Jeremy Langford

If Langford looks a little raw at running back now and again, be kind - he also played wide receiver and defensive back at Michigan State before settling in the backfield. The Bears were impressed with Langford's versatility last year, but he didn't authoritatively prove he's feature back material. A 3.6 YPC is frowned upon in today's NFL, and Langford often went down on first contact. His receiving stats can be spun in multiple directions, too. A 22-catch haul sounds good for a part-time rookie, and Langford sure looked nifty on an 83-yard catch-and-run at St. Louis. But a 50-percent catch rate is abysmal for a running back, and a handful of those incompletions were Langford drops. He should have every chance to prove himself, likely opening the season as the starter, with a role that should include most of the snaps on passing downs. However, a slow start might open the door for Jordan Howard and/or Ka'Deem Carey to push for the lead-back role.

After seeing minimal action behind current Steelers star Le’Veon Bell during his first two seasons at Michigan State, Langford emerged as the bellcow for the Spartans as a junior and senior, accumulating a total of 2,944 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground. Langford’s outstanding production, coupled with his position-leading 4.42 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine, resulted in his selection by the Bears in the fourth round of the draft. With Matt Forte still solidified as the Bears’ top running back and free-agent signing Jacquizz Rodgers likely entering camp as the team’s preferred third-down option, Langford might not see many snaps this season, but he’ll retain plenty of intrigue in dynasty formats. Forte will turn 30 in December and become a free agent after the season, which could place Langford in position to assume a starting role by 2016. His explosiveness and skill set as both a blocker and pass-catcher probably make him a better long-term fit for Adam Gase’s offense than the undersized Rodgers or second-year back Ka’Deem Carey, a holdover from the previous regime who disappointed as a rookie.