Player: Jordan Howard
Position: Running Back
School: Indiana
Draft Status: Fifth Round, 150th Pick
Rookie Running Back Ranking: #7
College Stats | Year | Class | Rush | Yards | AVG | TD |
| 2013 | Freshman (UAB) | 145 | 881 | 6.1 | 3 |
| 2014 | Sophomore (UAB) | 306 | 1,587 | 5.2 | 14 |
| 2015 | Junior (Indiana) | 196 | 1,213 | 6.2 | 10 |
| Totals | Three Years | 647 | 3,681 | 5.7 | 27 |
Howard played his first two seasons of college ball at Alabama-Birmingham before the program folded. During his freshman season back in 2013, the running back split time with Darrin Reaves, who acted more like the short-yardage back While Reaves put up 12 touchdowns compared to just two for Howard, the latter averaged 6.1 yards per attempt.
His best performance as a freshman came against Florida International where Howard put up 159 yards on 20 attempts in a 27-24 win, just one of two victories for UAB that season. He followed that up with a 154-yard performance a couple weeks later against Middle Tennessee State.
With UBA losing Reaves to graduation in 2014, Howard would take over the primary ball-carrier duties, putting up one of the best seasons for a running back in the program's history. In helpgin UAB to a four-win improvement from the prior season, Howard, tallied 100-plus total yards in nine games, including a school-record 262-yard outing against Southern Mississippi in the program's final game before folding.
Howard didn't have to sit out a year in transferring to Indiana the following season. Instead, he automatically took over as the Hoosiers' top running back. Facing stiffer competition in the Big 10, Howard proved he could hang with the big boys. He tallied 675 rushing yards in his first four games and later put up 238 rushing yards against Michigan. Howard decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Scouting Report
Strengths: Vision remains Howard's greatest asset. He continually showed an ability to choose the right hole and hit it hard. Does an even better job fiding holes at the second level. Low pad level and center of gravity makes the 6-foot, 230-pound running back a load to bring down. Can get that tough yard between the tackles in short-to-go distances.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have breakaway speed. Can struggle to gain an advantage out on the edge. Will be brought down at the second level by speedier defenders. Not a receiving threat. Missed multiple games in college with ankle and knee injuries, which brought his draft stock down.
2016 Outlook
Howard will be competing with Ka'Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford for playing time with Matt Forte now on the New York Jets. It's not that Howard faces less-than-stellar competition, especially in the form of Langford. Instead, it seems that his production in college, at all levels, suggests he could stand out during training camp.
The only real concern here is Howard's lack of breakaway ability and his injury history. That's why we pushed him down a notch in both re-draft and dyno leagues.
Dynasty Outlook
Really good. If Howard is able to hold up at the NFL level, he projects to be the Bears' starting running back two or three years down the road. Much higher upside than either Carey or Langford. That much cannot be in question.
Though, the issue here is floor compared to ceiling. Howard's injury history suggests he could be out of the league within a couple years. He could also be a top-15 fantasy running back. Definitely worthy of a valuable selection in rookie pool drafts, just not as high as he would be if it weren't for the injury concerns.