Colts Draft Evan Hull: Dynasty Rookie Outlook (2023 Fantasy Football)

The 2023 NFL Draft is here! After months of waiting, we finally know where the 2023 NFL Draft class will land. This information shapes the outlook for rookies in 2023 and beyond. We’re going to have you covered throughout and following the 2023 NFL Draft to help you prepare for your fantasy football leagues. Next up for many will be dynasty rookie drafts. To help you prepare to make your dynasty rookie draft picks, let’s dive into Thor Nystrom’s 2023 NFL Draft profile as well as Pat Fitzmaurice’s dynasty rookie draft outlook for Evan Hull.

Dynasty Rookie Picks & Predictions: Colts Draft Evan Hull

Let’s first see what NFL Draft expert Thor Nystrom says about Evan Hull.

Thor Nystrom’s 2023 NFL Draft Outlook & Player Comp

Player comparison: Joseph Addai

Hull is a personal favorite of my colleague Derek Brown and I’s. Super underrated prospect with a diverse skillset and more than enough athleticism to project its translation to the next level.

Hull was an under-the-radar recruit who got the majority of his 582 collegiate touches the past two seasons on Northwestern teams that combined to go 4-20. And while Peter Skoronski was on the offensive lines he ran behind, Northwestern had essentially nothing else on offense – allowing defenses to key in on Hull. His evaluation requires isolating Hull from his collegiate situation.

Hull admirably did not appear to pick up bad habits we sometimes associate with running backs in similar collegiate situations. Vision is a plus. He was also patient when he had opportunities to be. Hull’s lateral burst shined on both film and at the Senior Bowl. Hull quickly deciphers if the initial plan is viable. when it’s not, has the ability to flatten down the line of scrimmage and steal the edge.

Hull’s cuts are sudden, and he has the contact balance to absorb blows and stay on his feet. He isn’t a jitter-bug mover. He’s a muscle-packed back with one-cut suddenness. Myths about Hull’s speed were dispelled at the NFL Combine – Hull ran a 4.47 and checked in as a 92nd-percentile size-adjusted athlete.

Hull is an extremely skilled receiver. Last year, he was near tops in this class in targets, receptions, aDOT, and snaps in the slot or out wide. Detail-oriented route-runner regardless of deployment. Quick acceleration and violent route-breaks make him tricky to stay with. Hull has slick, reliable hands.

Tough kid and a dogged worker. On the NFL Combine telecast, Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah fawned over Hull’s insistence on finishing every single rep by running the ball past the goal line 40 yards upfield. This was a quirk we noticed about Hull in Mobile, as well – the Senior Bowl coaches took notice of Hull’s habit of finishing every practice rep by sprinting 30 additional yards upfield with the ball. Both of these anecdotes may sound silly and minor – but Hull was the only back at either event doing this. Something teammates take note of. Tempo-setting worker.

Hull’s pass-blocking was a question in college. At the Senior Bowl, he acquitted himself fine in this area – if nothing else, he knows his assignment and doesn’t shy from it. But doesn’t have the anchor for all assignments in that area. He should be used as a receiver, not a blocker.

Hull projects as a strong complimentary back at the next level – and might even be a little more. He will immediately be his team’s best receiving option in the backfield, offering the ability to win lined up anywhere. And his organization will get more from him as a runner than most are currently projecting.

2023 Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook: Evan Hull

Indianapolis wouldn’t seem to be an optimal landing spot for Hull, since the Colts already have a workhorse in Jonathan Taylor. But Taylor could use a complementary back to give him an occasional breather and step in on obvious passing downs, and Hull seems well-suited for that sort of role.

Ready-made for passing-down duty, Hull’s skill set should play well in the NFL. His 54 receptions last season led all FBS running backs, and he led Northwestern in rushing in each of the last two seasons. In fact, Hull was really the only the only playmaker for the lowly Wildcats, who went 4-20 over the last two years. The 5-10, 209-pound Hull is a smooth, detail-oriented route runner with a knack for picking up yardage after the catch. A good all-around athlete, Hull ran a 4.47 at the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a relative athletic score of 9.22.

Hull isn’t a very physical runner, so he might be primarily a passing-down back for most of his career. Don’t expect to see him used as a goal-line back anytime soon. Hull averaged just 4.1 yards per carry in his final season at Northwestern, though he was working with a dismal supporting cast (save for offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, a first-round draft pick).

In 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, Hull is worth a mid-to-late third-round pick. In superflex formats, he’s likely to go late in the third round or early in the fourth.