What’s going on everyone! Better late than never!
So, we’re finally onto the last segment of the RB Handcuffs. A lot has changed since Monday in the NFL. Dallas lost two of their OL for a period of time this season. Guard Zack Martin is out for at least 2-4 weeks with a knee injury. He took a helmet to the knee in the game against CIN. Tackle Tyron Smith has a back issue, and that will probably last all season. Tackle La’el Collins was limping with his left ankle on Thursday. Dre Kirkpatrick has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome. Thankfully they caught it in time, but there’s a chance he won’t play ever again.
Where does Dallas go from here?
They’ll still need to rely on Ezekiel Elliot, and will need him even more, but we’ll probably see some new faces in the Cowboys organization on the OL this season. I would still draft Zeke in the first round but would have to move him down a little. When looking at the first round, I think he drops down between the 4-6 pick of the draft. This is true as more people become aware of the Cowboys issues on the OL.
Back to the handcuff situations to avoid this season….
CLE: Carlos Hyde and his backup Nick Chubb
The first situation to avoid that come to mind is the Cleveland Browns RB. While both Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb are capable RBs, with Hyde’s workload last season in San Francisco, I’m not sure he will last the entire season. We may be looking at Chubb starting by sometime in October. Then you add Duke Johnson into the mix in CLE. Duke last season ran for 348 yards 4 TDs and 74 receptions, 693 yards 3 TDs. Those are very good numbers, especially when CLE was dealing with issues at QB in 2017.
Hyde ranked 11th in total attempts in the 2017 NFL season, and ended up with 938 yards, eight TDs on 240 attempts, and 59 receptions for 350 yards.
Hyde is being drafted 61st overall, which is costly for a running back with this much mileage. Duke is being drafted around pick 104 and Chubb is going around pick 111. Three RBs from the same team being drafted within three rounds of each other. I just can’t gamble that much of a mid-round pick on the three. If I had to draft any of the Browns running backs, I would draft Chubb. Keep in mind that he may not start until November unless Hyde gets injured, but he could be a nice fresh RB to have on your roster come playoff time.
LAC: Melvin Gordon and his backup Austin Ekeler
Another RB that was up in attempts in 2017 was Melvin Gordon. Gordon has a lot of mileage on him ever since coming into the NFL. Starting in college at the University of Wisconsin, Gordon had he had 206 attempts in 2013, and 343 attempts in 2014. He then started his three years in the NFL, totaling 722 attempts. His first, and best year was in 2017
Ekeler has had a couple decent games, but I’m not sure if he’s the answer for the Chargers behind Gordon. I would avoid this combination and wouldn’t draft either on their own.
SEA: Chris Carson and his backup Rashaad Penny
Since the NFL draft, Penny has gained about 15 pounds and currently has a broken finger. He is expected to miss at least 1-2 regular season games. This coming after Seattle drafted in the first round, 27th overall.
Carson is expected to sustain the load in Seattle this season, but can he stay healthy enough to maintain that role?
Carson’s 2017 season ended in early October because of a fractured leg. At the time of injury, Carson had combined for 208 rushing yards over his previous four games.
I’m not sure he has the juice to stay in that starting role. It will be a close situation to monitor in SEA, but I would stay clear of their backfield in 2018.
TB: Ronald Jones and his backup Peyton Barber
Oh, how things have gotten worse for Tampa. It’s been years since they’ve had a consistent running back even though they thought they had him in Doug Martin.
Between his suspension last year, and then just an adequate year, they ended up not resigning him this past offseason. Martin has since moved on to the Oakland Raiders. Now we’re looking at rookie Ronald Jones and his backup Peyton Barber, but wait, is Jones still the starter?!?
It’s been a tough enough preseason for Tampa Bay, with Jameis Winston getting suspended, but now we’re looking at former Western Kentucky RB, Peyton Barber, to take the reins in week one. Through two years in the NFL, he has run for 646 yards and scored four touchdowns in 163 attempts.
Barber could be a decent pick this season, but I would stay clear of Ronald Jones in 2018.
WAS: Chris Thompson and his backup Robert Kelley
I saved the worst for last! The Redskins had seen enough of 2017 Rookie RB Samaje Perine last year and decided to take Derrius Guice in the NFL Draft this past spring. With the pick of Guice, Redskins actually started out as a top running offense at the beginning of training camp. Guice than took the reins as the incoming starter for 2018, exciting the team and fans for the 2018 season! Unfortunately, on August 10, Guice went down with a season-ending injury after sustaining an ACL tear in a preseason game against New England.
That quickly ended the hopes of a decent running year in Washington as well as Guice’s rookie season. Since Guice’s injury, the Skins signed FA Adrian Peterson, showing how much they don’t trust their current rostered RBs.
The Redskins current depth chart still shows Thompson as the lead, with Kelley as the backup but I’m pretty sure AP will see the most running attempts to start the season. Then, as he wears down, they’ll mix in Kelley and Perine. Thompson will likely be used as a check-down option for Alex Smith, and it’s also possible they end up signing another FA that gets released by their preseason team. I would completely avoid the WAS running game for 2018.
When going through your drafts, always be cautious with the players you take and with what role they will take on this season.
Source: Handcuffs to Avoid in 2018]
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