The Titans traded for DeMarco Murray, a defensible move for a team that really struggled to run the ball a year ago (25th). But they also drafted Derrick Henry in the second round, and it wouldn't be terribly surprising if he turned out to be their best rusher.
Murray, certainly, is no lock to be the guy he was in Dallas two years ago. Last year in Philadelphia, he wasn't any better running the ball than Tennessee lead back Antonio Andrews.
Last year 64 different running backs rushed for at least 250 yards. Only seven of them had a worse yards-per-carry number than Murray (3.6). Andrews had the same average plodding along behind Tennessee's line.
| RUNNING BACK YARDS PER CARRY, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Andre Ellington, Ariz. | 45 | 289 | 6.4 | 3 |
| Mike Gillislee, Buff. | 47 | 267 | 5.7 | 3 |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 147 | 830 | 5.6 | 4 |
| Karlos Williams, Buff. | 93 | 517 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 72 | 403 | 5.6 | 6 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 52 | 271 | 5.2 | 2 |
| Ryan Mathews, Phi. | 106 | 539 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 71 | 364 | 5.1 | 4 |
| Jonathan Grimes, Hou. | 56 | 282 | 5.0 | 1 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 288 | 1,402 | 4.9 | 6 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 113 | 556 | 4.9 | 3 |
| Charles Sims, T.B. | 107 | 529 | 4.9 | 0 |
| Todd Gurley, St.L. | 229 | 1,106 | 4.8 | 10 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 154 | 730 | 4.7 | 2 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 152 | 720 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Darren McFadden, Dall. | 239 | 1,089 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 166 | 769 | 4.6 | 6 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 125 | 581 | 4.6 | 8 |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 327 | 1,485 | 4.5 | 11 |
| DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 200 | 907 | 4.5 | 11 |
| Lamar Miller, Mia. | 194 | 872 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 87 | 392 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 70 | 313 | 4.5 | 1 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 203 | 895 | 4.4 | 3 |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 195 | 863 | 4.4 | 3 |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ | 247 | 1,070 | 4.3 | 7 |
| LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 165 | 703 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Shane Vereen, NYG | 61 | 260 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 207 | 863 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 196 | 814 | 4.2 | 3 |
| Justin Forsett, Balt. | 151 | 641 | 4.2 | 2 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 143 | 597 | 4.2 | 2 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 242 | 989 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Matt Forte, Chi. | 218 | 898 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 187 | 758 | 4.1 | 3 |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 182 | 740 | 4.1 | 2 |
| James Starks, G.B. | 148 | 601 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 115 | 470 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Joseph Randle, Dall. | 76 | 315 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Mike Tolbert, Car. | 62 | 256 | 4.1 | 1 |
| Latavius Murray, Oak. | 266 | 1,066 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 265 | 1,056 | 4.0 | 11 |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 160 | 634 | 4.0 | 4 |
| Denard Robinson, Jac. | 67 | 266 | 4.0 | 1 |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 96 | 375 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 185 | 706 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 183 | 698 | 3.8 | 2 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 137 | 514 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 111 | 417 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 83 | 317 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 260 | 967 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Alfred Morris, Wash. | 202 | 751 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 223 | 794 | 3.6 | 11 |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 148 | 537 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 104 | 379 | 3.6 | 0 |
| DeMarco Murray, Phil. | 193 | 702 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Antonio Andrews, Tenn. | 143 | 520 | 3.6 | 3 |
| Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 184 | 641 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Joique Bell, Det. | 90 | 311 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Shaun Draughn, S.F. | 76 | 263 | 3.5 | 1 |
| Matt Jones, Wash. | 144 | 490 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 98 | 336 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Chris Polk, Hou. | 99 | 334 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Andre Williams, NYG | 88 | 257 | 2.9 | 1 |
--Andy Richardson