Elijah Hood

[ascherb]

Had some impressive YPC numbers for UNC, but I haven't watched too much of him. Is he talented enough to be a stash? I've heard he's more of a bell-cow type guy physically than either of the two young guys from last year, and should be Lynch's handcuff. But is he talented enough to be the guy after Lynch hangs it up?

It's the 4th round of my rookie draft and thinking of grabbing him, but wondering what everyone's thoughts are on him?

[JJDubya]

I highly doubt you have better options there. Lynch may have had a year off to heal, but he's always been banged up in some way, shape or form. I doubt the Raiders expect Lynch to shoulder the entire load all year - they'll need him for the playoffs if they can get that far. I expect to see some Hood mixed in and if Lynch ever misses time (decent probability of that) and Hood gets the start he could put together a solid game and have his fantasy value increase significantly. He's a perfect specimen to flip for a future first if he gets some meaningful action this year.

[Goddard]

Hood is someone I was really high on a year ago, but his numbers went down this past year after he shared carries with TJ Logan and dealt with a few injuries late in the year. He's the kind of player that can succeed pretty well behind that Oakland line.

[Team Tacos]

I think Hood could be the guy. Rumor is they like him already.

[Plank]

^ Yeah I saw an article in my RSS feed with some positive coach speak for him early..

[osubuckeyeman]

Tough to get behind a 7th round pick. Just makes you wonder why teams passed on him.

[Go Bucks]

^ Yeah I saw an article in my RSS feed with some positive coach speak for him early..

But the same coaches raved about Murray, Richard, and Washington this time a year ago. And now Lynch is there too. I'd avoid this backfield. When Lynch retires, none of the others will separate from the pack enough to have dynasty value.

[TTHTD]

^ Yeah I saw an article in my RSS feed with some positive coach speak for him early..

But the same coaches raved about Murray, Richard, and Washington this time a year ago. And now Lynch is there too. I'd avoid this backfield. When Lynch retires, none of the others will separate from the pack enough to have dynasty value.

Richard and Washington both had great stats last season, but niether got used enough to be relevant. It wouldn't surprise me to see one of them be a lead back and I think Richard has the size to carry a full load if he needed to. Hood is a wild card who is already 'turning heads' apparently. They're all complete gambles but there's worst lottery tickets.

[The.Big.Spank]

I don't think he has the chops to be a three down back. I see him more of a vulture of touches/short yardage guy then a bell cow. He's too one dimensional.

[ninotoreS]

Hood's pros
- adequate instincts and vision
- adequate pad-level
- reliable passing-down back (in college, anyway)
- tough, heavy, can break some tackles, carry a workhouse load

Hood's cons
- clumsy feet
- bad hip flexion
- neither 'quick' nor 'fast'
- if he ever has to gear down on a run, he's getting tackled in the pros because his '0 to 60' / 'get up and go' etc is like that of a lorry
- has no ability to 'get skinny' through the line; he needs lanes, not creases

Elijah Hood knows his craft on his college tape, but he's just not much of an athlete (by NFL standards). And I don't just mean his SPARQ. Sometimes SPARQ doesn't align with a player's visible athleticism in pads when the play is live, but that is not the case with Elijah Hood. His athleticism in pads is consistent with his 8th percentile SPARQ.

Until Hood's NFL tape tells me otherwise, I will believe that Jalen Richard is a more talented NFL-level running-back than him, and probably DeAndre Washington, too. However, I can see Hood poaching the goal-line work.

Note I am not factoring in Lynch because this is dynasty and I'm thinking beyond his likely short tenure in Oakland.

[Phaded]

Seeing as his main competition behind Lynch is Washington and Richard, he could carve out a role.

Year to year, cannot expect anything long term.

In the 4th round of your rookie draft, that is long shot territory - he is as good a long shot as any.

[Novacane]

I took him at 4.10 over Malachi Dupree, Iseah ford, etc. with a 4th rounder flyer, im hoping he can generate some buzz and i can flip.

[ESKAY]

Tough to get behind a 7th round pick. Just makes you wonder why teams passed on him.

I agree with this point. I like to go back and look at the guys taken in the last couple rounds of the NFL draft. I am guessing maybe 10% of the 7th round picks ever amount to anything. That includes all players not just fantasy relevant guys.

[jimmy jr.]

I own Lynch & i live 12 miles from Chapel Hill. I've seen alot of him on TV down here & heard some buzz from Oakland also, if he's there in the 4th rd. of our draft in August , i'm taking him , just a flyer, but who knows, could get some time behind Lynch.

[Dynasty DeLorean]

Tough to get behind a 7th round pick. Just makes you wonder why teams passed on him.

I agree with this point. I like to go back and look at the guys taken in the last couple rounds of the NFL draft. I am guessing maybe 10% of the 7th round picks ever amount to anything. That includes all players not just fantasy relevant guys.

The ones I have stats for. I highlighted the relevant ones. I don't think we've had a relevant RB drafted in the 7th round since maybe 2008 or something so I suppose we're due.

7th round RBs
Chris Ogbonnaya
Michael Smith
Storm Johnson
Marcus Murphy
Joey Iosefa
Dwayne Washington
Daniel Lasco
Da'Rel Scott
Kenny Hilliard
Peyton Hillis
Devante Mays
Keith Marshall
Bryce Brown - does he count as relevant? idk
Khalfani Muhammad
Kerwynn Williams
Elijah Hood
Justin Forsett
Zac Brooks
La'Rod Stephens-Howling
Chris Carson
Matthew Dayes
Ahmad Bradshaw
Rashad Jennings
Edwin Baker
Daryl Richardson
Michael Cox