There's a story at ESPN suggesting that Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert is iffy for Week 1. This isn't terribly surprising to anyone who's followed Mostert's recent career. From the report it sounds like Mostert possibly had a setback with the knee injury he suffered early last season. It doesn't exactly leave Miami in the lurch, since the team has been signing more running backs than it can possibly roster.
First it was Chase Edmonds, then Mostert, and then former Patriot and Ram Sony Michel. And they already had Myles Gaskin, and yet another former Niner, Salvon Ahmed. Only one football, right? The Dolphins are bringing a lot of running backs to camp.
Over the last three years (picked three to sneak in Mostert's last productive season), there have been 98 total seasons where a running back had at least 800 total yards. Seven were by backs currently on the Dolphins' roster. That includes 3 of the 34 such seasons a year ago.
RUNNING BACKS WITH 800 TOTAL YARDS, 2019-2021 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Att | Run | No | Rec | TD | Tot |
2019 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 287 | 1387 | 116 | 1005 | 19 | 2392 |
2021 | Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 332 | 1811 | 40 | 360 | 20 | 2171 |
2020 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 378 | 2027 | 19 | 114 | 17 | 2141 |
2020 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 312 | 1557 | 44 | 361 | 17 | 1918 |
2019 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 301 | 1357 | 54 | 420 | 14 | 1777 |
2019 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 298 | 1494 | 36 | 278 | 8 | 1772 |
2019 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 303 | 1540 | 18 | 206 | 18 | 1746 |
2020 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 187 | 932 | 83 | 756 | 21 | 1688 |
2019 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 265 | 1152 | 76 | 522 | 3 | 1674 |
2021 | Najee Harris, Pitt. | 307 | 1200 | 74 | 467 | 10 | 1667 |
2019 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 250 | 1135 | 53 | 519 | 13 | 1654 |
2019 | Aaron Jones, G.B. | 236 | 1084 | 49 | 474 | 19 | 1558 |
2021 | Austin Ekeler, LAC | 206 | 911 | 70 | 647 | 20 | 1558 |
2019 | Austin Ekeler, LAC | 132 | 557 | 92 | 993 | 11 | 1550 |
2021 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 292 | 1205 | 42 | 314 | 16 | 1519 |
2020 | David Montgomery, Chi. | 247 | 1070 | 54 | 438 | 10 | 1508 |
2019 | Chris Carson, Sea. | 278 | 1230 | 37 | 266 | 9 | 1496 |
2020 | Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 232 | 1169 | 36 | 299 | 12 | 1468 |
2020 | Aaron Jones, G.B. | 201 | 1104 | 47 | 355 | 11 | 1459 |
2019 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 217 | 1003 | 52 | 438 | 8 | 1441 |
2021 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 228 | 1259 | 20 | 174 | 9 | 1433 |
2019 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 278 | 1137 | 35 | 287 | 8 | 1424 |
2020 | James Robinson, Jac. | 240 | 1070 | 49 | 344 | 10 | 1414 |
2021 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 249 | 1159 | 34 | 224 | 6 | 1383 |
2021 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 240 | 898 | 47 | 439 | 9 | 1337 |
2021 | Antonio Gibson, Was. | 258 | 1037 | 42 | 294 | 10 | 1331 |
2019 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 171 | 797 | 81 | 533 | 6 | 1330 |
2019 | Miles Sanders, Phil. | 179 | 818 | 50 | 509 | 6 | 1327 |
2020 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 244 | 979 | 52 | 338 | 8 | 1317 |
2019 | Josh Jacobs, Oak. | 242 | 1150 | 20 | 166 | 7 | 1316 |
2020 | Josh Jacobs, L.V. | 273 | 1065 | 33 | 238 | 12 | 1303 |
2021 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 237 | 1002 | 47 | 287 | 12 | 1289 |
2021 | Leonard Fournette, T.B. | 180 | 812 | 69 | 454 | 10 | 1266 |
2019 | Mark Ingram, Balt. | 202 | 1018 | 26 | 247 | 15 | 1265 |
2019 | LeVeon Bell, NYJ | 245 | 789 | 66 | 461 | 4 | 1250 |
2021 | Josh Jacobs, L.V. | 217 | 872 | 54 | 348 | 9 | 1220 |
2021 | Javonte Williams, Den. | 203 | 903 | 43 | 316 | 7 | 1219 |
2020 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 190 | 1067 | 16 | 150 | 12 | 1217 |
2019 | Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 224 | 1011 | 35 | 196 | 7 | 1207 |
2021 | Aaron Jones, G.B. | 171 | 799 | 52 | 391 | 10 | 1190 |
2019 | Marlon Mack, Ind. | 247 | 1091 | 14 | 82 | 8 | 1173 |
2021 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl. | 153 | 618 | 52 | 548 | 11 | 1166 |
2019 | Kenyan Drake, 2TM | 170 | 817 | 50 | 345 | 8 | 1162 |
2021 | David Montgomery, Chi. | 225 | 849 | 42 | 301 | 7 | 1150 |
2020 | Kareem Hunt, Cle. | 198 | 841 | 38 | 304 | 11 | 1145 |
2020 | Melvin Gordon, Den. | 215 | 986 | 32 | 158 | 10 | 1144 |
2020 | Ronald Jones, T.B. | 192 | 978 | 28 | 165 | 8 | 1143 |
2021 | Melvin Gordon, Den. | 203 | 918 | 28 | 213 | 10 | 1131 |
2021 | James Conner, Ariz. | 202 | 752 | 37 | 375 | 18 | 1127 |
2021 | AJ Dillon, G.B. | 187 | 803 | 34 | 313 | 7 | 1116 |
2019 | Carlos Hyde, Hou. | 245 | 1070 | 10 | 42 | 6 | 1112 |
2021 | Elijah Mitchell, S.F. | 207 | 963 | 19 | 137 | 6 | 1100 |
2020 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C. | 181 | 803 | 36 | 297 | 5 | 1100 |
2021 | Devin Singletary, Buff. | 188 | 870 | 40 | 228 | 8 | 1098 |
2020 | Kenyan Drake, Ariz. | 239 | 955 | 25 | 137 | 10 | 1092 |
2021 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 219 | 937 | 18 | 154 | 10 | 1091 |
2019 | David Montgomery, Chi. | 242 | 889 | 25 | 185 | 7 | 1074 |
2021 | D'Andre Swift, Det. | 151 | 617 | 62 | 452 | 7 | 1069 |
2019 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 184 | 656 | 59 | 410 | 6 | 1066 |
2020 | Miles Sanders, Phil. | 164 | 867 | 28 | 197 | 6 | 1064 |
2019 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 223 | 857 | 31 | 207 | 14 | 1064 |
2021 | Damien Harris, N.E. | 202 | 929 | 18 | 132 | 15 | 1061 |
2021 | Tony Pollard, Dall. | 130 | 719 | 39 | 337 | 3 | 1056 |
2020 | Antonio Gibson, Was. | 170 | 795 | 36 | 247 | 11 | 1042 |
2019 | Adrian Peterson, Was. | 211 | 898 | 17 | 142 | 5 | 1040 |
2019 | Ronald Jones, T.B. | 172 | 724 | 31 | 309 | 6 | 1033 |
2020 | Mike Davis, Car. | 165 | 642 | 59 | 373 | 8 | 1015 |
2021 | Darrel Williams, K.C. | 144 | 558 | 47 | 452 | 8 | 1010 |
2019 | Sony Michel, N.E. | 247 | 912 | 12 | 94 | 7 | 1006 |
2020 | David Johnson, Hou. | 147 | 691 | 33 | 314 | 8 | 1005 |
2021 | James Robinson, Jac. | 164 | 767 | 31 | 222 | 8 | 989 |
2021 | Sony Michel, LAR | 208 | 845 | 21 | 128 | 5 | 973 |
2020 | Myles Gaskin, Mia. | 142 | 584 | 41 | 388 | 5 | 972 |
2019 | Devin Singletary, Buff. | 151 | 775 | 29 | 194 | 4 | 969 |
2020 | Chris Carson, Sea. | 141 | 681 | 37 | 287 | 9 | 968 |
2021 | Michael Carter, NYJ | 147 | 639 | 36 | 325 | 4 | 964 |
2020 | Devin Singletary, Buff. | 156 | 687 | 38 | 269 | 2 | 956 |
2020 | J.D. McKissic, Was. | 85 | 365 | 80 | 589 | 3 | 954 |
2019 | Raheem Mostert, S.F. | 137 | 772 | 14 | 180 | 10 | 952 |
2020 | James Conner, Pitt. | 169 | 721 | 35 | 215 | 6 | 936 |
2020 | Austin Ekeler, LAC | 116 | 530 | 54 | 403 | 3 | 933 |
2020 | J.K. Dobbins, Balt. | 134 | 805 | 18 | 120 | 9 | 925 |
2021 | Miles Sanders, Phil. | 137 | 754 | 26 | 158 | 0 | 912 |
2019 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 162 | 612 | 42 | 296 | 9 | 908 |
2019 | James White, N.E. | 67 | 263 | 72 | 645 | 6 | 908 |
2021 | Chase Edmonds, Ariz. | 116 | 592 | 43 | 311 | 2 | 903 |
2020 | D'Andre Swift, Det. | 114 | 521 | 46 | 357 | 10 | 878 |
2019 | Latavius Murray, N.O. | 146 | 637 | 34 | 235 | 6 | 872 |
2021 | Darrell Henderson, LAR | 149 | 688 | 29 | 176 | 8 | 864 |
2020 | Nyheim Hines, Ind. | 89 | 380 | 63 | 482 | 7 | 862 |
2021 | Devontae Booker, NYG | 145 | 593 | 40 | 268 | 3 | 861 |
2021 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 162 | 593 | 41 | 263 | 4 | 856 |
2020 | Gus Edwards, Balt. | 144 | 723 | 9 | 129 | 6 | 852 |
2020 | Chase Edmonds, Ariz. | 97 | 448 | 53 | 402 | 5 | 850 |
2021 | Myles Gaskin, Mia. | 173 | 612 | 49 | 234 | 7 | 846 |
2020 | Todd Gurley, Atl. | 195 | 678 | 25 | 164 | 9 | 842 |
2020 | Latavius Murray, N.O. | 146 | 656 | 23 | 176 | 5 | 832 |
2019 | Duke Johnson, Hou. | 83 | 410 | 44 | 410 | 5 | 820 |
These things have a way of working out. If Mostert is iffy for the start of the season, it's fair to call him iffy for the active roster. Maybe he winds up on an injured list, or maybe he doesn't make the team. And maybe you remove a lesser player like Ahmed, who will probably need another injury to make the team.
If we're drafting right now, the top 3 backs at the beginning of the year would seem to be Michel (as the primary first- and second-down runner), Edmonds (passing situations and maybe some early-down carries) and Gaskin. But the addition of these other backs suggests the coaching staff isn't promising Gaskin anything; maybe he winds up on a different roster in August or September.
The Mostert news definitely makes Michel and Edmonds look a little safer as draft picks, I think. With Gaskin and Ahmed, we'll see.
--Andy Richardson