Story circulating last week with the Bills talking about last year's third-rounder Devin Singletary. Brandon Beane said, "If we want him to be the workload guy, he could definitely do it." Given the hedge of "If," though, it's clear the Bills could still look to add somebody at the position.

Singletary comes off a strong rookie campaign, finishing with 969 total yards (775 run, 194 rec). That's the 8th-most total yards by a third-round rookie running back in the last 20 years. He's one of 26 third-rounders to put up at least 500 total yards in that first season, including three last year (Singletary, David Montgomery and Alexander Mattison). How have those players tended to fare a year later?

Depending on where you want to set the bar, Year 2 returns are pretty decent. Just over half (12) of the 23 previous third-rounders to put up at least 500 total yards in their rookie seasons came back and put up at least 800 total yards the next seasons. Half of those players (6) went over 1,000 total yards. Respectable track record.

3RD-ROUND RUNNING BACKS (500-PLUS YARDS), YEAR 2
DraftPkPlayerAttYdsNoRecTotTD
200565Frank Gore, S.F.31216956148521809
201586David Johnson, Ariz.293123980879211820
201767Alvin Kamara, N.O.19488381709159218
200873Jamaal Charles, K.C.19011204029714178
201786Kareem Hunt, K.C.18182426378120214
200864Kevin Smith, Det.2177474141511625
201171DeMarco Murray, Dall.161663352519144
200679Jerious Norwood, Atl.103613282778901
200965Shonn Greene, NYJ185766161208862
201577Duke Johnson, Clev.73358535148721
200889Steve Slaton, Hou.131437444178547
200180Kevan Barlow, S.F.145675141368115
201871Royce Freeman, Den.132496432567524
201284Bernard Pierce, Balt.152436201045402
201595Matt Jones, Wash.994608735333
201496Jerick McKinnon, Minn.52271211734443
200284Lamar Gordon, St.L.712988593571
201475Tre Mason, St.L.7520718882951
201494Terrance West, Clev.622314212520
200076J.R. Redmond, N.E.35119131322510
200185Travis Minor, Mia.44180001802
200165James Jackson, Clev.125439639
200063Travis Prentice, Clev.1413110232
201973David Montgomery, Chi.??????
201974Devin Singletary, Buff.??????
2019102Alexander Mattison, Minn.??????

Most of those guy who didn't do much in their second seasons weren't as impressive as Singletary in their rookie seasons -- Redmond, Minor, Jackson, Prentice. Nobody was falling over themselves to select them in drafts the following summer. Whereas a lot of the guys who were in the 900-plus yard area as rookies (David Johnson, Duke Johnson), like Singletary, were pretty good in Year 2, too.

The draft is less than two weeks away. Buffalo doesn't have a first-round pick after the Stefon Diggs trade, putting more of a premium on the early picks they do have (just 2 in the top 125). They don't seem likely to draft a running back early. Maybe they add a veteran or strike gold with a fourth or fifth-rounder, but Singletary should be pretty secure as the No. 1 in 2020. And at good odds of putting up strong numbers.

--Andy Richardson