2024 NFL Draft Rookie Profile: RB MarShawn Lloyd (Fantasy Football)
With the 2024 NFL Draft right around the corner, we know by now that this year’s running back draft class is lacking pizzazz. There’s no consensus number one RB. There’s a real possibility a running back won’t be selected until late in the second round. In fact, I challenge you to find any two draft analysts who have the same top five running backs in order.
Even The Footballers don’t have a single consensus player they agree on in the top five of their rookie RB rankings. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be had on the field and in fantasy football.
Enter MarShawn Lloyd, a 23-year-old explosive athlete out of the University of Southern California, who has the type of game-breaking speed that NFL GMs and fantasy managers alike salivate over. Taking a look at game film, measurables and history of college production detailed in this profile, it’s not far-fetched to imagine Lloyd making an impact on fantasy teams in his rookie season.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2024 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and the production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2024.
College Production Profile
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | ATT | YDS | Y/A | TD | FUM | REC | YDS | Y/C | TD |
| 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 12 | 64 | 233 | 3.6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 14.7 | 0 |
| 2022 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 9 | 111 | 573 | 5.2 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 176 | 9.8 | 2 |
| 2023 | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 11 | 116 | 820 | 7.1 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 232 | 17.8 | 0 |
Lloyd started his college career at the University of South Carolina but missed his entire freshman year and had to redshirt due to a torn ACL. He logged 64 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown in his first season as the backup to Kevin Harris (current Patriots RB).
He took over as the starter for the Gamecocks in 2022 and ran for 573 yards and nine touchdowns on 111 rushing attempts, adding 176 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 18 receptions.
Lloyd transferred to USC in 2023, where he led the Trojans on the ground with 820 yards and nine touchdowns on 116 attempts, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He had a complementary role in the passing game, catching 13 passes for 232 yards.
Measurables
| Height | Weight | 40-YD | Vertical | Broad |
| 5’9″ | 220 | 4.46 | 36″ | 9’10” |
Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing in at 220 pounds, Lloyd has great strength for pass protection, yet his size doesn’t weigh down his burst and elusiveness.
One stat in particular that stood out for Lloyd in 2023 is missed tackles forced (MFT) per attempt, which is calculated by dividing a player’s total missed tackles forced by their number of touches.
Lloyd ranked fourth in college at the RB position in MFTs/Att (0.409). This metric gives more insight in to whether a player has high-explosive upside, which Lloyd clearly has.
What’s on Tape
Games Viewed: Arizona State (2023), Cal (2023), Nevada (2023), UCLA (2023), Utah (2023)
1. Outside Speed
Lloyd’s greatest strength is his ability to get to the outside and use his burst to get past the second level. His long speed gives him home run hitting ability, particularly when he’s able to get near the sidelines. He also has tremendous start and stop speed, allowing him to reset and find an outside lane with great acceleration. Lloyd can absolutely fly and has the potential to take any ball to the end zone.
2. Wins in Space
If he’s able to get some space, Lloyd will win against defenders more often than not. His MFT numbers in college echo that sentiment, as he’s very capable of making tacklers miss. He isn’t as creative as other backs, you won’t see him utilizing spin moves or jumping over defenders frequently, but he doesn’t need to with his raw athleticism and considerable burst.
3. Pass-Catching Ability
Lloyd wasn’t utilized too much in the passing game, but when given the opportunity he proved he can make big plays happen. The qualities that make him an exceptional runner, elusiveness and electric burst, make him an effective receiver as well. He can blow past defenders while running routes and accelerate quickly after the catch, making him a viable option on wheel routes or any designed pass plays to the running back. Add in his size at 220 pounds, he can be trusted in third-down scenarios as a pass protector who can leak into space for dump-off opportunities.
What’s Not on Tape
1. Vision in Zone-blocking Schemes
It’s obvious that Lloyd feels the most comfortable bouncing to the outside on runs. But while his greatest strength is his speed on the outside, it’s also a potential detriment. His vision leaves much to be desired when it comes to finding running lanes on the inside. He ran out wide 42 times in 2023, compared to 30 times through the A-gap, 28 times through the B-gap and and 15 times through the C-gap. He’ll struggle in the pros if doesn’t improve his vision in zone-blocking schemes. Defenders are faster and stronger in the NFL and he won’t be able to rely on his outside speed as much as he did in college. Lloyd must learn to take the handful of yards given to him down the gut and find cutback lanes instead of trying to bounce outside and make big plays happen every time.
2. Balance and Ball Security
Lloyd’s upright rushing style may be the main factor for why he tends to bounce outside instead of barreling forward through contact. He struggles to get low and plow forward, which erodes his balance. He also tends to carry the ball low which equates to loose ball security. Lloyd had 10 fumbles in three collegiate seasons, six of which were lost. He has to tighten his grip on the ball and work on his balance if he’s going to succeed in the league for years to come.
Fantasy Outlook
Lloyd has the athletic profile and explosive ability to eventually earn his way to a starting spot in the league, but he must improve his vision and balance to earn the trust of NFL coaching staffs.
Chances are Lloyd won’t hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft until Day 3. Perhaps he sneaks into the end of the third round. Without high draft capital it’s hard to imagine him making a major fantasy impact in his rookie season, unless he falls into the right situation ala Dameon Pierce or Tyler Allgeier. But it’s not out of the question that because of this year’s overall running back class predicted to be drafted later as a group, that he can carve out a significant role. He has the speed and pass-catching chops to make him a viable fantasy option if he finds himself in the right scenario.