James Robinson 2021 Outlook: Undrafted Outlier Set To Shine Again.
3 years agoJames Robinson was a revelation for fantasy managers last season. He either went undrafted or was your last pick, and all he did was rush for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns en route to an RB5 finish in points per game (min. 10 games played), averaging 17.9 points in PPR leagues. Robinson also added 49 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns through the air. His 1,414 yards from scrimmage is the most all-time by an undrafted rookie, and he led all rookies, including the wide receivers, with 17 missed tackles forced on receptions. Despite going undrafted, J-Rob led all rookie running backs with 764 rush yards after contact, and he led the league with 86% of his team's total carries. Perhaps the most impressive stat on Robinson is that he scored at least 10 PPR points in every game, a feat that only he and Dalvin Cook accomplished. There was initial cause for concern for Robinson heading into year two because the Jaguars spent a first-round pick on running back Travis Etienne, however, Etienne suffered a tragic Lis Franc injury in the preseason that will require surgery and end his season before it even began. As terrible as it is for Etienne, it is excellent news for Robinson because he no longer has any competition for touches. The Jaguars also have veteran Carlos Hyde on the team, but he will likely only see work to spell Robinson. Prior to the Etienne injury, J-Rob was being drafted as the RB27 in the seventh round, but now, he has rightfully ascended to the RB17 at the beginning of the fourth round. He is currently going in between Chris Carson (RB18) and David Montgomery (RB16), and I am comfortable drafting him there as my RB2.