Seahawks bye-week grades for 2017: Running backs

The Seahawks are a bit over a quarter of the way into 2017. Seattle leads the NFC West, but with only a 3-2 record. Here is a look at the grade for Seattle’s running backs for 2017 at the bye-week.

Running backs

Chris Carson, we miss you already. Seahawks running back Carson was just beginning to solidify his spot as the starting running back. Seemingly, he created most of his rushing yards on his own. And he could catch the ball well. But then he sprained his ankle and broke his leg.

Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise have been either scratched from games or non-productive when they played. Forget the yards, the average yards-per-carry for Lacy (3.0), Rawls (1.8) and Prosise (2.5) are atrocious. Carson averaged 4.2 yards-per, so he showed that Seattle can run the ball somewhat.

What makes the running back situation more frustrating is Seattle is not without talent at the position. Lacy looked decent against the Colts in week four in limited time. Rawls has several games in his career over 150 yards. Prosise was a big reason the Seahawks defeated the Patriots in New England in 2016.

And it is not like the offensive line they run behind is worse than 2016. Or 2015. The line is still terrible as it has been for several seasons. (Lacy, of course, gets a pass on this one as he is new to Seattle.)

But thank goodness for J.D. McKissic. He has only run the ball six times but has 38 yards. You know how many rushing touchdowns the Seahawks have this year? Two. And one of those was from Russell Wilson. The other belongs to McKissic. Plus, he can catch. McKissic is a weapon Seattle needs to use even more post-bye.

Related Story: Seahawks bye-week grades: Russell Wilson

Grade: Carson and McKissic B+; All others F