The risks of expecting too much from rookie running backs were discovered by those who took a late-round stab on Damien Harris a year ago. The third-rounder out of Alabama was only even active for two games, carrying 4 times for 12 yards. But maybe Year 2 will be different.
Starter Sony Michel had foot surgery last month. The report on Twitter described the surgery as maintenance to relieve discomfort, but whatever -- foot surgery on a running back is foot surgery, making Michel suddenly a risky pick in early drafts, and backup Harris worthy of a flier. Just maybe Harris will be a primary ballcarrier in what's been one of the league's more productive ground games.
New England is mostly known for its Hall of Fame quarterback, but they've long had a running game that can't be underestimated. Especially in terms of touchdowns. Over the last decade, they've scored a total of 178 touchdowns on the ground. That's 13 more than any other team, and an average of nearly 18 per year -- 5 more than the NFL average. They're really good at piling up rushing touchdowns.
TEAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS, 2010-2019 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Total |
New England | 19 | 18 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 178 |
Carolina | 7 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 165 |
Minnesota | 16 | 18 | 16 | 23 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 19 | 155 |
New Orleans | 9 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 23 | 26 | 12 | 155 |
Philadelphia | 18 | 20 | 10 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 151 |
Buffalo | 6 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 19 | 29 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 140 |
Kansas City | 13 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 140 |
Baltimore | 11 | 15 | 17 | 7 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 138 |
San Francisco | 10 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 23 | 136 |
Seattle | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 135 |
Tennessee | 13 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 133 |
Dallas | 10 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 132 |
Atlanta | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 128 |
Denver | 13 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 11 | 128 |
Houston | 20 | 18 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 128 |
Green Bay | 11 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 127 |
LA Rams | 9 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 127 |
Cincinnati | 8 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 125 |
Washington | 9 | 8 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 125 |
Pittsburgh | 15 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 119 |
Arizona | 9 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 118 |
Oakland | 19 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 118 |
NY Giants | 17 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 117 |
Indianapolis | 13 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 116 |
NY Jets | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 114 |
Chicago | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 112 |
Cleveland | 13 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 109 |
Detroit | 11 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 107 |
LA Chargers | 18 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 105 |
Miami | 8 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 100 |
Tampa Bay | 9 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 98 |
Jacksonville | 14 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 85 |
Michel might be fine for the start of the season, and the starter in this offense. But foot injuries can be tricky, and Michel has never been so impressive to think Harris couldn't make a play for that job. Worth a late-round selection, I think.
--Andy Richardson