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5 NFL starters who need to be benched
#3 - David Montgomery
Coming into the 2022 NFL season, David Montgomery was the clear lead back for the Chicago Bears.
However, after he went down with an injury, Khalil Herbert stepped up in Montgomery’s absence.
Herbert averaged 6.0 yards per carry before he himself went down injured.
This is way better than Montgomery’s 4.0 YPC, and many Bears fans are fed up with his mediocre play and want to see Herbert as the starter going forward.
#2 - Marcus Mariota
Many NFL fans were surprised when the Atlanta Falcons decided to roll with veteran Marcus Mariota at quarterback, instead of giving rookie Desmond Ridder a chance to start in the NFL.
While Mariota is arguably playing better than many expected, he has only passed for seven touchdowns in his last five games.
The Falcons have a chance at winning a terrible NFC South as they’re currently one game behind the Buccaneers, who are at 5-6.
Perhaps head coach Arthur Smith wants to keep an experienced veteran like Mariota in for the run-in, but it couldn’t hurt to see what Ridder can do, could it?
#1 - Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott took the league by storm when he was drafted back in 2016, making the Pro Bowl alongside fellow rookie Dak Prescott.
However, since then, Elliott’s play has gotten slightly worse over the years, and with the emergence of Tony Pollard, it’s time to bench Zeke.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made Elliott the highest-paid running back in the league when he handed him a six-year $90m contract back in 2019. He should be ruing this decision now though, as he’s been bettered by Pollard in almost all categories in 2022.
Despite having fewer carries, Pollard has more yards and more yards per carry than Elliott, and only one less touchdown than Zeke, who’s been used as the goal line back.
It’s time for Jerry Jones to swallow his pride and admit Pollard needs to be the starter going forward.
