Zach Evans  |  Ole Miss 5’11″ 202 lbs.  |  05/30/2001 (21)

Zach Evans was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the 15th Running Back and 215th overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Evans’ college production was a glaring weakness in his profile throughout the draft process. He never cracked 1,000 yards rushing and only hit 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his final season. Evans played second fiddle to NFL-caliber running backs at both TCU as an underclassman and then Ole Miss as a transfer, which does provide some explanation for the lack of raw numbers. Evans was quite efficient, averaging 7.7 yards per carry as a freshman, 7 as a sophomore, and 6.5 as a junior. He was not a high-volume receiver, only catching 20 passes over his three seasons.

Overall, his totals are simply unimpressive and he’s never proven to be an effective high-volume rusher. He was efficient, but his college production is undoubtedly a weakness overall.

FILM

Evans’ power is the first thing that popped out to me on tape. This is surprising, given Evans’ relatively small stature being revealed at the combine. However, he runs with excellent pad level and has great lower body strength, making him a successful downhill runner. He has an excellent understanding of angles and is able to smoothly manipulate defenders’ paths in order to take the edge in the open field. Evans is a high-level athlete with excellent burst and good long speed. Despite the lack of volume, he’s shown soft hands and a good transition ability on tape, so I think there is a chance he becomes a decent enough receiver in the NFL.

Evans’ main struggles are cerebral. He often misses holes and is not overly patient waiting for them to develop. If he can improve on this, his game as a whole will really take a big step. He also had struggles with ball security in college, which simply will not fly in the NFL. Evans was also poor in pass protection, often having mental lapses and missing assignments. If he is to get on the field and stay there, Evans will need to improve in a lot of areas.

Overall, Evans is a flawed runner but has a couple of elite traits present as well. If he can develop some of the more nuanced aspects of the running back position, he has all of the physical traits to become a capable part of a running back rotation.

ATHLETIC TESTING

Evans did not participate in Combine activities but did weigh in at a very disappointing 202 pounds. He was listed on ESPN as 6’0 215, leading many to believe he possessed prototypical and translatable size. However, these Combine measurements took Evans off of many boards entirely. He did run a sub-4.50 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, but we have to be wary to not put too much stock into those results.

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Evans was selected with the 215th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. 

Going in the 6th round is, to say the least, not ideal for Zach Evans. The hit rate on Day 3 running backs, despite being marginally higher than that for Day 3 receivers, is obscenely low, and the odds Evans ever gets a real shot at a meaningful role are not particularly good. 

However, if there are any teams where that could be possible, the Rams are one of them. I’m a known Cam Akers truther, and think he’s primed for a big 2023 season. But, he is coming up on a contract year, and with the Rams being recently burned by Todd Gurley, the odds of Akers re-signing a long-term deal with Los Angeles beyond 2023 are not exactly a sure thing. This could open a window for Evans in 2024 if he is able to show some flashes this upcoming season.

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Evans has fallen from my pre-draft RB6 all the way down to my RB10 slot, where he currently stands. That being said, the tier break from 9 to 10 is considerably large in my eyes, making Evans more of a mid-third-round target for me than a late second. You simply cannot expect meaningful production out of Evans in 2023, as he may even be 3rd on the depth chart behind Kyren Williams as well as Akers. However, he’s worth a stash in deeper leagues and is not a bad handcuff for Akers managers.

Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2023 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription so we can deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Only $1.67 per month ($19.99 per year) gets you our 105-page dynasty rookie draft guide, access to the DFF Discord for free personalized dynasty team advice, hundreds of dynasty articles and so much more…

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out more DFF rookie profiles to nail your rookie drafts, and shoot me a follow on Twitter @bwinknfl for more of my takes! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding