DeMarco Murray Says Lance Dunbar In Line For Most 2014 Game-Action Behind Him
Alex Dunlap, RosterWatch.com

@Dunbar_CDB5 @MRDUNBAR2U custom edit of this beast! Get well soon look forward to your play! pic.twitter.com/AZtGVI7DeN

— DCBIGTANK (@dcbigtank) January 24, 2014

Unless you’re our very own Trashman, you may want to hold your nose for this one. Because as far as the rest of us can tell, it seems like a pretty stinky situation.

Cowboys starting RB Demarco Murray joined the SiriusXM NFL Radio Morning Drive on Tuesday morning and was asked by host Ross Tucker a question which seemed custom-made for fantasy owners looking for the right handcuff to Murray: Which running back behind him on the depth chart was in line for the most playing time in 2014 between between Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and newly-acquired (and never healthy) ex-Cardinal Ryan Williams?

“Lance Dunbar,” Murray answered in his typical stern, no-nonsense manner.

Murray did not mention any of the other backs he was asked about, but spoke at length about Dunbar who he said has had a terrific spring and has shown versatility to find the field (presumably as more than even simply a “backup”) during Cowboys OTAs and June camps.

Let us be clear in stating that we are very much on the fence about a player like Dunbar. He falls squarely into an area of fantasy garbage we generally reserve for the Trashman to poke around in. With this said, Murray owners in 2014 must be armed with this knowledge in deciding which back to take as a handcuff to Murray, a player who will be an RB1 for many squads in 12-team leagues that decide to select positions outside of running back with their first-round selections. Murray is a player who owners will NEED to handcuff given long-standing durability concerns.

For now, Dunbar seems like the guy. And honestly, when looking at how NFC East game scripts are likely to shake out – that is, what is going to happen in the actual game that dictates fantasy performances – the Cowboys’ horrible defense could find the Cowboys in numerous situations through 2014 that are similar to 2013 where the run will have to be abandoned offensively. In these situations, a pass-catching change-of-pace back could be utilized as an easy out for Tony Romo in the passing game and could be considered a speculative RB4-type prospect used for bye-week spot plays versus easy NFC East matchups, especially in PPR leagues.

In the event Murray were injured, it appears Dunbar’s value would skyrocket as the player who has shown the most through camp regarding readiness to step in. The bottom line is, there is value here.

Dunbar currently has an early-12th round ADP and is generally being selected behind players like Knowshon Moreno and DeAngelo Williams. It’s time (as much as we may hate it) to get Lance Dunbar on the 2014 redraft radar. We advise owners of Murray to “reach” for Dunbar up to a round earlier than his current ADP to assure they get their handcuff. Furthermore, owners who have pieced together RB rosters full of question marks after loading up on other positions early could do much worse with a 12th round selection than Dunbar. The returns will not come in immediately, but through the course of the season, we would be very surprised if Dunbar did not have at least a few weeks where he’d make for a serviceable flex option in a pinch, even if Murray does stay healthy.