Another “Sleeper” RB
April 22nd, 2019
Running back Wesley Fields
Dirk Koetter had a lot of awkward chats and commentary with local media last season and Joe will put the fired head coach’s comments about 49ers running back Matt Breida in the top 10.
Breida was a second-year pro out of Georgia Southern who played high school ball just north of the Den of Depression in Hernando County. He was someone Koetter knew all about in college, and Koetter actually explained how he had a personal connection at Georgia Southern and watched Breida play in person and was impressed.
Meanwhile, desperate for a running back entering the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bucs passed on many excellent backs, in addition to Breida who went undrafted. Last season, Breida had 814 yards on just 153 carries for the 49ers, plus 27 catches for 261 yards and five total touchdowns.
How did a local kid like Breida, who tore up opponents at Georgia Southern, slip past the needy Bucs?
Ugh.
Anyway, it’s two years later and another productive running back is coming out of Georgia Southern. His name is Wesley Fields. Joe finds Fields to be a somewhat unique story because Georgia Southern rarely threw the football last season. Fields actually led them in receiving with just 237 yards on only 10 receptions. He also rushed for 1,050 yards on 200 carries.
Emory Hunt, the draft guru known as the Czar of the Playbook, wrote a load on Fields recently, calling him one of three sleeper running backs in this year’s draft. Here’s an excerpt:
On the field, there is a ton of things to like about Fields’ game. Here’s the Football Gameplan Scouting draft report on what he brings to the table as a prospect:
Blessed with hammerhead shark periphery, Fields is able to consistently see the field well, frontside-to-backside. That’s a pretty rare trait to have coming out of a triple-option offense where you are usually dealing with clearly defined lanes as a runner.
From an elusiveness perspective, Fields has great lateral burst and ‘springs’, showing the ability to score from anywhere on the field, threatening—or flat out abusing—pursuit angles in the process.
He has above average acceleration and explosiveness, and runs with a great deal of patience and balance. Although opportunities in the passing game were limited, he showed enough there to where you feel comfortable with his game in that capacity. Fields is a slasher that could be very effective in a zone-blocking scheme.
Considering the recent success of guys like Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida, I think it’s safe to say that, if given the opportunity, Wesley Fields also has a chance to succeed in the NFL.
Joe wants to see the Bucs invest in a running back who has a chance to be great in the NFL, maybe as early as the second round. But Joe would love to see the Bucs bring in a promising undrafted or 7th-round-pick back like Fields into the mix as well. They need the depth and competition, and Joe has no faith in Ronald Jones or Andre Ellington.
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:25 pm
No RB for me in the draft…build the trenches round 1-4….then a post draft vet cap cast off RB….next year 2020 draft a RB
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Licht has ZERO clue on what an nfl rb or nfl OL should be, when will the licht nightmare end? Oh ya im sure TJ Yeldon couldnt start day 1 for the bucs and be an immediate upgrade and impact player as a runner and receiver. The bills grab him & the bucs continue to be a joke
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:27 pm
TJ Yeldon would’ve flopped with Bucs especially as a starter. I have no problem with the Bucs passing on a potential bust.
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:30 pm
“Its a passing league where the rules is setup for the passing offense to succeed and score
The Mcvays and Shanahans design runningbacks to be open and alone with 250lb slower linebackers
The days of running 5 yards at a time to score tds from your own 20 yard line is gone
You need pass catching runningbacks to create mismatches and explosive plays…its what KC does 80% of the time…it works
Get ready for alot of deep pass pattern attemps including WHEEL ROUTES. Offensive coordinators, with the new pass interference instant replays with throw deep 10x more this year”
Kobe Faker
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:31 pm
i wouldnt draft an RB in the 2nd round unless we have an extra 2nd round pick….
devin singletary, benny snell can be had in the 4th-6round range imo…..darrell henderson i like but may be gone early tho….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:33 pm
tbbucs3
idk…..i think yeldon wouldve been a good fit….at the worse he would rotate with PB….
oh well….it is what it is….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:35 pm
I still think Shaun Wilson has something to show …he is smallish, but a really smooth RB
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:44 pm
What about Bruce Anderson from NDSU in the later rounds
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Kobe if you want to build a Championship offense it cant be one dimensional.
You gotta have different ways to win. Agree that the league favors passing but lets not pretend that great offenses like KC(your example) dont have to use their running attack.
Heck just go back last year when our own offense was playing at a elite level……..yes we did go 2-0 at that time but the keen eye also saw an offense that was unable to run the ball and finish the game and allowed for a comeback………..Granted we won those games but that will not fly in a playoff run.
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:51 pm
Sean Wilson needs more touches in camp! SIMPLE AS THAT 🙂
The dude has burst to say the least.
Would like to see more of him.
What I saw last year in limited reps was decent!
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:55 pm
Dirk Koetter likes a running back, he goes undrafted, while Licht wastes a second round pick on RoJo, a total disaster. I don’t care what “communication” issues the remaining staff keeps blaming everything on, Licht made a bad pick, in the second round. Can’t blame kLueLess KoETter for that
April 22nd, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Hmm. Well this Fields kid isn’t in any of my draft magazines and journals so that’s a good start. Not so much. Which then indicates much more of an UDFA. Sign anyone you want as an UDFA to compete for the 53.
David Montgomery in the 3rd round for real RB’s capable of starting and playing all 3 downs. Stop taking chances.
On the off chance that Licht trades down BIG once, or two small trade-downs to say #20 or beyond, as a package philosophy Licht grabs Jacobs-Lindstrom-Zach Allen…ALL as part of the new pick package at bottom of first, top of second grab stash.
April 22nd, 2019 at 3:00 pm
“JJ
I agree with you. I definately want backs that are duel threats. Those days of bringing in a passing catching rb just on 3rd down is over. The problems defending the gurleys and bells is the defense dont know if its run or leaking out screen ON ANY DOWN
running barber on 1st and 2nd down and bringing in a receiving back just on 3rd down is ancient and Klueless
Shaun wilson should be our #2 back. He has proven he has skills to help our offense by run and pass”
Kobe Faker
April 22nd, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Edge rushers & RBs…..Edge rushers & RBs……Edge Rushers & RBs…..methinks Joe has never seen one he doesn’t want us to pick up.
And don’t dis Andre Ellington….coach BA brought him in and likes him…..
April 22nd, 2019 at 3:39 pm
We drafted a sleeper running back last year LOL. The only person who thinks he is any good is the guy that drafted him. SMH.
April 22nd, 2019 at 3:44 pm
I find it funny that I keep reading articles about how we must upgrade the running back position, then I read an article about how run stopping linebackers are dinosaurs. I’m trying to figure out which it is. Do we need an elite back to make our offense go, because running the ball is important, or should we line up 5 pass rushing defensive ends and zero MLB and say damn the run we want your QB head. It’s all confusing you would think if a running back is important then a player on defense to neutralize him would be at least equally important.
April 22nd, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Wilson was an amazing all around RB in college. He was looking very sharp in preseason last year. The right coaching, oline, and if he can stay healthy he could possibly come in and be a Kareem Hunt type.
Unless RoJo explodes game one, Wilson is defenintly gonna get more touches. Especially without Jaquizz Rogers. Get another good looking sleeper RB UDFA such as Fields.
April 22nd, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Here is why
We have one bleeping scout in all the south east
April 22nd, 2019 at 4:27 pm
I think that Emery Hunt is a lot wrong just like the rest of us….
Examples for in season fantasy football:
Ty Montgomery, Baltimore Ravens… Montgomery fills a need for Baltimore and should put together a fantastic rest of the season
Demaryius Thomas, Houston Texans…Thomas is still capable of being a strong No. 2 WR, Those things can, and will, happen in Houston as early as this week.
Here is how he rated the rookie quarterbacks coming into the 2018 season in his article on August 27, 2018.
Sam Darnold (Jets)
Josh Allen (Bills)
Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Josh Rosen (Cardinals)
Baker Mayfield (Browns)
He just joined the Athletic last August so I had not seen him before then. Overall was not impressed with his prognostications last year or his articles. But he is a writing head for football so he must be the self proclaimed czar of the playbook!
April 22nd, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Love the title Joe … “Another Sleeper RB”. I assume RoJo fell into that category? Or was the real sleeper Jason Licht?
April 22nd, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Ga. Southern- Sleeper back U.
The other two on his list are
Rodney Anderson-Oklahoma
Nisby- Short yardage guy from Tx Wesley.
April 22nd, 2019 at 5:49 pm
How about a RB that scores TD’s like Darrrell Henderson (27 TD’s) in 2018?
How about a RB that averages 8.9 yards per carry?
How about the best receiving back in the draft according to Bucky Brooks?
I can’t wait for the draft, my arms are getting tired beating the drum for Henderson.
April 22nd, 2019 at 5:50 pm
That sounds somewhat like Le’Veon Bell…
April 22nd, 2019 at 6:52 pm
I hope they don’t waste a premium pick on a RB again this year.
April 22nd, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Have to say, the more I study it, I like the Buc’s interest in Jalen Hurd…the Tennessee running back turned Baylor receiver. He could be just what the doctor ordered.
April 22nd, 2019 at 9:27 pm
Darrell Henderson is the guy I’d want but we’d probably have to take him with our 3rd, if he even lasts that long.