For years now I've been confused by what the Broncos are doing with their running backs. They kept trying to make Ronnie Hillman happen, even when C.J. Anderson was clearly better. And now they seem to be treading the same water with Devontae Booker.
That's the view of the Denver Post, at least, which says the backfield "should feature a heavy dose of Devontae Booker." Booker was the team's fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, and he's done virtually nothing the last two seasons. But the Post thinks he'll lead a committee, over this year's third-rounder out of Oregon, Royce Freeman, and last year's sixth-rounder DeAngelo Henderson.
The last two seasons, Booker has averaged 3.5 and 3.8 yards per carry. Give the offensive line some of the blame, but Anderson, who the team couldn't wait to kick to the curb, was over 4.0 yards per carry in both seasons. Booker's not down in Doug Martin territory, but he's been one of the least effective ballcarriers in both of those seasons.
| RUNNING BACK YARDS PER CARRY, 2016-2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| 2016 | Mike Gillislee, N.E. | 101 | 577 | 5.7 | 8 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 131 | 722 | 5.5 | 3 |
| 2016 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 234 | 1267 | 5.4 | 13 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 252 | 1313 | 5.2 | 6 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 205 | 1043 | 5.1 | 6 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 322 | 1631 | 5.1 | 15 |
| 2017 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, 2 tm | 261 | 1272 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 261 | 1268 | 4.9 | 7 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 198 | 952 | 4.8 | 7 |
| 2017 | Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 1 |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 227 | 1079 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2017 | Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2016 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 217 | 988 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2016 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 110 | 490 | 4.5 | 5 |
| 2017 | Matt Breida, S.F. | 105 | 465 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| 2016 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 118 | 520 | 4.4 | 8 |
| 2016 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 293 | 1287 | 4.4 | 9 |
| 2017 | Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| 2017 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 105 | 458 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 2016 | Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 129 | 560 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2017 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| 2017 | Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 2016 | Spencer Ware, K.C. | 214 | 921 | 4.3 | 3 |
| 2017 | Wayne Gallman, NYG | 111 | 476 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 2016 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 155 | 661 | 4.3 | 8 |
| 2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 293 | 1239 | 4.2 | 16 |
| 2017 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 2016 | Alfred Blue, Hou. | 100 | 420 | 4.2 | 1 |
| 2017 | Jay Ajayi, 2 tm | 208 | 873 | 4.2 | 1 |
| 2016 | Robert Kelley, Wash. | 168 | 704 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2017 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2016 | Tim Hightower, N.O. | 133 | 548 | 4.1 | 4 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| 2016 | Paul Perkins, NYG | 112 | 456 | 4.1 | 0 |
| 2017 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| 2016 | Latavius Murray, Minn. | 195 | 788 | 4.0 | 12 |
| 2017 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 2016 | Terrance West, Balt. | 193 | 774 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2016 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 268 | 1073 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2016 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 110 | 437 | 4.0 | 4 |
| 2017 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2016 | Christine Michael, 2TM | 148 | 583 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2016 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 10 |
| 2017 | Peyton Barber, T.B. | 108 | 423 | 3.9 | 3 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 263 | 1025 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 299 | 1161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| 2017 | Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2017 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| 2016 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 218 | 824 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 222 | 839 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2016 | Chris Ivory, Jac. | 117 | 439 | 3.8 | 3 |
| 2017 | Devontae Booker | 79 | 299 | 3.8 | 1 |
| 2017 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2016 | Matt Forte, NYJ | 218 | 813 | 3.7 | 7 |
| 2017 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 117 | 435 | 3.7 | 2 |
| 2017 | Matt Forte, NYJ | 103 | 381 | 3.7 | 2 |
| 2017 | Mike Gillislee, N.E. | 104 | 383 | 3.7 | 5 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2017 | Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| 2017 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| 2016 | T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 130 | 465 | 3.6 | 1 |
| 2017 | Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | 120 | 426 | 3.6 | 1 |
| 2016 | Devontae Booker, Den. | 174 | 612 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2017 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2017 | Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 1 |
| 2017 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 6 |
| 2017 | Chris Ivory, Jac. | 112 | 382 | 3.4 | 1 |
| 2017 | Adrian Peterson, 2 tm | 156 | 529 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2016 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 159 | 539 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 4 |
| 2016 | Matt Asiata, Minn. | 121 | 402 | 3.3 | 6 |
| 2016 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 181 | 593 | 3.3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 109 | 349 | 3.2 | 3 |
| 2016 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 |
| 2017 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 138 | 406 | 2.9 | 3 |
| 2016 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 144 | 421 | 2.9 | 3 |
Table shows all backs with 100-plus attempts, plus I snuck Booker and his 79 attempts last season in.
As far as I'm concerned, Denver can keep trying to make Booker win the job in the preseason. It will help push Freeman down draft boards, and maybe make it easier to use a last-round pick on Henderson. I don't see any reason to think Booker will seize this job and, uh, run with it. He's shown no signs of it through the first two seasons.
--Andy Richardson