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Josh Adams has taken the most carries of any Eagles running back since Week 8 and it looks like that pattern will hold for the remainder of the 2018 season. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports the Eagles view the rookie Adams as their starting “bell-cow” running back.
So far this season it has been running back by committee for the Philadelphia Eagles. My understanding is: no more. I am told that Josh Adams, the former undrafted rookie free agent from Notre Dame who has come on in and impressed so much, IS going to be treated like the starter, IS going to be featured today and going forward. You’ll still see Corey Clement, you’ll still see Wendell Smallwood, but not as much. Josh Adams is now going to be the bell cow, similar to what Jay Ajayi was last year.
This “report” isn’t really surprising considering how much more efficient Adams has been compared to other Eagles running backs. Through the last four games, the numbers aren’t even close:
Josh Adams: 27 carries for 178 yards and 1 TD (6.59 ypc)
Wendell Smallwood: 20 carries for 54 yards (2.7 ypc)
Corey Clement: 19 carries for 36 yards (1.89 ypc)
Giving Adams a large work load against the Giants could be a good formula for an Eagles victory. As Evan Silva notes, New York’s defense has allowed 100-plus rushing yards in 8-of-10 weeks and 14 running back touchdowns in their last nine games. Running the ball efficiently and controlling the clock could also help to hide an Eagles secondary that could be without their top five cornerbacks.
It’ll be interesting to see just how often the Eagles use Adams this week. His career high in carries is nine, which came against the Jaguars in Week 8.
As for Clement and Smallwood, it says a lot that they couldn’t manage to stay on the field over an undrafted rookie who dealt with injury issues in the offseason. Clement has been especially disappointing since their were high hopes for him after a bright rookie season. Smallwood’s lack of production is, of course, less shocking.