With the NFL Combine happening this weekend I thought it would be nice to point out some teams that need a running back on their squad. Some teams could really use the talents coming from this years draft class (frankly I feel like there are a lot this year). Also, I will point out teams that might need some assistance in the backfield as well as teams I feel are pretty well off with their running back situation.
Here are a list of the teams (In NO particular order) that need a running back:
Colts- No more Frank Gore for the Colts which means an opportunity for another RB to make their mark on the organization. Yes they have Marlon Mack still, but lets be real there are some talented runners in this draft that are straight up better than him. I'm not here to grind on him because he too has some skills, but where the colts are on the draft board they have a chance to get a serious stud off the board. Wishing Mack all the best but it is going to be an upward battle for the RB1 spot against some elite guys.
Browns- Well, with the release of Isaiah Crowell, who has actually not been bad aa bad RB, the Browns need a 3 down back. This doesn't include Duke Johnson who is not a bad runner, however, in my opinion Johnson is more of a pass catching back which is why the Browns need someone else to carry the load. Preferably a bigger back.
Buccaneers- The Bucs basically have every other part of their offense complete (excluding maybe offensive line) all they really need is a solid running back. Doug Martin wasn't doing the trick and honestly I don't think any of their backups (Peyton Barber, Charles Sims, and Jacquizz Rodgers) can truly be stars. The draft is a great chance to collect on one of the great talents nested in this draft.
Broncos-
There may be no more CJ Anderson in the Broncos future which would mean they would be left with just Devontae Booker and Jamaal Charles. This is not good. Charles is too old and I am not sure that Booker has was it takes to carry the team which still needs an actual QB and a better O-line. Charles had a great run, but his injuries keep preventing him from doing anything which is a true tragedy. In all, need some help in the back field no matter what.
Seahawks- What the Seahawks really need is a running back that can stay healthy,Yikes! Last season was chaotic for them in terms of their running back situation, and I don't think it is going to get much better unless they grab one of these rookies or even a vet like Frank Gore. In my opinion the least they should do is release Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls.
Here are some teams that have a solid running back, but might need some assistance (Listed in No particular order):
Texans- Lamar Miller is great and all, but he is clearly not a three down back which is something they need to fix. D'onta Foreman had some spark but if they get rid of Miller like I've heard they might the Texans are going to need another back and what a better place to get one from then from the Draft.
49ers- Newly acquired Jerick McKinnon is a really solid back. Matt Breida showed some skills during the 2017 season as well that he is capable of backing up McKinnon. However I still feel like they could use another guy in the backfield.
Panthers- The Panthers do not necessarily need a rookie running back seeing as how they grabbed Christian McCaffrey in last years draft as their first round pick. However, by releasing Johnathon Stewart, the Panthers need someone to back McCaffrey up. And as great as McCaffrey was last year( in terms of fantasy football in PPR leagues he was really good) I think McCaffrey is a better receiver than running back. So unless the Panthers plan on running with Cam a whole lot more, I think the panthers need to find a second option and bigger back to compliment McCaffrey because I don't think McCaffrey is going to get it all done by himself.
Bengals-
I'd argue that Joe Mixon is going to be fine next year. There was a lot of hype last year and other than his receiving he did not fulfill what he was supposed to do. Granted his offense really struggled in the beginning with the passing game and their offensive line was not that good. He has another opportunity to show us what he can do. The Bengals still have a feisty Giovoni Bernard which is good, but more help in the back field never hurts.
Cardinals- They have one of the best running backs in the league when he is healthy (David Johnson), But with out him it was hard to watch. Now they lost their QB to retirement (Carson Palmer), they need a better backup plan in terms of running back in my opinion.
Raiders- If Beast Mode ( Marshawn Lynch) can stay healthy, he is going to be remain the star back. The good news is at the end of the year he started to really look like his old self again. However I'm not sure if he will ever be the full beast he once was and I don't think his backups will be able to handle the work load if he does get injured. The raiders also just signed former Buccaneers RB, Doug Martin. He had his moments in years past, but has also been in a slump since the one good year he had in Tampa Bay. So I think the Raiders could do better.
Bills- LeSean McCoy is a beast and one of the best backs in the league. But they must make sure they have a solid back up plan if he gets hurt because he is basically all they got. And he is injury prone ( he was injured and taken out of the game in the last game he played (Jax vs Buffalo) hint hint nudge nudge... same thing happened with David Johnson in 2016) and I don't want that same fate to fall on Shady, but it could happen because anything is possible. They recently signed Chris Ivory, however I still am not overly confident that he will be able to do anything if Shady is hurt.
Dolphins- Kenyan Drake tore it up when Jay Ajayi was traded to the Eagles. He was a beast last season, but I think he could still use some assistance in the backfield.
Lions- Theo Riddick can still be retained as a solid pass catching backup and Ameer Abdullah isn't a bad back, but in my opinion it is time for the Lions to let one of them go. In my opinion, the Lions should be moving on from Abdullah. He has shown some good qualities in his time at Detroit but has been no where near the back they thought he was and needed him to be. This draft is a perfect place to pick up a talented rookie who can help steer the lions towards the playoffs. The rest of their team is really quite solid, but they need some young blood to take them to the next level.
Teams that are well off:
The Saints, Rams, Bears, Falcons, Steelers, Eagles, Vikings, Titans, Cowboys, Patriots, Char-gers, Redskins, Chiefs, Jaguars, Ravens and Green Bay I would say are all really well off when it comes to running backs on their team. I will say I was concerned at first with Green Bay's running back situation, but then I remembered how well Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones did when Ty Montgomery was injured and so I am content with them being there and I think they fit great into their system. In my opinion the team with the best overall running back situation has to be either the Saints (with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara) or the Vikings, Wow, they are loaded (Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray)!
Updated: Teams that got a RB during the offseason
Jets- With Matt Forte announcing his retirement a few days ago it seems like the Jets might be hosting a Bill Powell show. Powell hasn't been as bad as you might think and he has actually shown he can be pretty darn good in the backfield. Good News is that they signed a fairly reliable back. Former Browns RB, Isaiah Crowell, did a good job of running the ball on a poor Browns team. Yes the Jets aren't great either, but I can definitely see him taking on the role of lead back in New York and having a solid 1,000 yard 8 touch down season with them.
Giants- Wayne Gallman wasn't too bad last year. Yes his team did terrible, but he was able to do some good things on a team that has been struggling the last couple of years. Some good news I guess for the Giants is that they signed former Panthers RB Jonathon Stewart to the team. He has been a solid back for the Panthers in years past so maybe he can use his experience being a veteran RB in the league to get something done in the Giants backfield.
*I have also heard that the Lions have been talking with LeGarret Blount and Demarco Murray. So I guess we will soon see if one of them can land a spot with the Lions.
*Patriots have been talking with Former Bengals running back Jeremy Hill.
