Clyde Edwards-Helaire Draft Value: RB1?
When the top RB in the 2020 NFL Draft is being debated, usually we hear of three players: D’Andre Swift from Georgia, J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State, and Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin. On both MyBookie and BetOnline, you’ll find odds for Swift, Taylor, and Dobbins for the first RB drafted in 2020. However, the field currently sits at +600. Due to the increasing steam behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s draft stock, and with the NFL being a pass-heavy league, there’s no world where a bet on him to be the first RB drafted is a bad one.
While all the RBs listed above can be something special in the NFL, one player continues to be slept on. This RB had to fight for playing time his entire career. Now, he is starting to garner a ton of praise in NFL Draft circles, and the hype train is gaining speed.
How did Clyde Edwards-Helaire get here?
Edwards-Helaire is an incredible talent at the RB position and could very well be the first RB off the board in 2020. He grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he went to high school with another Louisiana great: Derrius Guice. Edwards-Helaire was Guice’s backup for multiple years in high school. When finally given the reigns to the offense, he played well enough to garner a four-star rating from 247Sports and a scholarship offer from his hometown LSU Tigers.
At LSU, he found himself in a familiar situation: backup RB to Guice. After sitting behind Guice for only one year, Edwards-Helaire flourished once again. In his last two years at LSU, he amassed 2,621 total yards and 24 total TDs. He also played a vital role in bringing back the first national championship to LSU since 2007.
What separates Edwards-Helaire from the rest of the pack?
Now entering the draft after his remarkable season, Edwards-Helaire’s draft value is gaining massive steam in certain circles. It’s easy to see why when you flip on the tape.
Edwards-Helaire is the best route runner at the RB position in the 2020 NFL Draft and is also incredible after the catch. He has the best combination of agility and contact balance in this class thanks to his low center of gravity. While some might knock him for his height, it benefits him greatly, allowing him to make plenty of standout plays including this sick TD run vs Alabama in 2019.
While the long speed might concern some, there should be zero fear in his game. Burst is more important for a RB than long speed, and he showcases his burst all throughout his game. Plenty of top draft prospects (Kareem Hunt, David Montgomery, James Conner to name a few) ran a 4.6 40-yard dash and are successful in the NFL. NFL teams will also love his reliability in the run game. Over his three-year LSU career, Edwards-Helaire fumbled only twice for a fumble rate of 219.5 touches/fumble.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Draft Value & Dynasty Profile
Edwards-Helaire’s Draft Value
Edwards-Helaire being drafted behind an already established top RB (Tennessee, Green Bay, etc.) is his worst-case draft scenario. However, even in a bad situation, he will produce as a rookie. It will be impossible to keep him off the field on third downs. Over his first seasons, he’ll grow past whatever committee he’s been drafted into. Especially once he proves just how versatile and complete he can be.
The best-case scenario for him is sky-high. Another RB that ran a slower 40-yard dash but jumped out of the gym was drafted into a perfect scenario a few years ago. At first, this RB started out behind two established studs at the position. By season’s end, he not only surpassed said studs, but he also finished as the RB3 in PPR. His name is Alvin Kamara. If Edwards-Helaire is drafted in the optimal situation (think Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Rams), I see a meteoric rise for him to the top-12 in dynasty.
