Back Page

Camp Battles, Part II: The Running Backs

By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com

Time for the second installment of my annual position-by-position review of this year's top training camp battles. This week the focus is on competition -- whether it happens to be of the traditional head-to-head variety or not -- at halfback.

Remember: The focus this week is on those fighting for full-time starting jobs rather than those vying for a spot in running back-by-committee situations. We'll review the dreaded RBBCs in a column later this summer.

So, with the preliminaries out of the way, here are four situations I consider to be of primary interest to fantasy owners:

Baltimore: Jamal Lewis vs. The Law

If Lewis stands trial on federal drug conspiracy charges during the regular season, the Ravens are prepared to play without the All-Pro running back during that time. Team officials say his absence would be treated like an injury.

"It would be the same as if the trainer came in and said Jamal has pulled whatever and it's going to be a week, two weeks or three weeks before he comes back," head coach Brian Billick said.

Lewis rushed for the second-most yards in league history last season (2,066) and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. If he can't play, his role would be filled by Musa Smith and Chester Taylor, who have combined for 429 career rushing yards.

And the winner is. ... Lewis!

The former first-round draft pick's lawyer doesn't expect the trial to take longer than two weeks and nobody really knows when it will start. In fact, some have speculated the proceedings might not get under way until February.

Lewis, meanwhile, has trimmed down to 235 pounds, his lowest reporting weight since entering the league five years ago, through an exercise regimen of boxing and running hills, along with a stricter diet.

I'll also remind you that based on last year's phenomenal effort, 14 weeks of Lewis would be much better than none. Despite the looming legal issues, Lewis remains a top-10 Fantasy back.

Cleveland: Lee Suggs vs. William Green

Head coach Butch Davis has been noncommittal when discussing the topic of whether William Green or Lee Suggs will serve as his primary tailback this year. But those who follow the team closely say that when he talks about Suggs, the subject matter is far brighter than about Green."

Asked directly if Green or Suggs will start, the coach said, "Without trying to create a major controversy, William still has a lot to prove. He's got a lot to prove to the team, to me and everybody else."

As for Suggs, a fourth-round draft pick last year, Davis praised his attitude and work ethic before adding, "When he got a chance to be a running back, in the Cincinnati game, he did very well. In this league, you've got to do that about 100 games in a row. ..."

And the winner is. ... Suggs!

Even though Green has reportedly regrouped after last year's personal problems ruined his season, Suggs gets first crack at the job after running for 186 yards in last year's season finale. I find it hard to believe Davis will put himself in a position to lose his starting halfback to off-field problems again if he doesn't have to.

Miami: Travis Minor vs. The Committee

The Dolphins also don't have unrealistic expectations that Minor will match Ricky Williams' production. But running backs coach Joel Collier said that doesn't necessarily mean the Dolphins can't field an effective rushing attack with Minor splitting snaps with such others as Sammy Morris, Rob Konrad or a tailback acquired via trade or free agency.

"It has its good and bad," Collier said about the tailback-by-committee approach the Dolphins are planning to take. "Where I've had the most success is to have one guy be the back who gets most of the carries. But if you handle it correctly and guys know their role, you have a chance to be successful."

The 5-10, 205-pound Minor also has never logged more than 59 carries in a season and his 4.5-yard average is indicative of the success he has enjoyed as a change-of-pace back whose strength is speed compared to Williams' power.

And the winner is. ... The Committee!

Collier said that while Minor is expected to be the featured back for the Dolphins -- barring a blockbuster trade for a star running back -- the plan is to get him perhaps 20 or so carries of the 30 to 35 the running back corps handles per game.

In other words, I'll have more on this one in that upcoming RBBC column.

Oakland: Tyrone Wheatley vs. Troy Hambrick vs. Justin Fargas vs. Amos Zereoue

Head coach Norv Turner said this week that it's premature to single out one candidate in a crowded field vying to replace Charlie Garner as the team's top tailback.

"We're having great competition," Turner said. "We haven't been in a situation where we've had backs tackled. We won't do that until we play the 49ers" in the exhibition opener Aug. 14.

Turner did concede that Tyrone Wheatley was having a strong camp. Others in contention are Justin Fargas, J.R. Redmond, Amos Zereoue and Troy Hambrick.

And the winner is. ... Wheatley!

For those of you wondering why this even matters, I have one word: History.

The last five halfbacks to play under Turner -- Emmitt Smith, Terry Allen, Stephen Davis, LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams have all excelled. Let's look at the numbers:

Smith ran for 4,762 yards, caught 165 passes and scored 42 touchdowns in three seasons under Turner.

Allen posted 2,662 yards and scored 31 touchdowns during two healthy seasons working under Turner in Washington; Davis racked up 2,723 yards and scored 28 TDs in two seasons under Turner.

With Turner calling the shots for the Chargers in 2001, Tomlinson ran for 1,236 yards and hauled in 59 passes -- both tops among NFL rookies that year -- while ranking third in the NFL with 339 carries.

And of course, Williams ran for 3,225 yards and 25 touchdowns over the last two years with Turner calling his number a whopping 775 times for the Dolphins. Williams racked up an additional 714 yards -- and scored two more TDs -- on 95 receptions over that same span.

So what leads me to believe Wheatley -- or any of these candidates -- might be capable of putting up similar totals? Same answer: History.

In case you forgot, there were serious questions surrounding at least three (Smith, Allen and Davis) of the above-listed five before they crossed paths with Turner.

That's all for now. ... Next week: Wide receivers.

Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.