20/20: Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M

Welcome to the 20/20 series. As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine, we profile 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2022 by giving you 20 facts you must know.

1. Player Name: Isaiah Spiller

2. College: Texas A&M

3. Height/Weight: 6’1”, 215 pounds

4. Birthday: August 9, 2001 (20)

5. Class: Junior

6. Basic College Statistics: Spiller was immediately thrust into the starting role as a true freshman and never looked back. He nearly amassed 1,000 yards on the ground and had the highest reception total of his career at 29 catches.

As a sophomore, Spiller continued to dominate the touches of the Aggies backfield. He logged five games with over 20 carries and stood out as a potential workhorse RB for the NFL.

This past season, Spiller shared the backfield more with sophomore Devon Achane in almost a 50/50 split. Spiller had his most efficient season rushing, but questions have lingered due to this split coming in his third year.

Statistics from Sports Reference

7. NFL Draft Projection Round: Spiller is squarely in the second day of the NFL Draft and likely a second-round selection. With no RB worth a first-round pick this year, Spiller could compete to be the first runner off the board. Though the first round is likely out of the conversation, he will need a good Scouting Combine to secure a spot in the top 50 even and be bumped above Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III.

By current aggregate draft boards, Spiller is at 44th overall and near the other top RBs in the class.

NFL Mock Draft Database.

8. Current NFL Comp: As an NFL runner, Spiller compares to former Texans RB Arian Foster. Spiller has the zone rushing ability to be big-bodied between the tackles with sharp cuts. Like Foster, Spiller isn’t the most electrifying athlete, but he can churn out yardage and eventually break a few tackles for a long gain. Add in some pass-catching upside, and the comparison fits.

9. Best Possible Destination: The Miami Dolphins would be the best-case scenario for Spiller. With new head coach Mike McDaniel likely implementing the Shanahan zone blocking scheme, Spiller could fill in as a bellcow one-cut runner. He would be an immediate upgrade and thrive in that role.

10. Worst Possible Destination: A common mock draft spot for Spiller is the Buffalo Bills and this would be a worst-case realistic scenario. Josh Allen will always snipe TDs and carries from whoever the starting RB is. Fantasy owners will be frustrated when Allen scores at the goal line over Spiller. Devin Singletary also had a breakout and is unlikely to just disappear. Spiller may just play the old 2020 Zack Moss role and not be much of a fantasy asset.

11. Best Current Skill: Contact balance is Spiller’s best skill at the moment. He runs through arm tackles easily and rarely does down at first contact. Though the Aggies used him mainly between the tackles this past year, Spiller is able to get outside and get to the second level well due to his contact balance at meeting LBs in the open field.

12. Skills That Need To Be Improve: Spiller lacks the final gear to be a home run threat and can even be a bit sluggish getting off the snap to hit the offensive line. Though he likely won’t find that final gear, Spiller has the quickness to improve his explosiveness and decisiveness when taking a handoff. This can often be covered up with how power and agility, but against good fronts, he struggled to make an impact in those games.

13. Current Rookie ADP: In our Rookie 1QB rankings, Spiller currently sits at third overall with his lowest rankings among the experts being fourth. With Day Two draft capital, Spiller should sit comfortably in the top five of rookie drafts.

14. Projected Dynasty Value: Like most of the top RBs in a specific rookie class, Spiller will be a highly valued dynasty piece. In startup drafts, Spiller is currently being selected as a high-end RB2. With the appropriate draft capital and situation, he should jump into the top ten dynasty RBs. Many still have him as the top rookie runner in this class and that will likely be baked into his dynasty value even if he falls a bit in the NFL Draft.

15. Missed Time: Spiller is the model of health. He has never missed a game in his three-year career. He bruised his tailbone in the fourth quarter against Alabama this past year, but he played the next week at Missouri.

16. Production at every level: Spiller has a high school football star at 6A Klein Collins HS near Houston, TX. In his junior year, Spiller hit nearly 1,600 yards rushing and followed it up with another huge senior season against the best defenders in Texas. With a verified 4.58-second 40-yard dash coming into college, Spiller showed his NFL potential early.

17. Short yardage specialist: Spiller is always falling forward on contact between the tackles and can churn out some tough short yardage. On the downside, he only had eight carries of 20-plus yards in 2021. Teams may end up viewing that short-yardage specialty as a weakness.

18. Underrated Receiver: Spiller was a consistent receiver for the Aggies with over 20 receptions in each of his three seasons. On an Aggies team that was not very pass-heavy, he showed himself to be a big part of the passing game every season.

19. Struggles Against Best Defenses: Spiller faced four top-30 defenses this past season and racked up 65 carries for 294 yards and two TDs total. A respectable number, but his 4.52 YPC was over a yard below his season average of 5.65. Spiller did feast a bit on the worse teams and struggled against the likes of Alabama and Mississippi.

20. Bottom Line: Spiller has fantasy RB1 upside due to his size and production. Though he may not be the fastest or most explosive, contact balance and lateral agility provide a good floor for him in the future. He may need the right landing spot and coaching to unlock his true potential, however.

20/20: Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M