Things change quickly in the NFL. Just a year ago, Alex Collins seemed like an offensive centerpiece for the Ravens, a talented young running back who Seattle foolishly gave up on too soon. Now? After being phased out in Baltimore during the season, he's not only unemployed but facing felony drug and gun charges. Yikes.
Needless to say, he's not going to be a Week 1 starter anywhere in the NFL -- he probably won't be on a roster at all. The legal issues will need to be resolved before any team is interested in signing him, and there will no doubt be an NFL suspension, too.
Hard to believe that just 12 months ago we were looking at Collins as a possible top-10 running back. At the time, he was coming off a season where only seven backs (100-plus attempts) had a higher yards per carry.
| RUNNING BACK RUSHING, 2017 (100-PLUS ATTEMPTS) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 105 | 465 | 4.4 | 2 |
| LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 105 | 458 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 111 | 476 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Jay Ajayi, 2 tm | 208 | 873 | 4.2 | 1 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 108 | 423 | 3.9 | 3 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 117 | 435 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Matt Forte, NYJ | 103 | 381 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Mike Gillislee, N.E. | 104 | 383 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | 120 | 426 | 3.6 | 1 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Chris Ivory, Jac. | 112 | 382 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Adrian Peterson, 2 tm | 156 | 529 | 3.4 | 2 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 138 | 406 | 2.9 | 3 |
Looking at the top of the list, Collins isn't the only one who's seen his star fade. Dion Lewis disappointed in Tennessee before being outperformed by Derrick Henry down the stretch. Alfred Morris flopped in San Francisco. Kareem Hunt was cut for off-field transgressions, Kenyan Drake was marginalized in Miami. Todd Gurley might have an arthritic knee. The Saints backs at least look OK (current and soon-to-be ex).
Anyway, the Ravens will move forward with Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon and maybe a rookie or free agent signing (LeVeon Bell?). Collins will have some things to clear up before he shows up on any such list again.
--Andy Richardson