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Devonta Freeman

Seahawks kicking tires on veteran running backs

Couple of stories circulating yesterday with Seattle talking to veteran running backs. Chris Carson is coming off hip surgery, and Rashaad Penny blew out his knee late last season. Carson is expected to be ready for Week 1, Penny isn't.

Seattle drafted DeeJay Dallas in the fourth round, but he's green at the position; was originally recruited as a wide receiver before switching to running back in college. They might now want him as their No. 2 at the start of the season, especially given what figures to be a limited training camp and preseason.

A couple of weeks back they were reportedly open to Marshawn Lynch returning. Now they're talking to Carlos Hyde (sounds like everyone is) and Devonta Freeman, who Atlanta released. Freeman sounds like he's holding out for a better offer, but that might be a mistake.

Yards per carry might be an overrated stat, dependent somewhat on the offense and the line in front of him. But still, in the case of Freeman you've got a 28-year-old running back who's missed 18 of a possible 48 games since back-t0-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2015-2016. And his 3.6 yards per carry last season was one of the worst figures in the league.

RUNNING BACK YARDS PER ATTEMPT, 2019
PlayerAttYdsAvgTD
Raheem Mostert, S.F.1377725.68
Gus Edwards, Balt.1337115.42
Devin Singletary, Buff.1517755.12
Derrick Henry, Ten.30315405.116
Matt Breida, S.F.1236235.11
Mark Ingram, Balt.20210185.010
Nick Chubb, Cle.29814945.08
Christian McCaffrey, Car.28713874.815
Kenyan Drake, 2TM1708174.88
Josh Jacobs, Oak.24211504.87
Alvin Kamara, N.O.1717974.75
Saquon Barkley, NYG21710034.66
Alexander Mattison, Min.1004624.61
LeSean McCoy, K.C.1014654.64
Aaron Jones, G.B.23610844.616
Miles Sanders, Phil.1798184.63
Dalvin Cook, Min.25011354.513
Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.30113574.512
Phillip Lindsay, Den.22410114.57
Damien Williams, K.C.1114984.55
Chris Carson, Sea.27812304.47
Marlon Mack, Ind.24710914.48
Jordan Howard, Phil.1195254.46
Carlos Hyde, Hou.24510704.46
Latavius Murray, N.O.1466374.45
Leonard Fournette, Jac.26511524.43
Jamaal Williams, G.B.1074604.31
Adrian Peterson, Was.2118984.35
Austin Ekeler, LAC1325574.23
Ronald Jones, T.B.1727244.26
Joe Mixon, Cin.27811374.15
James Conner, Pitt.1164644.04
Tevin Coleman, S.F.1375444.06
Benny Snell, Pitt.1084263.92
Todd Gurley, LAR2238573.812
Melvin Gordon, LAC1626123.88
Royce Freeman, Den.1324963.83
Sony Michel, N.E.2479123.77
David Montgomery, Chi.2428893.76
Frank Gore, Buff.1665993.62
DeAndre Washington, Oak.1083873.63
Devonta Freeman, Atl.1846563.62
Kerryon Johnson, Det.1134033.63
LeVeon Bell, NYJ2457893.23
Peyton Barber, T.B.1544703.16

Carlos Hyde, by this metric, looks like a better choice. The Eagles have apparently talked to him, and maybe they'll also kick the tires on Freeman. His receiving ability might be a nice fit for their offense.

Regardless, if Seattle were to sign Freeman, I'd take it as a positive for Carson. He'd probably be primarily a guy who plays in some passing situations -- not an actual threat to Carson's workload as a runner.

--Andy Richardson

26 Reader Comments:

David Wilde

Mukwonago, WI
2020-05-21T13:23:27Z
Would you ever do a poll on who we think will be on the cover of the magazine. I would have options: Lamar Jackson, McCafferty, Michael Thomas, and Other

Drew Paterson

Ferndale, WA
2020-05-21T13:49:30Z
Seems like the Seahawks could resign C.J. Procise, another oft-injured back, for a better price than Freeman.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-05-21T14:45:05Z
I don't know who's on the cover. I think Jackson, Mahomes, and McCaffrey are decent guesses. I know that it usually comes down to the pictures we have to choose from. We like good looks at people's faces, which often favors quarterbacks or running backs (usually less selection with wide receivers).

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-05-21T15:08:42Z
I would guess Kelce #1 or Mahomes #2 guess...I think McCaffery will not make the cover because of the team he plays for.The above mentioned are Super Bowl champs and you can't forget how they won.Calm,cool and collected.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-05-21T15:20:45Z
Last year Saquon Barkley was on the cover, so team excellence is clearly not a discriminating factor.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-05-21T15:30:22Z
True but it should be.That's the #1 most important goal for all NFL teams owners,coaches, players and fans and many lose their jobs because of it.Barkley and McCaffery fans are wearing brown paper bags on their heads.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-05-21T15:48:08Z
The NFL has its own PR department. I think the many, many fantasy teams that won championships thanks to Christian McCaffrey would be OK seeing him on the cover. But as I said, I don't know who it will be.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-05-21T16:05:13Z
I agree,it's a fantasy football magazine, not a sports Illustrated.It very well could be McCaffery.I am a little prejudice being a Chiefs fan.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2020-05-21T16:08:32Z
I've seen a few sample covers go by. McCaffrey, Mahomes, Jackson. It will be one of those guys. And I believe Jackson is a distant third. I think he's pretty much out at this point.

Daniel Prokop

Cottage Grove, MN
2020-05-21T17:21:11Z
IMO, a Fantasy football magazine should have someone on the cover who carried many fantasy teams to Championships! Plus we all know that the covers are usually specific to the region they are in. C-mac in the SE area, Jackson in the NE, Mahomes middle, Cook upper Midwest etc

Jay Harding

Oregon City, OR
2020-05-21T18:04:54Z
Big Ben Hogevoll is a Chiefs fan? Who would have ever guessed that? Regarding the cover I thought the "Regional Covers" were done away with a few years back? I understand Mahomes but for me it be McCaffrey or Andy Reid!

Carry on people. . . .

Drew Paterson

Ferndale, WA
2020-05-21T19:25:36Z
Let's compromise on another Chief's player for the cover. I think it should be Damien Williams who almost stole the Super Bowl MVP award from Mahomes. Of course, then he'd fall victim to the Curse of Tatum Bell and my fantasy team would tank!

Paul Desimone

Hayward, CA
2020-05-21T19:42:27Z
I'd say let the guys who write the mag contents decide who gets the mag cover.

Jay Harding

Oregon City, OR
2020-05-21T20:25:41Z
OK Paul, you win!

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-05-21T21:23:46Z
Jay,Don't give in to Paul.He doesn't win.The people buying the Magazine should have a say and the guys who produce it wants to please as many as possible.If a Super Bowl winning Chiefs player is not on the cover,I won't bye one .It can even be their TE or kicker.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-05-21T21:53:32Z
Sorry,I Won't BUY ONE If a Chiefs player is not on the cover,I will not purchase one.

JEFF ZWIERS

Bellingham, WA
2020-05-21T22:10:30Z
Seahawks also have 2nd-year guy Travis Homer still too. He looked pretty decent in his limited play last year.

Brack Varnon

Houston, TX
2020-05-21T22:17:00Z
why stop there? you could refuse to visit the site if there were not more Chiefs articles, with the word "Chiefs" in them.

Bruce Sadler

Lakeland, FL
2020-05-21T22:50:56Z
I am not buying the mag because it has so and so on the cover.I am buying the Mag for what is inside of the pages if you dont like who is on the cover then tear off the cover . It is all about the Product .

Jay Harding

Oregon City, OR
2020-05-21T22:59:50Z
Bruce, did you learn this in college or from your father? Absolutely brilliant, so brilliant you must already know that Mason Rudolph is this years Lamar Jackson?

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2020-05-21T23:15:59Z
I used to be a heavily invested Steelers fan. Hard for me to watch Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges last year without thinking of Cliff Stoudt and Bubby Brister. Hodges is even wearing Bubby's old No. 6.

Bruce Sadler

Lakeland, FL
2020-05-21T23:50:04Z
I had visions of Mike Tomzack watching Mason & the Duck . I like the Cliff Stoudt & Bubby Brister reference Ian.

Paul Desimone

Hayward, CA
2020-05-22T00:40:29Z
Based solely off of last year's performance, either Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey or Michael Thomas would be the guys. It's inarguable Super Bowl wins are team accomplishments, not individual.

Jay Harding

Oregon City, OR
2020-05-22T15:36:38Z
Ian, since you have confessed your past sin of being a Steeler fan, ha! and Bubby Brister is a a blast from the past it would be fun to know where did you have him Ranked in the magazine like in his 3rd year 1988, I believe that was his first as a starter and I think it was my first year buying the magazine, unfortunately I did not keep them all, anyway it would be fun to see where you had him and then where he finished.

Thanks . . . . .

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2020-05-22T16:34:02Z
Bubby Brister is the #13 quarterback in the 1989 edition of the magazine. That might seem ridiculous (because it is?), but he had played pretty well the previous season. I see a chart on the same page showing Brister ranking 8th in 1988 in average touchdowns per start. I like that Duck Hodges is wearing the same number. The Cowboys have the deal where their best wide receivers wear #88 -- Pearson-Irvin-Dez-CeeDee. This could be Pittsburgh's version of the same. If you're a shitty quarterback who goes by a nickname, you wear #6.

Jay Harding

Oregon City, OR
2020-05-23T16:51:23Z
Thank you for looking that up Ian your ridiculous comment cracked me up!.....I'm pretty sure I did not draft him for two reasons, my brother was in our home league and a huge Steeler's fan and secondly this was way before waiting on QB was in style, ha!

Cheers. . . .
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