The Deepest Backfield in the NFL Belongs to…Buffalo?

Denver had been known as a running team of late (before Peyton at least). Anywhere Mike Shanahan goes a stable of running backs typically follows. In recent years the New York Giants have had some luck developing running backs, but haven't held onto them.

San Francisco has a pretty impressive group of running backs, but if there is one team whose backfield is money no matter if it is their No.1, 2, or 3 running back that lines up in the backfield it is the Buffalo Bills.

Sound a little crazy? Let's take a look at who they have and what these guys have done so far for the Bills.

Starting the season as the No. 1 running back was Fred Jackson. The team felt good enough about him to get rid of the troubled Marshawn Lynch. As the No. 1 running back during the '11 season he was everything the Bills wanted running for 100+ yards in six of his first ten games.

A broken leg ended his season early, but gave the fans hope for what the future could bring for the team with him in the backfield. That future was delayed early in the '12 season due to a sprained knee, but opened the door for C.J. Spiller to shine.

Shine is exactly what he did. After taking over for Jackson against the Jets in Week One he ran for 169 yards on just 14 carries. He followed it up with another 123 yards on 15 carries the next week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Between the two weeks he averaged an incredible 10 yards a carry! But then he got hurt…

Spiller had to leave early in Week Three with a sprained shoulder during the Cleveland game after trying to brace himself as he was getting tackled. That opened the door for someone else, and in walked former Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice.

Choice had never quite caught on with the Cowboys and didn't do much in his one game with the Washington Redskins or six games last year with Buffalo. Last Sunday though he had a respectable 91 yard day off of 20 carries.

As the Bills look to their next game and the rest of the season it is not clear who will be the starting running back, but it has nothing to do with any kind of running back controversy. Instead it's a matter of injuries.

Jackson returned to practice Wednesday, but experienced some swelling and soreness afterwards. Spiller was initially thought to need some time off, but there has been talk that he could see time Sunday as well. Of course the team could try to be safe and go ahead and let Choice get the start.

Whomever they choose, it doesn't appear as if the Bills can't go wrong!