Jonathon Brooks Dynasty Rookie Profile

The University of Texas managed to send two productive rookie running backs to the NFL ranks last season, with both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson making immediate impacts at the professional level in their rookie years.

Little did we know a Longhorn running back may be the first primary ball carrier selected in the NFL Draft for a second straight year. Should Jonathon Brooks be the top running back picked by NFL and dynasty fantasy football teams alike when drafts start later this year?

Should You Draft Jonathon Brooks in Dynasty Fantasy Football?

As rookie running back rankings continue to pour in from various content creators in the fantasy football industry, you tend to notice one common theme — there isn’t a surefire consensus top prospect atop the board at the RB position.

Jonathan Brooks 👀

(Via @TexasFootball) pic.twitter.com/j0MhH55Mb2

— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 31, 2024

Brooks was starting to pick up some serious steam after a stellar 2023 campaign but saw his season abruptly end due to a torn ACL, which has consequently put his value heading into dynasty rookie drafts quite uncertain at this very moment.

When digging into the tape and numbers from just his final year at Texas, he has as good a case as any to be the RB1 in this class. Unfortunately, the timing of his devastating knee injury heading into the draft process causes a handful of concerns for both NFL and dynasty teams alike.

His value could range all the way from the late first round to the early third, depending on NFL Draft capital and which team selects him.

No matter what the answer is to those pair of factors, dynasty managers will need to significantly temper their expectations for Brooks heading into the 2024 NFL season while he continues to rehab his injured knee.

Who Is Brooks?

Background

Brooks was a four-star prospect during his prep days at Hallettsville High School in the state of Texas who happened to excel both on the football field and the basketball court.

During his senior year of high school, Brooks rushed for 3,530 yards and 62 TDs while adding an additional 284 yards and three TDs on 15 receptions. He was named a top-10 finalist for Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas High School Football Player of the Year.

College Production

In a day and age where players buried on the depth chart quickly enter the transfer portal, Brooks decided to honor his commitment to the Texas football program by playing behind Robinson for the first two years of his collegiate career.

MORE: Dynasty Rookie Draft Strategies

His 389 yards and seven scores from scrimmage on just 53 total touches through his true and redshirt freshman seasons combined is completely understandable when given the context of playing behind one of the best running back prospects to enter the NFL in the last 10 years.

Brooks finally came into his own in 2023, producing 1,425 total yards and 11 TDs in his lone season as the leading ball carrier for the Longhorns.

Injury History

In November of 2023, Brooks suffered a torn ACL during the team’s win against TCU.

Brooks’ Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Physical runner for a player listed at 6’0” and 207 pounds; contact balance and play strength are evident when he drops his pad level and muscles through tackle attempts.
• Quick, and sudden feet; capable of stringing together multiple jump cuts in tight quarters and accelerating when he identifies an open crease between the tackles.
• Contributions in the passing game are a plus; soft hands and quality body control to casually snag passes away from his frame.
• Has some nice reps on tape displaying patience, pressing the hole to help lineman gain proper leverage before hitting the accelerator to churn out yards through the optimal rushing lane.
• Has the agility, patience, and burst to be an effective zone or gap scheme producer.
• Fluid hipswhelp with lateral agility and burst to elude defenders in tight quarters.
• Effective timing and strength with his stiff arm.
• Secure ball carrier; only one fumble over his 266 total touches in college.

Weaknesses

• Torn ACL late in the 2023 season clouds his value heading into the NFL Draft; some teams may decide to steer clear because of concerning medical issues entering the league.
• Arguably was unable to hold up physically in his lone collegiate season as the bell cow ball carrier.
• Open-field elusiveness pales in comparison to his ability to make defenders miss at the first level of the defense.

With the fantasy football season behind us, why not start preparing for your rookie drafts with our dynasty rookie rankings? Additionally, as you look to improve your team heading into 2024, our dynasty trade calculator can help you find the perfect deal to boost your championship chances.