* - 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
Possesses prototypical size and burst for the position;
uses every bit of his 221-pound frame to set a tone for the
offense (forced 197 missed tackles over his three-year college
career).
Runs as angry and violently as anyone in this draft
class; repeatedly puts potential tacklers to the ground with
his stiff arm.
Disciplined and patient outside zone runner; understands
the importance of varying his tempo before reaching his aiming
point, which allows him to anticipate the hole correctly as
often as he does.
Did not miss any of his 42 college games; handled at
least 20 touches 16 times and proved he could carry the load
by twice recording at least 289 touches (13 games in both seasons).
Tallied 59 catches over three seasons versus only three
drops.
Averaged a fumble once every 199.5 touches over his
college career - a remarkable number for a back who tries so
hard to create yards after contact.
Negatives
College workload is high for a three-year back (798
touches), although he got a bit of a reprieve in 2024 (216 touches)
while sharing the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson.
Not a lot of wiggle to his game and can be rendered
ineffective if his offensive line doesn't provide him a runway;
runs with so much ferocity that it is hard for him to make a
sharp change of direction.
As successful as he is powering through contact and
breaking tackles, he could be even better if he lowered his
pad level more consistently.
Mostly a singles and doubles hitter; 14.7 percent of
his 739 career carries went for at least 10 yards but only 4.3
percent of them went for at least 20 yards.
Was limited to mostly check-downs and swing passes as
a pass-catcher.
Appears to be out of position in pass pro too often,
which may be the primary reason he seems to default to a cut
block; he has the size and power to square up his defender,
which he does when he is asked to be a lead blocker.
Bottom Line
Judkins topped 1,000 rushing yards and accounted for at least
16 touchdowns in each of his three college seasons, two of which
came in what is generally considered the most competitive conference
year after year (SEC) and one in the second-most competitive conference
(Big Ten) while part of a committee. It is a resume that speaks
for itself, as does his
athletic profile. The combination of Judkins' physicality,
durability and ball security sets him apart from most backs and
should be enough to earn the respect of his new team as the primary
early-down and short-yardage option quickly. It would be shocking
if he does not hold down those responsibilities for the majority
of his NFL career.
After that, it gets a bit trickier. Judkins is never going to
be overly elusive and his timed speed (4.48) is a bit misleading
in part because is more explosive than fast. It is a nice way
to say he cannot generally break off long touchdown runs in the
way Saquon Barkley or Jonathan Taylor do. That is far from a deal-breaker
because there are so few backs that can make NFL defenders look
like average athletes. The 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year has good
hands but does not appear to be a great candidate to be anything
more in the passing game than he was in college.
The most concerning aspect of his game - and the thing that will
keep them from becoming a featured back if it does not improve
quickly - is what he put on film in pass pro. The combination
of marginal utility as a weapon in the passing game and average-at-best
ability to pick up or recognize the blitz is a big deal and makes
it likely Judkins will begin his NFL career as a back who likely
needs to work in a committee with a dynamic change-of-pace back
- at least in 2025. The Alabama native seems like one of those
backs who just needs a bit more time to pick up some of the finer
points of the passing game after playing in two college offenses
that were more concerned about keeping things simple by using
tempo rather than out-executing the opponent. It may take Judkins
a bit longer to become a bell-cow than the three other backs profiled
so far, but it should happen eventually.
Doug Orth has written for FFToday since 2006 and joined the
Fantasy Points website before the start of the 2024 season. He is
also a highly successful high-stakes player who often appears as
a guest analyst on Sirius XM. Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association. Please check out his new podcast with
JJ Wenner called "The All-Out Blitz."
