The Philadelphia Eagles spent a whopping grand total of $51 million on the running back position during free agency this offseason. In just this season alone, ball-carriers will count roughly $9 million against the salary cap. With that type of money invested into the position, you'd think Philadelphia would rank higher than No. 12 in rushing yards per game (115.7) and No. 18 in yards per carry (4.0). Yet the Eagles have been a mediocre rushing team all season, prompting prized free agent DeMarco Murray to talk with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie about his role in the offense.
This has been a bad news situation for fantasy football owners as well. Murray has failed to live up to the lofty expectations he set with his career season last year. Ryan Mathews has been hurt (again) and Darren Sproles is still more of a bit player than a weekly starting option. Best advice: avoid Eagles running backs.
"I can't understand why so many people continue to rely on Philly's DeMarco Murray," ESPN Fantasy Football Insider Eric Karabell wrote. "He was terrible again Sunday, with Darren Sproles usurping a far more important role. Look for that to continue, meaning it's tough to rank an Eagles running back even as a reasonable flex."
It's important to remember that head coach Chip Kelly jettisoned Philly's two starting guards this offseason, never an easy obstacle to overcome for any running back. But there's no denying Murray's struggles.
As Karabell mentioned, Murray was awful on Sunday against the New England Patriots, receiving just eight carries for 24 yards as Sproles proved much more effective. On the season, Murray has 163 rushing attempts for 569 yards (3.5) and four touchdowns. He's been a decent PPR play (39 catches, 295 yards, one TD), but not enough to offset the first-round cost it took to get him in most fantasy drafts.
If you own Murray, it likely means you don't have a bevy of other options to replace him in your lineup. That's too bad as Philly's next opponent, the Buffalo Bills, rank in the top half of the league in fantasy points vs. RBs. Don't expect too much from Eagles rushers this week.
