Gridiron Meanderings

With the NFL Draft only about a month away, I’ve started to take a closer look at the top players available as I prepare for several fantasy rookie drafts. Generally, the consensus is Mark Ingram is the best running back available in this class. Looking at the tape and skill sets, I believe that Mikel Leshoure is actually the better NFL prospect for a number of reasons.

At 5-09 and 215 lbs, Ingram is a smaller runner that has drawn comparisons to Emmitt Smith in-part because of his pedestrian measurables.1 Others have stated a better comparison is Frank Gore, which isn’t a bad player to be compared to either.2 He has solid but not great speed (4.62 40 yard dash), runs fairly well with some power between the tackles that makes the Gore comparison valid, and has good lateral elusiveness. However, unlike Smith and more like Gore, Ingram has some serious durability concerns that have probably dropped him from being a potential top-15 pick. Sufficed to say, Ingram has a lot going for him, and if he lives up to the Smith comparison, he’ll be fantasy gold if he lands on the right team.

That said, I am liking Leshoure a bit more than Ingram. He’s bigger than Ingram at 5-11, 232 lbs and is a bit faster (4.58 40 yard dash). I also like that he finished strong as a senior, getting his first real chance to shine after being in the shadow of current NFL starters Pierre Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall. He scored a ridiculous 17 rushing touchdowns, did not turn the ball over even once, averaged 6 yards-per-carry, and proved to be a solid receiver out of the backfield. Even more impressive was his total Texas Bowl dominance (184 yards, 3 touchdowns). He looks to be an all-around, every down starter who has drawn comparisons to Rashard Mendenhall and Marshawn Lynch.3,4 Personally, I think he is closer to Mendenhall or another solid starter, Steven Jackson.

While I think both running backs will be solid NFL starters, Leshoure has the all-around game and tangibles that point to a solid career. Ingram has the intangibles and instincts, but I worry his body will betray him to the point he won’t live up to his potential. To me, Ingram appears to be a two-down running back that will work best as a lead in a committee, while Leshoure has the look of a solo starter who can stay in red zone and goal line packages. He won’t be as flashy, but Leshoure looks like a better fantasy producer in most formats compared to Ingram.

I’d still be happy with either prospect on my team though.