Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy believes he’s still a ‘dominant player’

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy says he’s dominant, reaffirms that he’s the starter.

Last year, by all means, was a down year for Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy. The back nicknamed Shady ran for a career low in rushing yards (514), yards per carry (3.2), and total touchdowns (3). Nonetheless, McCoy views himself as a dominant back worth starting, as he told The Buffalo News‘ Vic Carucci last week:

"When guys come to my team, they’re curious to see, ‘How is LeSean McCoy? Is he still a good player?’ I mean, I’m a dominant player. I think that speaks for itself.But I’ll be in the same role as last year. And I look forward to putting some numbers up and bouncing back from that last season."

McCoy noted that he’d like to bounce back from his dismal 2018 season, which seems wholly possible. Though the Bills brought in Frank Gore, T.J. Yeldon, Senorise Perry, Devin Singletary, and Christian Wade to compete with Shady, the soon-to-be 31-year-old is the clear cut choice to start. Since being traded to Buffalo in 2015, McCoy has been a full-time starter and has earned three Pro-Bowls nods while tallying 5,148 scrimmage yards and 30 touchdowns.

McCoy struggled last year, but many of those reasons for decline — including a poor offensive line, and offense — appear to be fixed. Though he needs to stay healthy, he’ll likely benefit from playing behind a revamped offensive line, sharing a workload with change of pace backs, and working in an offense that can take attention away from the run via Josh Allen and his speedy receivers.

Shady should be plenty motivated to put his lowly 2018 behind him. Not only does he have a bevy of backs waiting to take snaps from him, but he is also entering a contract year. McCoy signed a five-year, $40 million in 2015; if he wants to see a number anything to close that — which is highly unlikely for a 31-year-old back — we will need to see the dominant McCoy of old.