5 rookie running backs who will emerge down the stretch
In what was supposed to be one of the deepest position groups of the 2015 draft, rookie running backs have disappointed so far this season. Early flashes from Ameer Abdullah and Melvin Gordon have given way to mediocrity and only Todd Gurley has consistently looked like the franchise back a team could build an offense around.
But with just less than half a season to go, these five rookies have a chance to reverse perceptions, getting franchises excited about their second-year prospects.
Tevin Coleman
Coleman owned the Falcons backfield coming into the season, but an injury opened the door for Devonta Freeman to take the league by storm. Before suffering a broken rib in Week 2, Coleman put up a respectable 112 yards and a touchdown, but hopes of a timeshare faded as Freeman racked up touchdown after touchdown.
Coleman now has the opportunity to grab at least a share of the carries back, if he performs well in Freeman's absence. However, a true time split with the pass-catching Freeman is the best he can hope for this season.
Buck Allen
Allen has shown some serious pop when given the ball this season, racking up 249 yards on 64 carries and 106 receiving yards on 13 receptions. With Justin Forsett out for the year, Baltimore's fourth-round pick will step into the starting role.
The next seven games will give the down-and-out Ravens a chance to see what they have in Allen and his talents in short yardage and pass-catching situations should help him shine.
Jay Ajayi
Ajayi certainly looks like the kind of game-breaking talent the Dolphins drafted him to be. The Boise State back notoriously slipped to the fifth round because of concerns about the long-term health of his knee, but when he gets on the field he shines.
With limited touches, Ajayi has racked up 105 yards in three games. That's good for an impressive 6.8 yards per carry. If Dan Campbell continues to increase his workload, Ajayi could become a deadly weapon, used in conjunction with the steady Lamar Miller.
Duke Johnson Jr.
The Cleveland Browns are in clear "what do we have in this guy" mode at 2-8 and Duke Johnson figures to benefit from that. The Miami product is being used almost exclusively in a pass-catching role (39 receptions, 387 yards) as it is, but continues to get a handful of carries per game.
The Browns have nothing to lose and Johnson also has a less than stellar Isaiah Crowell playing in front of him - meaning a complete takeover of this backfield is possible. Increased touches are coming and Johnson has proven he can do something with them.
David Cobb
Cobb is lying in wait in the Titans backfield. With Bishop Sankey petering out this season and the franchise untethered to undrafted free agent Antonio Andrews, Cobb will get a shot to impress the outgoing and incoming coaching staffs.
The former Minnesota Golden Gopher is the kind of back that can wear defenses down, especially late in the season. Once the Titans commit to him between the tackles, it will be hard for Andrews or Sankey to wrestle the ball away from him.