Who is Juwan Thompson?
There have been many storylines behind the Denver Broncos’ backfield in 2014, including whether Knowshon Moreno would return as the lead back and whether Montee Ball would be great or really great. With Ronnie Hillman performing well in the wake of Ball’s early-season injury, even he was being traded for first round rookie picks in some leagues. By the end of the season, it was yet another running back who took the reins as CJ Anderson goes into the off-season as the most valuable player in the group. Keeping the backfield carousel in mind, a player who could emerge in 2015 is Juwan Thompson.
At Duke University (Duke), Thompson primarily played running back and fullback but demonstrated his versatility by playing safety as well in his final season. As a freshman in 2010, Thompson saw limited work with 25 rushing attempts for only 87 yards as he caught three passes for 41 yards. His 2011 season turned out to be the best of his career at Duke statistically when he ran 110 times for 457 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, and he caught 22 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Though he regressed statistically following his sophomore year, he increased his yards per carry each of the next two seasons and proved to be a useful asset all over the field. He finished his collegiate football career with 1,244 rushing yards, a 4.5 yard per carry average and twelve total touchdowns.
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With less-than-inspiring college statistics and no clear-cut position, Thompson did not attend the 2014 NFL Combine. At his Pro Day, however, the 5’11”, 225 pound back posted results that would have placed him among the top ten running backs in the three-cone drill and bench press with a top-15 finish in the 40-yard dash.
During the 2014 NFL Draft, 20 running backs were selected but Thompson’s name wasn’t called. He signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) shortly thereafter, joining an already crowded backfield.
Despite his free agent status and lackluster statistics, there is a lot to like about Thompson’s game on the field. As previously noted, he has demonstrated strong versatility both within the offense and all-around game. Though he’s solely a backfield option with the Broncos now, this speaks to his high football IQ. Thompson has simultaneously shown ability to use his size to run between the tackles, including in short-yardage situations, as well as a receiver out of the backfield. Further, he’s already considered the best running back on the team in terms of pass protection, an important asset in any offense (and particularly one led by Peyton Manning).
Between a lengthy depth chart at running back and rumors swirling about the potential retirement of the aforementioned quarterback, to get a sense for Thompson’s potential value in 2015 it is necessary to review the status of his supporting cast. Anderson, Hillman and Jeremy Stewart are all signed through the 2015 season only while Thompson’s free agent contract and Ball’s rookie contract are both valid through 2016.
While Hillman performed well in limited time, injuries and ineffectiveness in previous seasons may lead the team to question bringing him back following this year, so it is a make-or-break season for him with the Broncos. Stewart, formerly of the Raiders, was only given six rushing attempts (and only turned them into 22 yards), and although he is similar in size to Thompson it does not appear he is much of a threat for significant touches. The polarizing Ball has certainly fallen short of his hype, at least in the fantasy community, and with only 3.1 yards per carry in 2014 will not be guaranteed a big role in the backfield even if healthy.
Consequently, aside from Anderson the UDFA Thompson may be the running back with the fewest question marks. Following a strong preseason, he took advantage of limited opportunities in 2014 as he turned 54 carries into 272 yards on the ground (5.0 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, including four runs over fifteen yards. He wasn’t significantly utilized in the passing game, though his coaches talked up his strength in that area throughout the preseason and regular season. He also developed a reputation for doing all the little things well and for being very coachable.
With a crowded backfield expected back in 2015, particularly given the team-friendly contracts of everyone involved, Thompson’s immediate upside is capped barring an injury to Anderson, Ball or Hillman. However, with the contracts for Anderson and Hillman expiring following the season, the Broncos will likely want to see what Thompson can do before determining whether to re-sign either player or make other moves. Consequently, Thompson may see a workload comparable to 2014 if everyone stays healthy. If not, he appears ready to step in and handle more touches, both between the tackles and as a receiver.
Projecting out a year is difficult at best given the fluidity of talent in the NFL, particularly for undrafted free agents who have little NFL experience and given a new coaching staff. At best, Thompson will battle Ball for carries with Anderson and Hillman hitting free agency, and given how the team views both the second-round pick and UDFA this could make Thompson a valuable commodity. More likely, however, either Anderson or Hillman will be retained while additional running backs are signed or drafted. As a result, Thompson would slip on the depth chart and hold little fantasy value.
Regardless of team situation, for a back who may be best suited to see the field in third-down situations, Thompson could carve out a role in a committee if given the opportunity. While I anticipate he will be on the Broncos’ 53-man roster in 2015, should he move to another team (a possibility given the amount of competition and fact that Denver has very little invested in him) Thompson would be a player to keep an eye on as a high-character player who does a lot of things well on the football field.
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