Yes, Daryl Richardson is projected to be the Rams’ starting running back. But, no, that doesn’t mean it’s time to make Richardson a first-round fantasy draft pick.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday that, with Steven Jackson gone, the team may simply use a revolving door at running back.
“I’ve usually had a guy, but that’s what the competition is about, and that’s what camp’s for and preseason games are for,” Fisher said. “It’s not going to be out of the question that we don’t play two or three of them quite a bit. We may not end up with a ‘bell cow’ like we’ve had last year in [Jackson] and previous years, and just let them all play.”
It means that Richardson, Isaiah Pead (who will be suspended for the first game of the regular season), and rookie Zac Stacy could be squaring off for reps and touches. Or maybe one of the other four running backs currently on the roster will emerge.
For now, keep an eye on training camp and the preseason. Though Fisher may end up using multiple tailbacks, if one guy emerges he may end up being the guy.
“I’m not saying that we don’t have one that can. We just haven’t seen him do it yet,” Fisher said. “One of them may emerge and carry it 350 times this year, we don’t know. But offensively, it’s nice to have two or three guys in a rotation just because there’s different ability levels at the position.”
Of any of them, Richardson would seem to be the most likely, given his performance as a seventh-round rookie in 2012.