Looking at highlights of this guy will make your draw absolutely drop. He, like Harvin took snaps from the Running Back position for the Florida Gators. The obvious knock on this guy is his size:
5,8 - 180 lbs (Rainey)
5,11 - 184 lbs (Harvin)
5,6 - 190 lbs (Sproles)
5,8 - 170 lbs (McCluster)
As you can see, his body type compares positively to other guys in the league.
1.) He's 3 inches shorter than Harvin but is 'heavier'.
2.) He's 2 inches taller than Sproles but is 'lighter'.
3.) He's 0 inches taller than McCluster but is 'heavier'.
So, we definitely can't 'rule out' specifically because of his body-type. Let's look at some measurables:
40 - Yard Dash
4.45 (Rainey)
4.41 (Harvin)
4.58 (McCluster)
4.47 (Sproles)
Bench Reps
16 (Rainey)
19 (Harvin)
20 (McCluster)
23 (Sproles)
As far as bench reps goes, Rainey is definitely the runt of the group. What is the difference between 16 and 19 reps, however? Not a rhetorical question, if someone can give me insight that'd be great. I'm trying to figure out this prospect.
36.5 (Rainey)
DNP (Harvin)
37.5 (McCluster)
33.0 (Sproles)
Broad Jump
120 (Rainey)
DNP (Harvin)
DNP (McCluster)
105 (Sproles)
3 - Cone Drill
6.5 (Rainey - best at the combine)
DNP (Harvin)
DNP (McCluster)
6.96 (Sproles)
20 - Yard Shuttle
3.93 (Rainey)
DNP
DNP
3.96 (Sproles)
Rainey's 'measurables' stack up with any of these others players (sans Harvin who did not run in all the drills).
-
Why Chris Rainey?
A.) As the above shows, players have gotten it done with his size and measurables before. Superstars? No. Rosterable? Yes.
B.) Todd Haley is the new Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He found creative ways to get both Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles the ball in Kansas City which made the most of every snap they took.
Last season McCluster put up:
40 Catches / 328 Yards / 1TD (7.1YPC)
114 Rushes / 516 Yards / 1TD (4.5YPC)
There's a few variables to shake out here:
1.) KC had a carousel at QB last season. Fielding Tyler Palko for 4 complete games.
2.) Jamaal Charles was injured last season.
C.) This is a copycat league and people no doubt saw the effectiveness of Darren Sproles last season and will likely try to incorporate similar packages of their own. This of course is speculation but Todd Haley is very creative as an Offensive Coordinator.
-
But the KC situation isn't particularly relevant, we're talking Steelers and Rainey. What do we know about the Pittsburgh Steelers?
A.) They have two-explosive playmakers at Wide Receiver who will demand Safety Help (Wallace at least). This will leave both the Running Game open and passes underneath to a player like Rainey.
B.) Todd Haley likes having a committee at Running Back. In 2010 with both Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles healthy the split was:
245 Carries / 846 Yards / 14 Catches / 122 Yards (Jones)
230 Carries / 1,476 Yards / 45 Catches / 468 Yards (Charles)
That's about 60 passes exclusively to the Running Back when both were healthy. Mendenhall only caught 18 passes last season and I suspect we see more passes to the HB under Haley's tutelage. Who do you think could possibly be the main beneficiary?
Let's go back to 2008 where Pass - Catching back Mewelde Moore took over the starters job for a few games:
http://www.nfl.com/player/meweldemoore/2505690/gamelogs?season=2008
Moore caught 40 balls yet only started 4 Games. This shows that when on the field, Roethlisberger will throw to a back who can catch.
-
In conclusion,
I don't know IF Rainey is large enough to play RB / WR in the league. But others similar in size have effectively.
I don't know IF Rainy has all the physical took to play in this league. But others with similar measurables have.
I don't know IF Haley will run a RBBC in Pittsburgh. But Rainey would only need to snag a handful of carries to be considered as a WR3.
I don't know IF Haley will have a position similar to McCluster in KC. But Rainey would be IDEAL for that role.
Rainey is a player that can come in as a Rookie with his own set of packages. Todd Haley is a very creative playcaller. The health of Mendenhall and his position on the depth chart could determine Rainey's 2012 and future production. He can be had VERY cheap.
In redraft, avoid.
Dynasty, he's a must-have at his current price.
Enjoy some highlights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZtpSjDQLPk&feature=related
5,8 - 180 lbs (Rainey)
5,11 - 184 lbs (Harvin)
5,6 - 190 lbs (Sproles)
5,8 - 170 lbs (McCluster)
As you can see, his body type compares positively to other guys in the league.
1.) He's 3 inches shorter than Harvin but is 'heavier'.
2.) He's 2 inches taller than Sproles but is 'lighter'.
3.) He's 0 inches taller than McCluster but is 'heavier'.
So, we definitely can't 'rule out' specifically because of his body-type. Let's look at some measurables:
40 - Yard Dash
4.45 (Rainey)
4.41 (Harvin)
4.58 (McCluster)
4.47 (Sproles)
Bench Reps
16 (Rainey)
19 (Harvin)
20 (McCluster)
23 (Sproles)
As far as bench reps goes, Rainey is definitely the runt of the group. What is the difference between 16 and 19 reps, however? Not a rhetorical question, if someone can give me insight that'd be great. I'm trying to figure out this prospect.
36.5 (Rainey)
DNP (Harvin)
37.5 (McCluster)
33.0 (Sproles)
Broad Jump
120 (Rainey)
DNP (Harvin)
DNP (McCluster)
105 (Sproles)
3 - Cone Drill
6.5 (Rainey - best at the combine)
DNP (Harvin)
DNP (McCluster)
6.96 (Sproles)
20 - Yard Shuttle
3.93 (Rainey)
DNP
DNP
3.96 (Sproles)
Rainey's 'measurables' stack up with any of these others players (sans Harvin who did not run in all the drills).
-
Why Chris Rainey?
A.) As the above shows, players have gotten it done with his size and measurables before. Superstars? No. Rosterable? Yes.
B.) Todd Haley is the new Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He found creative ways to get both Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles the ball in Kansas City which made the most of every snap they took.
Last season McCluster put up:
40 Catches / 328 Yards / 1TD (7.1YPC)
114 Rushes / 516 Yards / 1TD (4.5YPC)
There's a few variables to shake out here:
1.) KC had a carousel at QB last season. Fielding Tyler Palko for 4 complete games.
2.) Jamaal Charles was injured last season.
C.) This is a copycat league and people no doubt saw the effectiveness of Darren Sproles last season and will likely try to incorporate similar packages of their own. This of course is speculation but Todd Haley is very creative as an Offensive Coordinator.
-
But the KC situation isn't particularly relevant, we're talking Steelers and Rainey. What do we know about the Pittsburgh Steelers?
A.) They have two-explosive playmakers at Wide Receiver who will demand Safety Help (Wallace at least). This will leave both the Running Game open and passes underneath to a player like Rainey.
B.) Todd Haley likes having a committee at Running Back. In 2010 with both Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles healthy the split was:
245 Carries / 846 Yards / 14 Catches / 122 Yards (Jones)
230 Carries / 1,476 Yards / 45 Catches / 468 Yards (Charles)
That's about 60 passes exclusively to the Running Back when both were healthy. Mendenhall only caught 18 passes last season and I suspect we see more passes to the HB under Haley's tutelage. Who do you think could possibly be the main beneficiary?
Let's go back to 2008 where Pass - Catching back Mewelde Moore took over the starters job for a few games:
http://www.nfl.com/player/meweldemoore/2505690/gamelogs?season=2008
Moore caught 40 balls yet only started 4 Games. This shows that when on the field, Roethlisberger will throw to a back who can catch.
-
In conclusion,
I don't know IF Rainey is large enough to play RB / WR in the league. But others similar in size have effectively.
I don't know IF Rainy has all the physical took to play in this league. But others with similar measurables have.
I don't know IF Haley will run a RBBC in Pittsburgh. But Rainey would only need to snag a handful of carries to be considered as a WR3.
I don't know IF Haley will have a position similar to McCluster in KC. But Rainey would be IDEAL for that role.
Rainey is a player that can come in as a Rookie with his own set of packages. Todd Haley is a very creative playcaller. The health of Mendenhall and his position on the depth chart could determine Rainey's 2012 and future production. He can be had VERY cheap.
In redraft, avoid.
Dynasty, he's a must-have at his current price.
Enjoy some highlights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZtpSjDQLPk&feature=related
