Low-end NFL Player Comp(s):
A more explosive Zamir White
Best Scheme Fit: Early-down
back in a scheme that leans more toward zone-run concepts. Could
evolve into a feature back as he continues to work on his skills
in the passing game, especially in pass pro.
Best Team Fit(s): Cowboys, Bills, Chargers,
Giants, Raiders, Buccaneers, Rams, Cardinals
Non-bolded times - Good examples of attribute Bolded times - Average/poor examples of attribute
* - How well does his skill set carry over
to the fantasy game? For running backs, a player needs to be a
three-down option as well as a realistic threat for 1,000 rushing
yards and 500 receiving yards to be a candidate for a perfect
grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of
the equation.
Positives
Repeatedly powers through contact and takes defenders for
a ride (career average of 3.97 yards per carry after contact).
Plays up to his NFL Combine speed (4.39), as he rarely gets
caught from behind.
Very effective counter-play runner, showing considerable
patience to set up his blocks.
Liberally utilizes his stiff arm as a weapon to accentuate
his already strong contact balance skills.
Effective dump-off option (especially on screens) and made
strides as a receiver in 2023.
Did not lose a fumble in his college career.
Negatives
Good build to be a featured back but handled 16 or more carries
in a game only seven times in 26 games at Florida State.
Occasionally struggles to get downhill and accelerate into
contact to take what is available, especially when the edge
is closed off.
Tends to run too upright and subject himself to unnecessary
punishment.
Creative at the second and third level but unlikely to make
the first man miss in the hole.
Did not get a lot of work on third down; he failed to deliver
the blow as a blocker too often and also did not distinguish
himself as a route-runner.
Suffered a torn ACL, MCL, lateral/medial meniscus and hamstring
as a true freshman.
Bottom Line
Benson may not wow evaluators with an ability to make defenders
miss in space, but he can set the tone for an offense. Every game
seems to feature at least one run where the play was not over
when it looked like it was over because he slithered out of a
tackle and picked up four more yards. He simply refused to stop
churning his legs the majority of the time. While 2023 was more
successful for him in the touchdown department (14), his 2022
season was probably more noteworthy: he finished sixth in missed
tackles forced as a runner (79) despite being tied for 75th in
carries (154). (Those numbers dipped to 45 and 156, respectively,
in 2023.) He is more than just a powerful back, however. If he
finds an alley, he will probably find the end zone as well. He
is the only player in school history with an 80-yard touchdown
catch and an 80-yard touchdown rush. Perhaps the part of his game
his new coaches will like the most: zero lost fumbles on 349 career
touches in college.
As for some of his flaws, Benson is more of a straight-line runner
than a back who makes his own luck in the open field. While the
University of Oregon transfer never lost a fumble in college and
was able to stay healthy once he recovered from his torn ACL in
2020, his upright running style will almost certainly lead to
him having issues in both areas in the NFL. Prospective coaches
and scouts will have to find answers to the question of why Benson
did not play more often on third down at Florida State, although
the answer to such a question usually stems from a lack of trust
in the player to distinguish himself as a blocker or as a route-runner.
Like most running backs, Benson will need to find a team with
a solid offensive line in place. The reason it is more important
for him is twofold: 1) his power and speed cannot become a factor
if he cannot square his shoulders and 2) he is not nimble enough
to avoid inside penetration consistently or get restarted if the
line allows it. Since his game is primarily power and speed, he
will likely be a bit of a boom-bust runner from week to week,
but he should immediately challenge for an early-down and short-yardage
role wherever he lands. Any significant contributions he makes
as a receiver - at least early on - figure to come via screens
or check-downs. He has the hands to make himself into something
more than that, but his attention to detail in the other important
facets of the passing game must improve.
Doug Orth has written for FFToday since 2006 and been featured
in USA TODAY's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He
is also a high-stakes player who often appears as a guest analyst
on a number of national sports radio shows, such as Sirius XM’s
“Fantasy Drive." Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association.
