Player: Tyler Ervin
Position: Running Back
School: San Jose State
Draft Status: Fourth Round, 119th Pick (Houston Texans)
Rookie Running Back Ranking: #9
College Stats | Year | Class | Rush | Yards | AVG | TD | Rec | Yards | TD |
| 2011 | Freshman | 29 | 107 | 3.7 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| 2012 | Sophomore | 45 | 205 | 4.6 | 1 | 10 | 126 | 1 |
| 2013 | Junior | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Junior | 158 | 888 | 5.6 | 4 | 29 | 306 | 1 |
| 2015 | Senior | 295 | 1,601 | 5.4 | 13 | 45 | 334 | 2 |
| Totals | Five Years | 528 | 2,803 | 5.3 | 19 | 87 | 783 | 4 |
Ervin spent his freshman campaign backing up Brandon Rutley. His only real playing time came in losses against BYU, Hawaii and Idaho that season. These three games represented the only outings in which Ervin put up five-plus rush attempts.
While Rutley graduated following the 2011 season, Ervin played second fiddle once again the following year, backing up a 1,000-yard rusher in De'Leon Eskridge. After sitting out the 2013 season to injury, Ervin finally got his opportunity to play a huge role for San Jose State the following year. He responded by putting up nearly 1,200 yards while averaging over six yards per touch.
His best performance that season came in a loss to Colorado State when he put up 184 total yards and a score. All said, Ervin tallied 100-plus total yards six times in 2014.
While San Jose State had no real success during Ervin's career, he did finish it up on a strong note last season. Then a fifth-year senior, the running back tallied 100-plus total yards nine different times, including an astounding 300-yard rushing performance against Fresno State.
Scouting Report
Strengths: The athleticism is off the charts here. Ervin put up a huge combine performance, tallying a 4.41 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical jump and 130-inch broad jump, all among the best for running backs at the event. Ervin's initial burst is only overshadowed by an unreal quickness in the second level. He sees the hole and hits it hard. Lateral quickness is absurd. Great hands out of the backfield. A home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
Weaknesses: At At 5-foot-10 and under 200 pounds, Ervin will never be a three-down back in the NFL. He's more of the scat back variety that will see about 10-12 touches per game. Has issues breaking tackles, and can't fend off arm tackles on a consistent basis. Needs to do a better job following blockers out on the edge. Can't run between the tackles with much consistency.
2016 Outlook
With Lamar Miller etched in stone as the starting running back in Houston, Ervin will be vying for playing time with Alfred Blue. He's not going to be someone you can rely on to put up consistent numbers, especially in leagues where PPR isn't valued that much.
There's not much here to suggest that Ervin will be anywhere near a reliable re-draft option in 2016, meaning that the best we can hope is for him to see substantial action with a ton of production early in the season, only then hoping to pick him up off the waiver wire.
Dynasty Outlook
Ervin's absolute ceiling in dyno is Darren Sproles or Danny Woodhead. He's not going to be one of those guys that can give you 20-plust touches per game. And in reality, that drops him down draft boards a great deal. Nothing more than a mid-round option in rookie pool drafts.