Report: Former Packers RB Starks to visit Steelers

James Starks would complement Le'Veon Bell nicely in Pittsburgh. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro Days | Top free agents

The Steelers bolstered their running game a year ago when they used a second-round pick on Le'Veon Bell. But with backup Jonathan Dwyer now in Arizona and practice squadder Alvester Alexander the only other running back on the roster, the team is actively looking to add depth. To that end, former Packer James Starks will pay a visit to the South Side Monday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tyler Dunne.

Starks, a 2010 sixth-round pick out of Buffalo, has battled injures for much of his career, but has been productive when healthy. He played in just three games as a rookie, and six games in 2012. But in 13 games last season, he rushed for 493 yards on 89 carries, good for a 5.5 YPC average.

According to Football Outsiders, Starks was the most productive back with fewer than 99 carries, just ahead of Toby Gerhart, who signed a four-year, $10.5 deal with the Jaguars earlier this week.

And ProFootballFocus.com lists Starks as one of the top 10 free-agent bargains, noting that, "...what you have is a back who hasn't produced on a full starter's load but has shown himself to be tough to tackle with an elusiveness that should make some team very happy for bringing him on board this offseason."

In a depressed free-agent running backs market, the 28-year-old, 6-2, 218-pounder could come relatively cheap for a Steelers team that saw its running game improve as the 2013 season progressed. And it should be even better in 2014, with new offensive line coach Mike Munchak.

NFL Hot News

With QB Charlie Whitehurst in tow, Titans release QB Ryan Fitzpatrick



The Titans signed Charlie Whitehurst on Thursday, which all but ended Ryan Fitzpatrick's time in Tennessee. Today, it officially ended as he was informed of his release.In 11 games last season replacing an injured Jake Locker, Fitzpatrick completed 62 percent of his passes and put together a 14:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also ran for 225 yards and three more scores.Tennessee gave Whitehurst a two-year contract worth as much as $8 million. Whitehurst has been in the league since 2006 and has started four games. He has tallied four touchdowns to go along with five turnovers.



Remember when Seattle traded a third-round pick and a higher second-round pick for Whitehurst a few years ago? Oh, that was fun. He has done basically nothing in the league, and as maddening as Fitzpatrick's play can be at times, there is no way he's worse than Whitehurst. If Locker sustains another injury next season -- something that seems higher than a 50-50 bet considering his history in the NFL -- all parts of Tennessee's offense will suffer under Whitehurst.