Today is my second in a three-part series comparing the top RBs of the 2024 rookie class. Last time, I took a look at Blake Corum vs. Braelon Allen. Today, I’ll be looking at Trey Benson vs. Jonathon Brooks. Lastly, I’ll be diving into Ray Davis vs. Will Shipley.
Trey Benson (RB-FSU)
Trey Benson comes in at 6’1″ and 223 lbs, making him an ideal size to compete for full-time duties at the next level. He ran for 905 yards and 14 TDs last year for the Seminoles while going for 990 yards and 9 TDs as their lead back in 2022.
Benson is an inside runner with surprising speed for his size that allows him to bounce it outside more than you’d think for a back of his stature. Draft capital feels important for Benson’s NFL prospects. If he’s drafted on Day 2, I could see him as a diamond in the rough of this low-rated RB class. If Benson doesn’t get Day 2 draft capital, his path to playing time and good fantasy football numbers could be stifled in the NFL.
Jonathon Brooks (RB-Texas)
The departures of both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to the NFL last season opened the door for Jonathon Brooks to shoulder the backfield load for the Texas Longhorns. Brooks did not disappoint. Despite suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Brooks still totaled 1,139 rush yards and 10 TDs for Texas to go along with a robust 6.1 YPC. I like my incoming NFL RBs to have at least 5.0 YPC in college coming into the league; 6.1 is off-the-charts good.
Regarding his recovery timeline, reports state Brooks should be ready to roll come mid-August. This would mean he won’t be able to participate in the combine or pre-draft workouts, but when a team takes a chance on him, barring a setback, he should be good to go for the start of the 2024 NFL season.
Brooks comes in at 6’0″ and 207 lbs, giving him the ideal size to be a bellcow type back in the league. Like with Trey Benson, I think Jonathon Brooks’ success in the NFL could depend on his draft capital. If he can get Day 2 draft capital, he should find success in the league and be given carries. I’d expect him to get Day 2 draft capital, given the lack of RB options available in this rookie draft.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think both Trey Benson and Jonathon Brooks can have success in the NFL if given the appropriate draft capital. However, given what I’ve seen on tape and his far superior YPC, between two RBs, Jonathon Brooks is the one to target come fantasy rookie draft/Devy draft time. Brooks is built like a bell cow back and produced like one in college. If given the right opportunity, he should excel in the league.
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