Bishop Sankey, RB Tennessee Titans Rookie Fantasy Spotlight
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

This year’s NFL rookie running back class was heavily divided between big bruisers, and the more dynamic medium-sized types like Bishop Sankey. Who along with Tre Mason, was at the top of our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings within that positional sub-group.

We’ve told you for months, our scouting comparison for Sankey was last year’s rookie sensation Giovani Bernard of the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s a similar runner with comparable size.

Bernard plays at around 208 pounds, Sankey weighed in at the NFL Combine at 209 pounds- admittedly, not the prototypical 220 pounds scouts look for in a workhorse back. Some will argue neither can carry the load. We argue that not many backs do, and that Sankey’s predecessor in Tennessee, Chris Johnson averaged almost 300 carries per year over the last five seasons at 199 pounds. Don’t forget Andre Ellington in Arizona either, who had a pretty nice rookie season at around 200 pounds and is currently being touted as a 20-25 touch per game guy heading into year two.

Coincidentally (or maybe not), Sankey has landed in a fantasy situation very reminiscent of Bernard’s, just substitute Shonn Green for Benjarvus Green-Ellis. We love the young and powerful offensive line the Titans have built over the last two years. Most importantly, there will be no lack of opportunities for Sankey as a rookie. It’s the reason he’s been our #1 overall ranked rookie running back from the minute he was drafted at the top of Day 2 of the NFL Draft in May.

Current average draft positions for Sankey generally range from the late fourth round to the late sixth, depending on the outfit that you look at, and what the scoring settings are. A fourth round ADP is too rich for us. However, we’d be awfully tempted to select Sankey if he slid to us in the sixth round of standard drafts. Sankey is a must own in Dynasty Leagues, and should be one of the first two or three running backs taken in rookie drafts.

Some have floated the notion that Sankey will only be a change of pace back and to proceed with caution. We say bologna. He’s a volume guy with change of pace skills, that will be a huge part of a committee now and in the future. Shonn Greene is the least of our concerns when it comes to Sankey’s role in the offense. We’ve seen this type of work recently from Reggie Bush, Gio Bernard, and Andre Ellington- if you think those guys are valuable fantasy commodities- then you should be considering Bishop Sankey for your fantasy football team.