The Facts: While Ray Rice has been firmly entrenched at the top of the depth chart the last few seasons, he’ll get pushed by Pierce this season. The two backs have different styles, so rotating them in and out of games will allow them both to stay fresh and also mix up the looks for the defenses. Rice had 257 carries to Pierce’s 108 last year, but a strong showing from Pierce could balance out that distribution a little more.

Diehards Line: So wrote Garrett Downing of the team's official web site. And it makes some sense -- although complete balance seems unlikely. Rice is one of the NFL’s premier playmakers and is a three-time Pro Bowler. Since he became a starter in 2009, no player in the NFL has more all-purpose yards than the versatile running back. He’s already one of the team’s top receiving threats and wants to contribute more as a receiver. The question is whether Pierce will demand enough playing time to limit Rice in any way. He has also shown the ability to be a playmaker when he gets his hands on the football, and he’s looking to build off the impressive rookie campaign. ... It's hard to imagine Rice falling out of the top 10 at his position (and his current ADP is 7); but fantasy owners will want to keep a close eye on the situation when training camp opens.