Last year it was Cam Akers.*
A few years before that, it was Amon-Ra St.Brown as a rookie.
Right now, who looks to be like a guy a bit off of the radar that wins a championship for a team?
Is it Isaac Guerendo? Braelon Allen? Sincere McCormick?
How about Parker Washington, Calvin Austin III or KeVontae Turpin?
Any thoughts?
*Two years ago it was Cam Akers. (Thanks, Ilov)
I would like to hear your thoughts on Braelon Allen. I am extremely bearish on him, but I own him in dynasty, and currently have him on the trade block. You have seen him more than I, so maybe the eye test is better than his numbers.
I think you likely know I’m a Jets homer, and I’m only saying that so everybody reading this knows. But my glasses aren’t rose-colored, so maybe I can give an honest assessment. The Jets have one of the most underutilized strengths in the NFL positionally in their backfield. Hall is a world-class runner. Allen is dynamic. Davis is pretty good. Abanikanda was immediately snatched up by the 49ers upon his release (who knows what the acting GM was thinking). But they haven’t put up great numbers. Why? Their line and Rodgers. Their line is mediocre at best. They’re old for the most part, and they don’t seem to get off the ball that well. Rodgers hasn’t been a threat to throw deep (because of the line and his arm) all year. I mean, they don’t throw deep at all and it leaves eight guys in the box. So the running game has suffered to a man positionally and somewhat drastically.
Even if we compare the backs to each other, expecting a twenty year-old rookie (21 now?) in Braelon Allen to match Breece Hall's numbers is probably not wise. Yes, they’re behind the same line, but you’re talking about a guy in Hall who has proven to be ultra explosive at the NFL level—a guy who essentially seized a starting job within three or four games in the league and hasn’t looked back but for injury. That doesn’t happen all that often. Hall was special in college, special at the combine, and special on the professional field.
So in thinking about Allen's numbers compared to Hall you have to take into account the poor-to-mediocre line, Rodgers, Allen's age, and Allen’s potential development. I think he’s going to be a very good runner in the NFL. He can catch. I think he’s the kind of back that needs to be a starter to be really effective. One who starts to wear teams down with his physical play and size as the game goes on and guys aren’t so fond of getting in a car wreck situation. I mean, one can see the scouting flaws. Maybe he doesn’t play totally to size (although I think he does). That he might dance a little (I haven’t really seen that, either). He might not have long speed like Hall. But he’s good. I think very good.
So yeah, I’m actually bullish on Allen’s career. But the situation with the Jets behind Hall is suboptimal. We’ve hashed out the contract situation in another thread here. I forget which guy’s thread. I think it’s in Allen’s thread. But I think he’s a lot better than the numbers have shown.
I’d watch today. See what you think of him. But don’t throw him away for peanuts. You might rue that if you do so.
Best of luck.