Oakland Raiders: Some RB prospects to think about for the 2019 season

The Oakland Raiders are going to need some help in the backfield after this season – here are a few prospects worth keeping an eye on.

With head coach Jon Gruden taking the reins this offseason, there’s every reason to believe the Oakland Raiders running game will get back to being as powerful as it was back in 2016, when it ranked sixth in the league.

Running behind a big, powerful line who – after an identity crisis under the mismanagement of Todd Downing – should get back to being the kind of unit who manhandles opposing defenses and blows people off the ball.

The presence of that big, nasty line, along with a big, nasty fullback in Keith Smith, should allow Marshawn Lynch – and if he actually ends up panning out after flashing early in the offseason program – Doug Martin, to thrive in Gruden’s high-powered offense.

All that to say, Oakland’s ground game should be good, maybe even really good, this season – but, what about after that?

It’s hard to see Lynch, who’s playing out the final year of his deal, coming back in 2019. And even if Martin does have some sort of career renaissance this year, he’ll cross that dreaded 30-barrier before this season is even over.

It’s possible that if Martin shows out, they bring him back for 2019 – Gruden, after all, does love his veterans. But, that doesn’t quite solve all of their running back problems. Which means, that since Gruden did little to fortify the position this season, they’ll be in the market for a new back – or two – again next year.

Assuming they stay healthy and they don’t suddenly forget how to be productive, it’s never too early to start thinking about the future, so let’s take a look at a few prospects who could potentially be excellent fits in Oakland’s backfield and keep the ground game rolling right along.