2018 Rookie Landing Spots: RB Part 3
Editor’s Note: Don’t see the player you’re looking for? Check out all of our Rookie Landing Spot articles including Part 1 and Part 2 for running back.
Kalen Ballage to Miami Dolphins
Round 4, Pick 31 (131st overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
Analysis:
If Ballage produces at all in the early going, it would likely come in the form of early down work. While he does have the intriguing build of a potential 3-down back (6’2 228 lbs), his pass blocking prowess, or lack there of, is likely to keep him off the field. That’s even if Kenyan Drake were to miss time. In my mind, he’s more Frank Gore’s handcuff than Drake’s.
Jordan Wilkins to Indianapolis Colts
Round 5, Pick 32 (169th overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
- Marlon Mack
- Robert Turbin
- Nyheim Hines
- Christine Michael
Analysis:
Wilkins has his work cut out for him if he’s even going to make the roster. If he does it will likely be primarily as a special teamer.
John Kelly to Los Angeles Rams
Round 6, Pick 2 (176th overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
Analysis:
This is a name that I don’t think anyone in the fantasy community thought would be seen this far down the list. The Rams swooped him up with a “Sure, why not?” pick in the 6th round. Kelly is hard to bring down, tenacious runner with a knack for breaking tackles, but none of that matters unless we have an unfortunate injury to Todd Gurley. Even then, Malcolm Brown isn’t a scrub. Oh well, he’ll be fun to watch in pre-season.
Boston Scott to New Orleans Saints
Round 6, Pick 27 (201st overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
Analysis:
I was a big fan of this pick by the Saints. I think that they have drafted Alvin Kamara’s backup to a certain degree. He may not have the juice to take any work from Kamara, but don’t sleep on him. If given the opportunity, I believe that he could be very successful in this offense even with Ingram also in the mix.
Bo Scarbrough to Dallas Cowboys
Round 7, Pick 18 (236th overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
Analysis:
Scarbrough was going to need a soft landing spot for us to care about him for fantasy, and land softly he did. A run first offense with a solid offensive line, limited options in the passing game and a mobile QB. If Zeke misses any time, he could get very interesting as a north/south downhill runner who should soak up some early down and goal line work.
Justin Jackson to Los Angeles Chargers
Round 7, Pick 33 (251st overall)
College Production:
2018 Competition:
Analysis:
Despite having the lowest draft stock of anyone on this list, Jackson might have the most honest path to fantasy relevancy without needing an injury to make it happen. He’s strictly a passing down scat back, but we’ve seen plenty of success in that “Danny Woodhead” role in recent years from the Chargers offense. He would only need to beat out Austin Ekeler, which I’m not necessarily predicting, but it does seem doable.
Other RBs Drafted:
Ito Smith to Atlanta Falcons
Round 4, Pick 26 (126 overall)
Chase Edmonds to Arizona Cardinals
Round 4, Pick 24 (134 overall)
Trenton Cannon to New York Jets
Round 6, Pick 30 (204 overall)
David Williams to Denver Broncos
Round 7, Pick 8 (226 overall)