The NFL Combine has taken place over the last few days for your favorite Dynasty Rookie Draft Prospects to showcase their athletic traits. This article highlights some of the standouts from this annual event in Indianapolis.
Before we delve in, here is a cool stat for you. The top-ten wide receivers for the forty-yard dash have combined for 0 top 24 fantasy points per game seasons. Meanwhile, the top-ten wide receivers for the twenty-yard shuttle have combined for a whopping 24 top 24 fantasy point per game seasons. There is also a 50% hit rate off this one metric. That is exceptional for a non-production-based metric. Allen Robinson (3), Ja’ Marr Chase (4), Amari Cooper (6), Odell Beckham (4), and Brandin Cooks (7) make up these 24 top 24 finishes.
To add a cherry on top, the eleventh-ranked 20-yard shuttle time is Chris Godwin, who contributed another four (4) top-24 fantasy points per game finishes.
For wide receivers, the 20-yard shuttle has been far more correlated to future NFL success than the 40-yard dash. The shuttle is a test of a player’s agility and change of direction ability. Meanwhile, the 40-yard dash is a straight-line sprint. It is logical, therefore, that the 20-yard shuttle is a better measure of a wide receiver’s route-running acumen.
Now, we will highlight the standouts at each position. Massive props to Kent Lee Platte and his Relative Athletic Score, which I reference for each player below.
Running Backs
Top 5 10-yard splits
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech: 1.49 Seconds
Donovan Edwards, Michigan: 1.51 Seconds
Trevor Etienne, Georgia: 1.51 Seconds
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State: 1.51 Seconds
Jaydon Blue, Texas: 1.52 Seconds
Top 5 40-yard dash times
Bhaysul Tuten, Virginia Tech: 4.32
Jaydon Blue, Texas: 4.38
Brashard Smith, SMU: 4.39
R.J. Harvey, Central Florida: 4.40
Montrell Johnson, Florida: 4.41
Bhayshul Tuten
Bhayshul Tuten blazed to the fastest 40 times among running backs at 4.32. He also had the best vertical jump. Tuten has the analytics to back up his raw athleticism, ranking 2nd in this running back class in missed tackles force per attempt. While Tuten came in first in the 40-yard dash, he came in last in the 20-yard shuttle. This seems like a perfect fit for a Shanahan-esque one-cut-and-go scheme.
Hampton was already universally considered a top 3 running back in this class. His superior 9.78 Relative Athletic Score will solidify that standing. His 221-pound weight, combined with results consistent with the rest of the prospect profile, should profile him as a workhorse running back.
Trevor Etienne
Trevor Etienne, Travis’ little brother, was really impressive, tying for the second-best 10-yard split and sixth-best 40-yard time of 4.43 seconds.
Wide Receivers
Top 5 20-yard shuttle times
Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas: 4.05 Seconds
Daniel Jackson, Minnesota: 4.07 Seconds
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech: 4.12 Seconds
Tez Johnson, Oregon: 4.15 Seconds
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State: 4.17 Seconds
Top 5 40-yard dash times
Matthew Golden, Texas: 4.29 Seconds
Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee: 4.30 Seconds
Chimere Dike, Florida: 4.34 Seconds
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech: 4.34 Seconds
Arian Smith, Georgian: 4.36 Seconds
Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden certainly helped himself with the top 40 time among wide receivers. NFL teams value straight-line speed for the fact that it can open up the field for underneath routes. The term “sacrificial X” has become popular recently. Golden is going to get drafted high. Likely first-round. He also may sneak into the back of the first round for Dynasty Rookie drafts. At this cost, I will personally be out. His overall analytical profile is fairly unimpressive, topping out at 2.1 yards per route run and 22.2% weighted dominator.
Jayden Higgins, 6’4, 214. 4.47 forty-yard dash. He might be messing around with first-round territory. His analytical profile is excellent. You should be very in on Jayden Higgins in the second-round of Dynasty rookie drafts.
Dont’e Thornton
Dont’e Thornton is a great late-round Dynasty target. He is on very few people’s radars due to his sparse usage at Tennessee. However, he posted 3.72 yards per route run, which is one of the most predictive metrics for future fantasy success. Then he crushed the Combine with a 9.83 Relative Athletic Score.
Tight Ends
Top 5 40-yard dash times
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon: 4.63 Seconds
Joshua Simon, South Carolina: 4.65 Seconds
CJ Dippre, Alabama: 4.69 Seconds
Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh: 4.70 Seconds
Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska: 4.70 Seconds
Top 5 20-yard shuttle times
Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech: 4.27 Seconds
Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska: 4.29 Seconds
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green: 4.39 Seconds
Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame: 4.40 Seconds
Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech: 4.40 Seconds
Four of the top five tight-end prospects did not participate in the Combine events: Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Mason Taylor, and Elijah Arroyo. Each is expected to complete their testing at their Pro Day.
Terrance Ferguson
Terrance Ferguson was the big winner for tight ends at the Combine. He had the fastest forty-yard dash time and the highest vertical among all the participants.
Harold Fannin
Harold Fannin was 2nd in the 3 cone and 3rd in the shuttle, but people will focus on his 6th in the 40-yard dash, which matters less than those events.
Gunnar Helm is now completely off my Dynasty Rookie Draft list. Once thought to be a potential top 5 tight end in this class, Helm had a very poor showing at the Combine. He doesn’t have the production profile to be able to withstand that poor of a showing.
While Lachey had a decent Combine overall, he came in last in the most important event, the 20-yard shuttle. Combined with an uninspiring production profile, I will be out on Lachey at a cost in rookie drafts.
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