Rookie Scouting Profile: Jonathon Brooks

FullTime Fantasy Rookie Scouting Profile: Jonathon Brooks

Jonathon Brooks (RB) Texas

Ht.	Wt.	40-Time	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
6-0	216	4.45*	Round 2	2.01	Dalvin Cook

*estimate

College Production

Jonathon Brooks starred in basketball and excelled as a special teams returner and First-team All-State running back with 3,530 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns in 2020 with Hallettsville High in Texas. Stayed in the Lone Star State and red-shirted his freshman (2021) season as UT already had Bijan Robinson in the backfield. Backed up Robinson in 2022, averaging 6.6 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns as a red-shirt sophomore. After Robinson left for the NFL, Brooks ascended to the starting role and earned Second-team All-Big-12 accolades after leading the Longhorns in rushing (1,139 yards) and scoring 11 TDs in 11 games. Brooks’s season unfortunately ended in November after tearing his ACL against TCU.

Strengths

• Elusive runner with speed. Brooks posted an impressive 4.1 yards after contact per attempt at Texas. He also posted a top-10 PFF Elusive Rating (140.3) in 2023 and forced 63 missed tackles.

• Has the agility, speed, size, power, and hands to be a three-down back in the NFL.

• Showed well as a pass catcher, posting a top-10 PFF receiving grade (76.0) in 2023, hauling in 25 of the 29 targets thrown his way, and averaging a healthy 1.50 yards per route run.

• Low usage in college (238 attempts) and won’t turn 21 years old until July.

• Brooks showcased elite speed, particularly on outside runs. Also boasted a healthy 13.3 yards after catch in 2023.

5) Jonathon Brooks (67th percentile)

Demonstrated solid breakaway rushing and receiving scores.

The highest rated Power 5 RB in the class in this metric.

— Curtis Patrick (@CPatrickNFL) March 30, 2024

Concerns

• Torn ACL suffered in November prevented Brooks from participating in any Combine drills or at Texas’ Pro Day.

• Not as decisive or powerful as his 216 pounds indicates. Brooks could struggle in short yardage if thrust into a “power back” type of straight-ahead scheme.

• Average at best in pass protection.

• Only had one season as a featured starter in college.

Fantasy Outlook

If it wasn’t for that torn ACL, we would see plenty of mock drafts with Brooks potentially sneaking into the bottom of Round One as the unquestioned top running back in this class. He is still my favorite runner in this group and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to target at 1.10 in rookie drafts.

His redraft value is still to be determined. Ideally, Brooks lands with the hometown Dallas Cowboys in the second round and becomes an intriguing RB2 target with top-15 upside. It is also interesting to note that the doctor who repaired Brooks’s clean ACL tear was Dr. Daniel E. Cooper, the team physician for the Dallas Cowboys.

There are other solid fits for Brooks, but he could be brought along slowly as he recovers from offseason surgery. We’ll have to keep an eye on the status of his knee this summer. Carolina has also shown interest.

Overall, a healthy Brooks has a ton of upside and could contend for RB1 numbers if he secures a starting role. However, there is also the chance that 2024 is a “red shirt” year as he recovers from his knee injury. That makes Brooks an intriguing pick, not only in dynasty but in best ball formats as well. I plan to roster him as much as I can.

Other Rookie Profiles

See where Jonathon Brooks ranks in Jody’s 2024 rookie rankings.

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