Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Green Bay Packers are expected to be one of the legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2015, and they have extra motivation to get to the big game after last season’s incredibly disappointing finish. There is no question that the Packers have put together a talented roster. They have a few different X-factors to keep an eye on, and one of them is running back James Starks.
While Eddie Lacy is usually the only Packers running back talked about, he is certainly not the only one who is going to be asked to make a difference. Mike McCarthy showed last season that the Packers want to use a dual-back system despite the dominance that Lacy can show at times. Keeping both players fresh is a key for Green Bay, and Starks will get a good number of carries once again this coming season.
Last year with the Packers, Starks ended up compiling 333 yards and two touchdowns on 85 carries. He also caught 18 passes for 140 yards throughout the season.
It will be very interesting to see what ends up happening with Starks this coming season. McCarthy is no longer the play-caller, but Tom Clements isn’t going to change things up very much. Lacy is still going to be the No. 1 back, but Starks should get a similar number of carries if not more than he had last year.
At 29 years old, Starks also brings excellent experience to the table for the Packers. Green Bay is going to be a pass-heavy offense, but having two running backs with the talent that Lacy and Starks have is extremely tough to ignore. Aaron Rodgers has benefited a lot from having a ground game that can pick up yardage, and it has opened up one of the NFL‘s most dangerous wide receiver corps.
That being said, Starks must still be considered one of Green Bay’s X-factors looking ahead at the 2015 season.
As Green Bay’s primary backup running back, Starks is going to see quite a few series where he is the feature back. He will have to be the change of pace back that the Packers need but still put up excellent production. Starks is a much quicker and more elusive back than Lacy, and that is exactly why he has been given more playing time recently.
There are plenty of players who need to step up during the 2015 season for the Packers, but Starks is obviously the least talked about at this point in time. It has been interesting to watch how Starks’ career has grown since he originally broke through during Green Bay’s last Super Bowl win. He has become a fan favorite and a very important piece of the offense, and that role will increase this year.
Evan Massey is the Green Bay Packers beat writer for www.RantSports.com, and also contributes across the NFL, MLB and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.
