Having depth at the running back position is important for each team, but this season, it's going to be even more important. If the NFL season happens and a small number of players test positive for COVID-19 the NFL will probably try to keep the season going. If a starting running back tests positive with the coronavirus, every team is going to be left scrambling, but some teams are going to be in a worse position than others.
Let's breakdown the five teams with the worst backup running back situations entering the 2020 season.
Honorable mention: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons overall with their running back room have a lot of question marks. The team brought in Todd Gurley this offseason, but how can he be trusted to last a full season with all the injuries he has dealt with throughout his career. Ito Smith, Brian Hill, and Qadree Ollison are the other players on the roster. Smith and Hill are fine change-of-pace backs but they haven't shown a whole lot of success when they have been asked to take on bigger roles.
5. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals traded for Kenyan Drake last season and that has been a game-changer for the team. If Drake were to go down with injury or the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals are going to be in a lot of trouble. The rest of the Cardinals running back room includes Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin, and D.J. Foster.
Last season Edmonds rushed for 303 yards and four touchdowns on 60 rushing attempts last season. He is a solid backup, but throwing him into the start role won't work out.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
With Jordan Howard out of the picture for the Philadelphia Eagles, the starting job now belongs to Miles Sanders. The rest of the Eagles backfield includes Boston Scott, Corey Clement, and Elijah Howard. Scott showed some flashes last season with the Eagles, finding the end zone five times, but if he is asked to carry the ball 20-25 games, are we sure he is going to find success?
Clement missed most of last season because of injury, and although he has shown some flashes during the 2018 season, he also shouldn't be a starter. The Eagles have a couple of change of pace backs, but not a good starter fill in.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not even be that confident in their starter, but if Ronald Jones goes down with injury, there is going to be even more pressure on Tom Brady.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Dare Ogunbowale, and Raymond Calais are the other three running backs on the roster. Vaughn was selected in the third round by the Bucs during the 2020 draft after a strong career with the Vanderbilt Commodores. Ogunbowale scored two touchdowns last season with the Buccaneers, but he only had 17 total yards rushing. He isn't a guy to be trusted to fill a larger role. Calais was a seventh-round pick by the Bucs during the 2020 draft. He is a speedster, but is a project, and shouldn't be counted on for a big role during the 2020 season.
2. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills' biggest problem with their backfield is it's totally filled. Devin Singletary is expected to be the starting running back this season after rushing 151 times for 775 yards last season. After Singletary, though, the Bills have Zack Moss, T.J. Yeldon, and Taiwan Jones.
Jones is mostly a return specialist, which leaves Moss and Yeldon to be the guys that need to be leaned on. Moss was a third-round pick during the 2002 draft after being a standout with the Utah Utes in college. If the Bills are in the middle of a playoff race and Singletary goes down with injury, that's a lot of pressure that is going to be placed on Moss.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a team that isn't going to have a whole lot of success if the COVID-19 pandemic hits them. With Todd Gurley off to the Falcons, the Rams running back room has a whole lot of question marks. Darrell Henderson Jr., Cam Akers, Malcolm Brown, and John Kelly are the four backs in the room. The hope is that one of the guys can run away with the starting job, but that isn't even really guaranteed.
The Rams did select Akers in the second round of the 2020 draft, and down the road he could be a very good draft pick for the team. Right now though, this season, having experienced players is important, something the Rams don't really have.
Much like the quarterback position with Jared Goff if he goes down with an injury or COVID-19, the Rams are going to have a lot of issues if a running back suffers the same fate.
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