2018 Packers Training Camp Roster: Running Backs

And the Green Bay Packers' fullbacks too. Unfortunately any discussion of this group has to start with this unfortunate news:

#NFL announces that #Packers second-year running back Aaron Jones will serve a two-game suspension to start the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Less-than-ideal start to the season for most explosive of team's three young backs. pic.twitter.com/crfia1bfLD

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 3, 2018

At least it's only 2 games and it had to do with an activity that's now legal in a lot of states.

Explosive you mention? Aaron Jones was the one back I wanted to see last season because of his big play ability. Six carries of more than 20 yards:

Player	Attempts	Average	Carries of 20+	FO EYards
30-J.Williams	153	3.6	1	760
33-A.Jones	71	5.5	6	542
88-T.Montgomery	81	3.8	1	341
32-D.Mays	4	0.3	0	0

The coaches didn't trust the rookie enough to give him the bulk of the playing time, on the other hand maybe they were torn because they had two other very good running backs on the roster.

Jamal Williams. He only had one carry of greater than 20 yards to go along with an ugly 3.6 ypc average but his Effective Yards ranking by Football Outsiders was 12th best last season. That was the best season for a Packer running back since Eddie Lacy in 2014. He ran hard at the line and was one defender away from busting a big run on several carries plays last season. He should open the season as the starter.

Ty Montgomery. He can't stay healthy but he played OK last season before his injury. If he can stay healthy for 16 games (big if) the dynamic player we saw during the 2016 season could quickly return.

Devante Mays didn't show much when given an opportunity, which wasn't very often, and he was overshadowed by his fellow rookies Williams and Jones. But there's a two game suspension on Jones's horizon so Mays should make it to Week 3 before the Packers have to make a decision on him.

Joel Bouganon was an undrafted rookie in 2017 and spent some time last season with the Bears. He has an interesting combination of athleticism and size, but he might not have the straight-line speed to stick. Him and Mays might be an interesting preseason decision.

Aaron Ripkowski only had 178 snaps last season (less than 20% of offensive plays) and the idea of him as a short-yardage runner seemed to have died when he fumbled during the 2016 NFC Championship game. Last season he blocked a lot, caught a few passes out of the back field and played a lot on special teams. He'll probably do the same next season, and backup FB Joe Kerrigan will be his understudy again, if they have still have an available roster spot for a backup fullback.