2024 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas
After producing not one, but two NFL-caliber running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns are back at it with another potential workhorse back to add to your draft list, Jonathon Brooks.
Texas running backs are typically found in the second tier of rookie running backs, as they are pushed aside for the shine of the Juggernaut team backs of Alabama and Georgia. However, 2024 could be the year in which the best rookie and sophomore running back in fantasy football both come out of the Longhorns program.
Recruitment
Brooks received a four-star rating by 247 Sports coming out of Halletsville High School in Texas. As a high school sophomore in 2018, he was a Texas District 15-3A D-I first-team selection and a District 14-3A D-I Overall MVP as a junior.
Courtesy of 247Sports.
He entered college as the 25th-ranked running back and was recruited by Colorado State, Houston Christian, Louisiana, Texas State, Texas Tech, and UTSA before deciding to commit to the Texas Longhorns.
Collegiate Career
Courtesy of Sports Reference.
Brooks started of his career with a minimal role, as he was redshirted during his freshman year. He managed to appear in four games and rush for 143 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, impressive given the fact he had Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart.
He managed to find his way into seven games in 2022, but still saw a limited workload behind the two future NFL backs. Brooks racked up 197 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 30 carries, as the third-stringer in the Longhorn’s backfield.
In 2023, finally out of the shadows of Robinson and Johnson, Brooks exploded in his one and only season as the workhorse in the Texas offense. This time, appearing in 11 games, he rushed for 1,139 yards and a career-high ten rushing touchdowns on 187 attempts. He also added in a solid 25 receptions for 286 yards and one touchdown.
It was clear to see that when thrust into the starting role, Brooks was full of talent and potential. He produced as one of the elite running backs in all of college football and it was no surprise when he opted to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Strengths
- Good receiver with soft hands
- Gets upfield quickly with solid YAC ability.
- Showed upside as a returner, which could make it easier for him to crack an NFL lineup.
- Good initial burst and straight-line speed.
- Excellent cuts and vision, lethal in space.
- His speed and agility allow him to get around the corner with ease.
Weaknesses
- Lack elite, home run speed.
- Ran a limited route tree.
- Needs to work on his patience. He can be impatient and indecisive at times.
- Ran a spread offense and his lack of pro-style experience could make him scheme-dependent.
Draft Value
Courtesy of Mock Draft Database.
Brooks is one of the top running backs in what is regarded as a bad class. The 2024 running back class lacks a “generational talent” and instead gives four or five potentially solid options of a similar tier and value.
A small number of draft analysts have him going as high as round one, while the consensus believes him to be a day-two pick, a second-rounder.
The early mock drafts have him going to either the Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys, although the Cowboys are in the unlikely scenario where he sneaks his way into the late first round.
Dynasty Outlook
Courtesy of DLF Dynasty Rookie Rankings.
While it is still early in the off-season, and the NFL Combine and 2024 NFL Draft are sure to shake things up, the early DLF Rookie Rankings have Brooks valued somewhere in the middle of the second round of rookie drafts.
He is projected to be the fifth running back off the board and 19th player overall and could prove to be an immense value in early rookie drafts should he end up with solid draft capital and a good landing spot.
Brooks will be situation-dependent for me. I do not expect him to walk into a bell cow role from week one and instead expect him to slowly gain playing time. His ability to be a solid kick returner could allow him to stay in the lineup and could put him in a position to be one injury away from a Kyren Williams-like explosion.
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