And now something completely different. Well, not really, it’s still football, just not a waiver wire post.
I typically write a Dynasty League Waiver Wire article in this space, which is helpful for teams in contention for a playoff spot. For this week’s post, I would like to offer some help and hope to those of you who are not contending for a playoff spot. Maybe you are in a rebuild or just had some injuries derail what would have been a good team; whatever the case may be, let’s get an early start on our league-mates and focus our attention this week on something sanguine like next season’s draft. I have listed a few Runningbacks that I like for the 2022 draft class.
Abram Smith | 5′, 11″ 220 lbs. | Sr. | Baylor
There are few players on this list that fit the “diamond in the rough” description, Abram Smith is the first of those diamonds. Smith was rated the 965th prospect in the class of 2017. Smith was a three-star linebacker from Abilene Texas, who chose to stay close to home at Baylor. After a few seasons getting sporadic play at LB, Coach Dave Aranda elected to move Abram Smith from LB to RB for his senior season. Aranda was looking for a powerful presence in the backfield; Abram provided that and then some. Smith finished second in the Big 12 in rushing by powering to his way to 1366 yards and12 rushing TDs on only 215 carries. Abram runs like a former LB. He gets North and South as well as any RB in the class. You won’t see many moves from Smith; his running style is like a tidal wave washing over the opposing defense. His skills will translate well to the NFL game. Keep an eye on this runner, and if the fit I right, you will want to draft this player as a two-down bully back.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 5′, 11″ 225 lbs. | Jr. | Kentucky
Rodriguez is a powerful runner with some wiggle in his running style. He’s another hidden gem rated as the 1156th recruit in the 2018 class. Chris has made every defense in the SEC hate him in 2021, racking up 1272 rushing yards and 8 TDs on 205 carries. Rodriguez is a stout runner with thick thighs and a low center of gravity, making him very difficult to tackle, and when he gets into the secondary, he is a problem for defensive backs. Rodriguez does not waste time dancing in the backfield. He rated as the most efficient runner according to Pro Football Focus. Do not expect many receptions from Rodriguez; the Wildcat only caught 12 passes this season and 14 for his college career. This back will make his money running between the tackles.
Hassan Haskins | 6′, 1″ 220 lbs. | Sr. | Michigan
Hassan Haskins and the offensive line carried the Wolverine offense this year. Haskins ran hard through eight- and nine-man boxes designed to stop the run all year, totaling 1232 yards rushing and 18 TDs on 244 carries. Much like Abram Smith, this converted LB has turned into an alpha back possessing power, speed, and agility. He has a nose for the goal line, as evidenced by his 18 TDs. Hassan is also a handful in the open field; he’s a long strider who eats up yardage and strikes fear in the hearts of approaching DBs as Haskins is powerful enough to run through the attempted tackler and athletic enough to leap over them. Watching him overwhelm Ohio State on Saturday gave me the inspiration for this post. Hassan is another kid who has not caught many passes (13) this year, so two down worries exist. Monitor his situation and which NFL team selects him, but this guy could be a 1st rounder in dynasty leagues this year.
Kenneth Walker III | 5′, 10″ 215 lbs. | Jr. | Michigan State
Walker will get a significant portion of the attention this cycle, and deservedly so. We have another diamond in the rough here; Kenneth was the 2164th rated prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. He came from relative obscurity, transforming from a second-string caterpillar at Wake Forest to a mighty monarch at Michigan State. This spick-and-span Spartan carried MSU to a 10-2 record running for 1636 yards and 18 TDs along the way. It’s a great story of a kid who took advantage of a new opportunity. That story will likely push him up draft boards, so I might not end up with many Kenneth Walker III shares. He also has little experience catching passes, as he was limited to 13 receptions this year.
Tyler Badie | 5′, 9″ 205 lbs. | Sr. | Missouri
Tyler turned heel in 2021 and became the biggest baddie of all SEC runners. He tortured some of the defenses in college football for 1604 rushing yards and 14 TDs on 268 carries. Badie is another runner on this list who was an unheralded recruit ranked 1527th nationally. He verbally committed to Memphis but later flipped to another team of Tigers in Missouri. A patient runner and a patient person, Badie was forced to bide his time behind Missouri RB and Chargers 6th round pick Larry Rountree fr the past three. After Larry left for the NFL, Tyler inherited the RB1 in Mizzou and did not disappoint. Badie broke the season rushing record at Missouri by running for 1604 yards and 14 TDs on 268 carries. An exceptional receiver, Badie caught 54 passes out of the backfield for 330 yards and a TD. Keep an eye on this potential three-down all-purpose back.
Breece Hall | 6′, 1″ 220 lbs.| Jr. | Iowa State
This wunderkind from Wichita is a cousin of former NFL great (should be Hall of Famer) Roger Craig. Breece was recruited by Craig’s alma mater, Nebraska Cornhuskers, along with several other midwestern colleges, but the four-star recruit chose to join Iowa State in their 2018 class. Breece’s production for the Cyclones has surpassed his prodigious pedigree. He got started early as a True Freshman in 2019 and earned 2nd team All-Big Twelve. Hall followed that up with a superior sophomore season. He attained unanimous All-American, 1st team All-Big 12, and Big 12 Offensive Player of the year. Hall has kept the good time rolling this season, rushing for 20 TDs and 1464 yards. Breece is big, he runs behind his pads, and he does not run into the backs of his offensive lineman, which seems obvious, but you would be surprised how many times college (and even NFL) backs do. If he goes pro, he should be one of the first backs off the board.
