RB Handcuffs (Part 3)
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 has lost two of their OL for a period of time this season. Guard Zach 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 Zeke 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 ended up with 938 yards, 8 TDs on 240 attempts, and 59 receptions for 350 yards. Hyde ranked 11th on total attempts in the 2017 NFL season. Hyde comes at a cost of a 7th Round pick, which is costly for an RB with this much mileage. Duke is coming in at a cost of a 7th Round pick as well. Chubb is coming out at the 9th Round this season. That’s 3 RB’s from the same team coming within 3 rounds. I just can’t gamble that much of a mid-round pick on the three. If you had to draft any of the CLE RBs, I would draft Chubb. Now, just keep in mind Chubb 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 with 1105 yards rushing 8 TDs, and 58 receptions 476 yards and 4 TDs. Of 47 attempts he had 260 yards rushing with 2 TDs. Then 27 receptions, 279 yards, and 3 TDs. Ekeler has had a couple of 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
Penny’s had a terrible training camp. Since the NFL draft, Penny’s gained about 15 pounds, and he has a broken finger. He’s estimated to miss at least 1-2 regular season games. This coming after being drafted in the 1st Round for Seattle earlier this spring. Carson is supposed to sustain the load in Seattle this season, but can he stay healthy enough to maintain that role when Penny comes back? Early in October 2017, Carson ended his season on the IR with a leg fracture. Just coming off of 4 games with a total of 208 rushing yards. 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 II and his backup Peyton Barber
Oh, how things have gotten worse for TB. It’s been years since they’ve had a consistent RB on their roster. TB thought they had that runner in Doug Martin. Between his suspension last year, and then an adequate year, they ended up not resigning him this past offseason. Martin’s 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 TB, with Winston getting suspended, but now we’re possibly looking at former Western Kentucky RB, Peyton Barber, taking the reins to come Week 1. Barber’s been in the league since 2016. In his two years in the NFL, he’s run for 646 yards and 4 TDs, off of only 163 attempts. He could be a decent play at RB this season, but I would stay clear of fellow RB Ronald Jones in 2018.
WAS: Chris Thompson and his backup Rob Kelley
I saved the worse for last! The Redskins had seen enough of 2017 Rookie RB Same Perine last year, so they decided to take prospect 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. In the preseason game against New England, he tore his ACL. Quickly, ending the hopes of a decent running year in Washington, and 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 current WAS depth chart, still shows Thompson as the lead, with Kelley as the backup. But, whether that stays intact during the opening of the regular season is as good as a guess. I’m sure we’ll see AP take over the most amount of running attempts to start the season. Then as he wears down, they’ll mix in Kelley and Perine. Thompson will be used a check down 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.
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