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Oakland Raiders: Sorting backfield without Marshawn Lynch

By Maurice Moton

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Running back Doug Martin #28 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball against the Denver Broncos in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Running back Doug Martin #28 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball against the Denver Broncos in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch will miss time because of a groin injury. How will head coach Jon Gruden sort out the backfield?

The Oakland Raiders can’t catch a break—even during the bye week. Running back Marshawn Lynch will miss time because of a groin injury, shuffling the roles in the backfield going forward.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Lynch could eventually land on injured reserve.

Here’s a glimpse of how good Lynch played through six games. He ranked fourth in yards after contact (311) and tied for second with Melvin Gordon and James Conner in avoided tackles (23), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

No one can blame the Raiders’ current struggles on Lynch, who’s run hard during his tenure with the team. Now, without him, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and possibly DeAndre Washington will see expanded roles. Remember, the Raiders moved Chris Warren III to injured reserve before setting their initial 53-man roster. As a result, he’s not eligible to return this season.

How could head coach Jon Gruden sort out the running back roles going forward?

Doug Martin

According to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Michael Gehlken, Martin will handle the lion’s share of carries. He impressed the coaching staff during training camp. The 29-year old will have an opportunity to show there’s something left in him as a featured ball-carrier.

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As the No. 2 option behind Lynch, Martin logged 27 carries for 99 yards and only caught four passes for five yards. Oakland averaged 23.8 rush attempts through the first six contests. If that number holds up, the two-time Pro Bowler should take 12-15 carries per outing.

Martin doesn’t run with a physical nature like Lynch, so rushing yards after contact will likely drop for the Raiders, putting the onus on offensive linemen to sustain their blocks. If the seventh-year veteran plays well, he could generate interest on the free-agent market in the offseason.

Jalen Richard

Believe it or not, Richard lists second on the team in targets (37) and receptions (31) despite his place as the No. 3 running back on the initial depth chart. He’s clearly the preferred pass-catcher out of the backfield, which makes him more appealing to fantasy football owners in point-per-reception leagues.

As for game-day production, Richard’s role as a receiver seems safe. In Gruden’s system, quarterback Derek Carr has favored shorter passes. Only 8.2 percent of his throws have traveled 20-plus yards downfield, per PFF.

We could see more of Richard as a ball-carrier similar to his first two seasons in the league. He averaged 5.9 and 4.9 yards per rush attempt in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, respectively. Then again, Gruden may restrict Richard to a receiving role and allot carries to Washington, who’s yet to log a snap in the 2018 regular season.

DeAndre Washington

During the summer, Washington underwent a knee scope, and it’s still unclear if he’ll play a role in the backfield with more opportunities to go around. Nonetheless, we’d have to question the coaching staff for keeping the third-year running back on the 53-man roster and not playing him if he’s healthy at this point. Unless the 25-year-old has some conditioning hurdles to clear, there’s a strong possibility for his debut after the bye week.

Similar to Richard, Washington played a role in the backfield as a secondary option behind Latavius Murray during the 2016 campaign and Lynch last year. He didn’t run as efficiently during the 2017 term, averaging 2.7 yards per rush attempt.

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As a 2016 fifth-round pick, Washington has another year left on his rookie deal. If he takes the field in a moderate role, it’s probably an audition for a backup spot, next year, as Gruden reshapes the roster.

For more grades, advanced statistics and more at Pro Football Focus, subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions at ProFootballFocus.com.

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