A Closer (Hunch-Based) Look at Denver’s RB Picture
Each year, owners look to dabble with the Bronco RBs due to Denver’s run-friendly scheme and the fantasy goodness their backfield tends to generate. But 2008 is a particularly tricky year to get a read on this situation because much has happened in the last few months and the pecking order is currently very unclear and extremely volatile.
Here are some recent developments worth noting:
● Travis Henry, who will turn 30 this season, badly pulled his hamstring last week while running 100-yard dashes in workouts and hasn’t suited up since. He also took a substantial pay cut this off-season just so he could stay in Denver. Triple bad vibes anyone?
● Selvin Young pledged to rush for 2,000 yards this season, claiming that injury is the only thing that can hold him back.
● Ryan Torain, a 6’1” 222-pound back coming off a Lisfranc injury, was drafted in the 5th round and is viewed as an ideal fit for Denver’s zone running game.
● Underrated veteran bruiser Michael Pittman signed a one-year deal with the Broncos to add depth to their backfield and presumably to catch some passes.
Throw in the fact that the shifty Andre Hall is still on the roster, and you have one ugly situation brewing in Denver. Who will be the “starter” come Week One? Who will get the goal-line carries? Who will be cut in training camp? Who’s the handcuff to whom? All of these are relevant questions, but unfortunately nobody has the answers right now.
However, you could make the argument that Young and Pittman figure to be the most productive backs in 2008 with Torain possibly making a late-season cameo. After all, it’s a long shot that Henry can stay healthy and keep his nose clean, and frankly, he looked lost in Denver’s scheme last year after storming out of the gates early on. I have this creeping suspicion that he’s on his way out unless he has the training camp of his life.
Ultimately, my opinion really doesn’t matter because Mike Shanahan will determine his depth chart in training camp and presumably during the preseason. But personally, I anticipate Young and Pittman having the most value of this entire crew. Yet don’t overlook the fact that this could spiral into a full-blown RBBC in 2008, in which we see a different guy excel each week. In other words, you’ll either have to grab 2-3 of these guys or none of them on draft day. The call is yours. Just be prepared for yet another a roller-coaster ride, courtesy of Shanahan.