Could Dominic Rhodes Be the NFL's Best Backup?

On Oct. 25, 2001, Indianapolis Colts fans across America took a collective gasp as Edgerrin James laid on the ground with a serious knee injury. The Colts were leading the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-21, in the fourth quarter of a Sunday night battle.

Indianapolis was now without its star running back, who had compiled 3,262 yards to earn two rushing crowns in his first two seasons. James was averaging 110.3 yards per game, a career high for him to this day.

Enter Dominic Rhodes.

The undrafted rookie from Midwestern State, who had already returned a kick 88 yards for a touchdown, ran his first carry for seven yards up the right side. Colts fans began to breathe.

His next two carries were for a total of three yards. The worries returned.

In Rhodes' fourth and final carry of the game, he broke it up the right side for a 77-yard touchdown. The collective clicking of fantasy owners could be heard around the world.

This last weekend, against the Green Bay Packers, Joseph Addai was held out with a hamstring injury. Dominic Rhodes made his 13th start as backup for an injured starter in his NFL career.

Although the Colts struggled, Rhodes used his 20 carries to gain 73 yards and score two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 41 yards, equating to 114 total yards on the day. Those fantasy owners from 2001, and hundreds of thousands of new ones, basked in Rhodes' backup glory.

In 13 backup starts for injured starters, Rhodes has averaged 23 carries for 97.7 yards and 0.84 touchdowns per game. He has also caught 45 passes for 308 yards in those games. He broke the 100-yard rushing mark in seven of the 13 games and finished the 2001 season with 1,104 rushing yards despite starting only 10 games.

In Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2007 season, while playing for the Oakland Raiders, Rhodes started for the injured Justin Fargas and gained 288 total yards.

So why hasn't Rhodes been a starter? He has been. Many forget that he was the starting running back for the regular season in 2006, the year the Colts won the Super Bowl. Rhodes shared time with rookie Joseph Addai. The backs combined for 413 carries for 1,722 yards and 76 catches for 575 yards. Addai had more carries, catches, and yards, and was eventually named starter in the playoffs.

Rhodes was average in his starting role in a shared backfield, but in the Super Bowl, he showed everyone why he is the best backup in the NFL. He took 21 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown, a 5.3-yard-per-carry average on the world’s biggest stage. 

In his eight-year career, Rhodes has carried the ball 667 times for 2,753 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has also been a fantastic receiving back, catching 112 balls for 794 yards and one touchdown.

This week, Rhodes and the Colts will face the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. We have seen plenty of big MNF performances this season. The Titans are 6-0 when playing on their home turf.

Will you gamble on Rhodes as your Mr. Monday Night? History shows he's a good bet.