Latavius Murray had a serviceable enough season for the Raiders last year, rushing for 788 yards and 12 TDs. But considering he was running behind one of the league's best offensive lines on a 12-win team, it wasn't so impressive that it's certain he'll be back in 2017. Murray is headed for free agency, and won't necessarily be a priority for the Raiders.
GM Reggie McKenzie said yesterday that the team wants to re-sign its players, including Murray as a player the team they will try to bring back in this article. But it's possible that's just talk, since Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle expects the team to move on from Murray.
Bottom line, Murray was nothing special last year, managing a modest 4.0 yards per carry while running behind an excellent line. Two other running backs on his own team were more than a yard per carry better than Murray, as were 30 other running backs (among ballcarriers with at least 400 rushing yards) in the NFL last season.
Murray will probably land a starting job somewhere, but tough to see him being a huge priority for any team in free agency.
The table below shows running backs from last season, sorted by yards per carry. The team won't necessarily be starting Richard or Washington, who are smaller, 5-foot-8 backs that tended to play more in passing formations and see softer defensive fronts, but both should see an increase in opportunities.
| RUNNING BACKS OVER 400 YARDS, YPC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Jalen Richard | 83 | 491 | 5.9 | 1 |
| Ty Montgomery | 77 | 457 | 5.9 | 3 |
| Mike Gillislee | 101 | 577 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Bilal Powell | 131 | 722 | 5.5 | 3 |
| LeSean McCoy | 234 | 1,267 | 5.4 | 13 |
| DeAndre Washington | 87 | 467 | 5.4 | 2 |
| Jordan Howard | 252 | 1,313 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 322 | 1,631 | 5.1 | 15 |
| Mark Ingram | 205 | 1,043 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Jay Ajayi | 260 | 1,272 | 4.9 | 8 |
| LeVeon Bell | 261 | 1,268 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Devonta Freeman | 227 | 1,079 | 4.8 | 11 |
| Isaiah Crowell | 198 | 952 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Darren Sproles | 94 | 438 | 4.7 | 2 |
| Carlos Hyde | 217 | 988 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Matt Jones | 99 | 460 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Derrick Henry | 110 | 490 | 4.5 | 5 |
| DeMarco Murray | 293 | 1,287 | 4.4 | 9 |
| Tevin Coleman | 118 | 520 | 4.4 | 8 |
| Spencer Ware | 214 | 921 | 4.3 | 3 |
| Ryan Mathews | 155 | 661 | 4.3 | 8 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | 129 | 560 | 4.3 | 2 |
| David Johnson | 293 | 1,239 | 4.2 | 16 |
| Rob Kelley | 168 | 704 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Alfred Blue | 100 | 420 | 4.2 | 1 |
| Tim Hightower | 133 | 548 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Paul Perkins | 112 | 456 | 4.1 | 0 |
| Lamar Miller | 268 | 1,073 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Terrance West | 193 | 774 | 4.0 | 5 |
| C.J. Anderson | 110 | 437 | 4.0 | 4 |
| Latavius Murray | 195 | 788 | 4.0 | 12 |
| LeGarrette Blount | 299 | 1,161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| Frank Gore | 263 | 1,025 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Melvin Gordon | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 10 |
| Jeremy Hill | 222 | 839 | 3.8 | 9 |
| Jonathan Stewart | 218 | 824 | 3.8 | 9 |
| Chris Ivory | 117 | 439 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Matt Forte | 218 | 813 | 3.7 | 7 |
| T.J. Yeldon | 130 | 465 | 3.6 | 1 |
| Devontae Booker | 174 | 612 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 159 | 539 | 3.4 | 2 |
| Rashad Jennings | 181 | 593 | 3.3 | 3 |
| Matt Asiata | 121 | 402 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Todd Gurley | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Doug Martin | 144 | 421 | 2.9 | 3 |
--Andy Richardson