Joseph Randle is listed as the starting running back for the Cowboys in Week 1, but the word from Dallas' shot-callers is that the job remains up for grabs. Darren McFadden is still in the mix to open the season behind quarterback Tony Romo, and newly acquired Christine Michael is being considered.
Michael was a highly-touted second round pick out of Texas, but languished in Seattle behind Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks have since acquired veteran Fred Jackson to back up Lynch, and given Michael a clearer path to starting.
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Randle has been in the lead all offseason, but there are red flags. He has never topped 54 carries in his brief career, and there are off-the-field concerns following two arrests within a four-month span for shoplifting, and marijuana possession.
McFadden is the senior member of this group, and although he is viewed as the biggest injury risk, he registered the most carries (155) in 2014. Once the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, injuries seem like they've taken a toll on him. He hasn't averaged more than 3.4 yards per attempt since 2011, although some of that can be attributed to weak offensive lines in Oakland.
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Michael may have the most upside, but that is purely speculative. Drafted in 2013, Michael has only carried the ball 52 times in his career, averaging 4.9 yards a rush. He has never scored an NFL touchdown.
Not one of these backs profiles as a bellcow, which suggests a full-blown running back by committee (RBBC) situation for fantasy owners. McFadden is currently the better buy; he's going No. 108 overall while Randle is going No. 52. Michael is lasting all the way to No. 211, according to FantasyPros.com.
"We won't outline anything before the game," head coach Jason Garrett said. "We'll give each of those guys a chance over the course of the week to show us that they're worthy of opportunities."
The only back who will not figure into the starting mix is Lance Dunbar, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Dunbar is locked into third-down passing situations, further limiting the upside of all three of Dallas' other backs.
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