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This year’s running back class isn’t getting a lot of hype ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. While the class may lack a superstar and is expected not to have any players drafted in the first round, that doesn’t mean that it is without talent. Marshawn Lloyd from USC is one of the better backs in the class and is a name to look out for.
Lloyd has a five-star back from high school and is committed to the University of South Carolina. He tore his ACL in practice before his freshman year, so he didn’t play for the Gamecocks until 2021. Lloyd spent two years with USC and finished with 801 yards and 10 touchdowns. This prompted his transfer across the country to USC. In 11 games, he had 820 yards and nine touchdowns for the Trojans. Lloyd is a good pass-catcher but must continue developing at the next level.
Marshawn Lloyd: Scouting Report
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes that Lloyd will be selected in round three or four. He compared him to veteran RB Jerick McKinnon in his analysis.
Lloyd’s flashes on tape could lead a team to envision a more expansive role for him in its offense, but based on his play, he feels more like a good complementary option with big-play potential. Frankly, some of his South Carolina tape from 2022 felt more exciting than his 2023 USC film, despite the higher yardage-per-carry mark in 2023. While he ran with improved patience and set up blockers more diligently in ‘23, he ran with a greater sense of urgency the year prior and proved he could create explosive plays without as much help from his offensive line. Lloyd runs with slightly below-average vision but has the juice to play the role of “chunk-play slasher” and dangerous open-field pass catcher. Lloyd is a low-mileage prospect, and the scope of his role will obviously depend on scheme fit.
Mock Draft landing spots
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter has Lloyd being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round at No. 92. ESPN’s Jordan Reid agreed that Lloyd would be a third-round pick, but has him going No. 100 to the Washington Commanders, despite the team having Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler.
Fantasy football implications
Usually if rookie running backs are relevant for redraft leagues they have to be a beneficiary of the starting running back getting hurt or being drafted as a replacement. The way things currently stand, the only rookie RB to keep an eye on is whoever the Dallas Cowboys select, but so much can change ahead of the regular season. For now, no need to worry about Lloyd in redraft leagues.
In dynasty leagues, landing spots and opportunity are going to matter more. I don’t think that Lloyd will land in a good enough spot to be a first-round pick, but he could be a mid-second-round pick in rookie drafts.