Is It Possible To Have Too Many Quality Running Backs?
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
“You can never have too many quality running backs.” That’s a popular phrase that is often repeated across college football and the NFL, but for the Miami Dolphins, it might not actually be true.
De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert are two of the top running backs in the league, there’s little doubt. Still, it’s not crazy to think that the Dolphins’ overall offense could be better if there wasn’t such a 50/50 split of carries between the two. In 2023, Mostert played in 15 games, rushing for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns. Achane played in 11 games and rushed 103 times for 800 yards and eight scores. If there hadn’t been an injury issue for Achane last season, the expectation is that they would have had closer to equal carries.
Heading into 2024, Achane might end up with more than 50 percent of the carries, but it’s probably not going to be a 70/30 split. Splitting the carries evenly might not be best for the team, however. Mostert has had a solid NFL career, but the best year was in 2023. He’s also 32 years old, and with the shelf life of running backs, he’s one foot into the retirement home in football terms.
Meanwhile, Achane was drafted with the 84th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, and every year that he splits reps 50/50 with another guy is a year they are wasting his prime. Last season, Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry, while Mostert averaged only 4.8 yards per carry. If they had the same number of carries last season at those rates, Achane would have finished with over 1600 yards on the ground.
Those extra 600 yards from Achane courtesy of fewer running touches for Mostert would open up even more yards for other weapons. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle didn’t necessarily need more touches last season, but it’s always a good thing to get the ball into the hands of two of the most dynamic wide receivers in the NFL. Why not do that instead of force-feeding Mostert his 50% of carries?
Mostert has talked about being a good veteran leader and trying to help Achane and now rookie Jaylen Wright adjust to the NFL. That can be invaluable for young players. If he’s just happy enough being a smaller part of a Super Bowl contender, there is still a very big spot for him on this team. Even if that isn’t always on the field.
“All in all, I’m happy for him to be in the room,” Mostert said of Wright. “I treat every rookie, [like] with [De’Von Achane] last year, I’m always going to try to show them the ropes first and give them my little pointers and help them out as best as I can. Like you said, I’m going on the tail end of my career and I want to be able to make an impact somehow. That means just bringing along somebody and helping them out.“
Speaking of Wright, he might be the best running back to pair Achane in the backfield. As dynamic as Mostert is, the Dolphins didn’t have the true power back they could lean on when they needed that tough yard or two, and it often limited their upside.
A one-two punch is important in the league, and for the Dolphins, a speed and a power back will make much more sense as they try to take the next step forward in 2024. Wright ran a 4.38 40-yard dash during the NFL combine, but his strength might be his top attribute.
In college, Wright averaged 4.35 yards per carry after contact, and that type of getaway power will be a difference-maker. The Dolphins’ best bet in 2024 will include at least 55 percent of the carries to Achane, another 25 percent to Wright, and 20 percent to Mostert. Finding that optimal balance in the running back room might be the difference this year in winning the Super Bowl and getting bounced early again in the playoffs.
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