Dynasty Draftnik

Texans, UDFA. Md.: Below-average height, but very good bulk. Average hand size. Bills have shown interest.

Positives: Protects ball through hole. Good speed and burst. Good vision for cutback. Quick feet.  Above-average upper-body strength. Very good change of direction. Dangerous on screens, in space and outside runs.

Negatives: Suspect hands. Below-average tracking passes over shoulder. A little indecisive in backfield.

Projection: If he improves as a blocker, could see some 3rd-down back duties. But is more likely to be only a part-time contributor with Foster and Tate on the roster. In a run-heavy offense, though, that could equate to RB5 status, with RB2 potential in case Foster or Tate are injured, traded or leave via free agency.

49ers, 2nd round. Ore.: Junior who has declared for 2012 draft. Below-average size. Average hand size. Game is similar to Jahvid Best.

Positives: Ultra-quick and ultra-fast. Very good vision, balance, and lateral movement. Generally reliable, soft hands. Knows how to use a stiff-arm. Burrows through traffic. Also used in short yardage. Runs fair routes. Bounces around like a pinball with contact, but strong lower body keeps him going.

Negatives: Fairly weak upper body. Hurt right elbow in October and missed two games. Hurt left elbow in late November. Overruns his blockers at times — needs to be more patient.

Projection: As we’ve seen with other small RBs not named Sproles (see Jahvid Best and Jacquizz Rodgers), lack of bulk and height likely adds up to unimpressive fantasy numbers due to injury. He also enters a very crowded RB depth chart, with Gore, Jacobs, Kendall Hunter, and 2012 undrafted free agent Jewel Hampton. More likely to take touches from Hunter and Hampton than anyone else on the depth chart. If used like Sproles, he could put up RB2 numbers in a PPR league. RB4 numbers at most in standard leagues.

Broncos, 3rd round. San Diego St.: Sophomore who has declared for 2012 draft.  Below-average size. Below-average hand size.

Positives: Good speed. Great change of direction and burst. Finishes with surprising power for the size. Fine moves in open field. Very instinctive. Very good both inside and outside. Nice stop-and-start. Generally good hands. Good football IQ.

Negatives: Dances too much in backfield when he should just run play as called. Bounces outside too much and looks indecisive at times. Below-average upper-body strength.

Projection: With team expecting Knowshon Moreno to be their 3rd-down back of the immediate future, he will probably battle with Jeremiah Johnson for the last RB spot, but should win just based on draft position. If he learns to block, he should excel as a 3rd-down RB and put up RB3 fantasy numbers — RB2 in a PPR league. But that’s only after Moreno is gone.

Bengals, 6th round. Ohio St.: Slightly below-average height, but adequate build. Average hand size.

Positives: Finishes with power, runs through arm tackles, and keeps legs moving after contact. Quick feet and changes direction fairly quickly. Switches hands well. Balanced. Moves well laterally. Patient. Good hands and can extend to catch away from frame. Usually moves forward with contact. Good stiff-arm. Above-average upper-body strength.

Negatives: Below-average speed. Suspect ball security. Suspended for first 6 games of 2011 due to NCAA violation. Runs slightly upright. Lunges and lowers head in pass blocking.

Projection: Should be immediate backup to BenJarvus Green-Ellis on Bengals, and is a potential RB3 if he gets a chance to start. Worth drafting as a handcuff.

49ers, UDFA. S. Ill.: Junior who has declared for 2012 draft. Below-average height but good bulk. Transferred from Iowa for Junior season.

Positives: Adequate speed. Fair vision for the cutback. Adequate change-of-direction skills. Very good upper-body strength. Fairly productive after transfer, with 17 TDs and 1100 yards.

Negatives: Guilty of public intoxication in 2010.

Projection: May be battling for the 5th RB spot on the team with Anthony Dixon, and is good enough to win that battle. Should at least make some else’s roster or practice squad.

Average height and large size.

Positives: Adequate upper-body strength.

Negatives: Tore ACL in November 2011.

Projection: Need to see more film on him. Don’t know enough about him yet.

Chiefs, 6th round. Tex. A&M: Adequate height, but slightly below-average bulk. Average hand size.

Positives: Good balance. Keeps shoulders squared. Good speed. Quick feet and burst and change of direction. Accelerates nicely after the catch. Used often as a receiver. Throws nice spiral touch pass. Keeps legs churning and fights for extra yards. Adequate upper-body strength.

Negatives: Stress fracture in left shoulder in November 2011, didn’t play in bowl game, and failed Senior Bowl physical, but was able to work out at Combine.

Projection: With Jamaal Charles ahead of him on the depth chart, he won’t have much impact right away. Team also has a similar player in Dexter McCluster, but Gray should be able to surpass him. If Charles gets injured again or doesn’t come back well from his 2011 injuries, Gray could step in and do many of the same types of things. But for the immediate future, only draft for the long term. Could put up RB2 numbers as a starter, but not until he gets the chance.

Jets, 6th round. Baylor: Almost FB size. Average hand size.

Positives: Fights through arm tackles. Tough to bring down. Good power and effort. Looks like a solid short-yardage back in pros — effective inside and tunnels through for extra yards. Average speed and burst, but adequate for the size. Good short yardage runner. Protects ball through line. Above-average hands.

Negatives: Below-average change of direction skills. Below-average pass blocker who doesn’t anchor and lowers head.

Projection: Enters a run-heavy system with really only Shonn Greene ahead of him. Very similar style to Greene, but actually has better hands. I expect him to beat Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight for the second RB position, and could eventually replace Greene, too, if his pass-blocking improves. Draft as 2012 RB3 with high RB2 potential.

Falcons, 5th round. Wis.: Good size for the position. Great hand size.

Positives: Very good run blocker when he initiates contact. Adequate speed and change-of-direction skills. Above-average initial burst. Fair receiver who can hold ball with big hit and high-point them. Good concentration in traffic.

Negatives: Gets caught flat-footed at times trying to block quick rushers. Below-average upper-body strength. Difficulty making more than one cut.

Projection: With the release of Ovie Mughelli at FB, has a clear path to being the team’s starting FB. Should be much more productive than Mughelli, who was used exclusively as a blocker. May also be able to fill in for Michael Turner at times. I’d like to see him get some time at TE, too, since this should be Tony Gonzalez’s last year. Not relevant in fantasy unless he gets moved to TE. Then he may be worth watching.

Vikings, 4th round. S. Cal.: TE size, but worked out with RBs at Combine. Good hand size.

Positives: Adequate hands. Adequate change-of-direction skills for size. Looks athletic enough to play either TE or FB. Adequate track speed.

Negatives: Below-average burst.

Projection: May fill the role that Jim Kleinsasser used to on team, which means he’ll be way more valuable in real football than fantasy football.