Maybe you've been watching the Michael Jordan documentary series "The Last Dance," chronicling the final season and history of his Bulls team. A recent episode focused on Dennis Rodman, the unconventional defender who contributed to several of their title runs. So what better time for news from a similarly colorful NFL personality, Marshawn Lynch.
Lynch has been on screens lately as a bit player in HBO's Westworld; like Rodman, trying his hand at acting. But apparently the 34-year-old hasn't closed the door on an NFL return. He says his agent has been in talks about a possible return to the Seahawks.
Lynch signed with Seattle late last season, ultimately playing in three games. He carried 30 times for just 67 yards, averaging 2.2 yards per attempt. Even including receiving production in those contests, he averaged just 31 total yards. Compared to running backs who started at least half the season, the only guys with fewer total yards per game were third-down backs used sparingly: Jalen Richard, Giovani Bernard, Dion Lewis and Dare Ogunbowale.
But, Lynch still has some ability to get in the end zone -- the kind of guy you'd love to have in your backfield in the final minute of a hard-fought Super Bowl, amiright? In those three games, Lynch scored 4 touchdowns. Small sample set, of course, but do you know which NFL backs averaged more touchdowns per game last year than Lynch? That's right, none of them.
| RUNNING BACKS PER GAME, 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | St | Att | Run | No | Rec | Total | TD |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 3 | 10.0 | 22.3 | .7 | 8.3 | 30.6 | 1.33 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 16 | 17.9 | 86.7 | 7.3 | 62.8 | 149.5 | 1.21 |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 15 | 20.2 | 102.7 | 1.2 | 13.7 | 116.4 | 1.20 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 16 | 14.8 | 67.8 | 3.1 | 29.6 | 97.4 | 1.19 |
| Mark Ingram, Balt. | 15 | 13.5 | 67.9 | 1.7 | 16.5 | 84.3 | 1.04 |
| Raheem Mostert, S.F. | 9 | 11.2 | 66.6 | 1.3 | 19.2 | 85.8 | 1.00 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 15 | 14.9 | 57.1 | 2.1 | 13.8 | 70.9 | .96 |
| Dalvin Cook, Min. | 14 | 17.9 | 81.1 | 3.8 | 37.1 | 118.1 | .93 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 16 | 18.8 | 84.8 | 3.4 | 26.3 | 111.1 | .88 |
| Jordan Howard, Phil. | 9 | 13.2 | 58.3 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 66.0 | .78 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 12 | 13.5 | 51.0 | 3.5 | 24.7 | 75.7 | .75 |
| James Conner, Pitt. | 10 | 11.6 | 46.4 | 3.4 | 25.1 | 71.5 | .70 |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 16 | 8.3 | 34.8 | 5.8 | 62.1 | 96.9 | .69 |
| Damien Williams, K.C. | 11 | 10.1 | 45.3 | 2.7 | 19.4 | 64.6 | .64 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 8 | 10.3 | 37.8 | 3.9 | 40.4 | 78.1 | .63 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 13 | 16.7 | 77.2 | 4.0 | 33.7 | 110.8 | .62 |
| Chris Carson, Sea. | 15 | 18.5 | 82.0 | 2.5 | 17.7 | 99.7 | .60 |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 14 | 17.6 | 77.9 | 1.0 | 5.9 | 83.8 | .60 |
| Kenyan Drake (total), Mia.-Ari. | 14 | 12.1 | 58.4 | 3.6 | 24.6 | 83.0 | .60 |
| Josh Jacobs, Oak. | 13 | 18.6 | 88.5 | 1.5 | 12.8 | 101.2 | .54 |
| Nick Chubb, Cle. | 16 | 18.6 | 93.4 | 2.3 | 17.4 | 110.8 | .50 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 16 | 17.4 | 71.1 | 2.2 | 17.9 | 89.0 | .50 |
| Kerryon Johnson, Det. | 8 | 14.1 | 50.4 | 1.3 | 15.9 | 66.3 | .50 |
| Tevin Coleman (C), S.F. | 14 | 9.8 | 38.9 | 1.5 | 12.9 | 51.7 | .50 |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 16 | 9.6 | 29.4 | 1.0 | 7.2 | 36.6 | .46 |
| Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 16 | 14.0 | 63.2 | 2.2 | 12.3 | 75.4 | .44 |
| David Montgomery, Chi. | 16 | 15.1 | 55.6 | 1.6 | 11.6 | 67.1 | .44 |
| Sony Michel, N.E. | 16 | 15.4 | 57.0 | .8 | 5.9 | 62.9 | .44 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 14 | 12.2 | 56.9 | 5.8 | 38.1 | 95.0 | .43 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 14 | 13.1 | 46.9 | 4.2 | 29.3 | 76.1 | .43 |
| Jamaal Williams (C), G.B. | 14 | 7.6 | 32.9 | 2.8 | 18.1 | 50.9 | .43 |
| James White (3rd), N.E. | 15 | 4.5 | 17.5 | 4.8 | 43.0 | 60.5 | .42 |
| Devin Singletary, Buff. | 10 | 13.8 | 69.2 | 2.9 | 19.4 | 88.6 | .40 |
| Rashaad Penny (C), Sea. | 10 | 6.5 | 37.0 | .8 | 8.3 | 45.3 | .40 |
| Miles Sanders, Phil. | 16 | 11.2 | 51.1 | 3.1 | 31.8 | 82.9 | .40 |
| LeSean McCoy (C), K.C. | 13 | 7.8 | 35.8 | 2.2 | 13.9 | 49.7 | .38 |
| Carlos Hyde, Hou. | 16 | 15.3 | 66.9 | .6 | 2.6 | 69.5 | .38 |
| Ronald Jones, T.B. | 16 | 10.8 | 45.3 | 1.9 | 19.3 | 64.6 | .38 |
| Kareem Hunt (C), Cle. | 8 | 5.4 | 22.4 | 4.6 | 35.6 | 58.0 | .38 |
| Adrian Peterson, Was. | 15 | 14.1 | 59.9 | 1.1 | 9.5 | 69.3 | .33 |
| Duke Johnson (3rd), Hou. | 16 | 5.2 | 25.6 | 2.8 | 25.6 | 51.3 | .31 |
| LeVeon Bell, NYJ | 15 | 16.3 | 52.6 | 4.4 | 30.7 | 83.3 | .29 |
| Royce Freeman (C), Den. | 16 | 8.3 | 31.0 | 2.7 | 16.0 | 47.0 | .25 |
| Nyheim Hines (3rd), Ind. | 16 | 3.3 | 12.4 | 2.8 | 20.0 | 32.4 | .25 |
| Rex Burkhead (C), N.E. | 13 | 5.0 | 23.2 | 2.1 | 21.5 | 44.7 | .23 |
| Tony Pollard (C), Dall. | 15 | 5.7 | 30.3 | 1.0 | 7.1 | 37.5 | .22 |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 9 | 12.1 | 60.2 | 1.8 | 12.2 | 72.4 | .22 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 15 | 17.7 | 76.8 | 5.1 | 34.8 | 111.6 | .20 |
| Tarik Cohen (3rd), Chi. | 16 | 4.0 | 13.3 | 4.9 | 28.5 | 41.8 | .19 |
| Latavius Murray (C), N.O. | 14 | 7.0 | 29.7 | 1.4 | 10.6 | 40.4 | .14 |
| Jaylen Samuels (3rd), Pitt. | 14 | 4.7 | 12.5 | 3.4 | 21.8 | 34.3 | .14 |
| Gus Edwards (C), Balt. | 15 | 7.5 | 38.7 | .4 | 2.9 | 41.6 | .13 |
| Dare Ogunbowale (3rd), T.B. | 16 | .7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 17.9 | 18.9 | .13 |
| Alexander Mattison (C), Min. | 13 | 7.7 | 35.5 | .8 | 6.3 | 41.8 | .08 |
| Dion Lewis (3rd), Ten. | 15 | 2.6 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 9.7 | 19.1 | .07 |
| Chris Thompson (3rd), Was. | 11 | 3.4 | 12.5 | 3.8 | 34.4 | 46.9 | .00 |
| Jalen Richard (3rd), Oak. | 16 | 2.4 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 20.2 | 29.3 | .00 |
| Giovani Bernard (3rd), Cin. | 16 | 3.3 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 14.6 | 25.3 | .00 |
Table sorted by touchdowns per game -- yes, all those other guys played at least half the season, so it's not an apples to apples comparison. Lynch won't be scoring a touchdown per game this year.
But the possibility of him joining Seattle's backfield must be considered. Rashaad Penny (knee) sounds likely to open on the PUP list. Chris Carson (hip) is only certain to be ready for Week 1 based on the perennially optimistic Pete Carroll. After that it's just Travis Homer and fourth-round rookie DeeJay Dallas. There might be a place for Lynch after all.
Something to consider before selecting Carson (or any Seattle back) in an early fantasy draft.
--Andy Richardson