to take over based on Moreno being an inactive for the majority of the year at that point.

 
Rotoworld:

ESPN New York believes Bilal Powell will have to "find a niche" to keep his roster spot.
We're not even sure that would be enough. Powell has plodded to 3.7 yards per carry on his 123 career totes, and was barely replacement-level in the passing game last season. Powell may only be assured a roster spot if Mike Goodson's guns/weapons charges cost him his.


Source: ESPN New York
 
Rotoworld:

The Union-Tribune San Diego's Michael Gehlken reiterated that Danny Woodhead is going to be a "big part" of the Chargers' offense.

"So Woodhead is going to be a big part of this thing," Gehlken said. "Woodhead is just better in a lot of areas than Ryan Mathews." The new Chargers regime has talked up Mathews as a "bellcow back" capable of playing all three downs, but they wouldn't have brought in Woodhead and re-signed Ronnie Brown if they felt that comfortable with Mathews. Woodhead is purely a flex option in standard leagues, but his value jumps considerably in PPR formats.

Related: Ryan Mathews

Source: NFL.com

 
Rotoworld:

Roy Helu has undergone 'dry needling' to help loosen the muscles in his legs.

Helu has been unable to sustain health since posting 1,019 total yards as a rookie. He blames his series of lower-body injuries on tight muscles, but adds the acupuncture-like dry needling has produced "great results." If Helu's toe is healthy, he'll have a decent shot at winning the third-down job.

Source: Redskins.com

 
Rotoworld:

Packers.com considers rookies Johnathan Franklin and Eddie Lacy the only Packers running backs locked into roster spots.
Reporter Mike Spofford also lists DuJuan Harris as someone who "excited" the coaching staff last season. In other words, Alex Green and James Starks are likely competing for one roster spot, if that. Green says he learned a lot during his dicey return from a torn ACL last season. "My aiming point through the holes, the reads, watching the safety rotations. Just slowing the game down a little bit and letting the game come to me and being patient." Green and Starks are both facing an uphill battle.

Related: James Starks

Source: packers.com
 
Rotoworld:

The Denver Post calls Knowshon Moreno an "ideal" third-down back.
Third-down backs playing with Peyton Manning need to be able to protect. Coach John Fox may not trust rookie Montee Ball to do that job initially and Ronnie Hillman struggled badly with it last season. That leaves Moreno, a plus pass-catcher and blocker who won't be getting very much early-down work at all. Per the Post, the Broncos want Ball and Hillman to get "most" of the carries this season.

Related: Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball

Source: Denver Post
 
Rotoworld:

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky says Delone Carter and Donald Brown will battle for just one roster spot at training camp.
Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard will be the primary ball-carriers and blazing fast seventh-round rookie Kerwynn Williams is expected to help on special teams. That leaves Brown, the disappointing former first-round pick, and Carter, a sluggish power back with a career 3.75 YPC average. We'd give the edge to Brown heading into camp. He simply has more natural talent.


Source: ESPN.com
 
Michael Bush played most of '12 with shoulder fracture

By Kevin Patra NFL.com

Chicago Bears backup running back Michael Bush ended the 2012 season on injured reserve with a rib injury. Bush told the Chicago Tribune he also played most of the season with a fractured bone in his right shoulder.

"How did I play through it?" Bush asked rhetorically after saying he suffered it in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. "The same way I was going to play through the rib injury until I realized (the rib injury) was worse than what it was. That's just me. Once I broke my leg (in college) ... if it ain't my leg and it ain't my feet and I can still walk around and run, I'm going to play.''

Bush didn't undergo surgery on either injury and said both were fully healed.

Bush's role in new coach Marc Trestman's offense currently is undefined. The creative coach will want the more versatile Matt Forte to be on the field for the bulk of the plays. However, Trestman said during minicamp that he liked Bush's downhill-style running and what it could add to the offense.

Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.
 
Alex Green...while he does not have a ton of value at this point...is not out of the picture in GB just yet.
Green is the 4th RB in the pecking order right now. Lacy, Franklin and harris are all ahead of him. Green has nice hands but he lacks top end speed, enough wiggle and is not a bruiser.

I like Pead in the Rams situation to he has more upside than any of the other guys on that team.

Bryce Brown i will be monitoring because McCoy seems to be nicked up and kelly talks about many playes and keeping players fresh so he will get enough carries to have more value than the normal #2.

 
hauser42 said:
Alex Green...while he does not have a ton of value at this point...is not out of the picture in GB just yet.
Green is the 4th RB in the pecking order right now. Lacy, Franklin and harris are all ahead of him. Green has nice hands but he lacks top end speed, enough wiggle and is not a bruiser.I like Pead in the Rams situation to he has more upside than any of the other guys on that team.

Bryce Brown i will be monitoring because McCoy seems to be nicked up and kelly talks about many playes and keeping players fresh so he will get enough carries to have more value than the normal #2.
Green was running with the 1's in training camp FWIW. Not sure if he's veteran preference or what...
 
hauser42 said:
Alex Green...while he does not have a ton of value at this point...is not out of the picture in GB just yet.
Green is the 4th RB in the pecking order right now. Lacy, Franklin and harris are all ahead of him. Green has nice hands but he lacks top end speed, enough wiggle and is not a bruiser.I like Pead in the Rams situation to he has more upside than any of the other guys on that team.

Bryce Brown i will be monitoring because McCoy seems to be nicked up and kelly talks about many playes and keeping players fresh so he will get enough carries to have more value than the normal #2.
Green was running with the 1's in training camp FWIW. Not sure if he's veteran preference or what...
Because he was the only healthy RB at the time.

 
Rotoworld:

Rookie Mike Gillislee will enter training camp "clearly" behind Daniel Thomas in the battle for Dolphins No. 2 back duties.
The Fins also "like" Jonas Gray, though he's a "longshot" who'd likely need Thomas or Gillislee to suffer a serious injury to have a realistic chance at the 53-man roster. Gillislee could still make a run at the No. 2 running back spot when the pads go on in training camp. He's an equal or better talent to Thomas.

Related: Daniel Thomas, Jonas Gray

Source: Miami Herald
 
Ranking the New Orleans Saints' players: No. 5, Darren Sproles

By NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
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on July 15, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated July 15, 2013 at 9:52 AM

Excerpt:

No. 5: RB Darren Sproles

Last Year's Rank: 4

Season: 9; Age: 30; Height: 5-6; Weight: 190

Even at 30 years old, Sproles remains the most dynamic playmaker on the Saints' dynamic offense. He set the NFL record for all-purpose yards in 2011 with 2,696 as a runner, receiver and return man. He's fast, shifty and deceptively strong for his size, which makes him an effective runner between the tackles as well as around the corner. But the Saints need to do a much better job of turning Sproles loose than they did in 2012. (Sound familiar?)

Just like Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, Sproles also fell back down to earth in 2012. He was held to just 244 rushing yards, 667 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Part of the problem was a broken hand that sidelined Sproles for three games. But the bigger issues were increased attention from opposing defenses and the Saints' overall inefficiency on offense. Sproles might benefit more than anyone if the Saints' offense returns to its usual greatness this season now that coach Sean Payton is back.
 
Ranking the New Orleans Saints' players: No. 21, Mark Ingram

By NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
Follow on Twitter
on June 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated June 21, 2013 at 8:03 AM

Excerpt:

No. 21: RB Mark Ingram

Last Year's Rank: 23

Season: 3; Age: 23; Height: 5-9; Weight: 215

Ingram might be one of the most polarizing players on this list. The former Heisman Trophy winner hasn't come close to meeting the lofty expectations that came when the Saints traded up into the first round of the 2011 draft to get him. But there is still a great chance that he will have his best year to date in 2013. Ingram is fully healthy this offseason for the first time; Sean Payton is committed to improving the Saints' run game; Chris Ivory is no longer around to steal playing time; and Ingram started to tap into his potential down the stretch of last season.

Last year, Ingram gained just 178 yards with one touchdown in the first eight games of the season. Then he ran for 424 yards with four touchdowns over the final eight games. He has shown both speed and power when he gets around the corner or into the open field. But he has struggled to find that open field consistently -- partly because the Saints have used him in their short-yardage and heavy run packages. This year, the Saints should find better ways to use Ingram, and Ingram should be more poised to take advantage.
 
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Rotoworld:

The Denver Post calls Knowshon Moreno an "ideal" third-down back.
Third-down backs playing with Peyton Manning need to be able to protect. Coach John Fox may not trust rookie Montee Ball to do that job initially and Ronnie Hillman struggled badly with it last season. That leaves Moreno, a plus pass-catcher and blocker who won't be getting very much early-down work at all. Per the Post, the Broncos want Ball and Hillman to get "most" of the carries this season.

Related: Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball

Source: Denver Post
Really seems like Knowshon is completely flying under the radar.

 
Knowshon was solid when given a shot, healthy last year. Blocking and a pass-catcher, you'd think they'd want to use him more.

 
Knowshon was solid when given a shot, healthy last year. Blocking and a pass-catcher, you'd think they'd want to use him more.
We certainly don't have nearly enough information at this juncture, but history tells us the RB with the best blocking/receiving ability will be the one getting the snaps in a Peyton Manning led offense.

Ball may be getting all the hype right now, but if he can't catch the ball or adjust his assignment when Manning audibles he won't be in the game. I expect Ball will be the de facto goalline runner, but Moreno seems to be the value play at this moment.

It seems to happen every year. Team drafts young rookie RB early, coaching staff talks him up in OTAs/TC, fantasy players get excited and draft him early, veteran gets the most snaps. :shrug:

 
The last thing anybody will want is Manning getting blindsided because a young RB missed a blitz.

Moreno will get his fair share of snaps due to his versatility, even if it's limited.

 

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