Final Rookie Report Card: Running Backs (Part Two)

Dan Meylor

Throughout the season, the Rookie Report Card has covered some of the biggest rookies and not only looked at their performance to date – but also their long term upside.  Now that the season has wrapped up and fantasy owners are looking towards the future, we have an opportunity to take one last look at the 2016 season and assess the rookies – A final report card if you will.

We covered 33 rookies throughout the season, including 14 running backs.  Let’s put a bow on the season by taking one more look at those ball carriers’ first shot toting the rock on Sundays, as well as a quick glimpse into their futures.

Yesterday, I covered nine rookie runners.  Let’s finish off the class today.

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Rob Kelley, RB WAS
Season Stats: 168 carries, 704 yards (4.2 YPC), six touchdowns, 12 receptions, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown

When you look at the stats, Kelley had a nice rookie season, running for more than 700 yards and six touchdowns.  With that said, his fantasy upside relied almost entirely on a big workload and his ability to find pay dirt which caused him to be incredibly unreliable.

Kelley lacks top end speed (4.68 40-time) but is a violent runner between the tackles and looks to run defenders over when he reaches the second level.  Many, myself included, question whether he did enough to keep the starting job going into 2017. 

Washington is one of the top potential landing spots for a rookie or free agent runner.  It’s doubtful they don’t at least bring in competition at the position which severely limits Kelley’s potential to return as a weekly flex play for fantasy owners.

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Paul Perkins, RB NYG
Season Stats: 112 carries, 456 yards (4.1 YPC), zero touchdowns, 15 receptions, 162 receiving yards

Many fantasy players and dynasty owners seem to be excited about Perkins’ upside going into 2017 but I’m not one of them.  Although he has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field with his quick cuts, and smooth spin move, he doesn’t run through contact well and has never showed the vision to be a playmaker between the tackles.

With the exception of the 67-yard screen pass for a touchdown back in early October against the Vikings, Perkins wasn’t all that impressive as a rookie.  He appears to be a rotational tailback with the potential to make a couple big plays per year and I’m not interested in trying to guess when those plays come.

The Giants are a prime candidate to draft another tailback this off-season or even sign somebody like Eddie Lacy.  If I had some, I’d be looking to sell my shares of Perkins before that happens.

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C.J. Prosise, RB SEA
Season Stats: 30 carries, 172 yards (5.7 YPC), one touchdown, 17 receptions, 208 receiving yards

We only got a glimpse of what Prosise can do during his rookie year but he looked extremely explosive both as a runner and as a pass catcher. 

At his best on stretch plays and on perimeter runs, Prosise shows good patience, quality decision making and great burst to hit the hole when a running lane developed.  He also displayed excellent balance when taking contact and enough power to break tackles.  Most impressively, Prosise was a dynamic pass catcher in his brief time on the field as a rookie.  Having played receiver in college, he’s an advanced route runner.  Far too quick for linebackers to cover and too big for most defensive backs to take down in the open field, he’s a mismatch whether coming out of the backfield or out of the slot.

His injury as well as the return of Thomas Rawls dulled the buzz around Prosise’s play down the stretch of the season but dynasty owners should remember just how impactful he was when he was on the field.  Although he will have to battle the oft injured Rawls for playing time, I feel like Prosise is the best tailback in Seattle and has RB1 upside in PPR leagues.

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Jalen Richard, RB OAK
Season Stats: 83 carries, 491 yards (5.9 YPC), one touchdown, 29 receptions, 194 receiving yards, two touchdowns

I wrote about Richard after he piled up 95 yards on three touches in week one.  That turned out to easily be Richard’s biggest game as a rookie but he continued to impress as a part time player in 2016.

With and intriguing combination of size (5’-8”, 210 pounds) and skill, he has a low center of gravity and is a tough runner for his size which makes him a strong between the tackles ball carrier.  Also showing great burst and excellent vision, he’s patient at the point of attack before accelerating and running downhill.  Perhaps most noteworthy, although he wasn’t known as pass catcher in college, Richard proved himself as a contributor in that part of the game as a rookie.

With Latavius Murray scheduled to hit free agency, Richard and fellow rookie DeAndre Washington could share backfield duties in Oakland next season but the most likely bet to make in Las Vegas may be that they sign somebody to primarily line up in the backfield with Derek Carr.

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Wendell Smallwood, RB PHI
Season Stats: 77 carries, 312 yards (4.1 YPC), one touchdown, six receptions, 55 receiving yards

Smallwood is more physical that most players his size and is an excellent pass blocker and good out of the backfield.  He teased dynasty owners a couple times as a rookie but overall, never really showed enough to get us terribly excited about his upside going into 2017.

The Eagles are a prime candidate to add a tailback this offseason but that should really affect Smallwood – who‘s upside appears to be as a third down back.  With Darren Sproles expected back in Philly, Smallwood’s 2017 potential is limited.

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DeAndre Washington, RB OAK
Season Stats: 87 carries, 467 yards (5.4 YPC), two touchdowns, 17 receptions, 115 receiving yards

Due to an uncanny ability to hit full speed in a blink, Washington showed big play ability in limited playing time as a rookie.  Despite his lack of size (5’-8”, 204 pounds), he was not only strong as a perimeter runner but also between the tackles where he showed the ability to beat an unblocked backside linebacker to the hole due to his burst.

Many see Washington as nothing more than a change of pace back after he reached double digit touches in just four games as a rookie and I tend to agree based on his skills and lack of size.  But with Latavius Murray headed for free agency, there’s a chance Washington and fellow rookie Jalen Richard could be splitting reps this summer.

I’d expect the Raiders to add another running back if they don’t re-sign Murray but if they don’t, Washington’s value could spike between free agency and the draft.

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Dwayne Washington, RB DET
Season Stats: 87 carries, 467 yards (5.4 YPC), two touchdowns, 17 receptions, 115 receiving yards

Despite having impressive size (6’-2”, 226 pounds) and speed (4.44 40-time), Washington has poor vision and struggles to play as big as his size suggests he should.  For some reason, the Lions flirted all year with the idea of Washington being their short yardage and goal line back but he doesn’t belong in that role.

Between Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner and himself, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Detroit.  I’d bet Washington – who averaged just 2.9 yards per carry as a rookie – is last on that pecking order entering 2017.

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Jonathan Williams, RB BUF
Season Stats: 27 carries, 94 yards (3.5 YPC), one touchdown, one reception, zero receiving yards

Williams failed to make an impact as a rookie, largely because he was buried behind LeSean McCoy and Mike Gillislee on the Bills’ depth chart.  He didn’t help himself when he did get his opportunities though, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and fumbling twice in 28 touches.

Coming into the league with questions about whether he had the burst or power to make an impact and struggling throughout his rookie season, Williams will be on the chopping block this off-season for dynasty owners looking for roster space for the incoming rookie class.

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Check back next week as I’ll give final grades to the rookie wide receivers with tight ends coming later.

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dan meylor