2019 NFL Draft Prospect – Travis Homer, RB Miami

Our NFL rookie profile series continues with this analysis of 2019 NFL Draft Prospect Travis Homer, RB of Miami. You can also check out all of our NFL Draft Prospect articles here. We will continue to provide you with these in-depth rookie profiles and a ton of other fantasy football rookie analysis right up through the NFL Draft. Stay tuned, and stay ahead of your league!

The closer we get to the 2019 NFL Draft, the more we learn about this year’s batch of running back prospects. This class is deemed less talented compared to recent years, but that doesn’t any of these running backs can’t develop into reliable fantasy assets. All it takes is a perfect marriage between a back’s skill set and the team’s offensive philosophy for a player to break out.

Travis Homer is pegged as an athletic satellite back who has solid chops in the passing game. If the stars align for him, we could see Homer as a plug and play option in fantasy. With this in mind, let’s take a look at his rookie profile.

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The STATS

Stats from sports-reference.com.

Homer had a slow start to his career, rushing for just 44 yards in seven freshman games. Since Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby carried the load out of the backfield for the team, he was left on the outside looking in. The following season, he was able to get things going, owning a 22.60 percent market share of the offensive production and leading the team in rushing and rushing touchdowns.

He didn’t take his foot off the gas during his junior season, averaging six yards per carry and rushing for 985 yards on the ground; ranking eighth in the ACC. He was also very efficient in the passing game, catching 79 percent of the passes thrown his way and averaging 7.8 yards per target.

With six 100-yard rushing performances during his career, Homer posted just enough production to make him a relevant prospect in this year’s class. He surpassed a 20 percent market share of Miami’s offensive production twice in his career and also broke out at the age of 19. He’s one of the youngest running backs in this class at 20.6 years old.

The most encouraging thing about his production profile is that he caught 37 passes during his career at Miami which insinuates that he should be able to transition his receiving aptitude to the NFL game. The major red flag is that he wasn’t a mega producer and didn’t even surpass the 1,000-yard mark any of his three years during his collegiate career. He also only had one multi-touchdown game.

THE FILM

Homer is the honey badger of running backs. Even at his 201-pound frame, he’s not afraid to drop his pad level to attempt to run over linebackers who are much bigger than him. He is not a fan of going out of bounds and would much rather get physical and try to gain an extra yard, than toe the sideline. This is very fun to watch, but it’s going to be hard for him to carve out a long career with this running style.

In a nutshell, he packs good vision, balance, and burst. There’s plenty of juice in his legs and he showcases a lot of wiggle in the open field. Once he finds the hole, he rapidly kicks it in gear and glides into the second level of the defense. He will chain together moves by implementing multiple jump-cuts and using his burst to regain speed. He’s also a very decisive runner and will initially break for the open running lane once he sees it.

Homer is a solid receiver out of the backfield. He has average hands but they are more than good enough to get the job done. He’s not just a check-down option, he can run routes underneath along with some wheel routes. For his size, Homer can handle his own when it comes to pass blocking. He can sink his hips, hold a strong base and fight off larger defenders with his hands. After all, he likes contact and being assigned to do pass protection allows him another opportunity to mix it up with defensive linemen.

There aren’t too many red flags to his game. However, he is a jack of all trades and a master of none which means he’s not really elite at any one thing. He has some good highlights on film and has solid athleticism, but his combine numbers don’t always translate to the tape. However, Homer has the skills to be a third-down back at the NFL level. His speed and burst could allow him to earn playing time early in his career.

THe MEASURABLES

At the combine, Homer measured in at 5-foot-10 and 201 pounds, leading to a 28.8 BMI which ranks in the 21st percentile among running backs. His measurements provide the notion that he’s not compact enough to handle a full workload. Even though he doesn’t fit the typical mold of a workhorse running back, his slight stature doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a fantasy-relevant asset in fantasy leagues.

Homer was one of the few running backs in this class who didn’t fail the combine. He ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash which equates to a 99.8 height-adjusted speed score. His 39.5 vertical jump ranks in the 92nd percentile among running backs. On the flipside, he produced an average 7.07 three-cone and a dismal 4.31 20-yard shuttle. After taking everything into account, Homer is more than athletic enough to get the job done at the next level and his athleticism alone could allow him to carve out a role with an NFL team.

DYNASTY VALUE

He has a 36.30 rookie ADP, making him the 15th running back off the board in rookie drafts – and around the end of the third round. He’s a tremendous value at that price point. Depending on where he goes in the draft, we could see a spike in value that could elevate him into the second. Compared to the rest of the backs in this class, he’s certainly flying under the radar. He could develop into a big riser if he gets drafted into the right situation.

In startup drafts, he’s carrying an ADP of 232, making him virtually free. There’s literally no risk in drafting him at this point because you’re not out much if he busts. With that being said, it’s worth taking a swing at the piñata at his current cost, considering his age, athleticism, and upside.

CONCLUSION

Homer is another interesting running back prospect in this year’s draft. His athleticism doesn’t go unnoticed and he definitely has the highlight reel to excite many draft enthusiasts. Even though there aren’t many glaring red flags on his profile, he is still being overlooked. His dynasty value is dependent on where he goes in the draft and who drafts him. Homer has a lot of potential and he’s currently dirt cheap in rookie and startup drafts. He’s worth the investment if you like his game.

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