Oakland Raiders: A few free agent running backs who might be able to help
By Kevin Saito
Eddie Lacy
After being taken in the second round (sixty-first overall) out of Alabama in the 2013 Draft, Lacy burst onto the NFL stage, posting 1,110-plus rushing yards in each of his first two seasons.
Over his first two seasons in Green Bay, Lacy ran for 2,317 yards and accounted for 20 rushing touchdowns. He also accounted for another 684 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
Not bad production-wise for his first two years in the league.
After that though, is when the worm started to turn. In 2015, Lacy rushed for just 758 yards and three touchdowns, though he did still maintain a respectable average of 4.1 yards per carry. He sustained a couple of injuries and as a result, his touches were down.
2016 went much the same way, with him sustaining an injury that landed him in IR. He had gotten off to a decent start to the season though, averaging a career high 5.1 yards per carry on his 71 touches.
2017 saw Lacy change uniforms, when he headed for Seattle on a one-year deal. Weight has been an issue throughout Lacy’s career, and he earned bonuses for keeping it below a set target. But, Seattle’s combination of an atrocious offensive line and a crowded backfield kept Lacy from performing, and in nine total games (three starts), he rushed for just 179 yards on his 69 carries.
At five-foot-eleven and around 250 pounds, Lacy is a bowling ball of a man and runs similar to Lynch – he’s not afraid to initiate contact. He’s also got fairly decent speed. Though not elusive, he’s not easy to bring down, either.
If he can keep his head on straight, Lacy could be a solid pick up to take a complementary role to Lynch in Oakland’s backfield.