LeGarrette Blount should be the main running back for Philadelphia. The team has other backs, but he's definitely the most accomplished inside runner on the team, and he was out there on the first series in the exhibition opener (a touchdown drive). And it's a good situation for him. In Philadelphia, he goes from one of the best spots for a touchdown-scoring running back to another.
Last year New England running backs (this is running backs only, leaving out touchdowns by other positions) scored 18 TDs on the ground. (All Blount.) Running backs from only three teams scored more. But Philadelphia was also pretty good, scoring 14 TDs from running backs. That tied for 7th.
| RUNNING BACK RUSHING, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Buffalo | 382 | 1948 | 5.10 | 23 |
| Atlanta | 379 | 1757 | 4.64 | 19 |
| Arizona | 374 | 1599 | 4.28 | 19 |
| New England | 410 | 1638 | 4.00 | 18 |
| Dallas | 426 | 1997 | 4.69 | 18 |
| Oakland | 383 | 1785 | 4.66 | 17 |
| Philadelphia | 381 | 1632 | 4.28 | 14 |
| New Orleans | 371 | 1679 | 4.53 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 406 | 1795 | 4.42 | 14 |
| Washington | 343 | 1602 | 4.67 | 13 |
| Miami | 359 | 1643 | 4.58 | 13 |
| Cincinnati | 393 | 1535 | 3.91 | 13 |
| Pittsburgh | 375 | 1676 | 4.47 | 11 |
| San Francisco | 349 | 1378 | 3.95 | 11 |
| Carolina | 346 | 1347 | 3.89 | 11 |
| Seattle | 310 | 1184 | 3.82 | 11 |
| Indianapolis | 334 | 1268 | 3.80 | 11 |
| Denver | 368 | 1392 | 3.78 | 11 |
| Chicago | 353 | 1657 | 4.69 | 10 |
| NY Jets | 373 | 1590 | 4.26 | 10 |
| San Diego | 379 | 1479 | 3.90 | 10 |
| Cleveland | 279 | 1346 | 4.82 | 9 |
| Baltimore | 327 | 1310 | 4.01 | 8 |
| Minnesota | 342 | 1078 | 3.15 | 8 |
| Tampa Bay | 393 | 1419 | 3.61 | 7 |
| Green Bay | 292 | 1263 | 4.33 | 6 |
| Houston | 416 | 1719 | 4.13 | 6 |
| NY Giants | 373 | 1381 | 3.70 | 6 |
| Detroit | 301 | 1095 | 3.64 | 6 |
| Los Angeles | 317 | 1025 | 3.23 | 6 |
| Kansas City | 327 | 1277 | 3.91 | 5 |
| Jacksonville | 324 | 1230 | 3.80 | 5 |
I've had this theory that Blount isn't particularly good; that he put up great numbers last year simply because he was in a great offense with an elite quarterback, scoring easy touchdowns because he got so many opportunities. Stevan Ridley, for example, succeeded in New England where he might not have anywhere else. Jonas Gray had that huge game for the Patriots, and he's out of the league.
But Blount will again go to a team with a good offensive line, and (once they officially release Ryan Mathews) won't really have anyone to compete for inside running chances besides Wendell Smallwood, who's apparently slipped down the depth chart (Smallwood sat out last night's game). So maybe Blount turns out to be a pretty solid fantasy back.
--Andy Richardson