Rookie Report Card: DeAndre Washington and Kenyan Drake

Dan Meylor

Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week.  On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2016 potential and long term upside. 

The series continues with a look at a pair of rookie tailbacks, DeAndre Washington and Kenyan Drake.

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DeAndre Washington, RB OAK

Week 16 Stats: 12 carries, 99 rushing yards, two touchdowns, one reception, 18 receiving yards (one target)

Coming out of Texas Tech and playing in the Red Raiders’ high flying attack, I saw Washington as a track athlete in football pads and struggled to see him as more than a kick return specialist that could help out as a pass catcher out of the backfield once he got to the next level.   I’m starting to believe I was wrong.

Washington shined at Texas Tech, playing everywhere on the field including running back and slot receiver.  With incredible burst, he was a threat to score each time he touched the ball whether it be as a runner between the tackles or on the perimeter as a receiver.  Many – myself included – attributed much of Washington’s success to the offense’s wide open attack, but there was no arguing that his acceleration was eye-popping.  Also showing noticeable competitiveness and fire on the field while in college, he plays bigger than his 5’-8”, 204 pound frame.   Despite his desire and quickness however, I still couldn’t get myself to draft Washington in a rookie draft.

After he was selected by the Raiders in the fifth round, the hype started immediately around Washington.  Getting nothing but praise in training camp and even getting the opportunity to mix in with the starting lineup, dynasty owners in leagues that hadn’t drafted yet were beginning to move Washington up their draft boards so I began to question what I missed when watching his college tape. 

When I watched him in the pre-season however, I realized that I may have underestimated Washington’s big play ability, which has continued into the regular season.

Showing consistent explosiveness and big play ability, Washington has made a strong impression in limited playing time as a rookie.  Piling up 424 yards on just 80 carries (5.3 YPC) with two touchdowns, he’s also added 15 catches for 101 yards while sharing duties with Jalen Richard as the change-of-pace back for Latavius Murray.

Saturday was Washington’s best game as a pro, running for 99 yards on just 12 carries and scoring twice against the Colts.  He was a dynamic runner between the tackles, showing good vision to find running room, a nice slide step to get to daylight, excellent burst through the hole, the ability to break arm tackles, and the speed to outrun defenders at the third level.  He showed everything that dynasty owners want to see out of a tailback and he did it on only 13 touches.

His biggest run of the day came in the third quarter on first down from the 22-yard line.  Lined up to Derek Carr’s left out of the shotgun, he took the handoff, shook defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway in the backfield – who was unblocked on the play – and accelerated through three arm tackles on his way to a 22-yard score.  The run showed vision, elusiveness and enough explosiveness to force a safety to take a poor angle and two more defenders to completely whiff on tackles.

Minutes later, Washington scored again from 22-yards out on a play where he simply blasted through a big hole on the right side and outran the defense to pay dirt.

Interestingly enough, neither of Washington’s two big touchdown runs were his most impressive on Sunday.  His nicest run actually came early in the third quarter on second-and-one from their own 46-yardline.  Lined up behind Carr in the pistol, he ran a dive play off right guard which was clogged.  Instead of running into his lineman though, he slid to his right and accelerated through the hole without losing momentum.  As he reached the second level he bounced off a hit from cornerback Vontae Davis, spun off a tackle from linebacker Antonio Morrison and stayed on his feet to pick up extra yardage for a 10-yard gain.  Showing great vision and burst as well as incredible balance, he turned what could have been a scrum for one-yard into an impressive gain.

Needless to say, I came away pretty impressed with Washington on Christmas Eve and I have to say, it’s not the only time that’s happened to me this year.  Every time he gets the ball, he’s explosive and gets more than what is blocked which is enough to make me furious with myself for underestimating him out of college.

Although I still don’t believe he’ll ever be a true bell cow runner in the NFL due to his lack of size, Washington’s play on the field screams upside.  I used to liken his upside to that of Antone Smith when he was with the Falcons but now I see that I strongly undervalued his potential.  With the upside to be the explosive half of a committee, heshould see double digit touches every week in 2017.

Whether Murray – whose contract expires after the season – re-signs with the Raiders or not, Washington has earned a role in Oakland’s backfield going forward which should translate to flex value going into 2017.  Savvy dynasty owners will make him a trade target this off-season before free agency.

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Kenyan Drake, RB MIA
Week 16 Stats: four carries, 56 rushing yards, one touchdown

Despite being a part-time player as a change of pace behind Derrick Henry at Alabama, Drake was one of my favorite running back prospects in the 2016 NFL draft.

I wrote about Drake extensively back in April when I penned his Rookie Profile here on DLF.  In it, I wrote the following.

“Drake’s calling card is his burst and straight line speed.  When running downhill out of the I-formation, he explodes through the line and uses his vision and burst to make (linebackers) miss in the hole.  Once he hits the open field, very few can catch him on the way to pay dirt.

Drake is also quite effective as a perimeter runner.  Using his speed, he can stretch runs outside the hashes and has the ability to change his momentum from east and west to north and south in a flash while still having the open field moves to make a downhill safety miss in the open field.

Many question Drake’s ability to run between the tackles on dives, traps and power runs, but he’s proven when given the opportunity that he can be a quality one-cut runner.  Due to his burst and vision, he can hit the hole in a blink and cut back behind his blocks at the second level.  He also finishes runs violently which isn’t common with most speed backs that do a majority of their damage on the edge and in the open field.  Always churning his legs and falling forward, he regularly gets more yards than what is blocked.

The final part of Drake’s game that shouldn’t be overlooked is his prowess as a pass catcher.  Great as a receiver both as a tailback and in the slot, he has the soft hands of a wide out as well as the know-how to setup blocks and the open field moves to turn a five-yard gain into an 80-yard touchdown.  He was so good as a receiver, (Nick) Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin trusted him regularly to line up on the outside, designing screens, slants and go-routes for their “running back.”

I concluded that report by calling Drake a dynamic playmaker and underrated prospect.  Although he hasn’t taken the league by storm as rookie for the Dolphins, he’s had a couple flashes of brilliance that should continue to give dynasty owners reason to believe he has upside.

One of those plays came on Saturday against the Bills.  Lined up to the right of Matt Moore out of the gun, Drake took the handoff but had no room to run up the middle and decided to completely reverse fields, retreating backwards before blasting down the right sideline for 45-yard touchdown.

The play showed just how dynamic Drake can be.  His skills as a kick returner kicked in on the play and he made something happen, much like he did back in week nine when he returned a kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown.

At this point, it appears that the Dolphins’ coaching staff sees Drake as nothing more than a change of pace tailback and special teams ace which severely limits his touches and short-term fantasy appeal.  Although I feel like he could be a very productive pass catching tailback that also carries the ball six to eight times per game, ala Danny Woodhead, his short term upside is limited as long as he’s playing for Adam Gase and the Dolphins’ coaching staff.

With all that said, dynasty owners everywhere will begin to grow weary of his lack of production and may cut Drake loose at some point over the next 12 months.  If that happens, he’s an excellent waiver wire add in the hopes that he someday lands with a coaching staff that wants to use him as an offensive weapon. 

Much like how Woodhead only gained fantasy value after he got his opportunity following a change of scenery, Drake may need a change to become useful to dynasty owners.

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dan meylor