The Cowboys running game was seen as a major struggle coming into the 2015-16 season, but, with some young and new talent, it may become a strength. Joseph Randle is viewed as the starter over an injury prone and inconsistent Darren McFadden this 2015 season, and the depth chart should stay this way for the remainder of the season.

Joseph Randle has spent his three year career with the Dallas Cowboys and is used to the zone running scheme the Cowboys love. McFadden, on the other hand, spent his whole career in Oakland where they run a downhill running system. Teams that run a zone scheme require backs with patience and good vision. McFadden proved that he lacks both of these key attributes in the opener against the Giants. He hits holes too quickly and didn’t make the necessary reads in order to succeed in his Cowboys debut. Randle, however, made the  correct reads against the Giants and averaged 4.8 yards per carry as opposed to McFadden’s pathetic 2.7.

One of the things that sets Randle apart from the other options in the Cowboys backfield is his “big play” ability. He averaged 4.2 yards after contact with a defensive player; this is up there with the NFL’s elite running backs. He also showed off his ability to take it the length of the field when he broke off for a 65 yard run in 2014 against the Washington Redskins.

The biggest problem with McFadden is his inability to stay healthy throughout the year. 2014 was McFadden’s first year to play every game in the regular season since being drafted in 2008. If he is thrown into the starting lineup it is highly unlikely that he can protect his body from another serious injury. Randle, on the other hand, has not missed a single game due to an injury since entering the league back in 2013.

Heading into the season, Randle was viewed as the Cowboys replacement for Demarco Murray. McFadden hasn’t proven that he deserves to steal this spot from Randle yet, and it seems unlikely that he will anytime this season.