Dallas Cowboys fans are eager to know who is going to replace DeMarco Murray as the lead back this year. Fantasy football owners are also waiting for a peek at the running back hierarchy. Right now, Jerry Jones has four running backs on his roster that will get a crack at the starting gig. But which of them is the best bet? It's a question that was posed to ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer in his weekly mailbag. Although much will change between now and the start of the regular season, it wouldn't hurt to speculate along with him.
@toddarcher #cowboysmail who will be the goaline RB? I feel we will struggle in this department.
— David Quezada (@dboys_32) May 28, 2015
"I'm going to take a little different view of this question by changing it from goal-line to short yardage," Archer wrote. "How many goal-line plays does a team have all year? I'd bet it's a handful. Now they are important, but if a runner can convert, say, third-and-1 from the 45 then I don't know why he couldn't convert on third-and-goal from the 1. Of the backs the Cowboys will count on this year Darren McFadden is the biggest and I wouldn't consider him a physical back necessarily. Neither is Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar or Ryan Williams. Sometimes a runner has to make his own hole, and we'll see if those guys can get it done. I can't say for sure who it will be, but I think Randle has the best chance to be the leader of the committee. Until we see any of the backs do it, however, it will be a question. It was something DeMarco Murray did quite well last year, but I think 'struggle' is too strong of a word at this point."
Randle impressed in limited playing time last year, carrying the ball 51 times for 343 yards (6.7 yards-per-carry) and three touchdowns. But he has just 105 career carries to his name and was involved in some legal trouble this offseason. McFadden, meanwhile, is far removed from being the highly touted first-round pick he was back in 2008. He's dealt with injuries and ineffective play for a couple of years now. I know Dallas has arguably the best offensive line in the entire NFL, but at some point the running back has to make something happen himself.
If none of Dallas' ball carriers prove capable of doing that in training camp and the pre-season, then expect Jones to make a deal for a veteran on the trading block.
