Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Daijun Edwards, Michael Wiley, Kimani Vidal (2024 Fantasy Football)

NFL Draft SZN is here, baby!

The flagship event that signals the kickoff for prospect season is back. The Reese’s Senior Bowl cranks up with practice sessions starting on January 30th. We’ll be bringing you a TON of content all week at FantasyPros with daily practice recap live streams on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus written content.

Welcome to the RB Primer, which covers every running back prospect that will be at this year’s Senior Bowl. Dynasty rookie draft season is here. Let’s dive into these prospects.

• 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
• 2024 NFL Draft Guide
• NFL Draft Scouting Reports

2024 NFL Draft Senior Bowl Primer: Running Backs

Kimani Vidal (Troy)

Stats:

• 2023 (all FBS/FCS RBs minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 51st
  • Breakaway percentage: 73rd
  • PFF elusive rating: 21st
  • Yards per route run: 143rd

• 2022 (all FBS/FCS RBs minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 106th
  • Breakaway percentage: 171st
  • PFF elusive rating: 84th
  • Yards per route run: 174th
• Career
  • 3.52 Yards after contact per attempt in his collegiate career

Scouting report:

• Downhill pinball. Vidal will ricochet off incoming defenders and produce hard-fought yards with a nasty stiff arm and solid footwork. Give him a runway and he’ll chew up chunk yardage.
• Vidal has enough juice to bounce a run outside when needed but he’s at his best when he builds up some steam and penetrates the second level of the defense. Vidal isn’t a home run hitter, though. His 35.2% breakaway percentage in college tells the tale. Vidal is built to churn out 5-15-yard runs with frequency. He has only an average burst and lacks a second gear to run away from defenders in the open field. Vidal is caught behind religiously.
• He’s a volume rusher who’s proven he can hold up to the workload with at least 231 carries in each of the last two seasons and at least 23 carries in 57% of his games in his final collegiate season.

Player Comp: Devin Singletary

Michael Wiley (Arizona)

Stats:

• 2023 (minimum 70 carries, 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 70th
  • Breakaway percentage: 200th
  • PFF elusive rating: 34th
  • Yards per route run: 5th

• 2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 1st
  • Breakaway percentage: 27th
  • PFF elusive rating: 2nd
  • Yards per route run: 25th
• Career
  • 2021 YPRR rank: 16th

Scouting report: (no all-22 available)

• N/A

Player Comp: N/A

Daijun Edwards (Georgia)

Stats:

• 2023 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 100th
  • Breakaway percentage: 57th
  • PFF elusive rating: 78th
  • Yards per route run: 61st

• 2022 (minimum 100 carries, 19 targets)
  • Yards after contact per attempt: 87th
  • Breakaway percentage: 60th
  • PFF elusive rating: 69th
  • Yards per route run: 82nd

Scouting report:

• Edwards has an average burst that is made less effective by his indecision at the line. Edwards would be better served to get the train rolling with conviction early, but he shimmies at the line with footwork better served in the open field.
• Edwards is a tough runner who can get “the dirty yards.” His lively feet can be an asset moving forward, as they serve him well when necessary, getting skinny at the line.
• At this stage, he is a check-down option only. Edwards was passable, leaking out of the backfield or running the occasional stop route.

Player Comp: Charcandrick West

For more from Derek, check out his archive and follow him @dbro_ffb.