Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Rodney Anderson, RB CIN

Bruce Matson

Name: Rodney Anderson

Position: Running Back

Pro Team: Cincinnati Bengals

College Team: Oklahoma Sooners

Draft Status: Round six, 211th overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

  • Height: 6’0’’
  • Weight: 224 pounds
  • Arms: 30 3/4’’
  • Hands: 9 3/4’’
  • 40-Yard-Dash: N/A
  • Bench press: 25
  • Vertical jump: N/A
  • Broad jump: N/A
  • 3-Cone Drill: N/A
  • 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

STRENGTHS

  • Patient runner with good vision
  • Excellent contact balance and can spin-off or bounce away from tacklers
  • One-cut runner who gets downhill
  • His footwork allows him to move laterally well. Can stop on a dime and change directions when needed
  • Does an outstanding job at reading the defense’s momentum to set up his move in the second level
  • Creative runner with good instincts
  • Catches the ball well out of the backfield and can also get downfield

WEAKNESSES

  • Fast enough but doesn’t have home run hitting speed
  • Lack of burst limits his ability to regain speed after stopping
  • Doesn’t consistently lower pad level before contact, limiting his power and leaving him open to absorb unnecessary shots
  • Multiple season-ending injuries raise questions to long-term viability

OPPORTUNITIES

Since Anderson is a sixth-round pick and the Bengals already have Joe Mixon as their full-time starter, expectations are limited for him out of the gate. This presents a good opportunity for him to get healthy, and have him learn the system and get prepared for when his number is called. He hasn’t handled a live snap since September of last year and he will need some extra time to regain his rhythm and timing.

Mixon’s contract expires at the end of the 2020 season which could provide an opportunity for Anderson to be the starting running back if the team decides not to re-sign Mixon. This is a good possibility since the Bengals are in a situation where they may want to think about rebuilding their roster rather than sustaining it. This cost saving strategy could benefit Anderson in the long run.

His biggest opportunity is that he might become a cut candidate somewhere down the line, giving him the opportunity to prove himself in a more favorable situation. There’s almost zero sunk cost invested in him, making him dispensable if he doesn’t develop to the team’s standards.

THREATS

Joe Mixon is one of the best running backs in the league. If he plays to expectations, then he’s going to be the key focal point of the offense. He’s a dynamic back who can also help the team in the passing game. His long-term outlook with the team will be predicated on cost and how the team will want to retool their roster. Mixon could easily play his way to an extension and be locked into a long-term deal with the Bengals. Anything can happen here a lot of variables can play out in a two-year span.

Cincinnati is to the point where they might want to ‘Sashi Brown’ the roster. Whether they do that or not is a different standpoint. If they blow it up, then Mixon shouldn’t be in their long-term plans. If they don’t, then Mixon is going to be in Bengal stripes for a very long time. Mixon’s play will obviously be a factor to Anderson’s ability to see the field.

Anderson’s value is predicated on Mixon which creates an outside force that he can’t control. Another thing he can’t control that will impact his career is the fragility of his body. Will the preexisting conditions endured during collegiate career prevent him from reaching his maximum potential in the NFL? Can his body handle a full workload? We can speculate but we don’t really know. We do know that he has trouble staying healthy and has only played one full season at Oklahoma.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Expectations should be limited during the first couple of years of his career. Even though he feels like a lock, he still has to battle for a spot on the roster. He has to make it through training camp completely unscathed from injuries for us to be completely confident that he can carve out a role with the team.

There is currently a lot of competition for touches out of the backfield in Cincinnati with Mixon, Giovani Bernard, and Trayveon Williams all trying to get their share of the touches. With a 63.35 percent touch share from out of the backfield last year, Mixon is forecasted to be the team’s workhorse in 2019.

Considering the stable of running back talent listed on the Bengals’ roster, don’t be surprised if he sees less than a handful of carries this season. An injury to Mixon could allow him to see playing time earlier than expected.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Bernard’s contract expires at the end of the year and the Bengals are more than likely not going to re-sign him since they have Williams on the roster to fill the void. Bernard’s departure should open another space on the depth chart.

Anderson could see time as the second or third running back on the depth chart as early as next year. He should be Mixon’s direct backup since they have a similar skill set. Mixon will see the majority of the touches with Williams and Anderson splitting the rest of the load.

Sixth-round picks don’t tend to stick with their original team, and we could see a departure by Anderson in the near future. This isn’t a bad thing if he lands in a situation where he can compete. His health will be the main reason why the team would want to go in a separate direction from him. If that’s the case, then it might be a sign that the end is near for Anderson. However, he could transition into a trendy breakout candidate if he’s healthy and gets picked up by a team with an open depth chart.

At the very least, Anderson is a player to keep tabs on. We know he’s talented and has the potential to become fantasy relevant if the chips fall his way. He’s a good upside flier in dynasty as long as the expectations are limited.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

Anderson’s play is very reminiscent of how Ryan Mathews played the game. Mathews was a talented running back prospect who had an extensive injury history. Like Anderson, a lot of his injuries were unpredictable injuries that could happen to anyone. His running style left him open to absorbing more contact than necessary.

Both backs are electric runners who have a lot of juice in their legs. Mathews had the draft capital to back him up which allowed him to receive multiple chances in the league. They also have a similar size and stature.

Anderson has a lot of potential but his draft capital and injury history create some limitations, giving him a bottomless floor. By being a first-round selection, Mathews received every opportunity to succeed which could ultimately be the main difference between the two players.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

According to DLF, Anderson has a rookie ADP of 33.90, making him a late third-round option in most rookie drafts. That’s a fair price tag considering he’s a talented prospect with very little draft capital to back him up.

Since he’s the 11th running back off the board there might be other players who are more enticing getting selected after him. At this stage in the draft, he’s a flier that you stash on the backend of your roster to see what happens.

Odds of him or any other player in this range developing into a valuable fantasy commodity is highly unlikely, so it’s best to shoot for upside. His situation and draft position is a major cause for concern, but those issues are baked into his price point.

At one time, Anderson was considered one of the top running backs in college football. Now he’s fighting for his place on the Bengals’ depth chart. Joe Mixon is the guy in Cincinnati, and it will take something dramatic to change that. Anderson needs to rapidly develop and some luck for him to be successful in the NFL.

bruce matson