Rookie Report Card: Devontae Booker and Geronimo Allison
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 one last look at a couple rookies with big games in week 17, Devontae Booker and Geronimo Allison.
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Devontae Booker, RB DEN
Week 17 Stats: 14 carries, 57 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, two receptions, 52 yards, one touchdown (three targets)
Swing and a miss!
Despite his advanced age (24) for a being a rookie, I was a Booker supporter during the off-season. Fast forward a few months and I wish I could sell the shares I have of the Broncos’ rookie runner.
Watching Booker at Utah, I saw a determined runner with cutback ability between the tackles. Showing excellent vision and great timing at the line of scrimmage, it was easy for me to forget his age. Watching him hit the hole with purpose yet still show excellent patience and quick enough feet to get the edge as a perimeter runner, I was impressed to see a grinding runner like himself shake tacklers at the second level. Honestly, I saw Booker as a perfect fit for the Broncos’ downhill running attack, making him an ideal pick early in the second round of rookie drafts.
Again, swing and a miss.
Looking back now, I realize may have fallen for Bookier’s patience, vision and quick feet while ignoring weaknesses that have reared their ugly head since getting his opportunity in Denver.
Booker appeared speedy enough in college to outrun linebackers and safeties, making it easy to assume that quickness would translate to the pro game. That hasn’t happened though. Caught far too often from behind on stretch plays and counters that take time to develop, he’s shown his lack of speed on multiple occasions. Watching him run behind the same offensive line as fellow Broncos’ tailback C.J. Anderson, his lack of burst is glaringly evident and his inability to break tackles – particularly at the second level – has left yards on the field.
Despite his big game on Sunday against the Raiders, Booker’s week 17 film actually showed little for dynasty owners to get excited about.
His 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter was due far more to the blocking (and an uncalled hold by tackle Donald Stephenson) than it was Booker’s running ability. He also went untouched on the screen pass for a 43-yard score before halftime. Outside of those two plays, Booker had 54 yards on 14 touches and averaged under 3.5 yards per carry.
Booker’s stat line may ease many dynasty owners’ minds about the investment they made in him last off-season but I’m not one of them. I only wish his big game would have come earlier so I could trade him to somebody in need of RB help for the stretch run. Now, with Anderson due back for the start of 2017, it will be difficult to sell the aging sophomore to anybody looking for RB depth.
Needless to say, Booker was my biggest miss of the season when scouting rookies. Although he has a knack for hitting the hole with excellent timing and is a grinder that runs with determination and grit, he doesn’t appear to have the footspeed to be a workhorse tailback and at best, looks like a committee runner with promise as a short-yardage and goal line tailback. Dynasty owners should hope for another big game early in 2017 and sell him promptly.
Geronimo Allison, WR GB
Week 17 Stats: four receptions, 91 yards, one touchdown (six targets)
“Standing 6’-3” and weighing 196 pounds, he has the height that NFL teams (as well as many dynasty owners) covet, but while he’s good at a few things, he’s great at nothing. A below average route runner that lacks speed (4.58 40-time at his pro day) and drops far too many passes, it’s unlikely he makes an impact in Green Bay’s deep receiving corps.”
If you read what I wrote about Allison (above) in the Packers Draft Review back in June, you probably didn’t rush to waiver wires to add the former Illinois wide out but you should be now.
To be fair, I called Allison an “interesting prospect” and pointed out that “Green Bay has a reputation of giving unknown undrafted free agents an opportunity to crack the 53-man roster” but that hardy means I saw his rise coming.
Since arriving in Green Bay, Allison has gone from interesting prospect, to practice squad prospect, to active on game day, to third wide receiver on the depth chart. Sure, it took Randall Cobb being deactivated for him to start getting playing time but Allison is taking advantage of his opportunity.
With Cobb nursing a bum ankle over the last two weeks, Allison has slid into a fulltime role as the Packers’ third wide out. Here are his numbers over those two games.
As you can see, Allison is being relied on to play a big role for Aaron Rodgers. Playing the third most snaps among pass catchers over the last two weeks, he’s filled in admirably for Cobb and may have even done enough to carve out a role for himself once the Packers’ slot man returns.
Having watched every route Allison has run over the last couple weeks multiple times, I’m optimistic about his upside going forward – but that’s mainly because of his offense and who he plays with although he has some things going for him.
Good enough at the top of his routes to create separation, Allison changes directions well for a receiver with his size which creates enough separation for him to make plays. He also has the length to extend for a high pass which can be a big asset for a quarterback as accurate as his. Additionally, he seems to have a knack for uncovering against the zone or when Rodgers extends the play by scrambling which happens often in the Packers’ offense. His 39-yard catch late in the first half as well as his 10-yard touchdown against the Lions came on such plays.
Overall, Allison isn’t a special player but he plays with one and anybody with a consistent role catching passes from Rodgers has the potential to be a dynasty asset. Although he won’t overcome Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams or Cobb on the depth chart, the Packers use four receivers more than almost any other team in the league. At the very least, he has the upside to fill the role that James Jones did for so many years in Green Bay which has the potential to make him a WR3 down the road.
If it were the middle of the season when Allison had this two game stretch, dynasty owners everywhere would be making him a priority add. It being Wildcard Week in the NFL shouldn’t keep anybody from making the same waiver claim if allowed. If Allison is available and waivers are still running, he shouldn’t be a free agent at this time next week.
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- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
- Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Wide Receivers, Part Two - March 22, 2023
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
