RC94 said:
I am a big fan of Leonard and think he will be a very versatile weapon for an NFL team that is going to utilize his full skill set. He was a 4 year starter at Rutgers and has shown what he can do at FB, even in a blocking/receiving role. He slimmed down for the Senior Bowl and will probably remain that way for the combine because he wants to show that he is fast for a guy his size and can do well as a RB. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to play FB. He is a team player and will play in any role the coach wants him too. He proved that at Rutgers. However, by showing that he can be a RB and making sure he gets the best possible combine numbers he is trying to increase his NFL draft value. Everyone knows what he can do as a FB and a receiver. He has also run the ball a good amount at Rutgers before last season, but that is the part of his game that he needs to showcase at this time. It was a strategic move, not a move that indicates he doesn't want to play any particular position. I guarantee he will line up wherever the coach tells him to without complaint.ETA - Obviously his fantasy value is going to be partially determined by what team drafts him. This is true for most players. If he winds up on a team like CLE, where he could possibly get the majority of carries, his value could be huge. More realistically, I think he winds up on a team like PHI where he can be a combination of Cooley and B. Jacobs. Combine Cooley and Jacob’s points and you have a very good fantasy RB, even though he gets his points in a less conventional way than a standard RB.
I agree with most of this. As a Rutgers grad and season ticket holder, I have seen Leonard in action for 4 years. He will be very underrated going into next season, but I expect him to have an immediate impact. He's a good inside runner who is very hard to tackle, and has some quickness in the open field and athletic ability (if you've seen the Leonard Leap, you already know this). He has a couple of things going for him that make him a real wild card in this draft. As others have pointed out, it's a weak RB class, so his versatility makes him more valuable in comparison to some of his peers, big RBs like Bush, Pittman, Hunt. Leonard is also a great "character" guy, so if a team gets into a situation where they have him and another guy ranked evenly, he'll get the nod because of his unselfishness and leadership abilities.I think he is one guy who can be really affected by the combines. He's listed as a 4.6 in the 40, and if he can get that down, through his weight loss and predraft workouts, his value will rise if he is seen as a potential lead back. If not, his value will be determined by what teams have interest. Rumors of the Eagles, Steelers, Bucs, and Broncos liking him make sense, because all of those teams could use a big, sure-handed back as part of a RBBC to control the ball late in games, and in the case of the Steelers, Bucs, and Broncos, his pass-catching ablility would be especially useful. I would look for one of those teams to grab Leonard in the 2nd round. The 1st round seems too high for me, and I doubt he drops to the 3rd. I wouldn't put it past one of these teams to move up in the 2nd to grab him if they are worried he might be gone when their turn comes.
but if he goes to a team like Baltimore or Denver I could easily see him being a top 5 rookie pick.
I knew I was forgetting someone. Thanks
but if he goes to a team like Baltimore or Denver I could easily see him being a top 5 rookie pick.
This is what I think!!!!
You and me both, but you know, these things come out over time to FBGs anyway. I feel "exposed" as a staffer, yet I still get some finds. It happens.This is why you dominate non-FBGs. The hardest competition are fellow FBGs, by far.
