There's no denying that the running back position has been devalued in recent years. Sure, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were selected in the first-round of the NFL draft this year. But that was the first time a RB had been taken that high since 2012.
Look around the league and you can find a lot of bargain bin production. Justin Forsett finished fifth in the NFL in rushing last year on a veteran minimum's contract. Arian Foster was unearthed as an undrafted free agent. Alfred Morris has three straight 1,000-plus yard seasons to start his career as a sixth-round pick. Teams just don't need to invest as heavily in ball carriers as they used to.
But what about the elite running backs? Are they really worth it? It's a question that was posed to ESPN's Green Bay Packers reporter Rob Demovsky in his weekly mailbag.
@RobDemovsky #PackersMail any talk of a new contract for Lacy?
— hennessy (@Henn36) May 21, 2015
"My initial thought on Lacy as a rookie was he'll be lucky to get a second contract with the Packers given how much of a pounding the running back takes game in and game out," Demovsky wrote. "But last season, coach Mike McCarthy seemed to do a better job managing Lacy's snaps and carries. Still, it's way too early to think about a contract for a running back who is still two seasons away from free agency. Two years from now, Lacy could be a word-down, beat-up back."
Running backs have never had long shelf lives in the NFL, but Lacy is coming off an especially impressive season. His improvement in his sophomore campaign even landed him the No. 1 spot in ESPN's Fantasy Football Player Rankings.
Lacy carried the ball 246 times for 1,139 yards (4.6 YPC) and nine touchdowns in 2014. But it was his receiving ability that really set him apart both on the field and in fantasy. Lacy hauled in 42 receptions for 427 yards and four additional scores. If he can continue to be an effective three-down back with his excellent combination of size and speed then Lacy should be able to drum up a second contract from the Packers for a reasonable price. The team is built on taking care of their own, as long as the cost is within reason.
