Fools Gold
There will NOT be a ‘next James Robinson‘. James Robinson was an anomaly. Anomaly’s are not common, they don’t happen every year; that is why they are anomalies. There is so much talk of who may be the next James Robinson, and I’m here to tell you; there won’t be a next James Robinson.
What we witnessed last year was a perfect storm of fantasy football goodness that will not repeat itself. For all of you UDFA fans, Robinson produced one of the most epic fantasy football seasons of all time. The man finished as RB7 in fantasy football and I am willing to bet he went undrafted. Not only in the NFL Draft, but also in 5 round rookie drafts across the dynasty football universe.
Redbird Rusher
James Robinson was ultra-productive coming out of Illinois State. Holler to all my ISU alums! Robinson had 4,444 in three years with the Redbirds, scoring 44 touchdowns. He put on a show at the East-West Shrine Game with 132 yards and the longest TD in history with a 63-yard rushing score. The talent was there. Still, he went undrafted.
Robinson is a perfect example of when talent meets opportunity. It took injuries to all of the Jaguars ahead of Robinson for him to lead many fantasy teams to the playoffs, and some to championships.
Robinson is a big dude that can move. He is 5’10, 220lbs, and runs a 4.6 forty-yard dash. He isn’t a blazer but he has a great feel for the hole, soft hands out of the backfield, and has enough burst and contact balance to get to the second wave and make guys miss.
Penny Stocks
The running back position has become devalued throughout the NFL in the last 10 years. Where running backs like Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, and LaDainian Tomlinson ruled the league for 80 years, in recent years the NFL has gone away from the do-everything back. This we know, but with change comes opportunity, and that is where you can find a running back that will cost you nothing; and may end up elevating your team to the top of the fantasy landscape.
There is so much running back talent with such little draft capital. There are guys that can produce at a high level in the NFL if they are given the chance. While it would be silly to think that undrafted backs can put up 1,070 rushing yards, 344 passing yards, 10 total touches on 289 touches, and become a top-10 fantasy running back, the following guys are names to look for in your rookie drafts in the 4th round or later and then continue to monitor on the waiver wire.
Javian Hawkins
Javian Hawkins is a playmaker. I’m shocked he went undrafted; though I can say the same for all the backs on this list. It seems running backs can be found by the bundle in the 6th and 7th round of NFL Drafts and still have talented guys leftover in the UDFA pool.
Hawkins is not built like Robinson so the comp is misleading, but if any UDFA has an opportunity to make a name for himself, it’s Hawkins. Hawkins is 5’8 and 183lbs, but he can fly. If he makes the team (not a given for any of these guys) he has a chance to produce with the Falcons. Again, everyone on this list does not have a clear path. There will have to be injuries, coach fallout, or other unforeseen circumstances but they all have a path.
Hawkins is a home run hitter that could be an excellent complement to steady bruiser Mike Davis. Atlanta had a terrible year last year, but I don’t believe this is an awful roster. Their offense with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, and newly drafted Kyle Pitts could easily be the best offense in the NFL in 2021.
Hawkins can provide new head coach Arthur Smith with a home run hitter that is able to catch a few balls and chew up yardage as defenses rest in zone coverages so they don’t get scorched by the powerful Atlanta passing game. If I were to place a bet on the most impactful UDFA running backs, I would put my money on Javian Hawkins.
Jaret Patterson
As the 2021 NFL Draft unfolded, I can’t remember a year when so many talented players fell to bad spots. I believe talent always wins and talent is greater than landing spot, but impact fantasy players happen when talent meets landing spot. Jaret Patterson could have been drafted. He was ultra-productive in an ascending Buffalo program. He ran for over 1,000 yards in three straight years for Buffalo, including the COVID-19 shortened season last year.
Unfortunately, Patterson fell undrafted and chose to go to the nation’s capital. He will be buried on the depth chart behind breakout start Antonio Gibson, PPR machine J.D. Mckissic, and perpetual backup Peyton Barber. Again, it will take something catastrophic for Patterson to ascend but he has talent.
Patterson is a small back but he has excellent vision and one-step speed. He will not wow anyone with long speed (4.5 forty) and does not feature elite burst, but Patterson is someone that produced week in and week out. He is a ball carrier that doesn’t mess around. If he sees a hole he hits it and gets behind his pads. Ron Rivera likes to run the ball, the WFT is building a solid offensive line, and with Fitzmagic behind center, they will be able to run the ball. Patterson is buried on the depth chart. He will need some luck. Funny things happen in the NFL and if a few injuries happen, Patterson could be a player that can help your team.
Pooka Williams
Pooka is small, but Pooka can play. I fully expected Pooka to be a 6th or 7th round pick. This was a man that chased away Khalil Herbert because he was too damn productive. Landing in Cincinnati is a great spot for Pooka to earn a role. His skill set fits perfectly for the now-departed Giovani Bernard.
Pooka’s skills remind me a lot of another State of Kansas running back; Darren Sproles. Both Sproles and Pooka were ultra-productive in college, both backs can fly (Pooka ran a 4.38 forty), and both backs can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Pooka had off-field issues (domestic battery) which caused him to miss time with Kansas and fall out of the draft. Cincinnati has done a good job of taking players with off-field issues and mold them into better people. (The Bengals now have selected two players in Joe Mixon and Pooka Williams that have had domestic battery charges. Not a good look, but a story for a different day).
Pooka can play, and with Gio Bernard moving on to Tampa Bay and taking his 47 catches on 59 targets in 2020 with him, there is room for a speedy back to compliment Joe Mixon; both on the ground and catching Joey B. passes out of the backfield. Pooka Williams is in a good spot to excel.
There will not be another James Robinson
I want to make this as clear as possible. Robinson’s 2020 was an outlier. We get in trouble chasing history. Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, Terrel Davis are outliers, not the norm. One shouldn’t make a living trying to find greatness in the 6th round. The same is true with James Robinson truthers. The stars aligned and he crushed it, but the odds of that happening again are slim to none – but can happen nonetheless.
As with most UDFA players, these players will need opportunity. They will have to prove they are professionals that can adapt to the NFL and make a name for themselves most likely on special teams. But if you need running back help and you are chasing James Robinson’s historic 2020, these three UFDA players can help your team. If all falls right, they can become solid contributors to your squad in 2020 and beyond.
Jemar Jefferson will be the next James Robinson.