Earnest

Graham

He rushed ten times for 62 yards and a score. Graham could make Charlie Garner unnecessary. He’s improved every season and could replace Michael Pittman as Caddy’s caddy next year.

Graham, who also made two catches for 37 yards, may have the third RB slot sewn up. FB Carey Davis did have 67 yards on 14 carries.

In typical fashion, he started off strong against a 49ers front without NT Isaac Sopoaga (staph infection), but as the game got out of hand his role and production diminished. He finished the game on the sideline with his helmet off, and it’s possible the lopsided score led to his early exit. Earnest Graham and Kregg Lumpkin would split carries if Blount misses any time, but neither of them has much, if any upside.

It’s usually the other way around for him, and one would think he’d have had some extra targets on the wrong end of a Bucs blowout loss. Should LeGarrette Blount’s knee injury cause him to miss any time, then Graham will be worth a look as a low-upside PPR play. Kregg Lumpkin, who had just 11 total yards today, would be a candidate to share carries, as well.

Kregg Lumpkin would serve as the third-down specialist and rookie Allen Bradford may get some change-of-pace looks. Graham figures to push for 15-18 touches as a power back that Josh Freeman feels comfortable checking down to. Graham is on the radar as a low-upside play in PPR formats this week.

Graham crumpled to the ground untouched as he attempted to make a cut. His right leg buckled, and he could put no weight on it as he was helped to the locker room. Kregg Lumpkin is now the only healthy running back for a Bucs team already missing LeGarrette Blount.

That would be an extremely quick recovery after Graham tore his Achilles just six weeks ago, but he’s already shed his crutches, and says he’ll soon begin “aggressively rehabbing.” A free agent to be, Graham will have to prove he’s 100 percent healthy to draw any interest on the open market heading into his age-32 season.

Graham estimates that he’s 75-80 percent recovered after dealing with complications from surgery when he had a reaction to sutures and developed an infection. Graham isn’t ready yet for football activities. At 32, there’s a good chance he’s played his last NFL game.

Graham is 32 and coming off an Achilles’ tendon tear. Although he says he’s now healthy, he’ll probably need a rash of injuries to strike the running back position during training camp before he gets a call.

The Bucs completely abandoned LeGarrette Blount and the running game as they fell behind in the second half. That led to a ton of check downs to Blount as the Lions gave up the underneath patterns. Graham will only be a viable PPR play when the Bucs fall behind -- something that’s extremely difficult to project.