LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles – McCoy is entering the second season of Chip Kelly’s fast paced offense. He is also coming off a season in which he amassed over 2,100 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. The entire Eagles offensive line will be back except for Lane Johnson in the first four games. McCoy, dare I say it, will only get better entering his sixth season.
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears – Forte will be 29 before the end of the season and that is worrisome. However, Marc Trestman’s offense has given Forte a sort of resurgence. In 2013, Forte not only did extremely well on the ground (over 1,300 yards) but he did well in the passing game too. Forte was targeted an astounding 94 times and caught 74 of those targets. Forte will have another year just like 2013.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – There isn’t much to say about Adrian Peterson except that his numbers will be hurt by an incompetent passing game and weak overall team. Peterson will still accumulate solid numbers but they will fall short of expectations because the Vikings will be playing from behind in most games this year.
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs – Charles worries me a bit. He will be 28 before the season is over and has had over 310 touches the last two seasons – a piece. A running back that touches the ball a lot, gets hit a lot and Andy Reid has a penchant for saddling his running backs with the offensive load (ex. Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy). Be weary of Charles.
DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys – Murray has not played a full season in his three years in the NFL. This doesn’t make him injury prone but it makes him fragile. Despite the injury concerns, Murray averaged 5.2 yards per carry last year with a 4.9 yards per carry figure for his three-year career. He wasn’t lost in the passing game either with 53 receptions on 66 targets. His ground numbers will increase as the Cowboys have a semi-healthy Tony Romo behind center that will focus his attention on Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and company in the passing game.
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