Bijan Robinson was one of the can’t miss players from the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Texas Longhorn was one of the most dynamic offensive threats coming out of college. It was no surprise when he went in the top-10 to the Atlanta Falcons who were in need of weapons. Unfortunately, Robinson’s rookie season didn’t go as planned for dynasty football owners.

There were flashes but his usage in the Falcons system was perplexing, to say the least. Will that change in 2024 with Kirk Cousins on board and a new offensive system? Let’s break that down further and offer some advice on what to do with Bijan Robinson in dynasty leagues.

2023

Before the start of the 2023 season, Bijan Robinson was getting all the hype as the next superstar. In many dynasty leagues, he was a must-have commodity and he was quickly rising up draft boards. He was also the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. As we now know that award went to C.J. Stroud with Robinson receiving just 3 first-place votes.

In his NFL debut against the Panthers Robinson scored on a receiving touchdown and had 83 yards from scrimmage. It was a solid debut for the rookie. The next week against the Packers Robinson broke out with 124 rushing yards and another 48 yards receiving. Although he didn’t score things we looking up for the rookie. Unfortunately, he was never ever to duplicate that performance and was inconsistent the rest of the season.

Things really got strange for Robinson in week 7. He had just 1 rush for 3 yards in the win against Tampa Bay. This perplexed many fantasy owners because Robinson wasn’t on the injury report. After the game, he claimed that his head was hurting and that was the reason for the lack of carries. The whole situation was odd and it seemed there were some behind the scenes issues there. In all Robinson finished his 2023 campaign with 1,463 yards from scrimmage and 8 total touchdowns.

2024

Fast forward to this season and the hype is once again building for Robinson. The Falcons have a brand new coaching staff with Zac Robinson taking over the offense. Like new head coach Raheem Morris, Robinson comes for the Rams after 5 seasons under Sean McVay.

There is also a new quarterback in town in Kirk Cousins. Cousins is still playing at a top-10 level and will make everyone on this offense better including Robinson. There are also two new offensive threats in receivers Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore. These two newcomers to go along with Drake London will give Cousins weapons at all of the skill positions.

Bijan Robinson’s Dynasty Value

What is the current value of Bijan Robinson dynasty shares? Right now he is RB1 on KeepTradeCut and the 12th overall player in their rankings. This is somewhat surprising given the season he just had but dynasty players are likely betting on a much better offense in 2024. There is a ton of potential for Robinson to put up big numbers for the Falcons.

Given the current value, I recommend you trade Robinson right now. I do believe his numbers will go up but I don’t have him as high on my board. Time to cash in on his current value.

The post Bijan Robinson Dynasty Outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Winner

The Texans made sure this off-season they would address their weaknesses. And they did just that, getting a star edge rusher in Danielle Hunter. The four-time pro bowler amassed 16 sacks last year and is going to absolutely rejuvenate the Texans d-line. The price was hefty with a 2 year 49 million dollar contract.

That’s not all the Texans did, a 7th round pick was sent to the Bengals for RB Joe Mixon. Many argued the weakest point of the Texans’ roster last year was the running back position, well now this should be fixed by getting a star guy in Joe Mixon. Also a couple of acquisitions to get DE Denico Autry and LB Azeez Al-Shaair. Finally, the resigning of Noah Brown on a 1 year contract was a good depth piece to be a productive guy for QB CJ Stroud.

In the Middle

The Falcons did a really good job of getting guys to majorly upgrade their roster. Former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins signed on a 4 Year, 180M dollar contract to provide them an automatic upgrade. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my concerns for Cousins but the reality of the situation is, he will be better than Ridder.

Cousins has the weapons to thrive in an offense with Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Drake London, the question is Cousins going to be the same off the injury? The money is hefty as well with a 45 million average of each year. 25 million is guaranteed each year with the rest of the money being escalators to get him to 45 million.

Also acquiring former Chicago Bears WR Mooney was a nice addition even though the contract was large, Mooney’s vertical skill set is exactly what the Falcons were missing. 

Loser

For the salary cap fake crowd, this one is a silencer. The Buffalo Bills had to release several key players including All-Pro Corner Tre’Davious White, Saftey Jordan Poyer and O-linemen Ryan Bates due to trade.

As long as the Bills have Josh Allen they should be fine, but these key losses are incredibly concerning and will be interesting to see how they will address the needs in the draft. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as left tackle Dion Dawkins has extended his deal for three more years. 

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Jalen Hurts – Hurts was seen wearing a knee brace in the second half of the Eagles win over the Dolphins. It looks like Hurts won’t miss any time but this is something to monitor. Hurts is taking a lot of hits while extending plays and will need to protect himself better.

Bijan Robinson – What in the world happened to Bijan Robinson on Sunday? The Falcons have stated that he wasn’t feeling well but this was bizarre as Robinson wasn’t listed on the injury report. The hope is that Robinson indeed was just dealing with some type of bug and there aren’t underlying issues here.

D.K. Metcalf – Metcalf missed the first game of his NFL career on Sunday against the Cardinals. He is dealing with rib and hip injuries that kept him out last week. Metcalf is tough and I don’t expect these injuries to linger.

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Dear Commanders Defense,

After that pathetic effort against the Chicago Bears, I need you to start playing like I know you can. There’s too many first round draft picks on this team to not be more competitive. Coach Ron Rivera put up “do your job” signs please soak that in and follow that motto this week against the Atlanta Falcons. I think you will after that embarrassing game vs Chicago. Giving up 30 pts a game is not acceptable for NFL football and I know you can do better. In addition, I need you to get some takeaways this week and give the offense a short field. Going against a mobile quarterback and Desmond Ridder, please stay disciplined and be on the look out when he takes off. If your able to stop Bijan Robinson and Ridder’s legs, you should win this game. Please redeem yourself this week and all will be better in DC.

Sincerely,

Pro Football Mania

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One of the most intriguing prospects is Anthony Richardson now with the Indianapolis Colts. Early rumors suggest Richardson will be the week 1 starter which is something to keep an eye on. There will be a learning curve for him but if he catches on he could be a big time fantasy stud.

Bijan Robinson tops out our rankings and that should be no surprise. There is a reason the Falcons selected him with the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft. They plan to feature the young rookie stud and I am expecting him to put up big numbers next year. Let’s take a look at the rest of our 2023 dynasty football rookie rankings below.

The post 2023 Dynasty Football Rookie Rankings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Atlanta Falcons: How Will The Young Offensive Core Do?

The Atlanta Falcons have a sneaky young offensive core that could be one of the NFL’s best sooner rather than later. Kyle Pitts, the super TE, had a rough sophomore season where he barely got passes and got hurt. Drake London had a solid rookie season where he got 72 catches for 866 yards and four TDs. The Falcons started their draft with RB Bijan Robinson, the best RB prospect in a while. All of these while having Desmond Ridder as your QB. Now, the Falcons have put their faith in Desmond this season, but he’s not the QB you would have as your starter. Hopefully, the OC can help lessen the load by giving simple plays to Ridder and let the three do the work. In case it doesn’t work out, there are big names in the upcoming draft who can be the final piece in the core.

Carolina Panthers: Will Bryce Young Get The Start Right Away?

Bryce Young and the Panthers have started camp and there have been some action shots of him taking reps. Currently, Andy Dalton is the starter in name. He is a solid QB but he’s not worth sitting the future for the entire season. The Panthers reloaded this offseason with the additions of Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. They did a good job putting in a roster that can lessen the workload of the QB. Now, the million-dollar question is if it’s Bryce Young time by Week 1. Personally, I don’t mind Dalton being the starter of Week 1, but if times are telling, you have to give the keys to Bryce as soon as possible to see if he’s worth the hype.

New Orleans Saints: Can Derek Carr Lead The Saints To The Best Record In The Division?

The odds according to Vegas have slotted the Saints to be the division winner for the NFC South. The Saints were filled with injuries and uncertainties last season as multiple QBs had looks during the season. Currently, Derek Carr is more stable than anyone they had last season. Personally, he’s also the best QB they had since Drew Brees. He’ll have a core of weapons with Kamara, Olave and MT if healthy. With almost every team having a young and inexperienced QB, Carr just needs to be solid enough for the Saints to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: Can Baker Mayfield Keep The Critics Quiet?

The Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay has finished as he officially retired again. His impact in Tampa Bay will be missed but it’s time to look forward. Baker Mayfield has signed with Tampa Bay after stints in Carolina and the Rams last season. It’s been a rocky past few years for the former top pick of the draft. Going to Tampa Bay is a fresh start for him as he looks to regain his footing in the NFL world as a starting-caliber quarterback. There’s still a lot of talent on offense and defense and the division is still very open. Baker can change the narrative about himself and potentially save his career by being a solid starter in Tampa Bay. However, a bad season means Tampa Bay getting a high pick to draft their QB of the future and potentially Baker losing his starter status permanently.

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QUARTERBACKS

#1 Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young is in Carolina after months of anticipation. He had been first overall on draft boards for the longest time when Carolina made the trade. We will see if the size concerns are legitimate as he is expected to start early on for the Panthers. Carolina did a good job bringing in pieces such as Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. Unless he’s a total bust, Bryce will have a strong rookie season.

#2 C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans

After all the noise in the pre-draft process, the Texans took the best QB available at number two. With all the propaganda against Stroud, his stock was falling and even the gambling lines weren’t a fan of him. Stroud goes into a rebuilding situation in Houston with few good options such as Robert Woods and Dameon Pierce. With Houston being in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, he can make noise early on. The stats might not look as nice but I believe in C.J. Stroud.

#4 Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts

The Colts shocked the draft boards when they selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth pick of the draft. Many were speculating that Will Levis would be the pick but the Colts were higher on Richardson. Richardson comes in as a project as he will need experience first. So, expect a rocky season in terms of win-loss record. His running game could give him points, like what Justin Fields did last season. I expect AR to be the starter as Gardner Minshew will serve as a good backup to him to help him grow. He’s worth stashing since he’ll most likely have a rocky start.

RUNNING BACKS

#8 Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson had been touted as the best non-QB offensive weapon in this class. With the value of RBs decreasing, his talent level was respected very much as he had top-10 pick status in mock drafts. Atlanta chose to use their eighth pick on him in the draft. Now, he would be their top RB and a nice piece for Desmond Rider. People were hoping he would go somewhere else where his talent can shine more. The Falcons drafted Tyler Allgeier last year and he just ran for over 1000 yards. I think it’s safe to assume Bijan will get the workload immediately. Allgeier could steal some snaps early on, especially if he’s doing well.

#12 Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions traded down to 12 and got two more picks for the 6th and 81st. They surprisingly took Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama with the 12th pick. Draft boards had Gibbs to be drafted later in the first round and running back isn’t a need for the Lions. Besides keeping D’Andre Swift, they also signed David Montgomery in the offseason. This might be a tough first season production-wise for Gibbs as he will have two established players ahead of him. Keep him on your mind in case any of the two gets injured during the season.

Update: D’Andre Swift has been traded to the Eagles so this leaves Gibbs with the potential to have a decent rookie season. It could be similar to the Swift-Williams combo last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

#20 Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks

The first wide receiver off the board took longer than expected as the Seahawks took Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Many of the mocks had him as early as 12th to the Texans but the teams went with other options. This pick is interesting as he goes to a wide receiver room of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. In case Lockett, leaves JSN would serve as a good replacement and it gives Geno Smith an extra weapon. JSN would be worth drafting in the middle to late rounds.

#21 Quentin Johnson – Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers went for a receiver a pick after when they took Quentin Johnson. A monster of a man, he makes the Chargers receiving core even bigger and much richer. It will be hard to spread the ball around with Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Austin Ekeler getting passes from Justin Herbert. He’s worth stashing depending on the availability of the receivers.

#22 Zay Flowers – Baltimore Ravens

What a day for the Baltimore Ravens as they were able to secure Lamar for the future and get him help with Zay Flowers. The wide receivers in Baltimore weren’t impressive last season. Now, with OBJ, Flowers, and Andrews, Lamar will feel much more comfortable in the passing game with Baltimore. Flowers is very explosive and can go off in those long TD catch and runs.

#23 Jordan Addison – Minnesota Vikings

While losing Adam Thielen to Carolina hurt, they have found his replacement in Jordan Addison. The wide receiver prospect out of Minnesota will enjoy Kirk Cousins‘ passes and being beside Justin Jefferson. He is the perfect complement for him and can have a sneaky good year for the Vikings.

TIGHT ENDS

#25 Dalton Kincaid – Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills drafted the only tight end in the first round with Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. Dalton is more of a pass-catcher which makes it interesting as Dawson Knox still has years left in his contract. It does give Josh Allen more weapons and different looks such as possibly double tight-end plays. It may take a year or two for Dalton to be a fantasy option but he has the skills to be a good pass-catcher.

The post 1st Round Picks To Watch Out For In Fantasy appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

The post 5 Thoughts Before the 2023 NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Bijan Robinson is an RB prospect out of Arizona. He had one of the most storied careers in Arizona high school football. He ended his high school career with 7036 rushing yards and 114 TDs. After his senior season, he was awarded the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year. According to Rivals, he was a five-star RB prospect and the top RB of his class. He committed to play for the Texas Longhorns.

COLLEGE CAREER

As a freshman, Bijan was able to get reps early on in his career. In 86 carries, he was able to rush for 703 yards and four TDs. His best performance came in the Alamo Bowl where he won MVP for his performance. In his sophomore season, they let him loose even more when he ran for 1127 yards and 11 TDs. This was his best pass-catching year as he caught 26 passes for 295 yards and four TDs. He was named First-Team All-Big 12.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

The Texas RB ended his career with an even more impressive season. He ran for 1580 yards and 18 TDs as a junior. His best game against a ranked opponent came against 13 Kansas State when he ran for 209 yards in 30 attempts and a TD in a 34-27 win. Against unranked opponents, he saved his best against Kansas where he ran for 243 yards and four TDs. He was awarded the Doak Walker Award, for the best running back in the country. He also was awarded an unanimous All-American.

STRENGTHS: Well-Rounded

Bijan Robinson can do many things well. This is what he banked on throughout his college career and what he will use in the NFL. His mix of size and strength makes him a powerful runner and can make short gains into long runs. He has a lot of moves that will make him a difficult runner to tackle for defenses. His pass-catching is decent since his hands are good. He can be a three-down back in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES: Lack Of Elite Speed

With everything that supports him as the top RB, it’s very difficult to find a weakness in his game. One aspect that isn’t his strong suit is his lack of elite speed. He can also be impatient at times as he doesn’t let the blocks happen before he makes a move. If he can learn to be more in control, he has a chance to be an elite RB in the NFL.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Saquon Barkley

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Modern analytics suggest it’s not worth it to draft an RB in the first round. Bijan Robinson, however, is an exception to that. His talent and skill make him an intriguing prospect. Looking over different mock drafts, experts are split on where he’ll land but many have him as a pick in the 20s. Some have mentioned Baltimore as a potential spot but my favorite pick was Philadelphia at 30th, especially with Miles Sanders‘ impending free agency.

The post 2023 NFL Draft Focus: Bijan Robinson appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Chris Thomas

Now that the College Football season has started it won’t be long until Heisman candidates and storylines start to emerge. The Heisman is awarded to the best player in college football that season and cements a player’s legacy as one of the greatest college football players of all time. 

Last year was the first time in a couple of years that there wasn’t a clearcut favorite for the award. Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith became the first wide receiver to win the award since 1991 and the fourth wide receiver ever to do so. Smith also became the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since former Alabama running back Derrick Henry won the award in 2015. 

Many great candidates could be nominated and win the award this upcoming season. Here are a few players to look out for who could take home the Heisman at the end of the 2021-22 College Football season. 

Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma

It is hard to start a Heisman candidates list without the face of college football Spencer Rattler. The redshirt sophomore is about to enter his second full season as the team’s starting quarterback. Rattler is already the favorite to go first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft and by many to win the Heisman. He would be Lincoln Riley’s third quarterback to accomplish both feats since he took over the program in 2017. Both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won the Heisman and went first overall in the NFL Draft back to back in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. 

Last season Rattler threw for 3,031 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. He also rushed for 160 yards and six touchdowns on 81 attempts. That performance earned Rattler a spot on AP”˜s First Team All-Big 12 and made him a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien award. He finished the year with the third-highest PFF grade among quarterbacks in the FBS with a 92.5.

This upcoming season Rattler not only has the opportunity to build upon how he played last year but potentially take the Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoffs and compete for a National Championship. If Oklahoma makes it to the College Football Playoffs it would be hard to imagine Rattler not at least being nominated for the Heisman after this season. 

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

It is not a ridiculous statement to say that Bryce Hall has the potential to be the most dynamic passer Nick Saban has had during his time at Alabama. That is not a shot at Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, or Mac Jones who are all NFL starting quarterbacks. In the small sample size that Young has shown, he displayed more of a playmaker skillset compared to a distributor/point guard type like Tagovailoa and Jones or athlete that relies on mobility like Hurts. 

Last season Young finished the season completing 13 of his 22 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. In high school, Young was considered the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation and a five-star prospect.

The sophomore quarterback has a fantastic opportunity to become one of the faces of college football now that he will be the starting quarterback of the reigning national champions. Young will be leading an extremely talented roster that is considered the favorite to repeat as champions. If Young shows why he was considered such a polarizing high school quarterback at the next level in a full-time starting role he could very well win the Heisman this year.

D.J. Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson

It cannot be an enviable position to follow up Trevor Lawerence as the starting quarterback of the Clemson Tigers. Lawerence was considered by many as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. The sophomore quarterback will join a line of prestigious quarterbacks to start for Clemson over the last decade including Lawerence and Deshaun Watson. Both quarterbacks have left big shoes for D.J. Uiagalelei to fill. There are a lot of expectations that come with being the quarterback for a Dabo Swinney-led Clemson team. Both Lawerence and Watson were catalysts for the Tigers winning National Championships when they were starters. 

Last season he played in ten games but started two against Boston College and Notre Dame. In his first start against Boston College, Uiagalelei completed 73.2% of his passes going 30 for 41 and passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six rushes for 25 yards and a touchdown. Then the following week against #4 Notre Dame, Uiagalelei went 29 of 44 for 439 yards and two touchdowns. Uiagalelei rushed for two yards on 13 attempts and a touchdown in that game as well. He finished the year completing 66.7% of his passes completing 78 of 117 of them for 914 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Uiagalelei had 28 rushing attempts for 60 yards and four touchdowns. His 146.4 pass efficiency rating was fifth-best by an ACC freshman quarterback since 2002. Uiagalelei also became only the second FBS player since 2000 to throw at least 115 passes and record at least five passing touchdowns and no interceptions.

As long as Clemson makes the College Football playoffs Uiagalelei should be a Heisman contender. What he brings to the table that separates him from the rest is the combination of size and athleticism. At 6’4″ and 249 pounds he is a fantastic athlete and a threat as a ball carrier. His combination of size, mobility, and arm strength could draw comparisons to another former Heisman winner former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton who is 6’5″ and 245 pounds. If Uiagalelei plays similarly to how Newton did in his Heisman campaign in the 2010 season, he could very well win the award at the end of this season. 

J.T Daniels, QB, Georgia

One player that has been trending towards being considered one of the nation’s best quarterbacks is Georgia quarterback JT Daniels. He will start his second season as a Georgia Bulldog after two years at USC. Many believe a great season from him could catapult Georgia back into the National title picture. 

Daniels transferred to Georgia after redshirting his sophomore season due to a season-ending knee injury. Last season only started four games for Georgia at the end of the season. Daniels finished the year completing 80 of his 119 passes for 1,231 yards, ten touchdowns, and only two interceptions. That is an average of 307.8 passing yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and .5 interceptions a game. 

He is entering his Junior year this season so Daniels is eligible for another year. However, he is gaining a lot of hype as a quarterback prospect to look out for that could potentially be a first-round pick. Daniels has a cannon for an arm which will get him on a light of highlight reels throughout the season. If Georgia makes a National title push and Daniels makes huge plays throughout the season he could have a legitimate case to win the Heisman at the end of the year. 

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Now that the Sam Ehlinger era is over at Texas the star Longhorn tasked with bringing them back to relevancy is running back Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns have needed a star on their roster who can bring them back to what they were over a decade ago. So far Robinson has shown that he has what it takes to be that guy. 

During his freshman year, Robinson played in nine games, but only started six of them. He had three games last season where he rushed for over 100 yards and averaged 10.3 carries in each of those games. His best game came at the end of the year against Colorado where he rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown off ten carries. In that game, Robinson also caught two passes for 37 yards and two more touchdowns. He finished last year with 703 rushing yards and four touchdowns on only 86 carries. 

Robinson has the size and strength to be a power back, but is shifty and has the athleticism to make him almost impossible to defend. He has shown that he is also a threat as a receiver. His style of play is similar to Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. 

If Robinson thrives in a workhorse role for Texas gets them closer to being a national title threat he could become the first running back since 2015 to win the Heisman. 

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Last season Breece Hall was arguably the best running back in college football. He discretely had one of the greatest seasons for a running back in college football history. He could put up similar production in his junior year at Iowa State. 

After an outstanding freshman season Hall broke out in a major way his sophomore year. In the twelve games he played, Hall rushed for 1,572 yards on 279 attempts and 21 touchdowns. He led the entire country in rushing last season. He averaged 131 rushing yards per game. Hall became the first player in College Football to have 75+ yards and a rushing touchdown in all 12 games since NFL Hall of Famer and former TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson did it in 2000. He added multiple accolades to his resume including being the first unanimous All-American in Iowa State history, winning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Big 12. This performance landed Hall sixth in the Heisman voting.

He came extremely close to winning the Heisman a year ago. If Hall were to repeat his performance or even break his records there would be slim to no chance that he does not get recognized as one of the greatest running backs to ever play in college football by winning the Heisman. 

Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama

Brian Robinson Jr. becomes the next running back to join the fraternity of Alabama starting running backs. The Crimson Tide have had an outstanding group of players at the position over the years including Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, Derrick Henry, and Najee Harris. There have also been other talented running backs for the Crimson Tide that weren’t workhorse backs including Alvin Kamara, T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake, Damien Harris, and Josh Jacobs. So expectations are high for a player like Robinson who will now control this backfield and have a major role for this offense. 

Over the last two seasons, Robinson Jr. has played a complementary role to Najee Harris. Last year he rushed for 483 yards and six touchdowns on 91 attempts. Robinson fits the bigger running back mold the Crimson Tide have been known for under Nick Saban. He has been used to run the ball outside of the tackles on outside zone runs. He has also returned kickoffs for Alabama on occasion. 

This year the redshirt senior finally gets his chance to lead this backfield. If Robinson has a breakout season and is as dominant as the Alabama running backs that have come before him he has a great of a chance as anyone to win the Heisman. There has not been a more dominant position group on a college football team over the last decade than Alabama running backs. Robinson could be the third to win the Heisman since 2009.

Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

It is extremely unlikely that a wide receiver wins the Heisman in any given year. It is even more unlikely that a wide receiver wins the Heisman in back-to-back seasons. But after DeVonta Smith won last year it does open up the conversation to the position group and it is unlikely that a talent like Chris Olave isn’t considered for the award after the season.

Last year Olave broke out and established himself as one of the best receivers in college football. He almost matched his receiving yardage and touchdown total from the season prior despite having his season reduced to seven games. Olave caught 50 receptions for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 104.1 yards per game. He was named First Team All-Big Ten after his performance. He was considered one of the best wide receivers in college football last season.

Coming into this season Olave is considered the best wide receiver in the nation. If he continues the pace that he set last season or exceeds it over a full college football season he could make it back-to-back seasons that a wide receiver wins the Heisman.

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