Dynasty Rookie RBs

[Maximum Overkill 770]

When are you looking at RBs in a 1 QB League?

 

I've seen some mocks where the first RB goes anywhere from 5-8 which feels about right. 

 

I'd probably be leaning Benson but it's close, your thoughts? 

[polecatt 404]

I've pretty much geared my team to where RB is about the only position where I'm in need.

So I will probably go after RBs early on. I won't have a high pick, so I won't be able to draft one of the elite rookie WRs. Which ever RBs fall to me, I'll take.

[Maximum Overkill 770]

37 minutes ago, polecatt said:

I've pretty much geared my team to where RB is about the only position where I'm in need.

So I will probably go after RBs early on. I won't have a high pick, so I won't be able to draft one of the elite rookie WRs. Which ever RBs fall to me, I'll take.

Who do you prefer, Benson in AZ or Brooks in Carolina? 

[polecatt 404]

3 minutes ago, Maximum Overkill said:

Who do you prefer, Benson in AZ or Brooks in Carolina? 

Benson because he's on a team that should have at least an okay offense. The Panthers will probably be terrible again.

Just a guess though.

[Maximum Overkill 770]

3 minutes ago, polecatt said:

Benson because he's on a team that should have at least an okay offense. The Panthers will probably be terrible again.

Just a guess though.

That's where I'm leaning as well. Benson is set up nicely for the future. I'd love to draft both but won't have that luxury. 

[polecatt 404]

8 minutes ago, Maximum Overkill said:

That's where I'm leaning as well. Benson is set up nicely for the future. I'd love to draft both but won't have that luxury. 

I'm not certain either is gonna be the day one starter. They both have other decent RBs on the team.

There will likely be at least a couple of rookie RBs break out, but it's about a toss up who they will be

[Ray_T 600]

51 minutes ago, polecatt said:

I'm not certain either is gonna be the day one starter. They both have other decent RBs on the team.

There will likely be at least a couple of rookie RBs break out, but it's about a toss up who they will be

Benson probably is not a day 1 starter.   scouting report indicates he struggled with ball security early.   

my best guess is he plays in some 2 back sets, runs a few gadget plays while he learns pass pro and coaches work on his fumbling issue (assuming its a coachable issue with the way he holds the ball) 

hes perfectly fine playing behind Conner for a year or so  while getting these things sorted out.    Conner rushed for 1000 yards last season and with a 5 YPC avg there is no rush getting him in there.   Conner is good in pass pro and ball security so I dont see him being unseated until at least one of those issues is fully resolved.

as for Brooks, he has to beat out Chubba Hubbard who (despite some good press) had an underwhelming 3.8 YPC last year.   I could see him time sharing with Hubbard for a couple games before taking the starting job outright but it could happen in pre season if he really comes in and impresses.

That said, its too early to reliably predict much but if I had to bet on one of these two RB's I'd bet on Brooks ahead of Benson

[polecatt 404]

9 minutes ago, Ray_T said:

Benson probably is not a day 1 starter.   scouting report indicates he struggled with ball security early.   

my best guess is he plays in some 2 back sets, runs a few gadget plays while he learns pass pro and coaches work on his fumbling issue (assuming its a coachable issue with the way he holds the ball) 

hes perfectly fine playing behind Conner for a year or so  while getting these things sorted out.    Conner rushed for 1000 yards last season and with a 5 YPC avg there is no rush getting him in there.   Conner is good in pass pro and ball security so I dont see him being unseated until at least one of those issues is fully resolved.

as for Brooks, he has to beat out Chubba Hubbard who (despite some good press) had an underwhelming 3.8 YPC last year.   I could see him time sharing with Hubbard for a couple games before taking the starting job outright but it could happen in pre season if he really comes in and impresses.

That said, its too early to reliably predict much but if I had to bet on one of these two RB's I'd bet on Brooks ahead of Benson

The Panthers have Miles Sanders too.

There's not really a rookie RB that stands out at this point. I'm sure somebody will emerge but who know who it will be?

[Maximum Overkill 770]

8 hours ago, Ray_T said:

That said, its too early to reliably predict much but if I had to bet on one of these two RB's I'd bet on Brooks ahead of Benson

You can guarantee that Conner doesn't make it through the season. And once Benson get in there, there's no looking back. 

 

Jul 30, 2017	NFL	Shoulder A/C Joint Sprain	Mike Tomlin said it appears to be minor.
Oct 28, 2019	NFL	Shoulder A/C Joint Sprain	Conner suffered an AC joint shoulder injury late in the Week 8 win over the Dolphins. He missed 5 games
Dec 22, 2019	NFL	Leg Quad Strain	Conner sustained the quad injury in the second quarter of the game vs. the New York Jets. He missed the final game of the season
Sep 14, 2020	NFL	Pedal Ankle Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1	Conner suffered a sprained ankle in the Week 1 game versus the Giants. He was active for the next game.
Dec 13, 2020	NFL	Leg Quad Strain	Conner injured his quad in Week 14’s loss to the Bills. He sat out of the next game
Apr 12, 2021	NFL	Pedal Toe Turf Toe	Conner injured a toe while riding a recreational vehicle during the offseason.
Jan 1, 2021	NFL	Back Lower Lumbar Sprain	Edwards was a limited participant in practice ahead of Week 17 game vs. the Bengals. He was good to go.
Dec 13, 2021	NFL	Pedal Ankle Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1	Conner suffered an ankle injury in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He did not miss any game
Dec 21, 2021	NFL	Pedal Heel Bruise	Conner missed two games due to a heel injury he sustained ahead of the Week 16 game.
Jan 9, 2022	NFL	Chest Rib Sprain/Pull Unspecified	Conner suffered a rib injury during the Week 18 loss to Seattle.
Sep 18, 2022	NFL	Pedal Ankle Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1	Conner tested out his ankle on the sideline but never returned. He returned for Week 3.
Oct 9, 2022	NFL	Chest Rib Sprain/Pull Unspecified	Conner missed 3 games.
Jan 1, 2023	NFL	Leg Shin Bruise	Conner left Week 17 vs. the Falcons in the 4th quarter. He sat out the season finale.
Oct 8, 2023	NFL	Knee Strain Grade 1	Conner sustained a knee injury in the second quarter of Week 5 vs. the Bengals. He was subsequently placed on IR.

[Ray_T 600]

Quite possibly.  but I suspect hits Conner's job to lose right now.

Most RB's (other than the elite ones) take a little time to learn to be a pro and learn the nuances of the pro game before they are ready to step in and be the man.

this is no different. 

All I'm saying is hes likely not a day one starter.   I have no doubt hes the next man up.   but like I said, the thing that is most likely to keep him off the field is his slippery hands and his pass protection. 

dude fumbles too much.   I dont question his talent.  if the pass pro was better and the fumbling issue wasnt there, he would have gone earlier in the draft cuz the skillset is very good otherwise.  

I do not know much about his coach in AZ.  I have not had a reason to look there as I own no shares of players on that team, but a lot of coaches out there wont let a RB take that many Reps until their pass pro is up to snuff either.   Thats 2 strikes against him in terms of being a day 1 starter.

my belief is that this will be his team next year and they will try to coach him up in these areas before unleashing him.

but you are right, if Conner gets hurt, the plan could easily change.

 

[weepaws 2,495]

Brooks has a clearer path to being the rb1 , but the Panthers Qb situation is awful.  I would take Benson, Conner like noted is going to have injuries, he always does and Benson would be the next up in a much more positive situation then Brooks.  

[polecatt 404]

I'll be honest, I'm not crazy about either of these guy's situation.

They both have two RBs they're competing with on the depth charts.

In Arizona, Benson will likely get touches, maybe even the bulk of the carries, but I don't see him easily unseating Conner at the goal line. Michael Carter is a receiving RB, so he may take away some targets in the passing game.

In Carolina, we know they're likely gonna be one of the worst offenses in the NFL, limiting any RB's upside quite a bit. That to go along with two RBs to compete with for Brooks, too much competition for limited upside.

Both of these have RBBC written all over them in the worst way.

Maybe one or even both of these guys comes out as the 2nd coming of Adrian Peterson and just sets the NFL on fire. Outside of that, I don't see a whole lot of value here, not this season.

Rookie RBs are gonna be a real crap shoot this year

[Maximum Overkill 770]

2 hours ago, weepaws said:

Brooks has a clearer path to being the rb1 , but the Panthers Qb situation is awful.  I would take Benson, Conner like noted is going to have injuries, he always does and Benson would be the next up in a much more positive situation then Brooks.  

I like both but Benson a little better for Dynasty. Unless Bryce Young learns how to play then Jonathan Brooks will be facing 8 man boxes every snap. 

Benson will be in a pretty loaded offense 

[nobody 2,080]

Where did this benson fumble issues come from?  The guy apparently had zero fumbles in his college career.

https://www.si.com/college/fsu/fsu-football-nfl-draft-preview-trey-benson-2024

[Ray_T 600]

4 minutes ago, nobody said:

Where did this benson fumble issues come from?  The guy apparently had zero fumbles in his college career.

https://www.si.com/college/fsu/fsu-football-nfl-draft-preview-trey-benson-2024

ok sorry I must have got my players mixed up (we were talking about 2 players)

terribly sorry. 

Lloyd, ,  Allen and to a lesser degree brooks had ball security issue. 

I must have accidentally clicked on the wrong profile   my bad.   but Pass Pro leaves a lot to be desired for him.

[Ray_T 600]

2 minutes ago, Ray_T said:

ok sorry I must have got my players mixed up (we were talking about 2 players)

terribly sorry. 

Lloyd, ,  Allen and to a lesser degree brooks had ball security issue. 

I must have accidentally clicked on the wrong profile   my bad.   but Pass Pro leaves a lot to be desired for him.

further to this, pass pro is mostly learned.   so this is coachable.   I guess the only question is how quick does he learn it.

[Maximum Overkill 770]

1 hour ago, Ray_T said:

further to this, pass pro is mostly learned.   so this is coachable.   I guess the only question is how quick does he learn it.

It's the reason Miles Sanders has one foot out of the league and the other on a banana peel. He'd be a stud if only you could trust him. 

[Ray_T 600]

42 minutes ago, Maximum Overkill said:

It's the reason Miles Sanders has one foot out of the league and the other on a banana peel. He'd be a stud if only you could trust him. 

I hear you.    hes got good skill too but misses some time.  for some reason I thought he was a smallish back but hes 5'11 and 210 lbs.  so not terribly smallish.  

but yeah when healthy hes been decent   not sure what happened here in Carolina.   I guess he went from a good line in Philly to a mediocre one (or worse) in Carolina.   That never helps the stats.

 

either way, if the rookie cant beat out him or Chubba, he likely doesnt deserve the starting job anyhow.

[LaChup 158]

It's pretty obvious to me that MarShawn Lloyd is the RB to own in this class. Allow me to break it down for you:

Running Style:

• Lloyd is described as running like a “Tasmanian devil,” which suggests he’s elusive, aggressive, and hard to bring down.
• His tenacity and mean streak contribute to his effectiveness as an every-down back.

Pass Protection:

• Lloyd has functional strength and temperament, making him a candidate for pass protection.
• However, he needs to improve his pass-pro technique and consistency.

Receiving Skills:

• As a receiver, Lloyd was mainly used as a checkdown specialist.
• He has soft hands and adjusts well to space when his quarterback scrambles.

Scheme Versatility:

• Lloyd can operate in both stretch zone and inside zone schemes.
• His lateral agility, vision, and speed allow him to adapt to different offensive systems.

Physicality and Mean Streak:

• Lloyd runs with a profound mean streak, even though he doesn’t actively seek out contact.
• He can break tackles and create yards on his own, reversing course when needed.

Size and Strength:

• Despite his size, Lloyd is a physical rusher with strong legs.
• He can finish runs well and push the pile, making him a tone-setting back.

[Maximum Overkill 770]

Just now, LaChup said:

pretty obvious to me that MarShawn Lloyd is the RB to own in this class. Allow me to break it down for you:

I love Lloyd, just not in the first round. If he's there when I pick late 2nd he's mine. 

[LaChup 158]

Do not sleep on Kimani Vidal.....

 

1. Productive College Career:

• Vidal, a compact runner standing at 5-7½ and weighing 213 pounds, became Troy University’s all-time leading rusher during his senior season.
• In 2023, he rushed for an impressive 1,661 yards, added 201 receiving yards, and scored 15 touchdowns in 14 games.
• His versatility as both a runner and a pass catcher makes him an appealing prospect.

2. Agility and Power:

• Vidal’s combination of agility and power allowed him to break 92 tackles in 2023, ranking second in the nation.
• He uses a nasty stiff-arm to shed defenders and churn out positive yardage.
• Despite not being a home run hitter, he consistently produces 5-15 yard runs.

3. Bell-Cow Potential:

• With 315 touches last season, Vidal demonstrated that he can handle a bell-cow workload.
• His ability to remain productive even against loaded defensive boxes showcases his toughness and reliability.

4. Pass-Catching Skills:

• Vidal caught 92 passes during his four-year college career, showing proficiency as a pass catcher.
• His route-running impressed onlookers during Senior Bowl practices.

5. Chargers’ Running Back Situation:

• The Chargers needed help at the running back position.
• Gus Edwards is primarily an early-down and goal-line back, while J.K. Dobbins has dealt with injuries.
• Vidal has a chance to play a substantial role immediately due to the lack of strong competition ahead of him on the depth chart.

6. Draft Value:

• Despite being a sixth-round pick, Vidal is a favorite dynasty target for many experts.
• He is currently ranked RB7 among rookies and RB37 overall.
• Consider targeting him in the late second or early third round of 1QB rookie drafts or the late third round of superflex rookie drafts.

[Ray_T 600]

based on this scouting report it almost looks like an Emmitt smith who can catch passes.

looks like you posted  all his positives from the scouting report, what do the negatives look like?     if there wasnt a significant negative this scouting report would suggest he should be one of the first RB off the board

but clearly that wasnt the case so there must be a negative in his game we are missing.   Normally you see a RB that short and you gotta think small guy with durability problems but hes actually pretty big.

is it just his timed speed scouts dont like?

[LaChup 158]

• Prematurely Opting for the Perimeter: Vidal sometimes chooses to run towards the outside too early, which might be less effective against faster NFL defenses. Staying patient and hitting the inside gaps could enhance his performance.

• Limited Lateral Explosion: His lateral cuts lack explosive power, restricting his ability to evade defenders horizontally. Improving his agility and burst in lateral movements would be beneficial.

• Stiffness and Limited Flexibility: Vidal exhibits stiffness, especially during sharp directional changes.