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Rachaad White
RB – Arizona St.
6’0” 214 lbs
Age: 23
Notable College Production:
Summary:
Rachaad White is a well-rounded back with good size and a strong receiving profile. He was very productive after transferring to Arizona State and has the skill set to earn high value touches that can translate into fantasy production. White attended the Senior Bowl where he earned very positive reviews and then tested well at the NFL Combine. There have been rumors that the NFL is not as high on Rachaad White as the fantasy community is, but he may be doing enough to change that narrative in the pre-draft process. He is currently the fourth rookie RB being drafted on Underdog and is not far from overtaking Isaiah Spiller in ADP. If he ends up as a day two pick at the NFL Draft his current draft position could be a great value.
Full Report:
In the interest of full transparency I should mention that Rachaad White is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He has a versatile skill set, underrated athleticism, and the frame to handle a real workload in the NFL. He played at Mt. San Antonio College for two seasons before transferring to Arizona State where he was extremely productive, amassing more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and scoring 22 touchdowns in 15 games across two seasons. He grades very well in metrics like yards per team play and dominator rating which point to his ability to be a feature weapon in an offense. It’s not ideal that he is entering the league as a 23 year old but given the path of his college career and the pandemic shortened 2020 season (Arizona State only played 4 games) he had no choice but to play four seasons.
White is a good rusher but what really makes him an intriguing prospect is his ability in the receiving game. He is a natural pass catcher who is elusive in space and comfortable operating out of the backfield or lined up out wide. He also has the vision and patience to run between the tackles as well as the speed and agility to make plays on the edge. This versatility gives him multiple paths to earn playing time and touches wherever he lands.
White displays good footwork and is able to set up and read his blocks effectively. He can create positive plays even when his blockers fail due to his ability to change direction on a dime and find a small crease to make something out of nothing. When he gets to the second level he has the ability to stack cuts that put defenders off balance and enough burst to leave them behind as he hits the open field. He is a big play threat on every touch and could be a very effective chess piece in an offense that uses his versatility to create mismatches.
White does not have many major weaknesses but he does have a flair for the dramatic and occasionally adds unnecessary jukes, spins, and hurdles which slow his progress when a straightforward approach might be more effective. He is inconsistent at winning on first contact and is brought down by the initial defender more often than you would like to see for a back with his size and athletic profile. He also had some issues with ball security as a junior but cleaned those up in his senior season. Ultimately, White profiles as someone who can handle a three down workload in the NFL and has the upside to be an elite pass catching back. As long as he earns day two draft capital in the NFL Draft I am going to make it a point to have plenty of Rachaad White exposure in my best ball portfolio this year.
