Green Bay Packers 2015 Impact Meter: RB James Starks

Eddie Lacy is the crux of the Green Bay Packers' backfield, but the role that veteran James Starks plays in the offense is essential.

For two seasons, Starks has played a supporting role vital to paving the way for Lacy to become a breakout star, sharing carries and keeping the Packers' featured back fresh.

Even before Lacy came on the scene, however, Starks was proving his worth in Green Bay. During the 2011 Super Bowl run, Starks motored his way to 123 yards in the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles despite only rushing for 101 yards through the entire 2010-11 season.

In the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, Starks added another 74 yards and a touchdown to help decide the 21-14 victory. In the Super Bowl matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Starks helped get the Packers in position to score twice.

Starks enters the last year of his contract in 2015, and with multiple young halfbacks on the roster—including practice-squad holdover Rajion Neal and undrafted rookies John Crockett and Alonzo Harris—it's unclear whether the Packers will offer him an extension.

That means this season, potentially the last in which the Packers can rotate Starks and Lacy, could be a special one in Green Bay's backfield.

2014 Season in Review

For the first time in his career, Starks played in all 16 regular-season games in 2014, which was no small accomplishment for the veteran back. Multiple injuries have plagued Starks since he began his career with Green Bay in 2010, including spending the first half of his rookie year on the PUP list and a knee injury in 2013.

Games	Starts	Snaps	PFF Ranking	Att	Yards	Yards/Att	TDs
16	0	270	38 of 57	85	333	3.9	2

However, even though Starks played in more games in 2014, he had a less effective season overall than he has put together in the past.

Starks continued to support Lacy in 2014, playing 270 snaps to Lacy's 697 snaps. After averaging 5.5 yards per carry over 89 attempts in 2013, though, Starks' average dropped to 3.9 YPC on 85 attempts in 2014.

Part of the decline in Starks' play was simply a numbers game. There are only so many snaps to be shared between him and Lacy, and aside from rotating Starks in every few drives, Lacy didn't need much replacement.

Lacy did miss part of the Packers' Week 14 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, and Starks went on to have his best game of the season with 10 attempts for 75 yards and a touchdown, as well as two receptions for 26 yards.

Tom Lynn/Associated Press

Speaking of receptions, however, Starks had 18 catches on 27 targets but dropped four catchable balls, giving him a drop rate of 18.18. That was on the high end of the league and doesn't help his cause for getting more targets as a change-of-pace back.

By comparison, Lacy had a drop rate of 2.33 on 43 catchable balls.

Starks' 2014 performance wasn't flashy, but he did stay healthy, which is essential for a No. 2 running back.

2015 Preview

Entering a contract year, Starks may well play his final season in Green Bay in 2015.

The Packers signed Starks to a two-year extension after his fantastic performance in 2013, and given that they lost fourth-round draft selection Johnathan Franklin and let DuJuan Harris walk in free agency, it was a smart move.

Injuries meant Starks never quite got the chance to be a featured back in Green Bay, but his role spelling Lacy and keeping him fresh over the last two years has been an important one.

This year will be no different. The Packers will look to keep either Neal, Crockett or Harris as the No. 3 halfback on the 53-man roster, but that position doesn't typically get a lot of use in the running back rotation.

Last season, Harris only had 51 snaps compared to Starks' 270 and Lacy's 697, so it's safe to say that when the Packers need to rest Lacy, they'll be looking to Starks again in 2015.

Given Starks' unreliable hands, however, if the Packers do keep practice-squad holdover and skilled receiver Neal on the roster, he may be used in passing situations.

In 2015, don't underestimate Starks' ability to find the big play. Though his yards-per-attempt average decreased in 2014, he still had a breakaway percentage of 33.8. That means that over 33 percent of Starks' overall yards came on plays of 15-plus yards.

Though he may not rack up the yards, Starks gives the Packers a sense of security behind their workhorse Lacy. He's proven he can get the job done if called upon, especially in the postseason.

However, Green Bay will have to work to develop an effective option behind Lacy for 2016 and beyond because with Starks set to turn 30 in February, it probably won't be him.

Expected 2015 Impact Meter: Medium

Advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.