One of the best stories from the NFL Draft was the Cowboys selecting Deuce Vaughn in the sixth round. His father works as a scout for the team, and he made the phone call ("Do you want to come to work with me next week?"). Vaughn put up big numbers at Kansas State but is tiny -- just 5-foot-5 and 179 pounds.
Devon Achane (pictured) was selected by the Dolphins in the third round, and that will get the attention of the fantasy teams. It's an early enough pick to suggest future starting potential, and the Dolphins have a sketchy looking backfield -- their likely starter, Raheem Mostert, is 31 years old. Achane has great speed, running a 4.32, but he's also small: 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds at the combine.
What are the odds of either player becoming a significant fantasy back? It hasn't happened very often.
I pulled the numbers from all NFL backs weighing less than 190 pounds this century, seeing which ones had been solid fantasy starters (which I defined as posting top-30 numbers in PPR leagues). There have been only five. On their behalf, most of the ones that did it were able to do it for a number of years.
Table shows all top-30 seasons from running backs weighing 190 or less this century. Warrick Dunn is the king, having done it nine times. Darren Sproles did it seven times.
| RBS UNDER 190 POUNDS, TOP-30 NUMBERS (2000-2022) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Run | No | Rec | TD | Rk |
| 2002 | Charlie Garner, Oak. | 962 | 91 | 941 | 11 | 4 |
| 2011 | Darren Sproles, N.O. | 603 | 86 | 710 | 10 | 5 |
| 2000 | Charlie Garner, S.F. | 1142 | 68 | 647 | 10 | 6 |
| 2001 | Charlie Garner, Oak. | 839 | 72 | 578 | 3 | 11 |
| 2012 | Darren Sproles, N.O. | 244 | 75 | 667 | 8 | 13 |
| 2018 | Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 1037 | 35 | 241 | 10 | 13 |
| 2005 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 1416 | 29 | 220 | 4 | 13 |
| 2000 | Warrick Dunn, T.B. | 1133 | 44 | 422 | 9 | 14 |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 1106 | 29 | 294 | 9 | 16 |
| 2001 | Warrick Dunn, T.B. | 447 | 68 | 557 | 6 | 16 |
| 2002 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 927 | 50 | 377 | 9 | 19 |
| 2010 | Jahvid Best, Det. | 555 | 58 | 487 | 6 | 20 |
| 2019 | Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 1011 | 35 | 196 | 7 | 20 |
| 2014 | Darren Sproles, Phil. | 329 | 40 | 387 | 8 | 22 |
| 2013 | Darren Sproles, N.O. | 220 | 71 | 604 | 4 | 23 |
| 2016 | Darren Sproles, Phil. | 438 | 52 | 427 | 4 | 24 |
| 2003 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 672 | 37 | 336 | 5 | 24 |
| 2009 | Darren Sproles, S.D. | 343 | 45 | 497 | 8 | 25 |
| 2006 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 1140 | 22 | 170 | 5 | 25 |
| 2003 | Charlie Garner, Oak. | 553 | 48 | 386 | 4 | 26 |
| 2015 | Darren Sproles, Phil. | 317 | 55 | 388 | 6 | 26 |
| 2008 | Warrick Dunn, T.B. | 786 | 47 | 330 | 2 | 28 |
| 2007 | Warrick Dunn, Atl. | 720 | 37 | 238 | 4 | 28 |
| 2010 | Darren Sproles, S.D. | 267 | 59 | 520 | 2 | 29 |
Note that it hasn't happened much recently. In the last six years, undrafted Phillip Lindsay is the only guy to do it.
Achane looks like he has at least some chance of beating the odds. He has heavily muscled legs and great balance; looks a little like Sproles weaving through traffic. He averaged almost 3 receptions per game for Texas A&M the last two seasons, while also rushing for 910-1,102 yards and returning kicks; he had a touchdown on a return in each of the last two seasons. Miami has a host of backs in front of him, but he'll push at least one of those guys off the roster, maybe working his way into a pass catching role (and change-of-pace runner). That size could be an issue in pass protection, however.
Considering Achane, Bryce Young, and a couple of the top wide receiver selections we've discussed in recent weeks (Zay Flowers, Jalin Hyatt, Jordan Addison), it's an interesting draft class for the debate over how much size matters.
--Andy Richardson