Alfred Morris is the clear No. 1 in Washington, coming off a breakout rookie season. But he doesn't catch passes, so there's a need for a third-down back, and fantasy owners are painfully aware that the No. 2 (or 3) running back on a Shanahan-coached team can come into significant fantasy value.
Today's Washington Post takes a look at the depth chart, which features incumbents Roy Helu, Evan Royster and Keiland Williams, as well as rookies Chris Thompson and Jawan Jamison. If you really want to get crazy, maybe Washington will suddenly decide to bring Tim Hightower back. Plenty of candidates.
Looking at the ones actually on the roster at present, Helu looks like the favorite for the third-down role, but that doesn't necessarily make him the starter if Morris gets hurt; that could be Royster. Or perhaps one of the rookies; Thompson is coming off a torn ACL, but the team says it viewed him as a second-round talent, who fell due to injury. Jamison was just a seventh-rounder, but he can't be overlooked. Morris, of course, was a sixth-rounder.
Those who select Morris in early drafts should probably consider Helu the favorite for third-round duties, and not bother trying to handcuff the starter beyond that. It might be late in the preseason before that No. 2 back is clear.
--Andy Richardson