Who will be the Denver Broncos starting running back in 2017? It’s anyone’s guess as to which of these backs is going to step up and take the majority of the carries, but the competition is sure to be fierce.
If the Broncos offense is going to come around under either of their young quarterbacks, it is going to be up to this running game to start contributing. Over the past two seasons, the Broncos have barely averaged 100 yards per game on the ground.
Now, with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy returning, this will be Denver’s third different offensive scheme in four seasons. And while we know that the offensive line will have to step up its game, in order for this offense to truly prosper, the running backs must do the same. So far in OTAs, we are seeing a fierce running back competition as a number of backs are vying for a spot on this roster.
C.J. Anderson is the incumbent starter, and he should be considered the favorite to claim that role in 2017. Anderson was Denver’s primary ballcarrier in 2014 and 2015, totaling over 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns in those seasons. He has had a history of nagging injuries though, and in 2016 he missed nine games with a torn meniscus in his knee. When healthy, Anderson can be a powerful runner Capable of grinding out tough yards. So far in workouts, he has looked strong. Can he stay on the field to win the job?
The top competition for Anderson will be second-year man Devontae Booker. The Broncos used a fourth-round selection last spring to grab Booker, and he was forced into immediate playing time. With Anderson out, Booker took the bulk of the carries, racking up 612 yards and four touchdowns. He struggled in his blocking assignments and had two crucial fumbles, but don’t be surprised to see Booker earn this job. He is a back that runs hard on every carry. As the game slows down for him, and he learns the new offense, Booker could be the man to beat.
Veteran Jamaal Charles might be the most electrifying back in the group. He’s also the wild card. In his 10-year career, Charles has proven to be a dangerous back, capable of breaking the big play at any time. He has accumulated over 7,000 yards, and scored more than 60 touchdowns. He is exceptionally dangerous in the passing game and has nearly 300 catches in his career. However, Charles is coming off multiple knee injuries, and he will not be fully active until later this summer. He has also had a history of fumbles, putting the ball on the ground 25 times, but he is a home run hitter when fully healthy. He could make this team as a dangerous role player and even steal the starter’s gig.
Rookie De’Angelo Henderson has been very impressive so far in workouts. The Broncos grabbed Henderson in the sixth round of the draft out of Coastal Carolina, and he has shown an ability in OTAs to explode through a hole. Standing just 5-foot-7 and a little over 200 pounds, he has a low center of gravity and can be difficult for the defense to find. If Henderson can learn his assignments quickly, he may be able to contribute as a rookie.
The forgotten running back on this roster might be veteran Bernard Pierce. He was drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens back in 2012. He had three solid seasons for the Ravens, primarily in a backup role. He ran for over 1,300 yards and five touchdowns, but he got a DUI in 2014 and Baltimore released him. He bounced from Jacksonville to the New York Jets, but struggled to overcome nagging injuries. The Broncos signed him in January, and he looks to be refocused and healthy. Pierce has shown a knack for peeling off sizeable runs with his cutback ability. He has a quickness that Anderson and Booker may not have. He may not be a favorite to be on the opening roster, but Pierce just might surprise everyone, and get some important carries this year.
The final back may not have the greatest odds to make the final roster, but Juwan Thompson keeps beating the odds every single season. Coming out of Duke in 2014, he went undrafted, but was signed by the Broncos as a free agent. As a rookie, he wasn’t expected to even make the team, but Thompson actually found his way on the field for 54 carries. He had 272 yards and scored three touchdowns. He made the team again in 2015, but saw his production drop to just 18 carries. Last season, he was actually cut in the preseason, but was re-signed to the Broncos practice squad. Once again, he worked his way back onto the field, and got a few carries when Anderson was lost to injury. Thompson shouldn’t stand much of a chance to make this roster, but he has overcome big odds in the past. In OTAs, he is getting productive carries. Don’t count him out just yet.
This running back group might be the best collection of talent since 2012, when the Broncos had Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman, and Lance Ball. If the Broncos get consistent production from these runners, this team can once again be a contender.
