Green Bay Packers: How many running backs should be on roster?

The Green Bay Packers don’t have the deadliest running backs in the NFL. They do have plenty of options though. How many backs should make the roster?

The Green Bay Packers running game wasn’t miserable in 2017, but there was definitely room for improvement. They were 17th in the NFL in rushing yards (1,724), right in the middle of the pack. However, they were impressively fifth in the league in yards-per-carry at 4.5.

At the moment they have five running backs on their roster (and two fullbacks). That won’t be the case by Week 1 though, so what should be the plan? Three running backs, or four? That’s the real argument right here. I honestly don’t think there’s much of an argument for who should start.

You could make a case for Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones, as well as Jamaal Williams for who should start. That being said, I don’t think it will matter much. I think this will be more of a “situational” and “hot-hand” deal. Maybe someone will emerge during the year, but all three should get a chance to prove themselves.

There’s three running backs everyone should already have on their regular season roster for the Packers though.

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Montgomery has big-play potential and is a dynamic receiver out of the backfield. He has a spot. Jones looked explosive last season and led the team by averaging 5.5 yards per carry. There’s plenty of potential with him. Due to that, he has a spot. Williams is a reliable runner and above-average as a receiving back. He’s warranted a spot as well.

That leaves Devante Mays and Joel Bouagnon. Bouagnon was signed in January and has yet to appear in an NFL game. He’s an extremely long-shot. Mays on the other hand was draft by the Packers last season and appeared in eight games. In that time, he struggled (albeit in very limited opportunities). The Utah State product had four carries for one yard, and three receptions for zero yards.

Those numbers aren’t all that worrisome because of the minuscule sample size. There is one number that sticks out though. In those seven touches, Mays had two fumbles (losing one). Teams can lose trust in a running back extremely fast if they have ball-security issues. Already buried on the depth chart, those fumbles could really hurt Mays.

At the same time though, it shows the Packers didn’t want to give up on him that after a two-fumble performance in Week 11, he stayed with the team.

Personally, I feel having four running backs (especially when none are considered stars) is the right move for most teams. Of the three running backs I have as making the roster, only Williams appeared in all 16 games last year.

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Depth at a position not considered a strong-point of the team isn’t a bad thing. Depth at a position where you struggled to keep guys on the field isn’t a bad thing. Running back landed under both of those categories in 2017. Keeping four is the right way to go, at least to start the year.

That being said, unless a move is made, Ty Montgomery should be joined by three second-year pros next season. Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, as well as Devante Mays.