Arizona Cardinals: Three High Risk Options At Running Back

Andre Ellington is still in the plans for the Arizona Cardinals backfield in 2015 but he needs some help.  Ellington ran a lot of hard yards during the 2014 season resulting in him missing the last four weeks of the season. There are a number of running backs that will be available as free agents when the period begins on March 10th.

Sure some of these ball carriers are high risk but with high risk comes high reward.  Here is a look at five high risk options at running backs for the Cardinals in 2015.

Ray Rice

Rice’s troubles with the domestic abuse charges he faced last season are over and he is ready to play football again. If you can look beyond his terrible lapse in judgement as a man, Ray Rice the running back still has more than a few mile left on the tires.

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After missing 2014, Rice will be just 28 years old when next season starts.  Before his sub-par season in 2013, Rice had a streak of four consecutive thousand yard seasons and could return to that level again after a year off to rest his body.

Rice’s north/south running style could be the perfect complement to Andre Ellington’s change of pace speed game.  The Cardinals could also get him at a bit of a discount because of his recent troubles.

Having a player with a history of bad judgment on the team is always a risk. That said Rice should be motivated and has every reason to walk a straight line in order to restore his once successful and profitable NFL career.  A talented player with something to prove could turn into a major asset for the Cardinals next season.

Adrian Peterson

The Vikings running back won his case against the NFL this week and has been reinstated to the league. The NFL has said they plan to appeal but rest assured Peterson will be playing football next season.

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The next move now belongs to the Minnesota Vikings who were willing to play Peterson last season despite pending child abuse charges. But a years worth of controversy has caused discontent between the two parties resulting in a combine shouting match between Peterson’s agent and the Viking reps at the NFL combine.

Peterson is signed through 2017 and the Vikings will likely try recoup some of their investment by trading Peterson before giving him an outright release.

Whether they decide to trade for him or wait for him to be released, a talent like Adrian Peterson cannot be ignored.  Especially by a team with a glaring need at running back.

Reggie Bush

After injury riddled 2014 season, Reggie Bush became a cap casualty earlier this week.  Bush could well be on the downside of his career but if used in the correct way he could be immensely productive.

When he was healthy Reggie Bush still showed the breakaway speed that made him a an overall draft pick. Used in the proper system Bush may be able to avoid injury be productive for the Cardinals in 2015.

In Bush, the Cardinals could get a talent with motivation and at a reasonable price.  The question is whether or not he can he stay healthy?