My "2021 State of the Bills" series continues with a look at the running backs as the team heads into the offseason:
Under contract:
• Devin Singletary
• Zack Moss
• Antonio Williams
• Christian Wade
Pending Free Agents:
• T.J. Yeldon
• Taiwan Jones
State of the position:
The Buffalo Bills running game certainly struggled this past season, but how much of that was due to the running backs themselves depends on your perspective.
Devin Singletary had five more carries in 2020 than he did his rookie year of 2019, but rushed for 88 less yards. While that may not seem like a lot, it was the difference between 5.1 yards per-carry last season and 4.4 yards per-run this year.
Singletary has never been thought of as a home run hitting back. He’s elusive, but not really fast. There were several times this season when it seemed like he was one block away from a much bigger run, and maybe getting to the hole just a bit quicker would have done that.
However, the exact same can basically be said for Zack Moss, who had a slow start to his rookie season, then missed three games due to a toe injury. Moss then showed flashes of the back they envisioned when drafting him in the third round last year, including a five-game stretch from right after Thanksgiving until the end of December when he averaged close to five yards per-carry.
A leg injury in the team’s Wild Card Round game against the Indianapolis Colts kept Moss out for the rest of the playoffs, and that appeared to be a bigger deal than many thought it would. The Bills running game never got going in the postseason at all, outside of Josh Allen scrambles. Bills running backs combined for just 3.68 yards per-carry in the playoffs, including Moss’ seven carries in that first game.
There’s no doubt they have to get better running the ball, but the question is how much better or different do they have to look at running back to do that?
Under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, the Bills became a pass-first team, and rightfully so with great results. Allen morphed into an MVP candidate this season, so they don’t need to spend a lot of money on a flashy free agent to add to the mix. In fact, the Bills have a great situation with both Singletary and Moss still on cheap, rookie contracts for multiple years each.
There is definitely an argument to be made that they should use their first or second pick in this year’s upcoming draft to select that home run hitting threat they don’t have out of the backfield. Someone who could add a speed and dynamic element they don’t have, plus be a mismatch in the passing game.
It would make for a crowded running back room, but they’d certainly have options and then let things sort themselves out.
The Bills signed both Antonio Williams and Christian Wade to reserve/future deals right after the season ended.
Williams got a shot to run the ball in the team’s regular season finale against the Miami Dolphins and looked terrific. He ran tough and hard, finding the end zone twice and totaling 63 yards on only 12 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per-carry. He also caught a pass and scampered 20 yards.
However, Williams is more in the mold of Moss and not the big-play type of back the team needs. It will be fun watching him compete for a spot next training camp.
Wade is no longer exempt from the 90-man roster, since his two-year stint with the International Pathways Program has now concluded. That basically just means he’s like everyone else now, and those who've been calling for him to get his shot will get what they've been clamoring for - he either makes the team or he doesn’t out of camp.
He can still be on the practice squad, but the Bills will not get an extra, exempt spot for him. If Wade is on the practice squad next year, he could be elevated or signed to the active roster, unlike what his situation was the previous two seasons.
The fact the Bills did sign Wade to a reserve/future contract means he did his job well every day, and the team believes he has a legitimate shot to make the roster. However, he will be 30-years-old in May and just started playing American football less than two years ago.
He’s still a long shot.
T.J. Yeldon will be a free agent. He’s actually the exact type of running back they need going forward, but someone who’s younger and more dynamic.
I would have liked to see him play a bit more over the past two years. He only dressed for nine games over two seasons with the Bills, but did a nice job when called upon, running for 4.9 yards per-carry on 27 attempts, and catching 14 passes for 146 yards. However, he was only used as a reserve back when others were injured.
The team brought five running backs to training camp last year. There is room for Yeldon if they want to re-sign him, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he doesn’t return.
Jones was a core special teams player for the Bills all season. The team made a conscious effort to upgrade their overall special teams last offseason and he was a big piece of that, even signing him to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. Don’t be surprised if they bring him back in 2021, but with salary cap constraints, they may need to look for a younger option to fill that role.
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2021 State of the Bills:
- Quarterbacks
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