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The Miami Dolphins signed running back Knowshon Moreno to a one-year deal on Thursday, and he’ll now become the team’s No. 1 running back after rushing for 1,038 yards and catching 60 passes with 13 total touchdowns (10 rushing, three receiving) for the Denver Broncos last season.
The Dolphins had the league’s 26th-ranked rushing offense in 2013 (90 yards per game) with just eight rushing touchdowns, and those numbers would have been even worse if not for quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s contribution on the ground (238 yards and one touchdown). But is Moreno the only Miami running back that will have any value to fantasy football owners next season?
Lamar Miller had the look of a potential fantasy sleeper heading into last season, but he had just one 100-yard game all season and seven games with single-digit carries as Miami inexplicably attempted the 10th-most passes in the league (594, 37.1 per game) despite allowing a league-high 58 sacks. New offensive coordinator Bill Lazor should look to implement a more balanced offense, but Miller’s role is now even more up in the air with Moreno in the mix.
Moreno will have to prove his production last season was not driven entirely by being a part of one of the league’s best offenses, and it’s worth remembering that around this time last year it looked possible the Broncos would cut ties with him. The free agent market has been slow for running backs this offseason, but a lack of reported interest from other teams still reflects the skepticism fantasy owners should have about Moreno at this point.
Miller’s fantasy value is limited to being the likely handcuff to Moreno right now, and that will make him undraftable outside of very deep leagues. But my doubt surrounding Moreno will keep Miller on my radar as a potential in-season waiver wire addition, and if Miami’s new acquisition struggles or gets hurt Miller may become a popular addition in 12 and 14-team leagues.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradberreman24 and connect on Google + .
