Tue Jul 11th 2023

Running Back Traning-Camp Battles

There are a lot of teams whose running back roles are unsettled. Training camp reports will bring clarity to some of these situations, whereas others will remain unknown going into the season. As of this post, Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliot, and Leonard Fournette have yet to sign with teams. They are the free agents who could complicate teams' backfields even more. For now, there are ten teams whose backfields seem the most uncertain. They are the teams I'll pay attention to most after training camps start.

The Eagles

• The Eagles' backfield is loaded with potential, with DeAndre Swift, Kenny Gainwell, and Rashaad Penny leading the way and Boston Scott behind them. Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks will likely not make the final 53-man roster. Gainwell picked up steam as the Eagles made their Super Bowl run last year and looked poised to be the next man up after Carolina signed Miles Sanders. But Philadelphia's draft day trade for DeAndre Swift and signing of Rashaad Penny in free agency bumped Gainwell back to a supporting role. Swift will earn the starting role, but if Penny proves healthy, he could take the first and second-down role away from Swift. Penny and Swift have been injured often throughout their careers, so Gainwell will also have chances. Gainwell did not have more than nine touches (rushes and receptions) in a game during the regular season, so the Eagles like him in the minor role, especially given that they added Swift and Penny. I'll listen to reports and watch to see how healthy Penny is because if he's healthy, he'll split time evenly with Swift. Even so, the Eagles' offense and Jalen Hurts's rushing prowess bring down the production and dynasty value of the entire backfield in Philadelphia.

The Commanders

• Antonio Gibson barely outsnapped Brian Robinson last year, earning 43.5% of the snaps compared to Robinson's 39.5%. Gibson played in three more games than Robinson, or the totals would have been about equal. The Commanders staff did not trust Gibson last year and limited his roles significantly. During recent OTA practices, however, the coaches spoke well of Gibson and his increased role this season. The Commanders let J.D. McKissic go, and he had 31% of the snaps last year. The McKissic passing-game role will fall on Gibson, making him far more productive than last season. At the same time, Robinson is their first and second-down back. Both of their roles should increase in the offense. Jonathan Williams or Jaret Patterson will not cut into their playing time, and one of the two might not make the team. The only threat to Robinson, not Gibson, is their rookie, Chris Rodriguez, who has a similar running style to Robinson. If Rodriguez gets good reports in training camps and plays well in the preseason, Robinson would be the player most impacted.

The Bears

• The Bears let David Montgomery go in free agency, opening the lead role to Khalil Herbert, who has looked fantastic when given opportunities the past two seasons. However, the Bears added significant competition when they signed D'Onta Foreman and drafted Roschon Johnson. Still, this is absolutely Herbert's job to lose, and Foreman and Johnson were added purely for depth. Johnson is the most natural pass catcher and pass-protector, so he can earn a role in the passing game, but the Bear's passing game is far from a traditional drop-back quarterback with Justin Fields. I'm taking a stand on Herbert as the Bears' lead back and Foreman and Johnson as his backups. Foreman will do well if Herbert is injured and will spell him in games, but barring injury, I expect Herbert to get 60-65% of the running back touches this season.

The Lions

• Last year DeAndre Swift had 34% of the Lions' snaps compared to Jamaal Williams's 40%. Swift missed three games with an injury, or the numbers would be a little closer. The Lions had one of the most clear-cut two-headed backfields in the league last season, with Williams as the running and short-yardage back and Swift as the passing downs back. Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns due to the clarity of their roles. They will do much of the same this year with their two new running backs, free agent signing David Montgomery and first-round draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs. The only difference is that the coaching staff likes Gibbs far more than they like Swift, as evidenced by Swift's trade and Gibbs' draft capital. The two will have about a 50-50 split in playing time and touches, but the Lions want to find ways to get the ball in Gibbs' hands more than they did with Swift. Montgomery will have a substantial role and be their red-zone back, leading to many touchdowns, though not as many as Williams had last year. Their roles are clear. Mohamed Ibrahim is the player I'm most interested in hearing training camp reports about and seeing in preseason games. He had an incredibly productive college career in Minnesota as a bruising back. Detroit likes that kind of back. If Montgomery gets injured, I'd like to see what Ibrahim could do.

The Buccaneers

• Rachaad White's role increased significantly after week ten last year, giving dynasty managers and the Buccaneers optimism for his future. He has a big leg up on Chase Edmonds, who they signed in free agency, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn, their third-round pick from two years ago. Most dynasty managers don't see this backfield as a competition, but I still do. White's production was highly inflated by his use in the passing game last season. That is what White does best, and Tom Brady does best. I think Brady had more to do with White's success than White did, and I am sure Baker Mayfield of Kyle Trask will involve running backs in the passing game as much as Brady did. I think White has much to prove as a rusher and think the best rusher on their roster is their undrafted free agent, Sean Tucker. If Tucker's heart problems get diagnosed and addressed, I'm confident he will be the best runner on the field. I'm eager to see if he can get well and get some touches in preseason games. He's the player I will watch the most before the season starts. I sure hope he gets his chance.

The Seahawks

• The Seahawks created a battle in their backfield when they signed Zach Charbonnet in the second round, the same round they signed Kenneth Walker the year before. The selection shows that the coaching staff does not like something in Walker's game. It's his ability in the passing game, and short yardage game are two vital roles in fantasy production. More than any team in the league, the Seahawks play the best player at every position regardless of draft capital or previous performance. That means it's a clean slate for Walker and Charbonnet going into training camp and preseason. I suspect the Seahawks will open up their offensive passing game more this season after drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They have too many weapons not to pass the ball more often, and Charbonnet will benefit the most if they do. I expect a 50/50 split between the backs with a slight edge to Walker at the beginning of the season, but as the season progresses, Seattle's first and second-round draft picks, JSN and Charbonnet, will take over.

The Bills

• Ourlads lists James Cook at the top of the depth chart, followed by Damien Harris and Latavius Murray, with Nyheim Hines a distant fourth. The Bills brought in one older back (Harris) and one really old back (Murray) to compete with Cook, who they drafted in the second round two years ago. They have a lot of touches to replace, given that Devin Singletary led the running backs last year with 65% of the team's snaps. Cook only had 24% of the snaps. Cook will remain their lead back if the Bills want to remain a high-passing offense. However, if they incorporate the run into the offense more than they have the last few seasons, Harris should be their starting running back. Harris did not get the opportunity he deserved in New England after Rhomandre Stevenson surpassed him on the depth chart. If Harris gets a starting role in Buffalo, I am confident he will be their team's most productive back. The only question is if the rumors are true that Buffalo intends to run the ball more and ask Josh Allen to run the ball less. If so, the wheels are up for Harris. If not, the wheels won't be up for Cook, but he will have a moderately productive season.

The Dolphins

• The Dolphins have the messiest backfield, especially given that they are a top candidate to sign Dalvin Cook. This fact frustrates dynasty managers because the Dolphins also have one of the most productive running offenses. We never know which running back will be productive. They have the fastest running back room in the league with Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert, and Devon Achane, who are protected by the fastest receiver tandem in the league in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins will score a ton of points; the only question is which running back will do it week to week, and how confident can you be putting one of them in the starting lineup? Wilson and Mostert will share the primary running back role evenly, while Achane will serve as an offensive weapon, even lining up at wide receiver. As a result, Achane's production will be very hit-and-miss, and Mostert and Wilson will have low floors and high ceilings until one of them gets injured, which seems to happen every year. I'm glad to have all of these players on my teams, but they're very hard to put in a starting lineup until one gets injured. However, if Miami signs Dalvin Cook, he's an every-week starter with tremendous upside.

The Broncos

• The Bronco's battle is based solely on JaVonte Williams's injury and recovery timeline. That said, the Broncos will likely go with a running-back-by-committee approach even after Williams returns to play. Samje Perine was the free agent new coach, Sean Peyton, prioritized in free agency. He plans to use him whether Williams is healthy or not. Tyler Badie is a player I still have on several of my dynasty rosters in deep leagues. If Williams's recovery lingers for some reason, Badie is a gifted back who can contribute to the team. He was a highly effective pass catcher in college, and he could take on that role for the Broncos even while Perine and Williams are healthy. He's a sneaky player to keep an eye on in training camp.

The Chiefs

• The Chiefs' running back room has been a mess from a fantasy perspective ever since Kareem Hunt was suspended and not re-signed by the team. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, once a first-round rookie pick in dynasty leagues, is now running with the third team behind last year's seventh-round pick, Isiah Pacheco, and last year's veteran breakout, Jerrick McKinnon. All of them will have a breakout game or two this season, and all of them will have dud games too. None can be trusted for this season or from a dynasty perspective. Deneric Prince got some buzz during OTAs, too, and it's not beyond coach Reid to make an undrafted free agent a significant part of the offense. I wish I had a share or two of McKinnon because his work in the passing game makes him more reliable than Pacheco, but I am glad not to have a share of any of the Chief's backs. I won't want to take a bet on any of them, and there's not much in training camp or preseason games that could change my mind unless Prince is the player that emerges.

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