Tennessee Titans: Can DeMarco Murray win the 2017 rushing title?
By Dale Lolley
Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray was a force last season, but does more weaponry mean a rushing title for the veteran?
Can DeMarco Murray win the 2017 NFL rushing title? Nine NFL.com analysts were asked to make their selection on who would lead the NFL in rushing this season. Just one picked the 2014 NFL rushing leader and Tennessee Titans running back, Murray.
At first glance, that might seem a bit low for Murray, who finished third last season behind rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Jordan Howard in the 2016 rushing standings. But Murray had his 1,287 yards on 293 carries. Elliott had 322 rushing attempts. And while Howard had just 252, remember that he didn’t become Chicago’s lead back until the season’s third week.
When Murray led the NFL in rushing for Dallas in 2014, he had an astounding 392 carries. That’s nearly 100 more than he got last season for the Tennessee Titans. He also was really Dallas’ only real rushing threat that season. But NFL.com’s Steve Wyche still went with Murray as his choice.
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“DeMarco Murray will get back to the top of the rushing heap, like in 2014,” Wyche wrote. “I love the Tennessee Titans’ offensive line and I think Marcus Mariota is going to have his best season in Year 3. The passing weapons are going to prevent defenses from stacking the box, leaving Murray to take advantage of all the positives the Titans have added on offense.”
The Titans did upgrade their passing weapons this offseason. And Murray should take advantage of that. But it will be difficult for him to lead the NFL in rushing.
Murray will still be Tennessee’s lead back. But Derrick Henry is going to get his touches, as well. Last season, that added up to 110 carries for Henry. And those 100 to 150 carries that Henry will get will keep Murray from winning the rushing title.
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That said, the Titans — and Murray — will be just fine with that, especially if everything that Wyche laid out happens. Murray should see fewer nine-man boxes in 2017, and that should add up to plenty of yards. But the Titans will take more wins over a rushing title.