Ryan Mathews Deserves to Start Ahead of DeMarco Murray for Eagles

I get it, I really do. 

DeMarco Murray makes twice as much money as Ryan Mathews, and he was Chip Kelly's staple acquisition in his first offseason with complete autonomy over the Philadelphia Eagles' roster. If Murray fails at running back, those viewing the Eagles broadly might be inclined to conclude that Kelly has also failed. 

That explains why Murray is being given 15 carries per game, while Mathews has received just eight per game despite the fact he's averaged nearly twice as many yards per carry as his more famous backfield peer. 

Ironically, only a few weeks ago, Murray was the one complaining that he wasn't getting enough touches, but Mathews is the team's leading rusher despite the fact he's carried the ball 32 fewer times. And that workload gap would be even larger had Murray not missed Week 3 and been limited in Week 4 due to a hamstring injury. 

Now it's become evident, though, that Mathews deserves a shot at being the lead dog as the Eagles move beyond their Week 8 bye. 

This isn't an attack on Murray, who can't really be punished for suffering an injury in September and did put together 126 yards from scrimmage on 24 touches in a two-touchdown performance Week 5 against the New York Giants. 

But Mathews has simply been too good to deny. 

In his last four games, the 28-year-old is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, yet he's only been handed the ball 28 times in that span. And after scoring a 63-yard touchdown Sunday night against the stout Carolina Panthers, he now leads all qualified running backs with a 6.2 average on the season.

Back	Attempts	YPA
1. Ryan Mathews	56	6.1
2. Todd Gurley	74	6.0
3. Lamar Miller	70	6.0
4. Thomas Rawls	65	5.6
39. DeMaro Murray	88	3.5

Despite having played fewer snaps and earning far fewer touches, Mathews has gained 30-plus yards twice (he's one of nine backs with multiple 30-yard runs), while Murray has yet to record a 31-yard rush or catch. He's got more 20-yard plays, more 10-yard plays and fewer zero-yard gains and losses.

Both backs have caught at least 80 percent of the passes thrown their way, but Mathews is averaging an extra 2.4 yards per reception and they both have four touchdowns.  

Category	Mathews	Murray
10 or more yards (run)	14.3%	9.1%
20 or more yards (run)	7.1%	3.4%
No gain or a loss (run)	19.6%	21.6%
10 or more yards (catch)	33.3%	13.0%
20 or more yards (catch)	16.7%	4.3%
No gain or a loss (catch)	8.3%	8.7%

Even beyond this year's stats, there's evidence that Mathews is the better back and that Murray just got more money because he's coming off a stronger statistical season. 

Sure, Murray was the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year, but that season may have been an anomaly, with the Oklahoma product benefiting from the fact he was surrounded by the league's highest-rated passer, an All-Pro receiver, a future Hall of Fame tight end and a stacked offensive line that contained three Pro Bowlers. 

Mathews never had that type of support in San Diego, but there's a reason he was a No. 12 overall pick in 2010 while Murray was a third-round selection the following year. Compare their numbers pre-2014 and Murray's edge isn't very significant. 

Category	Mathews	Murray
Yards/game	69.1	72.5
Yards/attempt	4.4	4.9
TD/game	0.4	0.5

Per NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks, Kelly conceded after Sunday's loss that Mathews has been dealing with a groin injury, which he may have aggravated on his 63-yard touchdown. But he wasn't even listed as probable on Philly's Week 7 injury report and he received only four carries before that third-quarter play, so that seems like a bit of an excuse at a time when most players—especially backs—are banged up. 

Speaking of excuses, Kelly—a meticulous control freak—also deflected criticism of his strategy with Murray and Mathews after the game by suggesting that running backs coach Duce Staley made decisions regarding playing time, which seems like a hell of a stretch. 

All that matters is the Eagles lost a winnable game Sunday night with Mathews healthy enough to essentially posterize Panthers linebacker—and former Defensive Player of the Year—Luke Kuechly as well as Carolina safety Kurt Coleman on the same play. 

At that point, Mathews had accumulated 85 yards on his last two rushes, but he received only one carry the rest of the game while Murray toiled and struggled. 

It's probably difficult for Eagles fans to wonder about what might have happened Sunday night in Charlotte had Mathews played more than 17 snaps, which is why it's time for Kelly and his coaching staff to bite the bullet before it's too late and admit that Mathews is probably a better fit for their system anyway. 

Football's an ego game, so it won't be easy to cop to the fact Murray was a poor signing, but the inflexible alternative could sink both Kelly and the Eagles. 

Rank	Highest YPA	Lowest YPA
1	Ryan Mathews (7.2)	Arian Foster (2.7)
2	Todd Gurley (7.1)	DeMarco Murray (2.8)
3	Thomas Rawls (5.9)	C.J. Anderson (2.9)
4	Doug Martin (5.7)	Khiry Robinson (2.9)
5	Lamar Miller (5.7)	Jonathan Stewart (3.0)

I'm not saying Mathews should become a workhorse, because he isn't any less prone to injury than the fragile Murray. He missed 10 games last year due to knee and ankle injuries and has been limited throughout his career by elbow, ankle, foot, groin, knee, calf, clavicle and hamstring injuries, which is why he's been able to play in 14 games just twice and 16 games only once. 

The key, though, is to find a steadier balance between the two backs, with the hotter hand getting the lion's share of the reps.

At some point later this season, Murray might be healthier and/or hotter than Mathews. And if or when that time comes, he should get more work. But right now, Mathews is tearing it up while Murray continues to struggle. And by stubbornly refusing to adjust the depth chart in order to reflect that reality, the Eagles risk hurting themselves in a major way. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon