With Ezekiel Elliott back in the news, it behooves fantasy gamers to become familiar with other runners in the Dallas backfield. Rookies Tony Pollard and Mike Weber are intriguing options in their own ways, but it’s time for the community to be re-introduced to Darius Jackson.
Profile 1
Jackson fits the bill of what Shawn Siegele, curator of the “Zero RB” approach to drafting, calls a “Profile 1” runner. These are the 215 to 230-pound running backs with elite, size-adjusted speed; your Todd Gurley–Joe Mixon-types. Profile 1 backs are every-down workhorses that aren’t pulled at the goal line, and backs that offer passing game utility, too. What Jackson brings that those other players don’t is measured agility, which places him in the 78th-percentile at the running back position per Player Profiler.
He’s A One Man Band
The Eastern Michigan Eagles don’t send many players to the NFL. It’s also hard to blame Jackson for not breaking out until his senior season when the team went 7-41 over his four years there. A 1,088-yard, 14-touchdown senior campaign is much more impressive given the context of playing on a one-win team. What’s more important, though, is that he was able to translate his athletic ability into passing-game utility, recording two consecutive 20-catch seasons.
By slaying his Pro Day workout with 4.4-flat speed, a 41-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump, he cemented his eventual draft status.
The Zero-est of all RB’s
We’ve learned over time that athleticism matters more for running backs than other skill position players. It’s not unusual to see a player propelled to multiple fantasy RB1 weeks solely on exceptional athleticism. 2017 Christine Michael would nod in agreement.
Unfortunately, to this point, Jackson hasn’t shown enough at the professional level to lead us to believe that anything more than a committee approach will be taken in a potential Elliott absence. But you never know when a back is going to be put into a situation where they’re the last one standing on their team. In that instance, you’ll want to know whether the player you’re acquiring truly has league-winning potential. Jackson has the traits we look for in an NFL workhorse running back. His production and athletic metrics paint the picture of a player who can succeed in all phases if given the chance to be the starter and that’s the type of talent you want to roster.