Looks like Booker could be the lead back in 2018.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, the Broncos seems intent on giving the starting running back job to former fourth-round pick, Devontae Booker in 2018. This nugget was dropped into a piece from ESPN that named one player on each team who needs a change of scenery. Legwold named C.J. Anderson as the Broncos player who needs a change of scenery.

Anderson closed out the Broncos’ disappointing 2017 as one of the bright spots with his first career 1,000-yard rushing season, but he was openly wondering what his future would be immediately following the season finale. Anderson’s contract is structured in such a way the Broncos could release him, with two years remaining on the deal, without any “dead money’’ charge against the salary cap. The team also seems intent on getting Devontae Booker into the No. 1 role. Coach Vance Joseph, somewhat surprisingly to many with the team and in the league, fired assistant head coach/running backs coach Eric Studesville after the 5-11 finish, a move Anderson was particularly critical of on social media. Add it all up and Anderson appears to be headed elsewhere. If that’s the case, the Dolphins will have interest given the Broncos matched Miami’s deal two years ago to keep Anderson. -- Jeff Legwold

Booker is entering his third season in the NFL and has been mostly a backup running back during his short career. The former fourth-round pick totaled 79 carries for 299 yards and 1 touchdowns. He also hauled in 30 receptions for 275 yards. That adds up to be 574 yards from scrimmage in just 13 games with a limited amount of snaps and touches.

During his two-year career, Booker has totaled 253 carries for 911 yards(3.6 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns. He also totaled 61 receptions for 540 yards and 1 touchdown during his short career.

If this is true, Booker will move into the full-time starting role for the second time in his career. He took over for the injured C.J. Anderson his rookie year but struggled behind the Broncos offensive line. He missed the first four games of the 2017 season due to injury but quickly began eating into Anderson’s workload as the season went on.

Booker would give the Broncos offense a dual threat out of the backfield and in the passing game. He has been an effective runner at times while looking his best as a receiver. That part of his game would likely be exploited if the Broncos do indeed sign quarterback Kirk Cousins. Keep in mind that Cousins routinely connected with Chris Thompson while with Washington in the passing game. Booker, as you can see above against the Colts, can have a similar impact in the passing game as Thompson did.

Now many Broncos fans want Penn State running back Saquon Barkley in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but if this report is true, it seems unlikely. We will likely see 2017 rookie De’Angelo Henderson get more carries behind Booker but I would expect another back to be added to that rotation during the draft. How early in the draft is the question here.