Mike Rodak, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Bills offseason preview: Running backs

Continuing a position-by-position look at the Buffalo Bills' roster with an eye toward free agency and the draft:

Position: Running back

2014 snaps:

  • Fred Jackson: 51.6 percent

  • Anthony Dixon: 20.6 percent

  • C.J. Spiller: 17.7 percent

  • Bryce Brown: 11.1 percent

Stat of note: The Bills gained first downs on 16.2 percent of their rushing attempts, the lowest rate in the NFL.

Pending free agents: Spiller (unrestricted)

2015 cap hits (position rank):

  • Jackson: $2.6 million (22nd in NFL)

  • Dixon: $1.167 million (36th in NFL)

  • Brown: $660,000

  • FB Corey Knox: $435,000

Money line: The Bills spent the fifth-most among NFL teams on their running backs (in terms of cap value) last season and had very little to show for it, partly due to Spiller's injury. There isn't much sense in paying Spiller top dollar when there is a lower-priced option on the roster, Brown, whom the Bills traded for last offseason.

Market watch: Pending free agents include DeMarco Murray, Justin Forsett, Frank Gore, Ryan Mathews, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Ahmad Bradshaw, Knowshon Moreno, and Darren McFadden.

Draft need: Moderate -- Jackson, who turns 34 in February, is running on borrowed time. His production declined after he returned from a groin injury this past season and while the Bills can likely get another adequate season out of him, they need to look toward the future. If Spiller leaves in free agency, filling the fourth spot on this depth chart with a mid-to-late round pick is wise.

Scout's take: "Spiller is such an enigma. I wouldn't give him big bucks. I certainly don't think he's a feature guy. Do you trust Rex Ryan & Co. to use him properly? Probably not. I don't trust Bryce Brown, though, either. They traded for him and he has ability but he couldn't beat anybody out to get on the field and was highly consistent before being a Bill. But I still think Fred Jackson has a year or two left. Despite his age, he's not that weathered. I think you can count on him at least another season. It's such a deep running back draft. It seems like that might be the way to go here: Use some of your free agency money elsewhere, have Jackson, give Brown a shot and use a third- or fourth-round pick on a deep running back draft." -- ESPN NFL scout Matt Williamson

Quote of note: "[The previous coaching staff] did a lot of switching in and out. ... It seemed like every time a guy would make a big run, they would substitute. I think it was just the rotation of it. Then with Fred being here the longest and knowing the offense the most, I think they felt in certain situations, more comfortable having him out there. But we're excited this year coming in with the emphasis and commitment to the run game. There's going to be a rotation, but I don't think it's going to be as quick for guys. I think they'll be able to stay in and get a feel for what they're doing and get in a groove." -- Bills general manager Doug Whaley to Syracuse.com's Matthew Fairburn, during the 2015 Senior Bowl

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