I'm sorry I think every player is different and if you expect to keep a stud you pay him. RB you may think is a dime a dozen and for avg backs that may be true. I saw what this offense looked like when Zeke was out and I see the overall difference when he is in, not just as a runner but an all around RB blocking, catching and rushing. As for injury every player gets bumps and bruises what yet unlike guys like Murray Zeke has not had to deal with major knee surgery in college and in the pros or any kind of knee surgery. It is the major injuries that have cost players. I watched Emmitt and other great take on a bigger load and thankfully because there were able to avoid injury their career lasted. I can't say 100% when Zeke could sustain a big injury that effects his career nor can I say that about any other player at any other position
I dont think RBs are like a dime a dozen. In fact i think great ones are as hard to find as players in other positions too.
What i believe is you dont need a great RB to be successfull. You just need a good one. And those you can draft in round 2-3 also.
The main problem of our offense was NOT that we missed Zeke. Of course we missed him, every offense would. But the main problem we have on offense is below average play at the QB position.
Again: of course there will always be a player that is an exception to the norm. Someone who will prove statistics a liar. A RB for instance who wont get hurt in his career. Who will be able to perform on a high level like Emmit for years.
But i would never base my decissions on hoping that the one i drafted is right this player. That is a decission more out of emotion and wishful thinking than out of rationality. That may result in a pleasant surprise but the risk that it wont is way too high. Just look at how JJ ran this franchise based on exactly that strategy and what he got from it. Exactly zip. But he is incurable. He still thinks taking high risks is the way to run everything.
You look at the positions in football and what injuries happen at those and how they affect the player. For instance torn archilles tendons are very rare at the QB position but "common" at the CBs. For a CB that can be the end of his career or at least of a great career. For QBs it "just" means missing half a year.
Same is true for RBs. Injuries to the legs, like torn ACL, MCL etc are a common injury to them. But it will affect their careers immensely. To think a RB will not suffer one of those is ok, but not the right approach when thinking about binding your franchise's fate to that player.
