Cowboys beat writer Todd Archer on DeMarco Murray's heavy workload: There’s some concern about it, and they have rested him at different times for a series or a few plays in the first half of the past three games, but he is their bell cow. He is their guy. They will be mindful of how much work he gets, but he’s too good to take off the field for extended spells. They like backup running backs Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar, but those guys can’t do what Murray does in the run and pass game. He doesn’t look like he’s wearing down. He had 19 carries for 141 yards against the Redskins, so his carries were down from what they had been. But I’d maintain he took more of a beating in that game than he did when he had 29 carries in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Jason Garrett was around Emmitt Smith for the bulk of his career, so I think he has a watchful eye to this sort of thing, as does Scott Linehan, who was around Steven Jackson in St. Louis. They will be smart with Murray, but not to the point that it costs them games.
Murray is averaging 29.0 touches per game, which is a big increase from the 19.3 touches he averaged in 2013. So far, he hasn't shown any signs of wearing down, but Murray owners should try to secure Joseph Randle just in case. Those owners who don't own Murray would be wise to stash Randle (or hold him ransom) in case Murray breaks down.
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