7 Backup Running Backs Who Might Be Better Than the Starter

Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last year was rough for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' run game.

The team finished ranked 30th in schedule-adjusted Rushing NEP per play, losing 0.09 points per play relative to expectation. Frankly, no running back was free of blame.

Bobby Rainey and Doug Martin both earned Rushing NEP per play scores of -0.06. Rainey did so on 94 carries, and Martin did it on 135.

But in terms of moving the ball forward, Rainey was the better option. His Success Rate -- the percentage of carries that led to positive NEP gains -- of 37.23% led the team. Martin's was 34.81%, second best.

Charles Sims, though, is probably the second back on the depth chart after Martin. Sims managed to lose 16.03 points on 66 carries, a -0.24 points per carry rate. His Success Rate (28.79%) was significantly worse than either Rainey or Martin.

Rainey isn't the clear-cut top option in Tampa Bay, but based on last season, he was the best back, securing the only positive Total NEP (combined Rushing and Reception NEP), though it was just 4.74 points.