Tag: JK Dobbins

Bills take JK Dobbins in TD Wire mock ahead of Round 2

In Touchdown Wire’s Day 2 2020 NFL Draft mock, the Buffalo Bills take Ohio State running back JK Dobbins.

With the first round of the NFL’s first ever virtual NFL Draft in the books, the second round is now just hours away. With that comes the Buffalo Bills’ first selection.

As the dust settled, it appears the Bills could still land plenty of talent with their first pick at No. 54 overall. In Touchdown Wire‘s latest mock draft following the first round on Thursday and ahead of Friday’s Day 2 of the 2020 draft, the Bills land a running back with vselection.

The move is JK Dobbins from Ohio State:

54. Buffalo Bills: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
The Buffalo Bills have a slasher type already in Devin Singletary, but with the acquisition of J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State, they add the tough, between-the-tackles type of back—a perfect complement to what Singletary provides the Bills’ offense.

In Dobbins, the Bills would land a 5-foot-10, 217 pound rusher that certainly has the vitals which indicate he’ll be a more powerful back than  the 5-foot-7 Singletary. Dobbins proved in college that he’ll use that size to run through contact and keep gaining yards.

Another important aspect of Dobbins’ game is when he played well. He often stepped up for the Buckeyes in big games. At the next level, Dobbins will have to add more receiving skill to his game and consistency as a pass protector. As a rookie, Singletary took some strides in those categories for the Bills himself.

The second round is slated for a 7 p.m. start on Friday.

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Bills draft prospect scouting reports: RB J.K. Dobbins

Scouting reports/ draft profile on potential Buffalo Bills RB prospect, Ohio State’s JK Dobbins.

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As things stand at the 2020 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills will first select at the No. 54 overall pick in the second round and the team has seven picks, in total. If things hold there, the Bills could have plenty of options to consider when turning in their selection cards.

During the run to up to the draft which starts on April 23, Bills Wire will compile information on prospects the Bills could have interest in. Specifically, what scouting reports say about their game.

Next up in our prospect previews is running back J.K Dobbins. Here’s a rundown of the what the experts are saying about his game:

RB J.K. Dobbins | Ohio State | Junior

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 217

Pros

  • Good vision as a ball carrier.
  • Uses size to run through contact and keep gaining yards.
  • Change of direction helps him beat defenders on the outside.
  • Stepped up in big games in 2019.

Cons

  • Needs to improve as a pass catcher in the NFL.
  • Pass protection can be hit-or-miss, needs to be consistent.

2019 PFF grades:

  • Overall: 84.0.

2019 Stats (14 GP):

  • 2,003 receiving yards | 6.7 yards per carry | 21 rushing TDs | 23 receptions | 247 receiving yards | 2 receiving TDs

Career stats (42 GP):

  • 4,459 rushing yards | 6.2 yards per carry | 38 rushing TDs | 71 receptions | 796 receiving yards | 5 receiving TDs

Consensus rank: Second-round pick

For more on Dobbins, visit:

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Mel Kiper’s favorite running back prospect is one that may be heading to the Bucs

Mel Kiper of ESPN named this running back as his favorite prospect ahead of next week’s NFL draft.

Most draft experts agree that the position of need the Buccaneers should look to address first in next week’s NFL draft is offensive tackle. The right side of the Bucs’ O-line was a major problem last year, and former quarterback Jameis Winston was sacked 47 times.

The Bucs can’t afford to let newly-signed quarterback Tom Brady take a beating like that, especially since he will be 43 when the 2020 season rolls around. Plus, Brady was only sacked 27 times last year in New England with the Patriots.

But offensive tackle isn’t the only upgrade the Bucs need to make on offense. Running back is also a major area of need, too, for Tampa Bay, especially after Peyton Barber left in free agency. Fortunately, there’s some depth to this year’s class of running backs, meaning Tampa Bay could find a solid one on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.

So, which back would be a good fit?

While some have Georgia running back D’Andre Swift as the best fit in Tampa Bay, some mock drafts, including our own, like Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Turns out, Mel Kiper over at ESPN pegged Dobbins as his favorite running back prospect ahead of the draft.

Per Kiper:

“I just love the way Dobbins runs. He’s ferocious. He hits holes hard, and he has some breakaway ability. Dobbins, my second-ranked back in this class, ran for 2,003 yards last season, breaking the Ohio State single-season record. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry. He looked much more explosive than he did in 2018, when he averaged 4.6 yards per carry in a disappointing sophomore season.”

Kiper predicts Dobbins to come off the board in the first half of Round 2. And, wouldn’t you know it, the Bucs hold the 45th overall pick. The stars seemed perfectly aligned to make this dream a reality.

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CBS Sports’ two-round mock draft likes this Ohio State star going to the Bucs

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports released his latest two-round mock draft and predicts the Buccaneers find backfield help in Round 2.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft to take running back Ronald Jones out of USC, hoping the former Trojan could provide some much needed stability and explosiveness in the backfield.

Two years in, and the jury is still out on Jones. His rookie campaign was a forgettable one as he had just 23 rushes for 44 yards and one touchdown in nine games. Last year was a major improvement as Jones rushed for 724 yards and six touchdowns, playing in all 16 games and starting nine. Still, the Bucs need more insurance at the position now that Tom Brady is under center.

Finding a dynamic back in next week’s NFL draft should be high on the Bucs’ list of priorities, right after offensive tackle, and Chris Trapasso over at CBS Sports thinks Tampa Bay will find both in the first two rounds.

In his two-round mock draft, Trapasso has the Bucs nabbing Georgia OT Andrew Thomas with the 14th pick, as most mocks seem to believe they’ll do. “The Buccaneers avoid the temptation to move up to pick a tackle and get a stud here to protect the right side for Tom Brady,” Trapasso said of the Thomas pick.

In round two, he has the Bucs grabbing Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who surprisingly is the third running back off the board in his mock, behind both Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin and D’Andre Swift of Georgia.

I think Tampa Bay would be happy to settle for Dobbins. The Ohio State star rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Add that to an offense that includes Brady, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and the New Orleans Saints will be looking over their shoulder next season in the race for the division crown.

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Report: RB JK Dobbins has pre-draft interview with Bills

Buffalo Bills held a 2020 NFL pre-draft interview with Ohio State running back JK Dobbins.

J.K. Dobbins is certainly a name to remember once the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around.

The Ohio State prospect is one of the best running backs the upcoming draft has to offer, and there’s a chance he’ll be on the board when the Bills have their first pick in the second round at No. 54 overall. Now there’s a connection, too.

According to The Houston Chronicle the Bills had a pre-draft interview with Dobbins:

While the Bills do have Devin Singletary, who was recently dubbed the team’s No. 1 back by general manager Brandon Beane, Buffalo could still use another back. Frank Gore is likely out as he has yet to be re-signed by the team despite him saying he wants to play in 2020, and Buffalo’s only No. 2 option currently is TJ Yeldon, who was inactive most of last season.

Dobbins put up massive numbers during his junior year at Ohio State. He rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Dobbins was a big-time player for the Buckeyes, averaging 173 rushing years in Ohio State’s two post-regular season games. Dobbins isn’t an overly large back at 5-foot-9, but at 209 pounds, he’s still got some size to him.

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Cynthia Frelund predicts Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins would have biggest impact on Chiefs’ win share

Could Dobbins be the best RB option for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft?

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The Kansas City Chiefs have been doing some homework on running backs ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. While they have plenty of players at the position currently on the roster, only one of those players is under contract beyond the 2020 NFL season. One player who they’ve shown some interest in ahead of the draft is Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins.

Recently, NFL analytics expert Cynthia Frelund used her context-based data models to identify the best team fit for her top RB prospects in the draft. She calculated which players will most impact a teams’ win share. In basic terms, Frelund crunched the numbers for what the teams do best, what the prospects do best, and paired them together based on the results. Dobbins landed with the Chiefs, adding a total of +0.40 wins in Kansas City.

Here’s a look at what she had to say about the potential pairing:

“Last season, the Chiefs used play-action on 28.8 percent of dropbacks (fifth-highest in the NFL, per NGS). Why am I leading with this? Because one of the most interesting notes from Dobbins’ tenure at Ohio State was the fact that he caught at least 22 passes in each of his three seasons. And here’s the special part: He was spectacular in pass protection, especially against linebackers. The Chiefs also only had 33 rushes of 10 or more yards last season (29th in the NFL), and Dobbins’ game speed measured second-fastest in this RB class. With Andy Reid crafting plays for Dobbins, his transition to the NFL projects to be mutually beneficial with big-play upside.”

What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Is Dobbins the best fit for the Chiefs at the RB position in the 2020 NFL Draft? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.

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NFL.com analyst has Jonathan Taylor outside of the top five running back prospects in his latest draft rankings

NFL.com analyst and former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew released his latest running back rankings for the upcoming draft and…

NFL.com analyst and former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew released his latest running back rankings for the upcoming draft and, much to the surprise of many, listed five backs ahead of former Badger Jonathan Taylor.

The rankings divide the top 30 prospects at the position into three groups: “day one starters,” “system players” and “guys who need time to develop.” 

His top six goes as follows: Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Florida State’s Cam Akers, Utah’s Zach Moss and, all the way down at No. 6 rounding out the “day one starter” category, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.

Experts agree that there is an argument for selecting Swift or Dobbins ahead of Taylor due to their lower college usage and pass-catching prowess, depending what fits better with the team’s offensive philosophy.

What is outlandish and goes completely against the grain of what every draft expert has said thus far, though, is liking Edwards-Helaire, Akers and Moss all over Taylor.

I like Edwards-Helaire and his Darren Sproles-like versatility and quickness at five-foot-seven, and I think that Akers and Moss are solid prospects. But ranking Taylor below those three solely due to his college workload, one which did not cause him any injuries during his three years, is a take that will not hold up well in the long run.

Here are the four backs’ college statistics, and keep in mind Akers and Moss put up these numbers in the ACC and Pac-12 respectively, conferences with defenses not close to the level of those in the Big Ten.

Cam Akers: 586 carries, 2875 yards, 4.9 yards-per-carry and 27 touchdowns on the ground in addition to 69 receptions, 486 yards and seven touchdowns through the air in three years.

Zach Moss: 712 carries, 4067 yards, 5.7 yards-per-carry and 38 touchdowns on the ground as well as 66 receptions, 685 yards and three touchdowns through the air in four years.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 370 carries, 2103 yards, 5.7 yards-per-carry and 23 touchdowns on the ground in addition to 69 receptions, 595 yards and one touchdown through the air in three years.

Jonathan Taylor: 926 carries, 6174 yards, 6.7 yards-per-carry and 50 touchdowns on the ground as well as 42 receptions (26 from this past season), 407 yards and five touchdowns through the air in three years.

The numbers aren’t even close.

Here’s what Jones-Drew wrote when talking about Taylor in his rankings article.

“Taylor reminds me of Christian McCaffrey when he came out of college in the sense that the 5-10, 226-pound Badger has so many miles on his tires after recording 926 carries for 6,174 yards in three years at Wisconsin,” Jones-Drew wrote. “This was my concern with McCaffrey, but the Carolina Panthers have used him in a way where he doesn’t take as many hits. Unfortunately, Taylor’s size and downhill running style will make him more susceptible to hits at the next level.”

So, throwing his college production, speed, vision and advanced skill set out of the window, Jones-Drew compared Taylor to McCaffrey only in terms of how many times he touched the ball in college. It’s a necessary point to make, but by no means should it be the singular reason he isn’t ranked No. 1 or No. 2 on the running back board. 

The McCaffrey pick also has turned out pretty well for the Panthers so far.

Fit and system will obviously play a role in the success of the top running backs taken later this month, as each back’s success will be greatly influenced by the talent of the line in front of them, how their coaches choose to utilize their skill sets and whether the team’s quarterback is able to air it out and take pressure off of the ground game.

In the end, though, it will be extremely surprising if Akers, Moss or Edwards-Helaire have better professional careers than the Badger legend.

NFL Draft Running Back Rankings 2020: From The College Perspective

Who are the running backs who’ll matter in the 2020 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?

Who are the running backs who’ll matter in the 2020 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?

2020 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

It’s a strong year for running backs with a whole lot of flash about to enter the league. There’s great value in the mid-to-late rounds, but there are more potential franchise-makers up top than last year.

From the college perspective, here are the top running backs in your 2020 NFL Draft, starting with the ones who’ll be in the mix, and then diving into the five who’ll actually matter over the next ten years of the pro football world.

BetMGM: bet on who’ll be the 1st Overall Pick …

15. Javon Leake, Maryland

Size: 6-0, 215

The Good: A big back with good all-around skills, he has a whole lot to bring to the NFL after not seeing a ton of work with the Terps and only producing in his final year. He averaged close to eight yards per carry for his career with 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons, with good quickness to go along with his pop.

The Not-So-Good: It would’ve been nice to have seen a little more speed at the combine. The 40 is hardly a be-all-end-all, but the 4.65 was a bit slow for a guy who plays a whole lot faster. He doesn’t bring a lot of pop for a player of his size.

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a shot for the stars here. He only carried the ball 145 times in his career, and he’s got the upside to be used a lot more as a receiver. Throw in his abilities as a top-shelf kick returner, and he’ll find a role.

Projected Round: Fifth

14. Patrick Taylor, Memphis

Size: 6-1, 217

The Good: It’s a shame he was never able to get everything going last year. Devastating over his previous two seasons, he ran for 29 touchdowns and closed out his career with 2,884 yards. He’s all muscle, lean, and looks like he’s shot out of a cannon when he gets a shot to score. There’s just enough power to get the hard yard.

The Not-So-Good: He’s not going to be your No. 1 back. Fantastic as part of a rotation, he was almost always fresh and wasn’t much of a workhorse. Never able to get right with a nagging ankle injury, he wasn’t able to show off last year when it was supposed to be his time.

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a reason to be a bit wary of Memphis backs – the system was able to generate a whole lot of home runs – but Taylor has the upside to turn into a productive part of a puzzle. Some guys just know how to score, and in a positive way, missing most of last year should send him to the NFL fresh.

Projected Round: Fourth

CFN in 60: 2020 NFL Draft Top 5 Running Backs
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11. Joshua Kelley, UCLA

Size: 5-11, 212

The Good: One of the bright spots in the first two years of the Chip Kelly era, Kelley managed to battle through injuries, an inept passing game, and being the one guy that everyone keyed on to run for two straight 1,000-yard seasons. Rocked up, he’s got the body type, and he showed off the wheels with a sub-4.5 40 at the combine. He’s a tough guy who always gives a big effort, but …

The Not-So-Good: He takes a LOT of big shots. He’s got the speed and explosion to be a little shiftier, but instead he’s more of a power back who can set a tone, or he can get knocked around too much. He never seemed to be 100%, but …

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He gutted it out time and again. There were long stretches when UCLA’s offense had absolutely nothing, but Kelley managed to produce over five yards per carry with 24 career rushing scores. There’s a shot he becomes a good starter for a short time, but he’s worth the pick for the upside that he really is a main man to carry an attack.

Projected Round: Fourth

12. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt

Size: 5-10, 214

The Good: A tough back who was good at Illinois, and cranked up two 1,000-yard seasons after transferring to Vanderbilt. He ran for 21 touchdowns for the Commodores and wasn’t bad as a receiver. Built well, he’s great at battling for yards and he’s got more than enough speed to rip off big runs once he gets into the open field.

The Not-So-Good: There isn’t a whole lot of wiggle to his game. He’ll fight through tackles, but he’ll also take his share of big shots and might not have a long shelf life at the next level. Not all that smooth, there’s nothing all that pretty about his style, but …

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s effective, and he gets the job done. Considering he ran for over 2,000 yards in his two seasons in the SEC behind a Vanderbilt line, he is more than proven. He’s a terrific all-around back who could be a sneaky-good mid-round starter.

Projected Round: Fourth

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11. Anthony McFarland, Maryland

Size: 5-8. 208

The Good: A good pound-for-pound back who’ll always bring an honest thump, he also showed off the needed speed with a 4.4 at the combine. When he was right two years ago, he ripped off big run after big run – averaging almost eight yards per pop – in a 1,034-yard season. Last year he was banged up, but he still averaged over five yards per carry with eight scores.

The Not-So-Good: He’s built well, but he’s not big enough to push a pile. When he had an ankle problem, he’s not able to crank up the same flash. He didn’t catch the ball all that much, and he’s not going to be any sort of a workhorse at the next level.

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Think Devonta Freeman – the two have almost the exact same size and build, but McFarland is a bit more of a home run hitter. He’s a tough guy for his size, but his job will be to crank up the big plays in a rotation.

Projected Round: Third

NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings Top Ten

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2020 NFL Draft: 4 RBs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are four running back prospects who could be on the board when the Bills pick 54th in April.

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.

Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select. 

This position-by-position series will take a look at several realistic options of players who may be available for the team to select. 

First, the series will take a view of the running back position:

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Current roster

The Bills are fairly confident they have their No. 1 running back, or at least their 1A, in Devin Singletary. In his rookie season, Singletary wrestled the starting job away from Frank Gore. With no prospective player on the roster who could steal snaps from Singletary, it may be through the draft that Buffalo finds its complementary piece to Singletary. Other backs on the Bills’ current roster includes TJ Yeldon and special teamer Taiwan Jones. 

 

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2020 NFL Draft: Which RB will be drafted first?

A look at the RBs who could be drafted and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft remains set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several running backs are expected to be drafted. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first running back to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds: First RB to be selected

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Twelve running backs are expected to be drafted and have odds to be the first selected. Two are the clear favorites. Here are the odds.

  • D’Andre Swift, Georgia -118
  • Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin -106
  • J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State +700
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU +2000
  • Cam Akers, Florida State +2500
  • A.J. Dillon, Boston College +6600
  • Zack Moss, Utah +8000
  • Anthony McFarland, Maryland +10000
  • Eno Benjamin, Arizona State +15000
  • Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt +20000
  • Lamical Perine, Florida +20000
  • Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State +20000

Who will be the first RB drafted? Best bets

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Because of how running backs are valued today, even a talented running back class like this year’s group is getting pushed down. It is possible not a single back will go in the first round; however, with players like Swift and Taylor, at least one seemingly has to go early.

Initial projections had Swift going first and this is noted in the odds; however, Taylor produced more in college, rushing for more than 2,000 yards each of the last two seasons. Taylor’s performance at the combine probably put him over the top as the first pick.

Which team will select the first RB?

Who could possibly select the first running back?

The Miami Dolphins, who have three first-round picks, should be the favorite. They are expected to draft a quarterback, likely with the fifth overall pick, and will want to give him a running game to support him. They added veteran Jordan Howard in free agency, but multiple backs is the way to go in today’s NFL.

Another candidate is the Baltimore Ravens at No. 28, who depend on the running game to make the offense run.

My best bet would be to take Taylor, who is physical and fast at -106.

If there is a longshot to consider, ignore all but Dobbins at +700, who has all the abilities a team wants from a running back — running, catching and blocking.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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