Tag: 2023 Player Profile

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

Zack Charbonnet deserves a three-down role in the NFL

Zack Charbonnet racked up 4,471 yards and 62 touchdowns at his California high school and was among the top-rated running backs as a senior. He had already signed with Michigan prior to his senior season when he had just posted 2,049 rushing yards and 23 during his junior season.

He needed knee surgery prior to his freshman season and missed practice time until late summer. Charbonnet was still the primary back that year while sharing with Hassan Haskins. He set the Michigan freshman record with 11 rushing touchdowns. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Michigan only played six games and Charbonnet was limited to only 19 carries while Haskins saw the bigger workload. That led Charbonnet to enter the transfer portal and end up in UCLA as a Junior.

Charbonnet became the workhorse back he should have always been, leading the Bruins for the next two seasons.  He returned for his outstanding senior season when he rolled up 1,680 total yards and 14 touchdowns. Charbonnet was a First Team All-American and a semifinalist for the Doak Walker and Walter Camp awards. He ranked No. 15 in the nation in rushing yards despite missing two games.

Height: 6-0
Weight: 220 pounds
40 time: 4.53 seconds

He will be one of the first running backs drafted and in the Top-5 if not the Top-3. Charbonnet offers all the measurables and skill set that historically pointed at an NFL workhorse though current offensive systems are less likely to rely so heavily on an individual running back. He’ll still attract plenty of fantasy attention.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2019 Michigan 13 149 726 4.9 11 8 30 0
2020 Michigan 5 19 124 6.5 1 6 41 0
2021 UCLA 12 203 1137 5.6 13 24 197 0
2022 UCLA 10 195 1359 7.0 14 37 321 0

 

Pros

  • Prototypical North -South power back, determined runner with no wasted motion
  • Runs downhill – gains speed and velocity as he runs
  • Only three fumbles on 641 college touches over four years
  • Solid pass protection blocking
  • Patient when following blocks
  • Outstanding in short yardage, keeps his legs churning
  • Strong lower body breaks tackles
  • Smart player with high football intelligence
  • Popular in the locker room, good character
  • Maintains balance through contact
  • Solid vision yields best path in traffic

Cons

  • Not quick in initial cuts
  • Average receiver that had some drops
  • Fast but not elite speed
  •  Relies more on power than elusive moves

Fantasy outlook

Charbonnet is a mature, four-year running back that projects as a starter in the NFL. He’s a bit more of a throwback to the power rushing style of the past but offers receiving ability and solid pass-pro blocking so he can stay on the field all three downs. At the least, he’s a solid pick for a team looking for help on first and second downs, and can find a role in any NFL backfield.

He is a complete back but his skills will be tested in the faster and stronger NFL. The expectation is that he will be a Day 2 selection and more likely near the end of the second or start of the third round. That makes him available to any team who needs backfield help but don’t want to spend a first or high second-round pick to get the upgrade.  That would make him a potential target for the Bills, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Rams.

Outside of Bijan Robinson, Charbonnet is the only other highly-rated rookie back that carries the size for a heavy-duty role in the NFL. The other early picks are faster but also fifteen pounds lighter or more. Depending on where he lands, Charbonnet could carve out a significant role as a rookie since he’s a power-runner first and offers receiving skills as a way to remain on the field.

Charbonnet has been compared to David Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Cedric Benson and Arian Foster. He’ll get the chance to become an immediate contributor and challenge to become the No. 1 running back for his team.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College

Flowers is a versatile, game-breaking addition to any NFL team

Xavien “Zay” Flowers was a three-star recruit that joined Boston College and saw action as a freshman that included 27 carries despite only totaling seven runs while in high school.  He went on to lead the Eagles in receptions for his final three seasons while dominating their otherwise marginal receiving statistics.

Flowers’ impressive senior season saw him become a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and an All-ACC first-team wide receiver. He left Boston College as their all-time leader in career receptions (200), receiving yards (3,056 yards) and receiving touchdowns (29). By his senior season, Flowers’ skill shined with 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and twelve touchdowns, while no other receiver caught more than 27 passes for the Eagles last year.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 182 pounds
40 time: 4.42 seconds

The Boston College star enters the draft with plenty of appeal and potential, and as successful as he was, Flowers has yet to discover just how good he can be. He’s been somewhat hidden while playing for the 3-9 Eagles last year as their only weapon of note. He’s expected to be a Top-5 wideout in the NFL draft and a first-round value.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2019 Boston College 13 22 341 15.5 3 27 195 1
2020 Boston College 11 56 892 15.9 9 11 41 1
2021 Boston College 12 44 746 17.0 5 7 69 0
2022 Boston College 12 78 1077 13.8 12 12 40 0

Pros

  • Dangerous in the open field
  • Speed to score on any play
  • Excelled despite playing with average quarterbacks
  • Game-breaking big play ability
  • Equally skilled playing inside or outside
  • Tacks on plenty of yards after catch
  • Adequate run blocker
  • Sets up defenders using speed and route running
  • Versatile receiver that can play all over field and run the ball

Cons

  • Smaller hands than most
  • Height/weight could be an issue on jump-balls or 50-50 throws
  • Concentration drops

Fantasy outlook

The only knock on Zay Flowers – if there legitimately is any – is that he’s small at 5-9 and 182 pounds. The only notable receiver in the NFL last year who was less than 5-11 was Tyler Lockett (5-10, 182 pounds). Darnell Mooney (5-11, 173 pounds) and Jahan Dotson (5-11, 184 pounds) were two of the most successful smaller players and yet were two inches taller than Flowers. His lack of height immediately suggests that he’ll be limited to a slot role in the NFL, the place that so many wildly productive college receivers find themselves after their smaller stature becomes a bigger issue when playing on the line as an outside receiver.

Flowers was not only highly productive at Boston College, he did so while being the sole focus of opposing secondaries as a senior. And wherever Flowers lands in the NFL, he’ll automatically be playing with the best quarterback of his career. His ceiling hasn’t been reached yet, and playing on a team with other weapons to concern the defense will be an added bonus he did not get in college.

He’s another rookie wideout that would be best served landing on a team needing a slot receiver to catch quick-strike passes. He can provide his offensive coordinator with a new versatile weapon to use creatively. He’s a playmaker but he’s also unlikely to see a high volume of passes until he can prove to play bigger than his size suggests. Flowers also committed 24 drops in college and that cannot continue in the NFL, though again – he gets an immediate upgrade in quarterback no matter where he lands.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Devon Achane is not the biggest player by an means, but he will be the fastest one on the football field.

Devon Achane left high school in Texas with 2,097 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, which helped him to land with the Aggies. He played in eight games as a freshman behind the starter Isaiah Spiller with an insane 8.5 yards per carry on his 43 runs. He was the MVP of the 2021 Orange Bowl when he ran for 140 yards and two scores that included a 76-yard touchdown run to close out the 41-27 win over North Carolina.

Achane was elevated to a more even sharing with Spiller in 2021 when he gained 910 yards on 130 runs versus 1,011 yards on 179 carries for Spiller. Again, Achane led the Aggies with a 7.0-yard rushing average and even bested Spiller with nine rushing touchdowns versus his six.

With Spiller gone to the NFL last year, Achane became the unquestioned starter for 2022 when he ran 196 times for 1,102 yards and eight scores. No other back carried more than 36 times. Spiller also added a career-high 36 catches for 196 yards and three more scores as a receiver. While the Aggies missed a chance for a bowl game with a 5-7 record, Achane’s final college game saw him run for 215 yards on 38 carries with two scores versus LSU.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 188 pounds
40 time: 4.32 seconds

He gained All-SEC honors as a running back last year and also contributed to their track program thanks to his jaw-dropping speed. His size will likely cast him as a complementary addition to an NFL backfield, but history already says the speedster doesn’t need a high volume of touches to be a game-changer.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Texas A&M 6 43 364 8.5 4 5 97 1
2021 Texas A&M 12 130 910 7.0 9 24 261 1
2022 Texas A&M 10 196 1102 5.6 8 36 196 3

 

Pros

  • Sprinter speed outruns pursuit when he breaks into the open
  • Elite initial burst and reaches top speed quickly
  • Offers equally dangerous value split out into the slot as a receiver
  • Tough inside runner for his size – keeps legs churning
  • Offers special teams help as a returner
  • Soft hands doubles his threat as a receiver
  • One of the top playmakers in this draft
  • Patient rusher waiting for openings
  • Great vision couples with instant cutting in traffic
  • Plays bigger than his frame suggests

Cons

  • Size will be a factor with inside rushing or high-volume touches
  • Fearless player could impact his durability
  • Tends to bounce runs outside and aim for the big play
  • Could struggle in pass protection against bigger rushers
  • Often tackled on first contact

Fantasy outlook

There’s no question that Achane has been a play-maker and explosive addition to a backfield. His speed alone merits attention, but he’s much more than just a speedy straight-line player. Achane is very tough to find in traffic and almost impossible to catch when he breaks into the open. His size will be his biggest – and maybe only – limitation to scouts. At 188 pounds, he would be lighter than any other running back of any note last year.

Even James Cook (190 pounds) was a second-round pick last year, and Achane is expected to be a Day 2 selection. In today’s NFL, he can immediately upgrade a backfield even as a complementary player and the “lightning” to another “thunder”.  Achane always plays bigger than his size and isn’t limited to just sweeps and screens.  With the right offensive line and in an offense that passes well enough to prevent opponents from stacking the line, Achane could still matter as a complete runner.

Achane should also see work as a returner, especially as a rookie and while he learns the ropes. He averaged 30.7-yards on his 22 kick returns for the Aggies that included a 96-yard touchdown against Alabama in 2021. He won’t be a workhorse runner in the NFL, but Achane offers a very dangerous and explosive addition to any team, and can contribute as a runner, receiver and returner. He’ll be drafted by a team looking to upgrade their backfield immediately with a spark-inducing blur whenever he breaks into the open.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Jordan Addison, USC

Jordan Addison cashes in on his monster 1,593-yard season in 2020.

Jordan Addison is expected to be one of the first wide receivers selected in the NFL and likely a first rounder with expectations of contributing if not starting as a rookie. Addison opened his college career with two seasons at Pitt where he started eight games as a freshman and then won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2021 as a sophomore. He logged 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns over his 14 games played. He was the leading receiver in both seasons for the Panthers and dominated with his 100-catch season while playing with Kenny Pickett (now with the Steelers).

With Pickett gone, Addison entered the transfer portal and ended up with the USC Trojans. He only played 11 games there and yet was still their top receiver. He elected to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 173 pounds
40 time: 4.49 seconds

Addison has a slight build at only 173 pounds on a 5-11 frame, and will almost certainly end up playing as a slot receiver in the NFL. It would be interesting – and possible – to see him join back up with Kenny Pickett.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 Pitt 10 60 666 11.1 4 9 58 0
2021 Pitt 14 100 1593 15.9 17 7 56 1
2022 USC 11 59 875 14.8 8 4 33 0

Pros

  • Not a burner, but a capable deep threat when needed
  • Elite cutting ability helps tack on more yardage
  • Offers a complete package of skills including vision and balance
  • Considered a top route runner in this draft class
  • Elite start and stop
  • Excelled as a high-volume target that dominated
  • Already the 2020 top college receiver when paired with Kenny Pickett
  • Has played all over offense, always willing to do what asked
  • Accomplished reading secondaries and finding the right spot
  • Deadly with screen catches and quick-hitters
  • Contributes well as a run blocker

Cons

  • Thin build will keep him in the slot
  • May be jammed in press coverage
  • Less accomplished at contested catches
  • Problem with the concentration drops but improved

Fantasy outlook

Jordan Addison has proven his skill while playing with different quarterbacks and coaches between two colleges. While his slight frame will likely limit him to being a slot receiver, he has the ability to become a top contributor as he has always been. He doesn’t have the height and weight to play the outside or in congested traffic with 50/50 balls but his talents have meant that he finds the open spot and then tacks on elite yardage with tremendous open field ability.

The expectation is that he’ll be a first-round pick and potentially a Top-10. Addison would be one of the lightest receivers in the NFL if he is a starter, but that’s worked out for DeVonta Smith (170 pounds). Addison compares to Smith in many ways, though is slower (4.49 vs. 4.37 40-times). In an NFL that increasingly looks to involve slot receivers, Addison can find a productive home on a team that will be spending big to acquire him and will intend to get him onto the field as a rookie.

When Addison was paired with Kenny Pickett, both players turned in monster seasons that translated into high draft stock. He’ll be sensitive to the quality of quarterback like all receivers, and will benefit by playing in an offense that focuses more on shorter passes and ball control.

Addison offers all the qualities that the NFL want in a receiver – hands, great body control and cutting, elite smarts in getting open, and the potential of becoming a No. 1 wideout for his team. If he draws one of the better quarterbacks, he’ll offer fantasy-relevant stats as a Week 1 rookie.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Bryce Young may be shorter than most quarterbacks, but he’s standing on a Heisman Trophy and tremendous success at every level he’s ever played.

Michael Mayer will be one of the first tight ends drafted this year, and most likely the first given his proven track record and potential in the NFL as a receiving tight end. Mayer was the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year as a high school senior with 970 yards and 15 touchdowns on 49 receptions. He committed to Notre Dame where he became a starting tight end as a freshman.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 pounds
40 time: 4.7 seconds

Mayer led Notre Dame in receptions for all three years, and produced the most receiving touchdowns for the last two.  He logged over 800 receiving yards in just 12 games for his final two seasons. That’s the equivalent of 1,100 yards spread over an NFL season. Last year, he turned in nine touchdowns while no other receiver had more than three. Mayer was the center of their passing effort and their best offensive weapon on a team that went 11-2 and 9-4 during the most recent seasons.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 Notre Dame 12 42 450 10.7 2 0 0 0
2021 Notre Dame 12 71 840 11.8 7 0 0 0
2022 Notre Dame 12 67 809 12.1 9 0 0 0

Mayer finished as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in tight-end receptions with 180 and holds the team tight-end season records for catches (67) and touchdowns (9). He was a finalist for the John Mackey Award for the best college tight end.

Pros

  • The prototypical size and measurables for a receiving tight end
  • Excellent in press coverage in fighting off defenders
  • Can be split out wide
  • Considered best blocking tight end in class
  • Wins the contested catches
  • Valuable end zone target
  • Soft hands that do not drop passes
  • Adept at finding soft spots in zones and offering a big target
  • Understands how to set up defenders
  • Mismatch against smaller defensive backs

Cons

  • Lacks breakaway speed
  • Needs to expand his route tree to meet his potential
  • Needs quicker hands on blocks

Fantasy outlook

While Mayer is a solid blocker – and that gets him on the field as a rookie – he is an accomplished pass catcher that shined even as a freshman at Notre Dame and served as their best receiver for all three seasons. The Fighting Irish like their receiving tight ends and he took over for Cole Kmet.

Mayer will be drafted by a team looking to expand their passing game to include a heavy-use tight end. He’s carried the nickname “Baby Gronk” since he was a freshman and is likened to Jason Witten and Mark Andrews. The expectation is that Mayer is a slam-dunk first-rounder with no downside and the potential to become one of the next elite tight ends in the NFL. As with all rookie tight ends, Mayer will need to focus more on his blocking initially but should catch on as a receiver very quickly.

Teams expected to use the NFL draft for an early tight end include the  Bills, Lions, Packers and Patriots. Mayer won’t be more than a depth pick in redraft fantasy leagues, but his value in dynasty leagues is considerable since he should not take much time to be incorporated into his team’s passing scheme.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Bryce Young may be shorter than most quarterbacks, but he’s standing on a Heisman Trophy and tremendous success at every level he’s ever played.

Bryce Young creates – and then fulfills – great expectations whenever he plays football. His high school career saw him total 13,520 yards and 152 touchdowns and was ranked as the national No. 1 quarterback prospect when he committed to Alabama. He was also the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year.

Young backed up Mac Jones as a freshman and then assumed the starting role as a sophomore when he passed for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns when he reached the College Football Championship but lost to Georgia. He won the Heisman Trophy in his first starting season in college, the first Alabama quarterback to win the prestigious award. He also won the Davey O’Brien and Manning awards for the best collegiate quarterback.

His second season wasn’t as decorated while the Crimson Tide’s offense suffered a letdown with an absence of the usual stack of elite receivers. He also sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder but only missed one game. He was sixth in Heisman voting and ended his career as the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader  with five five-touchdown games.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 194 pounds
40 time: 4.43 seconds

Young did not work out at the combine but interviewed with teams and will perform at the Alabama Pro Day on March 23. His only question mark entering the NFL is his physical size. While listed at 6-0 and 194 pounds on Alabama’s official roster, he bulked up to 204 at the combine while shrinking two inches to 5-10 when NFL officials were holding the tape. He was the shortest quarterback at the combine while the other Day 1 quarterbacks are 6-3 or taller.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2020 Alabama 7 9 -23 0 22 13 156 7.1 1 0
2021 Alabama 15 81 0 3 547 366 4872 8.9 47 7
2022 Alabama 12 49 185 4 380 245 3328 8.8 32 5

 

Pros

  • High intellect with excellent instincts
  • Highly accurate, particularly with short to intermediate throws
  • Very elusive with great start-and-stop and burst
  • Master at creating plays when he goes off-script
  • Confident and never rattled
  • Superior skills at reading defenses, locating the open receiver
  • Quick and compact release
  • Not a cannon arm but can make all throws

Cons

  • His only real knock is size – not only short, but also thin build
  • Mobile enough to extend plays but won’t add much via runs
  • Joins Kyler Murray as shortest quarterback in NFL
  • Will be the lightest starting quarterback in the NFL

Fantasy outlook

There is a distinct chance that Young becomes the first pick of the NFL draft, currently owned by the Carolina Panthers. There will be a batch of quarterbacks likely taken within the first ten picks and Young will immediately start wherever he ends up. Since he’s primarily a pocket passer, the quality of his receivers and offensive scheme will have a large bearing on his early success. Young is mobile enough to buy time for a play to develop (or turn into something new), but he’s likely to remain behind the line of scrimmage instead of taking off on a downfield scamper.

He has to prove that his height will not be a limitation and he correlates closely with Kyler Murray in size though less so in playing style. Murray ran for 1,001 yards in his final year at Oklahoma and at least 400 yards in each NFL season. Young never ran more than 185 yards in any college season and for just 81 yards in his Heisman year.

Young is a gifted passer and dominated at every level that he’s ever played. Pin-point passes, leading receivers on deep routes, masterfully creating plays whenever he needed to improvise. When he had two great receivers in Jameson Williams and John Metchie in 2021, he threw for 47 scores and won the Heisman. His success will be a little more reliant on his receivers than a running quarterback, but this is a highly intelligent quarterback that puts in the work while owning elite instincts.

Young has to play bigger than 5-10. He’s not going to abandon plays and take off on a run like Murray. He’s in the bigger and faster NFL but his formidable success has been entirely built on elite passing skills and that always translates well.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Jahmyr Gibbs will be an early RB in the NFL draft and offer Week 1 fantasy production.

Jahmyr Gibbs was the 4th ranked running back coming out of high school and fielded offers from USC, Alabama, OSU, FSU, Texas and LSU, among others. He opted for local Georgia Tech where his first year led their backfield with just 89 carries while quarterback Jeff Sims delivered a team-high 120 rushes and three other backs handled over 40 carries each. Gibbs again led the backfield as a sophomore with 143 runs while two other runners turned in over 60 carries. The quarterbacks combined for 134 rushes that year.

Gibbs entered the transfer portal for his junior season and naturally landed with the Crimson Tide, who had originally pursued him out of high school. He became their primary back with a career-high 151 rushes though he shared the backfield with Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. More notably, Gibbs also was the leading receiver with 44 catches for 444 yards and seven touchdowns. He elected to declare for the NFL draft instead of returning for a senior year.

He didn’t leave college with a ton of awards due to his lower workload, but he improved and was a difference-maker each season that he played.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 199 pounds
40 time: 4.36 seconds

Despite splitting up his college career over two schools and spending just one season at Alabama, Gibbs won’t be undervalued in the draft. His talents and measurables will translate into NFL success and the only real question is how much use he’ll see coming in as a dangerous, exciting running back with potential limitations to his workload due to his size.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Ga. Tech 7 89 460 5.2 4 24 303 3
2021 Ga. Tech 12 143 746 5.2 4 35 465 2
2022 Alabama 12 151 926 6.1 7 44 444 3

 

 Pros

  • Blazing 4.36 speed in the open, can reach the corner on outside runs.
  • Accomplished dual threat is a perfect fit for today’s NFL offenses
  • Shifty runner with tremendous burst
  • Soft hands that doesn’t drop passes
  • Superb route runner over the entire route tree
  • Quick feet and acceleration makes him a nightmare in the open
  • Capable kick returner
  • Never fumbled in college despite 530 touches in the SEC
  • Plenty of tread on the tires, never over-used

Cons

  • Undersized for a standard every-down back
  • Not well-versed in pass blocking
  • May bounce outside too often in the NFL
  • Less effective with inside runs

Fantasy outlook

Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to be the second running back selected in the NFL draft, behind only Bijan Robinson.  A decade or more ago, he’d project as a third-down back with deadly pass-catching skills that made him Alabama’s No. 1 receiver last year. The Crimson Tide’s offense wasn’t as prolific as usual last season and they turned to Gibbs when they needed a spark. In today’s NFL, he is a nice fit who won’t likely see any 300-carry seasons but may end up with that many touches.

He’s compared to Alvin Kamara, as a more durable D’Andre Swift and Austin Ekeler who shares the exact same size and many of the skills as Gibbs – just without the rookie’s eye-popping speed (Ekeler ran a 4.43 40-time at his combine). In fact, with the Chargers letting Austin Ekeler seek a trade, there’s conjecture that Gibbs could be his replacement. The offense wouldn’t suffer much, if at all. He’s also an option for the Saints to replace Alvin Kamara if his legal issues worsen.

While Gibbs was a terror to SEC defenses, the NFL is already stocked with fast defenders and his formidable rushing skills in college will likely dial back at least a little. But he’s likely the best receiving back in this class. He’s projected to be a late first-round pick or an early second-round selection which means any team can access him if only by moving up. The running back position has been devalued in the NFL for valid reasons, but Gibbs offers the trifecta of first-year opportunities – an electric rusher, a dangerous receiver, and even an above-average return man.