Dynasty Draftnik

Panthers, Round 6. Was drafted by the Panthers but waived due to injury and was picked up by the Patriots, who put him on IR in August. Should be able to hold down the fullback spot on some team or even be a change-of-pace power back and short-yardage specialist.

All-Star Games: None. Was invited to the Senior Bowl but declined due to injury.

Positives: Good height and above-average bulk for a running back. Adequate height and bulk for a fullback. Adequate hand size. Runs with above-average speed, burst, and ability to change directions for the position, and good for his size. His feet are quick enough to let him make subtle changes in direction. Adequate quickness and ability to change directions. Shows good power and ability to run through arm tackles, and fights hard for yards. Has good body lean and runs with fairly high knees to get through traffic at the line. Seems to get stronger as the game goes on. Generally solid ball security technique through the line. Is fairly patient and waits for blocks to develop. Above-average balance after contact. Is athletic – also played minor-league baseball for the Pirates in 2012 before returning to Stanford in 2013.

Negatives: Isn’t elusive and he has only minor change-of-direction ability – doesn’t usually make the first defender miss. Often gets slowed down in the backfield. Runs with below-average vision, and often runs into his own linemen when cutback lanes close. Inconsistent decision-making, and will lose yards at times going the wrong way. Below-average hands and upper-body strength.

Projection: Could eventually become an effective RB3 in deeper fantasy leagues, but there’s probably no need to draft him in dynasty leagues.

UDFA. Signed by the Bengals as a UDFA but was released in August and put on their practice squad. Was a junior. Son of former Buccaneers RB James Wilder. His only real NFL-quality asset is his power, which he has in spades. This should be enough for some team to make him a short-yardage or committee running back with five or so touches per game.

Positives: Great height for a running back, and with enough bulk to be a fullback or an H-back. Above-average hand size. Has above-average vision for cutback lanes. Runs with good power, and churns his legs strong through contact – with high knees to get through traffic. Good lean in short-yardage opportunities. Shows fair balance after contact. Is also an above-average run blocker.

Negatives: At best, his speed and burst are adequate. At the Combine, he had poor track speed. Though his body lean is good in short yardage, he usually runs too upright. Also has serious character red flags, and was arrested for nonviolent offenses three times in a year. Had a concussion in October 2013 and missed a game. Adequate upper body strength. Arrested on outstanding traffic warrant in April 2014.

Projection: I can see him turning into an effective vulture in fantasy leagues, and a boom-or-bust RB4 type who will get RB2-level points on goal-line touches every few games. Worth stashing in deep dynasty leagues.

Chargers, UDFA. Is a good effort guy with some nice running skills and will at least get a shot to make a roster in training camp. Regardless, he should be able to make a practice squad. If he doesn’t make the Chargers roster, keep an eye on where he lands.

All-Star Games: Was on early South Carolina College All-Star Bowl roster, but not on the final roster.

Positives: Runs with adequate speed and burst. Above-average vision for cutback lanes, and patiently waits for blocks – especially in the open field. Though his height and weight aren’t typical of NFL backs, he is well built and compact, and runs very tough for his size. Finishes his runs well, and with a lot of power. He keeps his legs moving after contact and will get low to tunnel for extra yards, giving good second effort. Good balance after contact. Adequate hands.

Negatives: Short for the position, with below-average bulk. Tends to dance around a bit behind the line instead of being decisive. Injured leg in September 2012 and missed two games.

Projection: He could be surprisingly effective in the NFL and worth drafting late in fantasy rookie drafts in deep leagues.

Bengals, Round 2. Was a redshirt sophomore. He went a little earlier than I thought he would (Round 3). But I thought he would slide because of character concerns. Character concerns are no concern of the Bengals, as they usually show in the draft. His combination of huge size and surprising speed and agility made him one of the best running back prospects in the draft, and if he gets his head together, he has a chance to be scary.

Positives: Great height and bulk for a running back, and with enough size to be a fullback or an H-back. Great hand size. Runs with above-average speed, but great for his size. Good power, and consistently churns well through contact for extra yards. Protects the ball well through the line. Runs with good body lean and balance in short-yardage situations, and keeps his balance well after contact. Usually falls forward for extra yards. Is patient behind the line, and has above-average vision for cutbacks and a nice jump cut and lateral movement. Is agile in the open field. Adequate upper body strength.

Negatives: Below-average hands and concentration, and often turns upfield before securing the ball. Though he has good body lean in short-yardage, he runs upright through the line at other times, exposing himself to contact. Shows below-average balance making cuts in wet conditions. Below-average pass blocker who lunges and gets knocked off his feet. As a sophomore with only 23 college games, he is inexperienced. Heavy character concerns. He sat out the 2011 season after an arrest for statutory rape. Also arrested for battery in spring 2013 and suspended indefinitely by team, but was reinstated with a one-game suspension.

Projection: Should be the immediate starter on the team, with Bernard taking up the slack, and is worth a high-first-round pick in fantasy rookie drafts. Consider him an immediate RB2 with RB1 upside.

Colts, UDFA. There’s definitely a place for him in the NFL as the power-running component of a committee – maybe more if he improves some of his flaws. On the Colts, he would be the fourth RB behind Richardson, Ballard, and Bradshaw.

All-Star Games: South Carolina All-Star Bowl.

Positives: Great height and good bulk for the position. Runs with adequate speed, burst, and quickness for his size. Runs with good power and leg drive, and churns his legs, fighting hard through contact for extra yards. Finishes runs with pop. Has fair balance when he doesn’t run upright, and can keep his legs after contact. Adequate hands. Though he broke his ankle in the first game of 2013, he returned strong at the end of the season. Very good ability to change directions in Pro Day testing.

Negatives: Runs upright — even in short-yardage situations — which negates his power and makes him easy to knock off his feet with hits up high. Suspect ball security. Though his hands seem adequate, they are inconsistent. Broke ankle in first game of 2013 and missed most of season. Below-average vertical leap. Poor lateral quickness at Pro Day testing. Slightly below-average upper-body strength.

Projection: No need to draft in fantasy yet, but he could certainly become a contributor down the line.

UDFA. Signed by the Broncos as a UDFA but was released in August and put on their practice squad. Was a redshirt sophomore who had transferred from junior college in 2013. It’s easy to see why he’d declare for the draft so early – he was highly unlikely to put up numbers again anywhere near where he did in 2013. There should be a place for him in the NFL, but it may take a while to find it.

Positives: adequate bulk for the position. Above-average upper body strength. Runs with above-average speed and adequate change-of-direction ability. Has above-average vision for cutback lanes and is also fairly patient behind the line – will stay on the hip of his blockers and wait for holes to develop. Above-average power, and runs with good body lean, especially in short-yardage situations – finishing runs strong and churning his legs through contact for extra yards. Good balance after contact. Adequate pass blocker. Protects the ball well through the line. Tough, and played 2013 ball game with turf toe. Adequate hands. Scored 28 TDs in 2013.

Negatives: below-average height for the position. Below-average hand size. Below-average track speed at the Combine, and surprisingly slow for his size. Adequate burst, but it seemed to be negatively affected by his turf toe injury, and was still affected by the Combine. Lacks experience – only one year of major college football, and not at elite competition.

Projection: Could put up RB3 numbers in the right situation. I expect him to be on a practice squad for a while. If that happens, there’s probably no need to pick him up unless he lands in a great position for him.