2019 NFL Draft Prospect – Mike Weber, RB Ohio State

Our NFL rookie profile series continues with this analysis of 2019 NFL Draft Prospect Mike Weber, RB of Ohio State. 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!

Mike Weber really grew on me this off-season. The more I looked into his profile, the more boxes he checked. Following his performance at the combine, Weber has a good chance to hear his name called on day two of the NFL draft. If he does, he could be one of the better value picks in dynasty rookie drafts.

The Stats

Statistics from sports-reference.com.

There was a lot of buzz surrounding Mike Weber as he stepped foot on campus at Ohio State. He was an elite recruit but was forced to overcome adversity early on. Weber tore his meniscus during fall camp of his freshman season and ended up redshirting. Even though he didn’t see the field, he still had an opportunity to learn from one of the best running backs to go through Ohio State and the NFL the past few years, Ezekiel Elliott.

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Healthy again, Weber stepped into the lead role the following year and produced well. With JT Barrett at quarterback, the Buckeyes did not boast a potent passing attack. However, Weber was still efficient on the ground, averaging six yards per carry, and contributed a decent amount in the passing game as well.

JK Dobbins, an elite high school prospect, joined the team in 2017 and immediately carved out a significant role in the backfield. Although Weber saw significantly less touches as a sophomore, he was more efficient with them and even scored more touchdowns. Both Weber and Dobbins received more touches in 2018 as the team ran more plays from scrimmage and gained more yards than the previous few seasons. The ascension of quarterback Dwayne Haskins likely played a large role in these increases.

Taking a quick glance at Weber’s numbers as a Buckeye indicates he was not a great producer. While somewhat true, context is key. His numbers as a freshman were good and the past two years were not bad considering he was splitting time with one of the top running backs in college football. He also battled hamstring and foot injuries for a good portion of the past two years as well. While these factors limited his end-of-year totals, they could possibly allow him to fly under the radar and become a draft day steal.

The Film

Weber displays good power and contact balance in the video above. He does a great job of breaking tackles and picking up valuable yards after contact. He also displays good vision and burst on numerous occasions.

At the 4:22 mark, Weber breaks off an impressive run where he starts running right and cuts all the way back to the left side of the field. As he does, he moves the ball from his right hand to his left and later secures it with both hands as he approaches a few defenders. Not all running backs are this savvy with their ball security but Weber often is.

If you are interested in watching some additional videos of Mike Weber, check out his NFL Draft Prospect Video page.

The Measurables

Weber has a few traits that stand out, most notably his 40-yard dash and bench press. Both metrics were in the 72nd or higher percentile. While the bench press might not be the best indicator of NFL success, the quick forty time was good to see.

His height and wingspan were on the lower end of the spectrum but his weight, hand size, and vertical were near the middle of the road.

As you can expect from an average profile, Weber’s player comparisons are not too great. A couple of names, including Sony Michel and Duke Johnson, stand out but a majority are nothing to write home about. In what seems to be a recurring theme with this class of rookie running backs, Weber has a middling profile, especially compared to some of the running backs from the previous two classes.

Dynasty Value

According to DLF March 2019 Rookie ADP, Weber sits as the 28th player with an ADP of 29.80. This is a great price for a running back who has a chance to be selected on day two of the NFL draft. Likely not an elite prospect, Weber still has a decent chance to be a solid player in the NFL. He does have a wide range of outcomes in the ten DLF rookie mocks ran this past month. The earliest he was selected was 17th with the latest being 42nd. This wide range helps depict why we should not rely solely on ADP when trying to figure out if a player will be available. It is a great guide but it is in no way absolute.

In regards to March 2019 startup ADP, Weber sits 201st with an ADP of 197.00. Other running backs in this range include Mike Davis, Peyton Barber, CJ Anderson, Gus Edwards, and Jay Ajayi. With a couple of these veterans recently signing new deals in pretty good situations, this is actually a fair range for Weber. I do prefer a majority of these running backs over wide receivers (Geronimo Allison, DeVante Parker, Marqise Lee) in this range though.

Conclusion

Mike Weber is currently one of my favorite value picks in rookie mock drafts so far. The NFL draft results are likely to change the ADP of many players, but Weber still has a chance to remain a value. He is part of a group of running backs I will likely be targeting with my second round rookie picks.

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