More and more, teams are utilizing a Running Back By Committee (RBBC) approach. Some teams are trying to keep their main back fresh, some want to keep the defense off balance, while others simply do not have a back on the roster capable of carrying a full workload.
Typically, it’s wise for fantasy owners to stay away from these situations on draft day, as it’s difficult to predict who will emerge as the main back in a RBBC (if one emerges at all). With that in mind, here are five running games to avoid like the plague during the draft.
Houston Texans
Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Steve Slaton, Darius Walker, Chris Taylor
Given his long injury history, the Texans raised more than a few eyebrows when they signed Green to a four-year, $23 million deal last summer. Green is a talented back when healthy, but he has trouble staying on the field. He appeared in only six games last season before being placed on IR. As insurance, the team acquired Chris Brown, another talented rusher who has his own history of injury. Complicating matters, the Texans drafted Steve Slaton, a 5’9” rookie out of West Virginia. Finally, there’s Darius Walker, who somehow finished the season as the team’s second leading rusher. This is an ugly list of players and at 3.8 yards per carry (ypc) in 2007, it’s not like the Texans’ running game is worth the trouble.
Carolina Panthers
DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, LaBrandon Toefield, Alex Haynes
Fans of DeAngelo Williams had reason to be excited after the Panthers elected to cut DeShaun Foster. Finally, Williams would have the opportunity to carry the load, and with a career 4.6 ypc, he would be an interesting option in the fourth or fifth round. Not so fast. The Panthers drafted a physical back, Jonathan Stewart, in the first round to complement Williams’ style. Uh-oh, this looks like another Carolina RBBC.
Seattle Seahawks
Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, T.J. Duckett, Justin Forsett, Alvin Pearman
This used to be the Shaun Alexander show, but he hit the wall (hard) and is no longer playing for the team. The Seahawks signed Juilus Jones to give their running game some punch. Jones was supposed to be the feature back in Dallas, but relinquished those duties to Marion Barber. Jones’ career 3.9 ypc isn’t great, and the team has implied that it plans to use both Jones and Maurice Morris extensively. Throw in newcomer T.J. Duckett to vulture some goal line carries and the Seahawks have one giant mess in the backfield.
New England Patriots
Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Laurence Maroney has the skill of a feature back, but there are two things standing in his way: durability and Bill Belichick. Maroney missed three games early in the season and when he did play, Belichick favored Sammy Morris at the goal line. Maroney finished with six rushing touchdowns, but didn’t get his first until Morris’ season ended in Week 6. It’s probably worth it to roll the dice on Maroney in the fourth or fifth round, but at his current Average Draft Position (3.06) there is just too much risk, especially considering how much the Patriots like to throw the ball.
Tennessee Titans
LenDale White, Chris Henry, Chris Johnson, Rafael Little, Omar Cuff
LenDale White actually finished 2007 with pretty good numbers: 1224 total yards and seven TD. But the Titans drafted another RB (Chris Johnson), and along with last summer’s pick, Chris Henry, the Titans have three backs that are 23 or younger. The Henry and Johnson picks show a lack of confidence in White, who has seemingly taken up residence in Jeff Fisher’s doghouse. Johnson appears to be the “lightning” to White’s “thunder,” so if the duo start splitting carries, White’s stock is going to drop.
