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No-name running games
By JOANNE KORTH
Published December 23, 2007
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[Brian Cassella | Times]
This season, Earnest Graham has been a workhorse at running back after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. A starter since Week 6, he is 123 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards.
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Three years ago, no one had heard of Willie Parker. An undrafted free agent from North Carolina, the Steelers running back was thrust into the starting job in 2005 because of injuries to Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley. Parker ran for 161 yards in the opener that year, not bad for a guy who didn't play much at UNC because he lacked vision. Parker entered Week 16 as the league's leading rusher, but Pittsburgh's playoff prospects took a turn for the worse when Parker broke his leg in Thursday's victory at St. Louis. Or did they? NFL teams thinking about investing millions of dollars in a running back might want to think again. This season, plenty of playoff contenders are getting it done with no-name running backs.
Korth's power rankings Top 10 Bottom 5 Rank Team Last week Comment 28. Raiders (28) - Need to play JaMarcus Russell more. 29. Chiefs (29) - Losing happens, sayeth Herm Edwards.
30. 49ers (30) - Shaun Hill will struggle in start No. 2.
31. Dolphins (32) - 'Fins land Tuna for their future.
32. Falcons (31) - Too much for any team to overcome.
1 Patriots 1 Who's going to beat them now? 2 Colts 3 They can play any style of game. 3 Cowboys 2 Did they peak too soon? 4 Packers 4 It's hard to find a weakness. 5 Jaguars 6 A Florida team built for the cold. 6 Steelers 5 Can't protect Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket. 7 Chargers 8 Playing with a chip on their shoulders. 8 Seahawks 7 Just playing out the regular season. 9 Bucs 10 Defense wins championships, right? 10 Browns - A scary wild-card round opponent.
Ryan GrantPackers
Ht.: 6-1Wt.: 224
College: Notre Dame
2007 base salary: $310,000
Undrafted out of college, Grant spent 2005 on the Giants practice squad. He missed 2006 after a severe injury to his left forearm. Acquired by the Packers in a trade for a draft pick, Grant became the starter after injuries to Vernand Morency, Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn. In the past eight games, he has 772 yards and six touchdowns for the NFC North champion Packers.
Earnest Graham
Bucs
Ht.: 5-9Wt.: 225
College: Florida
2007 base salary: $510,000
Undrafted out of college, Graham rattled around on the Bucs practice squad in 2003, and he signed and was released a couple of times. The past three seasons, he was mainly a special-teams player. This season, he has been a workhorse at running back after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. A starter since Week 6, he is 123 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards.
Aaron SteckerSaints
Ht.: 5-10Wt.: 213
College: Western Illinois
2007 base salary: $1.25-million
Undrafted out of college, Stecker began his pro career with stints on the Bucs practice squad and in NFL Europe. Entering this season, he had started 10 games in seven NFL seasons. But injuries to running backs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bushhave thrust Stecker into the spotlight. In consecutive victories, Stecker has rushed for 100 and 95 yards.
Darius WalkerTexans
Ht.: 5-10Wt.: 212
College: Notre Dame
2007 base salary: $285,000
Walker opted not to return for his senior season at Notre Dame, then was shocked when no team drafted him. Ron Dayne's gimpy ankle has given Walker a chance. Promoted from the Texans practice squad for a Week 14 game against the Bucs, Walker has 112 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards in two games. In last week's win against the Broncos, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Najeh DavenportSteelers
Ht.: 6-1Wt.: 247
College: Miami
2007 base salary: $595,000
A career backup in his sixth NFL season, Davenport takes over for injured Willie Parker. But will he be the next Parker? After the league's leading rusher broke his leg early in Thursday's game at St. Louis, Davenport rushed for 123 yards and had touchdowns rushing and receiving in a victory. It was his second career 100-yard rushing game. The Steelers haven't yet clinched a playoff berth, so they'll need Davenport to deliver.
Other notable no-names
Selvin Young, Broncos
Ht.: 5-11Wt.: 207
2007 base salary: $285,000
Young, an undrafted free agent rookie from Texas, took over the Denver running game when Travis Henry got hurt. In his first career start, Young had 120 scrimmage yards against the Packers. For the season, he has 603 yards on 108 carries, an impressive 5.6-yard average. By the way, Young started for Texas in the BCS Championship Game against USC.
Justin Fargas, Raiders
Ht.: 6-1Wt.: 220
2007 base salary: $800,000
The third-round pick of the Raiders in 2003 took over for injured LaMont Jordanin the second half of 2006. He kept the job until sustaining a knee injury last week. This season, he is the NFL's 11th-leading rusher with 1,009 yards and a 4.5-yard average. By the way, Fargas' dad is actor Antonio Fargas, who played Huggy Bear on Starsky and Hutch.
[Last modified December 22, 2007, 23:41:18]
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