Rams rolling with balanced backfield
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay indicated that the team will use a committee approach in the backfield.
“I think it’ll just naturally work itself out," McVay said. "I think if you look at that success (the San Francisco 49ers) had last year with that running back-by-committee approach...what I thought Kyle (Shanahan) and their players did a great job of is, ‘Hey, we’re going to have an open-mind approach, we’re going to be committed to trying to have some balance and then we’ll go with the hot hand or whoever really expresses himself as deserving of the carries. We’ve got four backs that we feel like are all NFL-legitimate starting-caliber backs and not feeling like you’ve got to force carries or touches to any of them. Just open mind and see how these guys do.” The four backs that McVay referenced are second-round rookie Cam Akers, 2019 third-round pick Darrell Henderson, five-year backup Malcolm Brown, and former preseason stud John Kelly. Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire believes Akers will eventually emerge as the Rams' lead back after initially splitting snaps and touches.
numberFire's models project Akers to lead the Rams' backfield with 164.6 carries and 29.7 receptions this season. Henderson is next up with 121.1 carries and 17.9 receptions, followed by Brown with 68.6 carries and 4.7 catches. Kelly is expected to handle only 5.6 offensive touches.
- Steelers sign Cordarrelle Patterson to 2-year deal March 26th, 2024
- D'Onta Foreman signing with Cleveland March 20th, 2024
- Jets sign Mike Williams to 1-year deal March 19th, 2024
- Browns sign wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to 3-year extension March 19th, 2024
- Steelers' Russell Wilson expected to be Week 1 starter; Justin Fields to operate as backup March 18th, 2024
- Steelers acquire quarterback Justin Fields in deal with Bears March 16th, 2024
- Alexander Mattison signs contract with Raiders March 18th, 2024
- Patriots ink K.J. Osborn to 1-year deal March 18th, 2024
- Sam Darnold signing with Vikings March 12th, 2024
- Aaron Jones joining Vikings with 1-year deal March 12th, 2024
- Falcons ink Kirk Cousins to new 4-year contract March 11th, 2024
- Vikings release Alexander Mattison March 1st, 2024