Who are the best non starting running backs?

[KoopaTroopa211]

Tatum Bell, Marion Barber (although he might not be considered a "backup" at this point), and a rare vote for Maurice Morris.

[mystykoekaki]

Chester Taylor is the only true good back that isnt starting, that dude could be a beast!

[UNDEFEATED]

Now, let's flesh out my list by examining the contract situations of the backs, and the backs ahead of them, while also considering the possible retirements of the guys playing ahead of these guys:

Chester Taylor - Free Agent in 2006 (as is Jamal Lewis)

Najeh Davenport - Free Agent in 2006 (as is Ahman Green)

Chris Perry - under contract in 2006 (as is Rudi Johnson)

DeShaun Foster - Free Agent in 2006 (Stephen Davis under contract, but possible retirement)

Ladell Betts - under contract in 2006 (as is Clinton Portis)

Dominic Rhodes - under contract in 2006 (Edgerrin James is a free agent in '06)

Michael Pittman - under contract in 2006 (as is Cadillac Williams)

Greg Jones - under contract in 2006 (Fred Taylor likely to retire, and LeBrandon Toefield is a free agent)

Derrick Blaylock - under contract in 2006 (as is Curtis Martin, but possible retirement)


And the RBBC guys:

TJ Duckett - under contract in 2006 (as is Warrick Dunn)

Ricky Williams - under contract in 2006 (as is Ronnie Brown)

Travis Henry - under contract in 2006 (as is Chris Brown)

Tatum Bell - under contract in 2006 (as is Mike Anderson)


So, now let's do a ranking based on the likelihood that these guys will have a starting job next year, based on not only their own contract status, but the contract status of the guy playing ahead of them:

1) Chester Taylor
2) Najeh Davenport (coming off injury)

3) DeShaun Foster
4) Dominic Rhodes

5) Derrick Blaylock
6) Greg Jones (competition from Pearman)

7) Chris Perry
8) Michael Pittman
9) Ladell Betts


And since all the RBBC backs are under contract themselves, and their other halves are under contract as well, we'll rank them based on the likelihood that the other back in the RBBC either retires, is cut, or is traded, OR the likelihood that they are traded themselves:

1) Ricky Williams - the Dolphins best bait to go fishing for a QB

2) Tatum Bell - Denver loves to trade their starting back in the offseason

3) Travis Henry - the Titans may look to shop Brown for help elsewhere

4) TJ Duckett - Dunn is aging, but he's having his best season ever. I don't see him retiring just yet.

Lovely List...Can you do this with Johnathan Wells and Dom Davis?

Jonathan Wells must get a look b4 Morency. Wells consistently has great games when filling in for DDavis. 2 consectutive seasons with great injury induced starts. End of '05 appears to be his third season. Selected in the 4th round.

[Plindsey88]

Lovely List...Can you do this with Johnathan Wells and Dom Davis?

Jonathan Wells must get a look b4 Morency. Wells consistently has great games when filling in for DDavis. 2 consectutive seasons with great injury induced starts. End of '05 appears to be his third season. Selected in the 4th round.

Jonathan Wells is a Free Agent following the 2005 season... Likely will be released as Vernand Morency and Dom Davis will both be under contract....

[Redskins Win]

Lovely List...Can you do this with Johnathan Wells and Dom Davis?

Jonathan Wells must get a look b4 Morency. Wells consistently has great games when filling in for DDavis. 2 consectutive seasons with great injury induced starts. End of '05 appears to be his third season. Selected in the 4th round.

Jonathan Wells is a Free Agent following the 2005 season... Likely will be released as Vernand Morency and Dom Davis will both be under contract....

Wells could thrive as a featured back on some needfull team, maybe the Jets would be a good fit.

[thriftyrocker]

Another RBBC to consider is Staley/Parker/Bettis/Haynes. Bettis has said he will retire. Staley has 3 more years left on his contract. But there was talk earlier in the year that Staley would end up back in Philly since the Stillers assumedly wouldn't need him anymore with Parker's emergence.

[MadScott]

Greg Jones is an obvious one.
Fason is another one that will probably fly under the radar, he has 1st round talent.
Perhaps Vernand Morency who is the 3rd stringer in Houston.
Ryan Moats of Philly perhaps, I'm not high on him but others are.

Great pull on Jones. Pearman may also factor into the mix for JAX once Taylor is done though too.

Fason would do nicely in there if given the opportunity instead of the ludicrous committee that exists there.

The only thing that is somewhat troublesome about Morency is that he is older, ala Mike Anderson when he came in, so his window may be shorter than most.

Brandon Jacobs is also pretty intriguing.

Rhodes could definitely be a nice pull too if Edge moves on. In the same vane, Maurice Morris may have a chance in SEA it SA moves on, which is looking less and less likely.

[Kilroy]

Lovely List...Can you do this with Johnathan Wells and Dom Davis?

Jonathan Wells must get a look b4 Morency. Wells consistently has great games when filling in for DDavis. 2 consectutive seasons with great injury induced starts. End of '05 appears to be his third season. Selected in the 4th round.

Jonathan Wells is a Free Agent following the 2005 season... Likely will be released as Vernand Morency and Dom Davis will both be under contract....

Wells could thrive as a featured back on some needfull team, maybe the Jets would be a good fit.

Totally agree, I've been a big fan of his since his college days...given the opportunity he'll run with it (so to speak).

[Wesley Walker]

Best non-starting running back has got to be Mike Anderson or tatum Bell, whichever one doesn't start.

[Plindsey88]

Best non-starting running back has got to be Mike Anderson or tatum Bell, whichever one doesn't start.

I'm not so sure about that.... Denver has proven time and again that anyone can run in their system... I'd have to see what Bell or Anderson do outside of Denver before I start touting them as being top notch RB's....

The good news is that the Broncos will most certainly trade Mike Anderson in the off-season, and we'll get to see what both backs can do in a featured role...