The Washington Redskins have announced their Week 1 starting running back, and his name is not Roy Helu.
After much speculation about the direction of the team's backfield, multiple outlets are reporting that Alfred Morris will be the starter for the team's road game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Morris, an undrafted rookie from Florida Atlantic University, beat out Helu and Evan Royster after the trio rotated through reps during the pre-season -- allowing the franchise to cut Tim Hightower in the process. Despite not being a highly regarded prospect out of college, Morris impressed the Redskins' coaching staff with his power rushing and blocking abilities, important attributes to possess when you're lining up behind a rookie quarterback.
But while the news is intriguing, it should not lead you to believe that Morris will get the majority of the Redskins carries just yet. He's still got plenty to prove, and Mike Shanahan is notorious for mixing up his backs throughout each game.
Last season, the Saints allowed more than 108 rushing yards per game last season, so perhaps there's an opportunity for Morris to impress and eat away at his opponent's defense in his first-ever NFL game.
For more news and information on the Washington Redskins, visit SB Nation's Hog's Heaven.
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