Jaylen Wright | RB | Tennessee | 2024 Draft Prospect
Hailing from the University of Tennessee, Jaylen Wright hasn’t received the same attention as the top few backs in this draft class until recently. However, he quickly gained momentum by putting up some impressive numbers during his junior year. At only 21 years old, Wright is a young player who could see a massive spike in his Dynasty value once he enters the NFL. Depending on where he ends up, he could be an NFL starter immediately and eventually become a Dynasty powerhouse. Allow me to make my case for him.
College Production (2021 â 2023)
Let’s take a look at his production from his time with the Volunteers. He played three collegiate seasons there and, over that time, put up 2,297 rushing yards and 171 receiving yards. Most of this production came from his final year when he took on the starting role. An incredible 1,367 of his rushing yards came after contact.
His most productive and breakout season came in 2023, when Wright played in 12 games for the Volunteers, earning ALL-SEC second-team (AP) honors. He led all college football running backs with an impressive average of 7.4 yards per carry and totaled 35 rushes of 10+ yards, which was second among SEC running backs. Wrightâs most impressive run came on the first play of the game against number one Georgia, where he scored on a 75-yard run. Lastly, his receiving production flourished after his first two seasons, as he caught 22 receptions for 141 yards during his junior season.
Strengths
Listed at 5′ 11″ and 210, he embodies the ideal size and physique of a modern NFL running back. He’s one of the best pure runners in this draft, playing in the nationâs toughest conference: the SEC. Wrightâs aggressive one-cut running style with his impressive 4.38 40-yard dash time means he can take it to the house at a moment’s notice. But he’s not just a one-cut-back; he’s difficult to tackle and fights for yards after contact. Wright shows patience in addition to improving his pass blocking during his junior year, showing that all phases of his game are strong.
In his junior year, Wright showed he could become a three-down playmaker in today’s NFL. He boasts sprinter speed, having an explosive run (10-plus yards) on 25.4 percent of his 2023 carries. He also has the ability to drag tacklers and has shown natural sticky hands with the potential to run more routes than he was allowed to in college.
Weaknesses
Because Wright didnât showcase his abilities as a starter until his junior year, some view the small sample size as a negative. However, he truly showed what he could do when given the opportunity. He tends to run a little upright, and even though he does have good hands, there are still questions surrounding his receiving ability, as his route tree as a pass catcher wasnât diverse. History has shown us that other talented players with limited receiving profiles, such as Kenneth Walker III, can elevate their game at the professional level. Walker never surpassed 100+ receiving yards in any collegiate season at Michigan State, but he achieved 259 yards in his rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks.
However, his biggest red flag came in his sophomore year, when he fumbled four times on 146 carries. At the next level, a good running back coach typically corrects this.
Draft Projection
Wright is projected to be a 3rd-round pick in the NFL Draft (77th overall prospect), according to NFL Mock Draft Database. On day two, he’s such a talent that teams will be willing to take a chance on his upside. Wright is someone that some of your league mates might not be familiar with, or some might not value as highly as others. If you can draft him in the mid-second round of Dynasty Superflex rookie drafts, you better take this immense talent. He might find his way onto a team where he’ll be the starter at some point this season. Wright is quickly rising up draft boards, and once he takes that RB1 job, I don’t expect him to hand the keys back.
Conclusion
Wright is said to model his game after Alvin Kamara, and while you do see some of that in his game, he also reminds me personally a lot of being this year’s De’Von Achane because of his blazing speed. A plus for Wright is that he has better size, and his ability as a rusher and pass blocker will also expand his role to being a true three-down back. He’s a guy I’d be willing to take a shot on, especially because where you’ll be able to get him in Dynasty drafts is too good of a value. He’s my player going in the second round or later who I believe has the best shot at becoming a fantasy and Dynasty stud. Wright is one of the most elite playmakers in this draft, and I’m betting on him, so don’t let your league mates be the ones to find the diamond in this year’s draft.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you gained some valuable information. If you have any questions or youâd like additional insight and analysis, please follow me on Twitter/X at @MonicasHubby. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
