Rashaad is the new Marshawn!

The Seattle Seahawks used the twenty-seventh pick in the 2018 NFL draft on running back Rashaad Penny. An explosive, highly productive…

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Rashaad is the new Marshawn!

Penny certainly performed in ’17 like a back ready for the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks used the twenty-seventh pick in the 2018 NFL draft on running back Rashaad Penny. An explosive, highly productive runner, he was also one of the nations top kick returners. Penny walks into a featured role surrounded by a great QB and a commitment to run the football. A game breaker on tape, he has a legitimate feature back athleticism and college production to boot. The questions are the level of college competition and whether he has the ability in all phases (eg pass protection) to stay on the field for all three downs. Regardless of 3rd down work, Seattle’s desire to get back to some offensive balance means Penny is one of the favorites for this year’s NFL offensive rookie of the year.

RB Rashaad Penny

• Size: 5’11” / 220
• Draft Selection: #27 (2018)
• Depth Chart: RB1 (Competing w/ Chris Carson for early down; CJ Prosise for passing downs)
• ’18 Outlook: RB2 (RB1 if offense clicks and Penny’s pass pro concerns are unfounded)
• Athletic Profile: Very Good (Player Profiler)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rashaadpenny/
• NFL Comparison: Non Power 5 School Melvin Gordon

Outlook: The Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll are known for an aggressive defense and a grinding, ball control offense. Yet since the failure to run the ball up the gut to close out super bowl XLIX (2015), the Seahawks have struggled to run the ball. They lost their offensive identity. With a 1st round investment in Penny, the team is attempting to rectify this weakness and get back their identity. He brings a diverse skillset, an elite kick returner, with game-breaking speed in the open field who can make big plays in all phases of the game (special teams, running & receiving). If he can assimilate to the NFL game, he’s well positioned to be the primary back in any Seattle rotation.

Opportunity: This is a more crowded situation than the casual fan would realize. Chris Carson, a 7th rounder last year, was a training camp and early ’17 season revelation. The coaches have continued to rave about him this offseason. He’s a complete player who is just average/good at everything but not elite. CJ Prosise, Mike Davis & JK McKissic each offer different skills as well. Yet Penny is penciled in as the primary playmaker which would put him in line for 180–200 carries & approx. 30 targets. That equates to low-end RB2 production out of the gate with upside (as Seattle gets closer to its pre-2016 offensive philosophy — which bringing Brian Schottenheimer in as OC would indicate that’s the plan). His ceiling is probably 225+ carries and 40 targets, which would put him into low-end RB1 production. In short, the floor is high (RB3+) and the ceiling pretty lofty (RB1), so this is one of the top fantasy rookie options in 2018.

Long-term: The biggest question marks (pass pro & assimilation of NFL speed) aside, he can be a perennial top fantasy RB who brings as much dynasty value as any other player in this draft (including Barkley). The contrarian view is Penny wasn’t a featured back until his senior year (played behind Donnell Humphrey), he led the nation in yards before contact, runs too upright and doesn’t fight enough for tough yards (which is a staple of NFL success). There will be busts from this draft, I just don’t see Penny as one. He could disappoint, but he’ll still be a productive NFL player in a backfield by committee.