9 things to know about new Bills RB Matt Breida

Things to know about Buffalo Bills running back Matt Breida.

The Bills signed running back Matt Breida recently, adding another tool to their backfield. The 26-year-old signed a one-year deal.

It remains to be seen exactly how much of a factor Breida becomes in the Bills offense in 2021. He could be a depth option or he might have some skills that make him standout.

Because of that, you’ll want to get to know him a bit more.

Here are nine things to know about Buffalo’s new running back:

Tyler Bass pumped up Bills to Matt Breida

Kicker Tyler Bass helped Buffalo Bills land RB Matt Breida.

The Bills had some in-house help in getting running back Matt Breida to sign on the dotted line.

Quarterback Josh Allen’s breakout last year? Nope. The process factory built by Sean McDermott? Close, but someone else.

Kicker Tyler Bass made a bit of a difference for Breida.

“Just by him saying how much the coaches and team is very close,” Breida said on Monday via video conference. “I go back to my days when I was with the 49ers. I think that was a part of the big reason why we went to the Super Bowl and I feel like that’s part of the big reason why the Bills had so much success last year going until the end of the season. They were one game away from the Super Bowl. I feel like they have the right chemistry, they have the right guys on the team. I think it’s a good fit for me.”

Bass and Breida go back. The two played together in college. It’s not a powerhouse, but Georgia Southern football has two alums that are now on the Bills.

Despite Breida’s good first impression of Buffalo thanks to Bass, he’s still very much going to have to earn his spot on the Bills’ roster. Breida has a fast track at one position, but not exactly a prominent one.

Some speculation insists that the Bills could add a running back with a high pick at the 2021 NFL Draft. If that happens, it’ll be an even more of an uphill battle for the 26-year-old. But as things currently sit, TJ Yeldon’s job as the No. 3 running back on the roster is wide open for Breida.

Devin Singletary and Zack Moss will currently slot in as the top-two backs for the time being.

For his career, Breida, who signed a one-year deal, has averaged 4.9 yards per carry. However, his 2020 average in Miami was 4.3. In 12 games with the Dolphins, he had a down year. Breida had only 254 rushing yards and just nine total catches.

[lawrence-related id=80201,80170,80146,80144]

Isaiah McKenzie and new Bills RB Matt Breida set to race?

Buffalo Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie, RB Matt Breida, want to see who is faster.

A couple of guys who recently signed contracts with the Buffalo Bills might be set to run a race, of sorts.

On Thursday, the Bills inked running back Matt Breida to a one-year deal. If he’s known for one thing, it’s speed.

Well, Isaiah McKenzie, the gadget man and first in line to be Buffalo’s return man in 2021 after recently re-signing with the team, decided to challenge Breida’s quickness.

Breida took to his Twitter account to express his happiness after the news of his signing was announced. McKenzie noticed, and said “it’ll suck if someone was faster than you” to Breida.

A little friendly trash talk, but Breida took things in stride. He’s ready to find out the answer:

During this year’s training camp, perhaps the Bills and their social media team will put this challenge together and let fans get in on the fun. It has to be at least recorded, right? Would be pretty cool, but we also still need Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes and their throwing challenge, too…

For what it’s worth, at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, McKenzie, a Georgia product, ran a 4.42 40-yard dash time. Breida, who left college at Georgia Southern that same year, was not at the combine but at his pro day reportedly ran a 4.38.

[lawrence-related id=79969,79967,80052,80042]

Fantasy football free agency roundup

NFL free agency will drastically help reshape the fantasy football landscape as the new league year begins.

Now that NFL free agency is upon us, here is where we’ll run through the fantasy football outlooks for trades, re-signings, midrange players, and tag recipients.

This analysis will be updated as players sign/re-sign in free agency, so be sure to check back regularly.

Signed with new team or traded

RB Mark Ingram, Houston Texans: The 31-year-old inked a one-year, $2.5 million deal in Houston to pair with fellow well-aged runner David Johnson. The duo will create a one-two punch, so long as what we saw from Baltimore making Ingram a healthy scratch late last year wasn’t foreshadowing. Some of that was due to him not playing special teams and the team wanting to get a closer look at rookie J.K. Dobbins. Presuming quarterback Deshaun Watson returns, Ingram still has a dicey outlook. The Texans’ porous defense has so many needs that it’s tough to see the offense being able to consistently run the ball if the other side cannot contain opposing offenses. Ingram needs bulk to make a mark in fantasy lineups, which rarely will be the case, unless he finds regular success around the goal line, consider the veteran merely roster depth or a handcuff to Johnson.

Re-signed/extensions

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: There’s no surprise associated with the four-year, $160 million extension Prescott signed prior to free agency opening. He wasn’t ever going to be allowed to leave the building, as evidenced by a formality of being tagged again. As long as his ankle rehab goes according to plan, this potential No. 1 overall fantasy quarterback has the tools to pick up where he left off.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers:While it’s technically an extension, Big Ben’s deal was reworked to provide cap relief for the Steelers and keep him in a black-and-yellow uni for one last go of it. Roethlisberger will almost assuredly be without WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator in Matt Canada, but there’s still enough to like about the situation for Roethlisberger to be in the conversation of a low-tier rotational starter.

QB Cam Newton, New England Patriots: The knee-jerk reaction is to scoff at Newton getting a one-year, $14 million deal to re-sign with the Pats. A closer look should elicit a more measured response. Last year, just about everything worked against Cam finding success. He signed late (June 28), there was no offseason program, the offensive system is intricate, New England lost several key players to the opt-out, the offensive line had to shuffle talent several times, no receivers to speak of, zero tight ends of consequence, an erratic rushing attack, and Newton was returning from foot surgery prior to joining New England. Excuses, you may say … perhaps, but all of those factors are undeniable reality. Newton is finally healthy after three straight offseasons of rehabbing from surgery. Wait to see how the Patriots address wide receiver and tight end concerns, but it’s unwise to entirely dismiss a rebound by Newton.

[lawrence-related id=457182]

QB Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team: The former Panther parlayed an admirable playoff start into a two-year extension in Washington. He knows the system and the brain trust’s nucleus from his time in Carolina. Alex Smith’s release opens the door for Heinicke to compete for a starting job while having the upper hand against a newcomer who won’t be as familiar with the playbook. It’s unlikely, however, Heinicke is the season-long starter for this offense as an incoming rookie or free-agent acquisition will have that momentum on his side.

Franchise/transition tagged

WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: No one paying attention expected the Buccaneers to allow Godwin to walk into free agency. Look for a stronger showing in 2021 after an injury-pocked season a year ago derailed Godwin’s campaign from nearly the onset. He’s a legit WR2 in all settings, but his upside is capped at that position overall with the bevy of talent around him in the passing game.

WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears: It seemed for quite some time that Chicago wouldn’t have the cap space to tag Robinson, but he was indeed slapped with the tender of $17-plus million for 2021. While he would like a long-term deal, and the team may still yet find a way to meet his demands by July 15, there also remains a chance this could get ugly. Robinson doesn’t want to play on the tag, nor must he sign the tender. He then wouldn’t play or get paid, so there’s that, and $17.89 mill is nothing to sneeze at during an offseason in which the salary cap actually goes down. At 27, Robinson could put his John Hancock on the offer sheet and still hit free agency in 2022 young enough to get one last shot at a huge deal when teams will have more money to throw around. Long story short, he mostly is quarterback-proof, but Chicago still needs to put a better product on the field. Whether it is Nick Foles or someone else under center in 2021, A-Rob is a viable PPR WR1 with a hint of downside.

Remains unsigned

  • Quarterbacks: Alex Smith, Mitchell Trubisky, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett
  • Running backs: Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Kenyan Drake, Todd Gurley, Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman, James White, Matt Breida, Brian Hill, Leonard Fournette, Malcolm Brown, Jerick McKinnon, Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, Kalen Ballage, James Conner, Marlon Mack, Wayne Gallman, Jamaal Williams, Mike Davis
  • Wide receivers: A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Emmanuel Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald, Golden Tate, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, Sammy Watkins, Marvin Jones, John Brown, Breshad Perriman, Corey Davis, Willie Snead, John Ross, Keelan Cole, Kendrick Bourne, Will Fuller, Demarcus Robinson, Antonio Brown, Curtis Samuel, Damiere Byrd, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nelson Agholor, Rashard Higgins, David Moore, Kenny Golladay
  • Tight ends: Hunter Henry, Rob Gronkowski, Kyle Rudolph, Jared Cook, Tyler Eifert, Gerald Everett, Jordan Reed, Jonnu Smith, Trey Burton

9 under-the-radar free agent RBs who might fit for the Cardinals

These running backs would make nice complements to Chase Edmonds.

The Arizona Cardinals, if they do not re-sign Kenyan Drake, will likely look to free agency to sign a running back. The type of running back they sign will say a lot about what they think about Chase Edmonds, who enters his fourth season and has been one of the more dynamic offensive players on the team.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been consistent about saying that he considers Edmonds a starting running back in the league. However, while he has been able to handle a full load in individual games, he has also dealt with injuries in games following the heavy workload.

The Cardinals could look to add a bell cow running back in free agency, but that will be expensive. What is more likely is a back who can share the load with Edmonds, giving Arizona a 1A and 1B at the position.

Here are some backs in free agency who could fit the profile.


Dolphins announce RB Matt Breida’s return from reserve/COVID-19 list

Dolphins announce RB Matt Breida’s return from reserve/COVID-19 list

The Miami Dolphins have been battling against adversity in their offensive backfield throughout the course of the past month, often playing with third and fourth string ball carriers as they continue to try to breath fresh life into their offensive attack each week. The results haven’t always been great, but the Dolphins have revealed that they’re getting a boost back into the running back room again this week with the return of Matt Breida. Breida, who has been on the reserve/COVID-19 list, will be available for the Dolphins against the New England Patriots as they look to craft explosive plays in the run game.

But while the Dolphins are sure to welcome Breida back into the fray, it isn’t certain how effective he can be in a more prominent role. The Dolphins trade for Breida in the offseason and the veteran running back, who is in a contract year, has yet to really find his footing through 13 games with the Dolphins. He’s logged just 47 carries for 168 yards (3.6 yards per carry) on the season and he has yet to find the end zone.

But Breida has been able to create some chunk gains on check downs in the passing game; his open field speed a clear asset that no other threats out of the backfield possess.

Can the Dolphins find the balance between Breida’s speed and explosiveness and the limitations of this offensive line group? If so, Miami will have a fresh dynamic to boost their offense over the final three games of the season — but based on the 13 game sample size we’ve seen thus far, expecting too much of a boost from the reintroduction of Breida to the depth chart seems ill advised. At the very least, opportunity will be ripe for Breida in Week 15; unless fellow RB Myles Gaskin also makes a return from the reserve/COVID-19 list before Saturday afternoon.

Miami Dolphins place RB Matt Breida on reserve/COVID-19 list

Miami Dolphins place RB Matt Breida on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Miami Dolphins have another potential run in with COVID-19. Miami, which saw several defensive starters and assistant coaches endure close calls with the virus earlier this season, has announced that they have placed RB Matt Breida on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The news was suspected after Breida was absent from Friday’s practice and Brian Flores elected to stay mum on the subject during his Friday availability with the South Florida press.

The news leaves the Dolphins very thin at the running back position as the team also deals with subsequent injuries to backs Salvon Ahmed and DeAndre Washington — both of which are listed as ‘Doubtful’ for Miami’s Week 13 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. Add in Myles Gaskin’s yet to be determined status as eligible to return from injured reserve and the Dolphins may be looking at a very light offensive backfield availability.

Given the Dolphins’ irregularities running the football, it may not be the worst thing in the world. Miami found some reasonable success this past week against the Jets by passing to set up the run — doing so yet again against the Bengals could be the team’s ticket to a well-balanced offensive attack against one of the worst defenses in football.

Hopefully Breida will be back soon before long; but Miami will need the show to carry on without him this weekend against Cincinnati.

Dolphins injury report sets up massive changes in the run game

Dolphins injury report sets up massive changes in the run game

The Miami Dolphins will be debuting a new-look running game in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. We knew that at the beginning of the week when it was announced that RB Myles Gaskin will miss several weeks with an MCL sprain. But the depths of Miami’s rushing overhaul may extend beyond just seeing Gaskin resting to heal his knee — because he wasn’t the only Miami Dolphins running back to not practice yesterday for the team.

Also not participating? RB Matt Breida, who is nursing a hamstring injury and potentially may not play either. That’s the bad news. If you’re looking for a silver lining, the Dolphins had every other eligible player participate in at least a limited role at practice on Wednesday, including offensive tackle Austin Jackson.

But the lingering questions about Miami’s backfield make the trade for DeAndre Washington an obvious move and make forecasting how Miami will look to attack the ground game a major mystery for Week 9 against the Cardinals. Even if Breida is able to dress and play, will he be at 100% and be capable of shouldering the workload as Miami’s feature back? Or will the Dolphins need to lean into additional players, such as Jordan Howard or Patrick Laird, to shoulder the load. If Miami is forced to look beyond Breida, look for Patrick Laird to take some significant snaps — he’s already been a featured option in some of Miami’s 20 personnel groupings with two running backs in recent weeks.

The good news? The rushing offense can’t get any worse than what we saw last week against the Rams. And if there’s no where to go but up against the Arizona Cardinals, then Miami will get to use this time to try to assess what else they have for the ground game — and more importantly be able to freely interchange the pieces of the puzzle until they find an option that seems to click.

Keep an eye on Breida’s status for the rest of the week. It will say quite a bit about what depths Miami will have to go on Sunday to attack the Cardinals on the ground.


 

How can the Dolphins improve their running game in 2020?

How can the Dolphins improve their running game in 2020?

The Miami Dolphins made a strong push to upgrade their rushing attack this season with their pursuit of former New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. That effort ultimately came up short, but it does illustrate Miami’s clear desire to get better on the ground and continue to become a more well balanced offensive attack. So with the Bell-courtship in the rear view mirror, the question now begs to be asked — how and where can the Dolphins get better on the ground this season after five games.

After all, it isn’t every day that a player with Le’Veon Bell’s accolades becomes available for signing. In the long-run, we’d expect to see running back continue to be an area of interest for this football team. Upgrades are possible to be had and probable to be seen; just not on the fly this season. Which means Miami’s upgrades and efficiency in the running game need to get better some other way.

One possible way Miami could go about with that process is trying to tinker with the blocking pieces they utilize up front. The Dolphins have often called upon tight end Durham Smythe to serve as the de facto blocking tight end, with Adam Shaheen being called upon when the team needs to go with two-tight ends in running downs. But the issue is that Smythe, while being a solid player who will execute his role well enough, isn’t a true asset in the run game and would ideally be better served as a complimentary tight end instead of the primary blocker in the box. His blocks are slipped a little too frequently and when that happens, defensive penetration shuts down the momentum of the ball carrier and running plays go awry.

Continued patience with Chandler Cox, the team’s fullback, would also help He’s had his ups as a lead blocker, but there are also instances where he’s not properly aligning himself for contact and will pinball off defenders instead of catching them flush.

Yes, Miami could use an upgrade at running back versus the reliable Gaskin, who isn’t the best athlete or size mismatch. But tinkering with keeping Shaheen’s reps over Smythe’s may help this process as well. Continued player development will be key — but if Miami is looking for more than marginal improvements from each player across the board, they may want to explore the possibility of offering more of Smythe’s role to Shaheen to see what results come of it.

Making sense of the Miami Dolphins running back rotation

Making sense of the Miami Dolphins running back rotation

One of the biggest surprises of the Miami Dolphins’ early season campaign has been the prominent role afforded to running back Myles Gaskin. It’s been a surprise — the Dolphins went aggressively after upgrading their running back room only to see a player who was on the roster last year command the majority of the reps. Given Miami’s investments in RB Jordan Howard and RB Matt Breida, Gaskin is a living upset for the Dolphins’ personnel groupings.

So what gives? What is it about Gaskin that has the Dolphins ready to keep him (at least for now) at the forefront of the Dolphins’ backfield? Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey spoke with the South Florida media yesterday to discuss the dynamics of the backfield.

“There is only one football. Nobody ever gets it enough. That’s just the way it happens in this game. When you have good receivers, you have a good tight end, you have good running backs, everybody cannot touch it as much as they would like to touch it or as much as anybody would like for them to touch it,” said Gailey.

“You have to do what the defense allows you to do. Matt (Breida) played well yesterday and did some really good things. Myles (Gaskin) continues to do some good things. Jordan (Howard) runs hard for us on the goal line and in some other places. We’re just going to continue to try to do what they do best.”

Perhaps the most telling tidbit there is the designation of Howard running on the goal line. That’s not necessarily an expected role for a player who inked a 2-year deal worth nearly $10M this offseason, yet that is where Howard has commanded the majority of his work. And, to his credit, he has two rushing touchdowns this season. But he’s averaging 0.8 yards per carry on 13 carries along the way. An inconvenient truth? Miami’s run blocking on offense isn’t very effective yet. Rookie Solomon Kindley is an impressive contributor from a power perspective, but he’s still raw. The same can be said for Austin Jackson. Ted Karras has been erratic early on as well.

The Dolphins can’t hit their landmarks and win gaps with the consistency needed right now for Howard to find room to run. So the reps go more frequently to Gaskin and Breida. And Gaskin seems to be Miami’s player of choice on passing downs as well — so when you consider this offense has been trailing for much of the early season, it makes sense that Gaskin is the guy getting the call.