ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Now that the seeming inevitable has happened -- Latavius Murray signed a free-agent contract, with the Minnesota Vikings -- the Oakland Raiders have to address the gaping hole they have at the running back position.
Sure, 5-foot-8 Mighty Mites Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are exciting, but they are change-of-pace backs, not every-down runners. When Murray missed two games last season with turf toe, Richard and Washington were not nearly as effective.
But when Murray was active, Richard and Washington averaged 2.5 yards more per carry combined in those 14 games (a combined 6.