Rookie Report Card: Miles Sanders and Allen Lazard*
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 how well he’s lived up to those expectations at the NFL level to this point, I’ll grade the player in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2019 potential and long term upside.
The series continues this week as we take a look at a highly sought-after rookie Miles Sanders, as well as a glimpse at Allen Lazard.
Miles Sanders, RB PHI
Week Six Stats: Three carries, six rushing yards, three receptions, 86 receiving yards (three targets), one touchdown reception.
In the months leading up to the NFL Draft, Miles Sanders was my top ranked running back. Although his time at Penn State was mostly spent as the understudy to Saquon Barkley, when he finally got the opportunity to be a bell cow tailback with the Nittany Lions, he displayed all of the traits that dynasty owners look for in a workhorse running back.
Patient and instinctive at the point of attack, Sanders shows great awareness for when to ease into a run and when to be aggressive. When a crease forms, he shows good burst and excellent balance when taking contact at the first and second level of the defense.
His footwork, both sliding into a running lane when running between the tackles and on the perimeter when trying to shake a defender in the open field, are as impressive as anybody coming out in recent years. His proven history as a pass catcher made him one of the top playmakers available in the 2019 NFL Draft.
A prospect with ideal size (5’-11”, 211 pounds) and excellent speed (4.49 40-yard dash) to go along with the skills he showed in college, Sanders profiled as a three down tailback with the potential to be a mid-RB1 for dynasty owners. When he landed with the Eagles in the second round as the second running back selected, I – along with many other dynasty owners – saw the fit as ideal as he’d be paired with a strong quarterback and a coaching staff led by head coach Doug Pederson who is widely considered to be one of the top offensive minds in the game.
Despite all those positives, however, Sanders settled in behind wide receiver N’Keal Harry and running backs Josh Jacobs and David Montgomery in most rookie drafts throughout the spring and summer. Some pointed to Pederson’s propensity to take a committee approach to the running back position while others saw ball security, his a habit of bouncing runs to the perimeter at times and his lack of production against top college competition as reasons to downgrade him in rookie drafts.
For those that selected Sanders with a top-five rookie pick, it’s been difficult not to be at least a little disappointed with his production and his usage to this point. Averaging just 3.5 yards per carry on 57 carries and held without a touchdown on the ground in his first six games has been frustrating, but clearly falling behind and being outperformed by Jordan Howard – who most dynasty owners consider to be a slightly better than replacement level tailback at best – is unacceptable.
Howard has averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 66 carries but has scored four times on the ground. Although Sanders’ stats as a pass catcher (13/219/1 on 18 targets) have outweighed Howard’s (6/47/1 on nine targets) on the season, watching Howard consistently see more opportunities over the last month has become infuriating for dynasty owners.
Despite the difference in efficiency on a per carry basis as well as Howard’s stranglehold on the goal line work, it should be obvious to those that have watched the Eagles play that Sanders is clearly the more explosive and all around better option in their backfield. In fact, his numbers would look much better if not for multiple big gains called back due to holding calls. It’s maddening to see Pederson continue to share the workload as the pair have played a nearly identical amount of snaps on the season (167 for Sanders, 163 for Howard.)
In week six, Sanders made his impact as a pass catcher by hauling in three passes for 86 yards and a gorgeous 32-yard touchdown catch that showcased his explosiveness and hands on a wheel route that happened in what seemed like a blink. Unfortunately, Sanders played just 19 snaps compared to the 41 for Howard despite the team playing from behind for the entire game. If Darren Sproles had been active would Sanders have got even those few opportunities? Infuriating!
Unfortunately for dynasty owners, it appears that we’ll have to continue to endure Howard getting a bigger workload and Sanders getting the scraps. Perhaps many of us gave Pederson and the Eagles too much credit to give playing time the clearly more talented player but time will only tell on that.
Personally, I still very much believe that Sanders has RB1 potential. Unfortunately, that upside is unlikely to be realized in his rookie season without an injury to Howard and he’s barely a flex consideration at this point. Nevertheless, he’s a prime “buy candidate” for dynasty owners looking for youth and upside at the position.
Allen Lazard, WR GB
Week Six Stats: Four receptions, 65 yards, one touchdown (five targets).
*Okay, I know Lazard isn’t technically a rookie, but since he’s almost surely available in your dynasty league and played in only one game last year he fits in with the theme of this series.
Those of us that play in devy leagues know the name Lazard. A top-10 wide receiver recruit according to 247sports.com, he was highly touted entering college but instead of choosing Notre Dame or even Nebraska, he went to Iowa State and set most Cyclones receiving records.
Most assumed Lazard would be drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft due to his size (6’-5”, 225 pounds) and his college production (241 receptions, 3,360 yards, 26 touchdowns), not to mention his consistent hands, ability to make contested catches both on jump balls and going across the middle, and his physical demeanor at the catch point. That didn’t happen however and he signed as a priority free agent with the Jaguars following the draft. After a stint on Jacksonville’s practice squad he was signed by the Packers late in the 2018 season and got a little playing time, catching his lone target for seven yards.
Despite a strong training camp that had many thinking Lazard was worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster, he was relegated to the Green Bay practice squad. He was signed to the active roster after injuries at the position, but didn’t get an opportunity on offense until the fourth quarter on Sunday when quarterback Aaron Rodgers asked wide receiver coach Alvis Whitted to put him in following ineffective play from nearly every other active receiver.
He didn’t disappoint.
Lazard hauled in four passes for 65 yards and a gorgeous over the shoulder 35-yard touchdown. He showed strong route running, good hands, good timing and jumping ability, and a mean streak as a runner after the catch. And he did it all in the last 10 minutes of the game with all the pressure in the world on him.
How this translates going forward is anybody’s guess but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Lazard has a golden opportunity in the next handful of weeks. Considering Davante Adams’ turf toe injury, Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s inconsistencies and Geronimo Allison’s drops and concussion, there is a clear need for help at the position in Green Bay. A case could even be made that the Packers have an opening at WR2 once Adams returns.
The bottom line is the Packers are desperate for wide receiver help and Lazard was hand-chosen by Rodgers, who has a history of throwing to players he likes. That’s enough for me to put in a waiver claim and see if he makes his way into flex consideration.
- 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
