Post by MGB01 on Jun 20, 2019 15:10:36 GMT -5
We continue our FA series by taking a look at running backs
Cameron Artis-Payne: In his first season as lead back in DC, Artis-Payne rushed for 1218 yards and seven touchdowns, briefly leading the league in rushing. The only problem, his age--he'll be 29 on Sunday, old for a player entering his second contract much less a starting running back.
Prediction: Washington. The production makes him attractive, his age will scare teams off. So it's back to Washington where new head man Pep Hamilton will have fun with the tandem of Artis-Payne and Kalen Ballage, mixing in younger backs (Elijah Hood, Akrum Wadley) occasionally.
Buck Allen: Despite the presence of first-round pick Nyheim Hines it was Allen who led the Monarchs in rushing with Devonta Freeman limited by injuries. Allen has a similar problem as Artis-Payne in that he's a year behind him so wherever he ends up will be in a tandem.
Prediction: New York. Ron Rivera could take a scalpel to the Hitmen RB corps by possibly trading LeSean McCoy, heading into the last year of his contract, and pairing Allen with second-year back Gus Edwards, who rushed for 524 yards as a rookie. Even if McCoy stays Allen would still be desirable, since the rest of the group have the Hitmen almost nothing.
Rod Smith: After splitting carries with Brian Hill in San Francisco and proving himself to be a good receiver out of the backfield with 23 catches and two touchdowns, he might move up this list as a commodity, plus his value as a blocking back from his years in Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Pittsburgh. So he ends up going back to the Steel City as Mike McCarthy, not unlike Rivera, reorganizes the backfield. LeGarrette Blount and Joe Williams were a solid 1-2 punch but, along with Bo Scarbrough, who was used mostly as a short-yardage back, they're all kind of the same back. McCarthy, who just came off coaching Aaron Jones in Green Bay, would love Smith's versatilty.
Rob Kelley: Production has not been an issue with him, health has. Since bursting on the scene in 2017 with 600 yards and four touchdowns he's actually running at a jaw-dropping clip of 6.5 YPC but teams will see 16 games missed in those two seasons and will be hesitant to look at him at anything more than RB3. He also hasn't been much of a pass catcher, topping out at 17 as a rookie and 14 combined in the two seasons since.
Prediction: San Francisco. Kelley would effectively take Smith's place as the Demons work 2018 rookies John Kelly and Chris Warren into the rotation. Kelley's snaps would be limited to start out and then gradually get more carries.
Akeem Hunt: Hunt was plenty productive in Chicago and Los Angeles as both RB3 and kick returner, rushing for a career-best 135 yards and averaging 24.1 yards per kickoff return in 2019.
Prediction: Kansas City. While no doubt signing a running back with a similar-sounding name to Kareem Hunt will liven the champs' already-jacked fan base even more and raise a few eyebrows, it gives them more flexibility, allowing all-rookie returner Darius Phillips to focus exclusively on punt returns, which he averaged 13.2 per return and returned one for a touchdown.
Cameron Artis-Payne: In his first season as lead back in DC, Artis-Payne rushed for 1218 yards and seven touchdowns, briefly leading the league in rushing. The only problem, his age--he'll be 29 on Sunday, old for a player entering his second contract much less a starting running back.
Prediction: Washington. The production makes him attractive, his age will scare teams off. So it's back to Washington where new head man Pep Hamilton will have fun with the tandem of Artis-Payne and Kalen Ballage, mixing in younger backs (Elijah Hood, Akrum Wadley) occasionally.
Buck Allen: Despite the presence of first-round pick Nyheim Hines it was Allen who led the Monarchs in rushing with Devonta Freeman limited by injuries. Allen has a similar problem as Artis-Payne in that he's a year behind him so wherever he ends up will be in a tandem.
Prediction: New York. Ron Rivera could take a scalpel to the Hitmen RB corps by possibly trading LeSean McCoy, heading into the last year of his contract, and pairing Allen with second-year back Gus Edwards, who rushed for 524 yards as a rookie. Even if McCoy stays Allen would still be desirable, since the rest of the group have the Hitmen almost nothing.
Rod Smith: After splitting carries with Brian Hill in San Francisco and proving himself to be a good receiver out of the backfield with 23 catches and two touchdowns, he might move up this list as a commodity, plus his value as a blocking back from his years in Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Pittsburgh. So he ends up going back to the Steel City as Mike McCarthy, not unlike Rivera, reorganizes the backfield. LeGarrette Blount and Joe Williams were a solid 1-2 punch but, along with Bo Scarbrough, who was used mostly as a short-yardage back, they're all kind of the same back. McCarthy, who just came off coaching Aaron Jones in Green Bay, would love Smith's versatilty.
Rob Kelley: Production has not been an issue with him, health has. Since bursting on the scene in 2017 with 600 yards and four touchdowns he's actually running at a jaw-dropping clip of 6.5 YPC but teams will see 16 games missed in those two seasons and will be hesitant to look at him at anything more than RB3. He also hasn't been much of a pass catcher, topping out at 17 as a rookie and 14 combined in the two seasons since.
Prediction: San Francisco. Kelley would effectively take Smith's place as the Demons work 2018 rookies John Kelly and Chris Warren into the rotation. Kelley's snaps would be limited to start out and then gradually get more carries.
Akeem Hunt: Hunt was plenty productive in Chicago and Los Angeles as both RB3 and kick returner, rushing for a career-best 135 yards and averaging 24.1 yards per kickoff return in 2019.
Prediction: Kansas City. While no doubt signing a running back with a similar-sounding name to Kareem Hunt will liven the champs' already-jacked fan base even more and raise a few eyebrows, it gives them more flexibility, allowing all-rookie returner Darius Phillips to focus exclusively on punt returns, which he averaged 13.2 per return and returned one for a touchdown.