In what was probably the busiest trading deadline day ever in the NFL, a lot of running backs changed teams. (No, not Cam Akers.) Chase Edmonds to Denver, Jeff Wilson to Miami, and Nyheim Hines from the Colts to the Buffalo Bills. That's the most surprising one.
It's not surprising in the sense that the Bills have long been seeking an upgrade at running back in passing situations. They signed J.D. McKissic last offseason, recall, only to have him back out and return to Washington. Then they used a second-round pick on James Cook, who ideally would have filled that role.
What's surprising is that they've so quickly given up on Cook being that player for them this year that they brought in Hines. Cook seemed to start out fairly well, rushing for 53 yards in the Week 2 blowout of Tennessee, then catching 4 passes for 37 yards a week later. But they didn't like something about the cut of his jib, since Cook has averaged just 3 touches over the past four games, and not played even a quarter of the snaps in any of them. Maybe next year.
So Hines should move into that 3rd-down role behind Devin Singletary, being the main back in passing situations and probably the clear No. 2 (ahead of Cook; healthy scratch of late Zack Moss went to the Colts in the deal). What can be expected from him?
He's been productive when given the opportunity. He had two seasons with 63 catches for the Colts (4 per game), with 7 TD catches (4 in the Philip Rivers season) and 10 TD runs. He can play, and now he's going to a much better passing game, and offense.
Below are the combined receiving numbers for Singletary, Moss and Cook this season.
| BILLS RBS AS RECEIVERS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Tgts | No | Yds | TD |
| at LAR | 8 | 8 | 35 | 0 |
| Ten. | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| at Mia. | 17 | 14 | 121 | 1 |
| at Balt. | 6 | 4 | 47 | 0 |
| Pitt. | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| at K.C. | 5 | 4 | 22 | 0 |
| G.B. | 3 | 2 | 57 | 0 |
| Total | 46 | 35 | 288 | 1 |
Ultimately, a lot of targets (nearly 7 per game) and catches (5 per game), for 41 yards, though just 1 TD. If Hines now gets the vast majority of that, and can maybe turn a few more of those into touchdowns, he'll be a viable PPR option in a lot of games. Better than in Indianapolis, anyway.
As for Moss, who joins the Colts, that's kind of interesting. He could maybe inherit some of that passing downs role. He was effective in Buffalo, for the most part, catching 44 of 58 passes sent his way, with 2 TDs. Figure he'll be the No. 3 for now, but maybe push Deon Jackson for the backup job. In general, though, it kind of feels like he's just a throw-in, with the Colts taking a player Buffalo had soured on.
--Andy Richardson