Packers: Running back stat predictions for 2018 season

Predicting the stats for each of the Green Bay Packers’ top three running backs in 2018.

Training camp is a week away and excitement is beginning to build in Packer Nation.

The Green Bay Packers bring a deep stable of backs into 2018. Last season showed the Packers have three running backs capable of carrying the load. Although all three faced injuries, there are plenty of reasons to be excited.

Ty Montgomery returns for his fourth season in Green Bay. Montgomery has only had one healthy year so far in his young career. But when he has been on the field, he has proven to be a matchup problem for defenses.

Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones had a strong rookie years. Even with Jones’ two-game suspension, there is still a lot of promise with these two second-year players.

Williams showed he can be the pounder between the tackles, while Jones looked like the bigger home run threat.

With a new-look wide receiver corps, the backs could be leaned on more than in previous years early in the season. The Packers are a passing team, and that won’t change as long as Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback. But a credible running game can make life easier on Rodgers by slowing down the rush while also opening up more of the playbook.

The play-action pass will become more of a weapon, and closing out games could become easier with a strong ground game to rely on. The Packers don’t need a 1,000-yard rusher, but a committee capable of putting up around 1,500 yards rushing and adding another 500-600 receiving, could make this Packers offense as dangerous as we’ve seen in Green Bay.

With Mike McCarthy’s preferred method of a committee approach, there should be plenty of opportunities for all three running backs.

For the sake of this prediction, I will leave out contributions from Devante Mays and the fullbacks. If the top three running backs stay healthy, we should see minimal production, as far as stats goes, from Aaron Ripkowski/Joe Kerridge or Mays.