Dallas Cowboys Draft: 10 Running Back Prospects To Know

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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 01: Running back Rodney Anderson #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners cuts in front of defensive tackle Steven Leggett #56 of the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma

What’s Good: Strength, Vision, Catching
What Ain’t Good: Injury History, Burst

Coming into the year, Rodney Anderson was in the running for the RB1 spot in this draft class. Oh how things have changed. Anderson’s skill set is the most complete of any back in this class, but his off-field issues and injury history significantly reduce his draft stock.

Anderson broke his leg in 2015, injured his neck in 2016, and suffered a season ending knee injury in 2018. That isn’t a great track record for anyone, much less a running back which is becoming increasingly replaceable at the professional level. However, Anderson will get drafted by a team because he brings more traits that teams look for in running backs.

He’s a big guy, something evident in his running style which involves lots of broken tackles and piles of players being pushed. He’s a patient runner, and as a result, he scampers for big gains regularly. He might be the best catcher from the running backs in this class. His highlight reel contains tough contested catches you’d expect from receivers, not running backs.

In addition to his injury history, Anderson doesn’t have the instant burst you’d expect from a strong physical running back, and while his top end speed his good, multiple knee injuries will lower his speed threshold. These injuries make his lack of burst an even bigger issue.

In all, Anderson can be a really useful running back at the next level assuming he can stay of the field… which could be good for teams needing a running back as a complement.

Could he be a Cowboy?:

Yes. In fact, he seems like the perfect Dallas Cowboys type pick. He’s a physical runner with a different game, but with a low draft stock because his injury history. The Cowboys will be leaning predominantly on Zeke, so Anderson could be excellent in a back up role. By not using Anderson in a lead role, he won’t be faced with volume that can lead to increased wear and tear while also providing valuable snaps to this franchise.

In addition, Anderson projects as a Day 3 prospect because of his injury history. The Cowboys could look to draft a running back as early as the 4th round, a prime position for the Sooner. With Anderson, this Cowboys backfield could be something else.

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