With the kind of workload DeMarco Murray is carrying you have to worry about him breaking down, and probably sooner rather than later. This is the same guy who’s missed time with injuries in seven of his last eight seasons playing football, right?
Physics and the durability of the human body indicate it’s not possible for Murray to continue what he’s doing for a 16-game season. He’s got to break down.
Right now he’s on pace to finish the season with 416 rushing attempts and 48 receptions. That’s 464 touches, which would be the 2nd-most in league history behind James Wilder of the 1984 Buccaneers (a running back I foolishly selected in the second round of my first fantasy football draft two years later).
Only seven times in the last 10 years have running backs made it to 400 touches.
We should all be picking up Joseph Randle. He’s not a clean handcuff (they also have Lance Dunbar) but if and when Murray gets hurt, it should be Randle who’s the main running back there. And with the way that offensive line is playing, Randle would be a solid fantasy option.
RUNNING BACKS WITH 400 TOUCHES | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Run | Rec | Total |
1984 | James Wilder, T.B. | 407 | 85 | 492 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray (proj.) | 416 | 48 | 464 |
2006 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 416 | 41 | 457 |
2000 | Eddie George, Tenn. | 403 | 50 | 453 |
2002 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 372 | 79 | 451 |
2000 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 387 | 63 | 450 |
1985 | Marcus Allen, Raiders | 380 | 67 | 447 |
2003 | Ricky Williams, Mia. | 392 | 50 | 442 |
1983 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 390 | 51 | 441 |
1995 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 377 | 62 | 439 |
1998 | Jamal Anderson, Atl. | 410 | 27 | 437 |
2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 346 | 90 | 436 |
1992 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 373 | 59 | 432 |
1999 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 369 | 62 | 431 |
2002 | Ricky Williams, Mia. | 383 | 47 | 430 |
1986 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 404 | 26 | 430 |
1985 | Gerald Riggs, Atl. | 397 | 33 | 430 |
1992 | Barry Foster, Pitt. | 390 | 36 | 426 |
1984 | Walter Payton, Chi. | 381 | 45 | 426 |
1988 | Eric Dickerson, Ind. | 388 | 36 | 424 |
2003 | Deuce McAllister, N.O. | 351 | 69 | 420 |
1994 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 368 | 50 | 418 |
1985 | James Wilder, T.B. | 365 | 53 | 418 |
1998 | Terrell Davis, Den. | 392 | 25 | 417 |
1991 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 365 | 49 | 414 |
1988 | Herschel Walker, Dall. | 361 | 53 | 414 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 313 | 100 | 413 |
2003 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 387 | 26 | 413 |
2004 | Curtis Martin, NYJ | 371 | 41 | 412 |
1999 | Curtis Martin, NYJ | 367 | 45 | 412 |
1998 | Curtis Martin, NYJ | 369 | 43 | 412 |
2005 | Tiki Barber, NYG | 357 | 54 | 411 |
1997 | Terrell Davis, Den. | 369 | 42 | 411 |
1998 | Marshall Faulk, Ind. | 324 | 86 | 410 |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 358 | 50 | 408 |
2003 | Ahman Green, G.B. | 355 | 50 | 405 |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 348 | 56 | 404 |
2005 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 360 | 44 | 404 |
1996 | Ricky Watters, Phil. | 353 | 51 | 404 |
1993 | Thurman Thomas, Buff. | 355 | 48 | 403 |
1984 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 379 | 21 | 400 |
1979 | Walter Payton, Chi. | 369 | 31 | 400 |
—Ian Allan