Zac Stacy

Coming off a surprisingly solid rookie season, Stacy entered 2014 as the lead back for the Rams, but soon lost his spot to Tre Mason, eventually falling all but out of the gameplan. When St. Louis drafted Todd Gurley 10th overall this year, it was clear Stacy had no future with the team, and he was dealt to the Jets shortly thereafter. A short, thick power back, Stacy has surprising speed for his size, but it was his vision and burst that allowed him to be productive in 2013 as he drove through holes and arm tackles with equal aplomb and proved a weapon at the goal line. His physical running style has already taken its toll, though, and he's played through a number of nagging injuries in his two NFL seasons. The Jets are seemingly a poor fit for Stacy, as Chris Ivory, Stevan Ridley and even Bilal Powell are similar runners, while new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was brought in to fix the passing game. Stacy might need injuries to hit for him to get significant carries.

Stacy was a second-half revelation as a rookie last season, rushing for 759 yards and seven touchdowns over the final nine weeks of the year. Though he's a smaller back at 5-8, 224, and lacks straightaway speed, Stacy flashed elite agility and field vision, helping him to four 100-plus-yard rushing efforts as well as fine work by the goal line. While he did put up a pair of duds – 22 total yards in Week 14 in Arizona and 15 carries for 15 yards in Week 7 in Seattle – that cut into his rate stats, those were two of the league's top rushing defenses last year. Take those two games out, and his YPC for the season leaps from a subpar 3.9 to a respectable 4.2. Though he dealt with a host of injuries last year – a concussion, a foot issue, a sprained ankle and a rib injury – Stacy finished the campaign in full health and is in position to start at running back for the Rams this season. To do that, he'll have to hold off third-round selection Tre Mason as well as incumbent backups Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead. To this point, it appears that Stacy's the most well-rounded of the crew and the overwhelming favorite to see the majority of the touches. He could cede some third-down work as he's only an adequate receiver out of the backfield, but he's still probably the best on this team.

A compact running back with good vision and balance, Stacy averaged 5.5 YPC during his final collegiate season, finishing as Vanderbilt's career leader in rushing yards (3,143) and scores (30). At 5-8, 216, the Rams' fifth-round pick provides Jeff Fisher's offense with a downhill runner who will follow his blocks well and rarely go down at first contact. Outside speed backs Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson will receive carries, but after losing Steven Jackson in free agency, the Rams need a between-the-tackles runner. Stacy is the likeliest candidate to fill that role and could also emerge as the goal-line option.