Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Lamical Perine, RB NYJ

Dwight Peebles

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty owners, we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profile and where they fit.

Name: Lamical Perine

Position: Running back

Pro Team: New York Jets

College Team: Florida Gators

Draft Status: Round four, 120th overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

  • Height: 5’11″
  • Weight: 216 lbs
  • Arms: 31 5/8″
  • Hands: 10 1/4”
  • 40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds
  • Bench press: 22 reps
  • Three-cone: 7.13
  • Vertical jump: 35″
  • Broad jump: 118”

STRENGTHS

  • Ideal size and not much mileage in college
  • Downhill runner – no dancing in the backfield
  • Good vision – finds small creases and anticipates well
  • Patient runner who allows blocks to develop
  • Soft hands and has natural receiving ability
  • Exceptional balance – runs through contact well
  • Good pass protector – willing and able to block
  • Great ball security – only two fumbles over 493 carries

WEAKNESSES

  • Not an elusive runner at all – no wiggle in his game
  • Has only one speed and no second gear to pull away for big runs
  • Doesn’t have much burst either and takes a moment to get up to aforementioned speed
  • Didn’t produce elite numbers with opportunity – not a home run hitter but a solid well-rounded back

OPPORTUNITIES

The Jets have Le’Veon Bell entrenched as the starter but the depth chart behind him is thin on talent. The relationship between head coach Adam Gase and him has also been tedious at best. It seems to be a foregone conclusion of Bell’s days as a Jet being numbered. Of course, it hinges on whether or not Gase remains head coach as well. The team could easily move on from both after 2020 and open the door for Perine.

The rookie has the size and skill set to fill in for Bell and garner touches out of the gate. Perine thrives in an offense that runs inside-zone running schemes. The Jets ran mostly inside-zone last season and he could be a factor in the offense quickly. At Florida, he took a huge step forward in the pass-catching department in his senior season.

screen shot 2020 06 20 at 09.17.36

Statistics from sports-reference.com.

He could seamlessly fill in for Bell and provide the Jets with a solid one-two backfield punch. Bell is one of the best three-down backs in the league but Perine doesn’t have to come off the field either and could spell the lead back for entire chunks of games if needed.

THREATS

The team signed uber-veteran Frank Gore in the off-season while former promising backs Kenneth Dixon and Josh Adams add depth. Trenton Cannon is also on the roster for his third season but did not have a carry in 2019.

Gore will figure in but he has been showing his age and is not a fantasy asset anymore. Perine has more talent than the other three backs listed above and should climb to second on the depth chart with a good camp.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

This season will likely be unproductive unless an injury paves the way to a bigger role. Bell is entrenched and a huge part of the offense, regardless of coaching squabbles and his age. He is one of the best backs in the league and as one of the true three-down backs, the former Steeler will be on the field a lot in 2020.

Perine would be lucky to see a hundred overall touches. I would peg this number as his ceiling in year one. He should see the field and figure in for a small handful of carries as well as a few targets. Behind Bell and with a similar skill set in ways, Perine could learn a lot and use year one as a stepping stone to a more productive career than most expect.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

There were times in college where Perine appeared to have all the makings to be a successful running back in the NFL. He always gains yards, running downhill and anticipating blocks with patience. He can catch the ball and is a solid pass blocker. But he was never overwhelming and didn’t take a huge step forward with a dominant season. The tools are there and in the right system, he could be a productive back.

It’s tough to predict but I could see Perine being a solid NFL back and at times an RB2 for fantasy. I do think he would be best as part of a duo yet he could still be the lead back in said duo. A season of 1,200 total yards with 7-8 scores is not out of the question but I believe it would take everything falling just right for him to reach those numbers. More realistically, Perine will be a low RB2 or high RB3 at best and a good back to fill bye weeks. A stat line of 1,000 total yards with five or six touchdowns is attainable and a solid ceiling for him as part of a tandem for the Jets. Pairing him with a smaller running back who can get outside and stretch defenses would be a beneficial pairing for an NFL offense.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

Jonathan Williams comes to mind as a good comparison. Shoutout to Joe Marino from The Draft Network who made that comp – I love it. They are similar in size and both have many of the same strengths and weaknesses. When Williams has seen the field, he has been productive but he has not been given a permanent role. There are flashes of being something better than a spot starter but for one reason or another, he has never been featured. Perine could fall into the same cycle, he looks good but doesn’t have the draft capital and is not seen as a potential NFL stud back.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

In June rookie draft ADP, the ex-Florida Gator is being taken on average at 39.5 – at the beginning of the fourth round. For a back who could be a starter almost immediately with an injury, it is a worthwhile risk to take. I like Perine’s long term prospects far more than a few backs being taken ahead of him – Anthony McFarland, Joshua Kelley, and Eno Benjamin.

Perine has a lot to offer and could be one of the bigger surprises of the draft class. Scouting him, I would often be impressed at his running ability and how dangerous he was on passes out of the backfield. He has limitations and isn’t the flashiest player and could end up mired on depth charts his entire career. Or he could produce as I pointed out in my long-term expectations. Either way, Perine is an interesting target in rookie drafts and definitely worth a four-round flyer.

dwight peebles
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