Christine Michael

The Colts picked up Michael in the offseason after the running back was cut loose by the Packers, and the running back joined a stable that included the ageless Frank Gore, former Seattle teammate Robert Turbin, scatback Josh Ferguson and 2017 fourth-round pick Marlon Mack. A mid-June injury, however, caused the Colts to place Michael on IR.

For a player much talked about and bandied about, Michael sure didn’t do much on the field in 2015, other than a few moments at the end of the year. But oh how he appeared in the transaction logs. He opened the summer with Seattle; was traded to Dallas in September; was cut by the Pokes in September; spent a moment on the Washington practice squad; then re-signed with the Seahawks. Michael’s been productive in his limited Seattle playing opportunities (4.9 YPC), and he’s posted plenty of preseason tape for scouts to get excited about. With Thomas Rawls a question mark off of last year’s broken ankle, Michael and rookie C.J. Prosise will be must-scout players in the exhibition season. If Michael is pressed into a significant role, it could be limited to first and second down. He has just four receptions as a pro, and has yet to prove credible in pass protection. But he has the ideal build and shape of a featured back, and at least he’s already familiar with the Seattle offense and terminology. We’re not ready to give up the ghost yet, and apparently neither are the Seahawks.

The Seahawks' 2013 second-round pick, Michael has looked like a bust to date. At least he got on the field for 10 games last year after playing only four games as a rookie, but he received just 34 carries and two targets. In advance of Week 1, Michael joined a Dallas backfield that already includes Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar. It's a scenario that puts him an injury or two away from fantasy utility, but given the quality of the team's offensive line, some of Michael's untapped potential could yield results for the Cowboys (and fantasy owners) as the season progresses.

Michael saw almost no work last year as the third-stringer behind Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, and that situation isn't projected to change much this year unless one of the top two guys suffers an injury. Nonetheless, the 5-10, 221-pound Michael is an electric runner with elite strength, agility and athleticism. He did have some durability trouble in college, and his scouting reports mention attitude issues, but he's healthy and hasn't had any reported conflicts at the NFL level. If Lynch goes down with an injury, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see Michael leapfrog Turbin and take the starting role. And even if Lynch stays healthy, Turbin's poor 2013 could lead to Michael displacing him as the backup.

The Seahawks used their first pick in this year's draft on Michael even though they have a quality backup to Marshawn Lynch in Robert Turbin. It's easy to see why, as the 5-10, 220-pound Texas A&M product runs a 4.4 40, a blazing time for his size, and does not shy away from contact. Perceived attitude problems in college created discord with his head coach, leading the gifted back to underachieve as a senior, and a broken ankle and torn ACL in his four years raise durability questions. Nevertheless, given his physical skills, Michael has significant long-term upside if he can get onto the field.