Joshua Kelley: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Position: RB
School: UCLA
Class: Senior
Date of Birth: November 20, 1997
Height: 5-11 Weight: 212lbs
Athletic Testing
40-Time: 4.49
Speed Score: 104.3 (78th-percentile)
Burst Score: 113.2 (23rd-percentile)
Agility Score: 11.23 (69th-percentile)
Bench Press: 23 (74th-percentile)
SPARQ-x: 116.8 (68th-percentile)
Bio
On top of being a star running back at Eastside High School in Lancaster, California, Joshua Kelley was a track athlete and recorded 49 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Where he did his best work was on offense, though, rushing for 1,903 yards and 22 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. Kelley was a two-star recruit and began his college career at UC-Davis in 2015. He combined for 1,139 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and shined as a kick returner in two seasons before transferring to UCLA.
See Where Joshua Kelley Lands In Our 2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
Due to transfer rules, Kelley sat out the 2017 season, but he started nine of 11 games for UCLA in 2018. He rushed for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns on 225 carries (5.5 YPC) and caught 27 passes for 193 yards (7.1 YPR). It was enough to earn him team MVP and honorable mention All-Pac-12. He was second-team all-conference in 2019, starting 11 games and rushing for 1,060 yards (4.6 YPC) and 12 touchdowns on 229 carries. He added 11 receptions for 71 yards and a score.
Kelley was one of the stars of Senior Bowl week, shining in practice and turning 15 carries into 105 yards on game day. His performance at the Combine resulted in a 78th-percentile Speed Score and 69th-percentile Agility Score. Based on scouting reports that knocked him for a lack of explosion, it was no surprise that he tested with a 23rd-percentile Burst Score.
College Stats
Joshua Kelley College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com
Positives
+31-percent of UCLA’s offensive TDs in 2019
+78th-percentile Speed Score
+33.2-percent (77th-percentile) Dominator
+9.2-percent (69th-percentile) Target Share
+Strong, physical runner
+Only three fumbles on 454 attempts over the last two seasons
Negatives
-5.1 (30th-percentile) career YPC; 4.6 YPC in 2019
-Fifth-year running back; older prospect
-Average receiving skills
-Not elusive
-2.8 yards after contact per attempt
-0.49 yards per route
-23rd-percentile Burst Score
Highlight Reel
Best Comparable Player (PlayerProfiler): Sony Michel
NFL Draft Projection: Day Three
Bottom Line:
There are things in Kelley’s profile (Speed Score and Market Share numbers) that suggest he could make an immediate impact at the NFL level, but he will need decent draft capital and a favorable landing spot/situation to see that come to fruition. Long-term, Kelley projects as a short-yardage specialist that will share a backfield with one or two other more talented runners. He can catch dump-offs and screen passes but will not be confused for a dynamic threat out of the backfield. Kelley’s style is running into defenders rather than running around them and he struggled to break tackles at the college level. If he finds the right situation he’ll be a solid late second or third round pick in dynasty rookie drafts but otherwise it’s hard to envision him making a consistent fantasy impact at any point of his career.
Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, NFL.com, PFF
