Tyler Ervin, RB Houston Texans

Height- 5’10”
Weight- 192 Pounds
Hand Size- 9 1/8″
40 Time- 4.41 Seconds
Vertical Jump- 39″
Broad Jump- 130″

NFL Comparison: Ronnie Hillman, Chris Rainey, Jahvid Best

Rookie Dynasty Draft ADP- 3.12
RosterWatch Rookie RB Ranking– #13

Another of GM Rick Smith’s “reaches” in order to fulfill his vision of speed on offense and special teams, the Houston Texans selected RB Tyler Ervin out of San Jose State in Round 4 of the 2016 NFL Draft. However, in a Texans backfield devoid of depth and talent behind Lamar Miller – Ervin is a rookie we need to keep an eye on regardless.

Former NFL, Texas Longhorns, and current SJSU defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, swore up and down to us at the Senior Bowl that Tyler Ervin is a bonafide NFL-caliber running back who can carry a load. After a week of Senior Bowl practice and numerous film reviews, we aren’t sure we’re on the same exact page as Robinson – but it’s something to keep in mind.

We see Ervin as a back with good feet, good first-step quickness and tremendous long speed. He tested extremely well in the explosive drills at the NFL Combine. Ervin has plus cutting ability, yet he’s not really a lateral mover. Ervin is a North/South runner who likes to get downhill. He’s good with the ball in space, even up the middle as long as uncontested lanes present themselves.

Ervin does not have the mass, power, or leg drive to be a volume back in the NFL over any real duration of time. The Texans will not be able to rely on him as a between-the-tackles runner, or in short yardage situations. Questions about his ability to pass block with such a slight frame still loom, as well. While Ervin weighed in during the NFL Draft process at 192 which was actually on the high side of what was expected as he was a sub-180 pound player in college.

Typically, we’d expect his receiving skills and special teams prowess to translate to a gadget player on offense and a returner on special teams as a rookie, however, the Texans depth chart is going to make Lamar Miller owners think twice about handcuffing him with the rookie Ervin in 2016 re-drafts.

In Dynasty Rookie Drafts, we are comfortable with selecting Ervin around his current late RD3 ADP. If you’d like to see how we rate him versus some of the WR, QB, TE options you will have available at that same juncture in your dynasty rookie draft- make sure and refer to our 2016 Rookie Dynasty Draft Cheat Sheet.

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