On April 28, 2007, the league was introduced to a running back that would go down as one of the most bruising and feared runners from his era. Marshawn Lynch was selected at the 12th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. Coming out of the University of California, the future “Beast Mode” would play a prominent role in Buffalo before he was traded to Seattle in 2010, notching two 1,000-yard seasons and 17 total touchdowns across his tenure. He and Fred Jackson formed a dangerous combo out of the backfield in Ralph Wilson Stadium. And about a decade later, the franchise is in position to strike pay dirt once more.
Before the 2020 NFL Draft went down, Buffalo already had a running back that they could feasibly trust to carry a large workload. In the 3rd round of the prior draft, they selected Florida Atlantic’s, Devin Singletary. He showed out in his rookie campaign, collecting 775 yards on the ground and another 194 through the air. And while he many believe he could be a feature back in the NFL, there seemed to be something missing. With Frank Gore’s departure in the offseason, gone was the thunder to Singletary’s lightning. The Bills could’ve attempted to march forward relying on Singletary and mixing TJ Yeldon in, but with the NFL’s recent shift to committee running backs, a change was needed. Enter Zack Moss.
When I watch Zack Moss tape, my body hurts. I feel genuine sympathy for many of the defenders that try to stop this bulldozer of a man. At the University of Utah, Moss collected 4,067 yards as a runner and had 10 or more touchdowns in every season but his first. He’s bounced heads off the turf with his stiff arm and he’s carried grown men on his back with relative ease. While he wasn’t typically mentioned at the top alongside RBs Jonathan Taylor, De’Andre Swift, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and JK Dobbins, many saw him as a prospect to keep an eye on. Moss needed a specific scheme and situation to succeed, and it appears he has landed in the perfect spot.
Moss also has an offensive system that could work very well for him. Buffalo finished with the 8th most rushing yards and the 6th most attempts last season. They also finished 4th in total first downs by rushing. Buffalo needed a bruiser to shove through the line of scrimmage, and Zack Moss has shown excellence in that category. He lacks a little bit in pass-catching, but Devin Singletary can shoulder that, hauling in 29 catches last year while Frank Gore and TJ Yeldon only pulled in 13 catches apiece. Passing to running backs is fairly minimal in Buffalo. The offense is already designed to complement Moss’s strengths while allowing his weaknesses to be avoided.
All in all, Buffalo has the potential to dominate the AFC East for the foreseeable future. Many will credit their defense as the main source of optimism, but the ground game truly can win games once they get into a rhythm. The team was already able to make the playoffs last season, and this added level of production could be a force in the AFC.
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