Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Myles Gaskin, RB MIA
Name: Myles Gaskin
Position: Running Back
Pro Team: Miami Dolphins
College Team: Washington
Draft Status: Round seven, 234th overall
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
COMBINE REVIEW
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 205 pounds
- Arms: 29 1/2”
- Hands: 8 3/4”
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.58 seconds (39th percentile)
- Bench press: 24” (84th)
- Vertical Jump: 35 1/2” (64th)
- Broad Jump: 118” (50th)
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.19s (23rd)
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.27s (43rd)
- 60-Yard Shuttle: 11.77s (28th)
STRENGTHS
Myles Gaskin had an EXTREMELY productive time at Washington. pic.twitter.com/BLFxxgPl2T
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 19, 2019
- Handled heavy workload for a smaller sized running back.
- He didn’t have great test numbers though he looked much faster on film. At the 2018 UW Pro Day, it was released that Gaskin ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash.
- Consistent production throughout his career.
- Vision: Sees the field and has good awareness. Takes what is given and doesn’t try to do too much causing a loss of yardage.
- Smaller frame but can knock down defenders and is willing to square up rushers in pass protection.
- Keeps feet churning and can get tough yardage, even as a smaller running back.
- Good footwork and stride. Quick cuts and has a smooth jump cut. Able to make opponent miss in open space and create extra yardage.
WEAKNESSES
- Size and smaller build could limit role and total volume within an offense.
- Played lighter than what he weighed at college which likely impacted his test scores.
- Heavy workload in college.
- Can work inside and outside the tackles well but is unlikely to be a short-yardage contributor at the NFL level.
- Limited experience in special teams as a returner. Will need to expand his role as a later-round pick to secure a roster spot.
- Good contact balance but concerns against upper-level competition at NFL.
OPPORTUNITIES
Statistics from sports-reference.com.
Myles Gaskin is the most accomplished collegiate running back on the Miami roster. Kenyan Drake is the favorite to be the lead and uninspiring second-year running back Kalen Ballage, will likely be the second back to get a chance if anything happens to him after Frank Gore left this summer.
The only other backs currently on the roster are Kenneth Farrow, Patrick Laird and the maligned Mark Walton who was released by the Bengals after three arrests this off-season. Based on draft capital and talent, I would lean towards Gaskin being the third option coming into camp.
Gore’s departure to Buffalo vacates approximately 330 snaps on the Miami offense. Drake out-snapped him last year by 215 snaps. Gore had 36 more carries than Drake, but Drake was the teams third-down back, seeing 73 targets which were the second most on the team.
THREATS
Drake is the main threat to Gaskin seeing significant playing time. He had the most snaps among Miami running backs in 2018 and projects to see plenty more in 2019.
Ballage was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but only got on the field for 92 offensive snaps in 2018. That amounted to 36 carries and 11 targets of value for fantasy owners.
SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS
For 2019, I think it is best to project Gaskin as the backup to Drake. At best, he is probably going to split carries with Ballage if Drake gets hurt. With seventh-round draft capital, it would be hard for Gaskin to displace him and become the lead back.
He will be best served for owners with deep bench spots or taxi squads where he could be stashed away in case he does not get significant playing time in 2019.
LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS
2019 is the final year of Drake’s rookie contract. I am very high on the 2020 draft-eligible running backs and worry that Miami could spend an early pick on one. Miami has plenty of needs and quarterback figures to the biggest of those if Josh Rosen doesn’t pan out to be the player plenty though him to be.
Ballage is under contract through 2021 on his rookie contract as a third-round draft pick, and will never cost the team more than $900k. Running backs on rookie contracts are cheap bodies that carry great value if they can get work on special teams and contribute. Ballage only saw 92 snaps on offense but had 169 special teams snaps.
Gaskin will need to show value in 2019 that convinces the team they can move on from Drake after this season and let him walk in free agency. Ideally, Drake does enough to price himself out of their plans and that gets the Dolphins a compensatory draft pick – then Gaskin shows enough efficiency to take over in 2020 and the Dolphins don’t draft a running back early.
NFL PLAYER COMPARISON
Even as a fan of UW football, I don’t think Gaskin will ascend to the status of everyday starter. He fits the role of a committee back and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to former Husky football running back Bishop Sankey.
PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE
According to May Rookie ADP, he is currently going as the 46th player in most rookie drafts – at the end of round four. In six of the ten rookie mock drafts, Gaskin was not selected. The highest he was selected was pick 38. I imagine his draft stock will continue to slide towards the end of round three in rookie drafts come summer.
For dynasty startup ADP, Gaskin is being taken with an ADP of about 232. In four of the six dynasty startup mock drafts, he was not selected.
Myles Gaskin projects as a committee back – a player best served on taxi squads or on deeper rosters. During the season, pick him up as a priority add if Drake gets injured.
Pete is a Western Washington University (Go Vikings! Undefeated at Football since 2009!) History grad with a doctorate in dynasty football, from a certificate he bought online. He prefers stats and analytics but realizes film grinding is an important part of the process. Dabbles in "Mild Takes" and believes in the process.
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