It is the time of the year in which it is beneficial to look at each teams work load and see if it is consistent with the league rules. In the Premier Madden League, we do require at least an 80/20 split amongst running backs. This means that your primary back can face suspension if they are carrying more than 80% of the workload. It should be knowN that carries by wide receivers and quarterbacks do not count towards the workload. Today I will take a look at running backs in the AFC North division and see if any are exceeding the threshold.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon is a running back I would have expected to have some potential to exceed 80%. If we are being honest he doesn’t have much support behind him, or so we thought. That was until the emergence of Samaje Perine with an impressive game of 16 rushes for 132 yards against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals head coach seemed very impressed and stated that he wants to get Perine on the field more. With more of a split potentially coming, I don’t see this backfield breaking any usage rules with Mixon already with a very safe 70% workload.
Joe Mixon – 70%
Samaje Perine – 27%
Chris Evans – 3%
Cleveland Browns
Running back Nick Chubb is having a great season rushing the ball 179 times for 995 yards and 7 touchdowns. However, with a great supporting cast of Kareem Hunt, D’ernest Johnson, and Demetric Felton he currently isn’t in any danger of exceeding 80%. As long as coach HD continues to get Hunt and Johnson involved he should be in the clear, but it is worth monitoring because Nick Chubb is close at 77%
Nick Chubb – 77%
Kareem Hunt – 13%
D’ernest Johnson – 9%
Demetric Felton – 1%
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are dealing with a ton of injuries at the running back position. With their top running back J.K. Dobbins and back up Justice Hill both hurt, they don’t have very much depth. Gus Edwards has stepped up as the primary back and the veteran Todd Gurley has stepped in behind him. As it stands the Ravens aren’t in danger of exceeding the 80% workload with Gus Edwards at 74%.
Gus Edwards – 74%
ToddGurley – 21%
Patrick Ricard – 6%
Pittsburgh Steelers
Everyone was excited to see what the rookie running back Najee Harris would do for this Steelers team. At the moment, we still need to see more. Harris hasn’t been extremely impressive, but he hasn’t been disappointing either with 119 rushes for 517 yards and 4 touchdowns. Kalen Ballage has offered a nice change of pace option and Jaylen Samuels is reliable when called upon. The Steelers aren’t putting everything on Najee Harris early in his career as he sits at a comfortable 71% of the workload.
Najee Harris – 71%
Kalen Ballage – 25%
Jaylen Samuels – 4%
