Joseph Randle, RB Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Football Rookie Spotlight
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

Photo via Joseph Randle Twitter

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 204 pounds

40-time: 4.63 40-time (Combine)

Competition for touches:
RB DeMarco Murray
RB Phillip Tanner
RB Lance Dunbar

Bill Byrne’s Scouting Report:

Joseph Randle may never become a lead back, but he has the ability to make an impact as a third-down back almost immediately in the NFL. 
As a runner, Randle is a work in progress. He is slim in the lower body and relatively stiff in the hips, which affects his ability to maintain balance and stay upright on contact. He lacks explosion and he really struggles to accelerate out of his cuts. He’s a one-speed runner who lacks the extra gear to pull away from the secondary. 


Randle lacks NFL power, but has a very good ability to make himself skinny at the line and to sneak his way though. He’s tough enough, and finishes his runs by lowering his shoulder and falling forward—but he really doesn’t offer much after contact and can be brought down too often with arm tackles. The good news is that he significantly increased his strength as a junior and his frame is just starting to fill out.


The best part of Randle’s game is what he does on passing downs. He has over 100 college career receptions and can contribute both as a receiver out of the backfield and running routes from the wide receiver position. He is a natural hands catcher with big soft hands that are more reliable than most wide receivers. He’s adept at following his blockers in the open field. But he is not explosive running after the catch. 
Randle is uncommonly good at blitz recognition in pass protection. He meets pass rushers squarely and anchors well, always showing determination, but again his narrow base somewhat limits him as a blocker. He is much more advanced as a blocker than most college running backs.
 Randle has shown continual development, and he has a high football IQ, is quick to read and react to a defense. He is aware of down and distance to first down markers, where the sideline boundaries are, and where the goal line is at. 
He will be best in a committee where he gets the bulk of the passing downs.

Fantasy Outlook:

DeMarco Murray has shown that he is a good NFL back when healthy, but the problem is, he can’t stay healthy. With Felix Jones gone, and with only Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner manning the running game behind Murray, Randle comes in as an immediate must-own handcuff for Murray owners. He is a player who may even get some 2013 run in redraft leagues when Murray eventually tweaks something and misses time.”