DeeJay Dallas, University of Miami
DeeJay Dallas was taken at Pick 144 in Round 4 by the Seattle Seahawks and was the 13th running back off the board. He spent three years at the University of Miami where he ran for 693 yards on 115 carries (6.0 yards per carry) and caught 14 passes for 140 yards with 10 total touchdowns during his last year in college.
Athletic Profile
Film Analysis
Running: DeeJay Dallas wasn’t running that often in Miami, but when he did run, I was left wanting more. He doesn’t look that fast on the field and his 4.58 40 yard dash backs that up. He’s more of a head down runner that will push forward to get extra yards with a powerful leg drive, however I was also pleasantly surprised to see some decent agility in tight spaces. Overall, his rushing ability isn’t the best, but DeeJay Dallas brings other assets to the table that may get him on the field sooner than any other running back outside the big five.
Receiving: His hands were up and down but overall, but he makes sure to use his hands to catch the ball instead of waiting for it to hit his chest so that’s a plus to me. His lack of speed hurts, but once he gets going he is tough to bring down which can make him a pain in the screen game which Miami utilized a lot on tape.
Pass Blocking: He might be the best running back when it comes to pass protection in this class. He completely squares up linebackers and stops them in their tracks. He moves well in traffic to get in front of the blitzers too. His pass protection will make him a big asset on third downs where Dallas could see some early playing time by earning his coach’s trust.
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Landing Spot Reaction
Seattle and drafting running backs…name a better combo. DeeJay Dallas is heading to Seattle and should help stabilize their backfield as a solid third down option. Dallas is my number one pass blocking back in the draft. Unfortunately, I think Dallas is more of a benefit to the Seahawks than he will be to a fantasy team. Even with injuries bugging that backfield over the past two years, Dallas joins Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny in what is now a very crowded backfield. Chris Carson is in the last year of his contract so Dallas may have a year to prove to the coaching staff that he can handle backfield duties, but even if Carson left in 2021, Dallas would have to compete with former first round pick Rashaad Penny. Fortunately for Dallas, Seattle ran the ball third most in the league so he should get the opportunity to prove himself and should offer third down back upside this year, with even higher upside in 2021.
Drafting a running back this late isn’t a death sentence for either of the incumbents long-term, but with Carson in the last year of his contract I would be a little bit more concerned now. In Rashaad Penny’s case, he hasn’t proven himself on the field yet and needs to stay on the field. I think DeeJay Dallas may impact some of his opportunities this year.
Dynasty Draft Projection
DeeJay Dallas fits the Seattle attitude for a runner and despite coming in as the third back, I think he has handcuff upside long-term and should get a chunk of carries in an offense that wants to run all the time. This is probably one of the best landing spots for Dallas since it offers him time to sharpen his skills as a runner being behind Chris Carson. From a fantasy perspective, I think DeeJay Dallas will fall pretty far in the draft, but I would love to grab him in the mid to late third if I needed an upside running back.
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