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Factoid

DeMarco Murray

Dallas runner shouldering an unlikely workload

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
YearPlayerRunRecTotal
1984James Wilder, T.B.40785492
2014DeMarco Murray (proj.)41648464
2006Larry Johnson, K.C.41641457
2000Eddie George, Tenn.40350453
2002LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.37279451
2000Edgerrin James, Ind.38763450
1985Marcus Allen, Raiders38067447
2003Ricky Williams, Mia.39250442
1983Eric Dickerson, Rams39051441
1995Emmitt Smith, Dall.37762439
1998Jamal Anderson, Atl.41027437
2006Steven Jackson, St.L.34690436
1992Emmitt Smith, Dall.37359432
1999Edgerrin James, Ind.36962431
2002Ricky Williams, Mia.38347430
1986Eric Dickerson, Rams40426430
1985Gerald Riggs, Atl.39733430
1992Barry Foster, Pitt.39036426
1984Walter Payton, Chi.38145426
1988Eric Dickerson, Ind.38836424
2003Deuce McAllister, N.O.35169420
1994Emmitt Smith, Dall.36850418
1985James Wilder, T.B.36553418
1998Terrell Davis, Den.39225417
1991Emmitt Smith, Dall.36549414
1988Herschel Walker, Dall.36153414
2003LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.313100413
2003Jamal Lewis, Balt.38726413
2004Curtis Martin, NYJ37141412
1999Curtis Martin, NYJ36745412
1998Curtis Martin, NYJ36943412
2005Tiki Barber, NYG35754411
1997Terrell Davis, Den.36942411
1998Marshall Faulk, Ind.32486410
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.35850408
2003Ahman Green, G.B.35550405
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.34856404
2005Edgerrin James, Ind.36044404
1996Ricky Watters, Phil.35351404
1993Thurman Thomas, Buff.35548403
1984Eric Dickerson, Rams37921400
1979Walter Payton, Chi.36931400

—Ian Allan

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