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Dynasty League Rookie Prospect: USC RB Javorius “Buck” Allen

By Bruce Matson

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Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Javorius Allen (37) runs the ball in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

USC RB Javorius ‘Buck” Allen

Javorius “Buck” Allen is another intriguing running back prospect in this year’s draft. He’s another one of those prospects where there are a lot of analysts who are either in love with him or they hate him. Most prospects that are likely to be selected in the middle-late rounds are going to experience waves of love and hate. The important thing is to collect as much data as possible in order to make an analytical determination of that player’s value once they are drafted to their team.

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College Production

Buck Allen broke out during his sophomore season (age 22) by rushing for 785 yards and 14 TDs with a 5.8 yard per carry average, and he caught 22 receptions for 252 yards and 1 TD. Allen improved upon those numbers during his junior season (age 23) by rushing for 1,489 and 11 TDs for 5.4 yards per carry, while catching 41 receptions for 458 yards and 1 TD. During Allen’s junior season, Allen accounted for 25.06% of USC’s offensive production, and 38.63% of the team’s rushing yards. Allen had a very good junior season, but what’s concerning about his college production was that he only had one season where he was actually considered relevant. One year of solid college production is a red flag when you evaluate a prospect.

Player Metrics

Notable players who compare athletically to Buck Allen

Eddie Lacy

Isaiah Crowell

Jay Ajayi

Not-so notable player who compare athletically to Buck Allen

Brandon Bolden

David Johnson

Matthew Tucker

It’s very exciting to see Eddie Lacy and Isaiah Crowell pop up on the list for comparable running backs. The downside isn’t horrible either, because Brandon Bolden has been serviceable at times. Allen has the size of a 3-down back at 6’0 221 LBS. The 4.53 40-time suggests he has enough speed to be dangerous in the open field, and for his size a 4.53 40-time is very good. The only red flag from his combine number was his vertical, which isn’t horrible. The 35.5 inch vertical suggests that he lacks elite burst and explosiveness. Allen is an older prospect. He is going to be 24 years old at the start of next season, and he will be facing the low-end of the bell curve for the average running back’s prime production a lot sooner compared to a lot of his younger peers coming out in this year’s draft. Another thing to consider about older prospects, Allen was a 23-year-old man going up against players who were 18-19 years old, who are still developing physically. That doesn’t mean he won’t succeed in the NFL because he’s older, but it is something to keep in the back of your mind.

Film Review

Javorius Buck Allen looks every bit of 6’0 221 LBS on tape. He is a very aggressive runner who is not afraid to lower his pads to gain an extra yard or two. Allen is a down-hill straight line north-south runner. Allen is very dangerous when he reaches the 2nd level of the defense, because he has the speed to eat up yardage against the defense.  Allen is a willing blocker who is not afraid to initiate contact upon a blitzing defensive end that is a lot bigger than him. His blocking ability is going to help him see the field in the NFL. Another skill he has that will make him a value to an NFL team is his receiving ability. He has very good hands, and he’s very good at gaining yards after the catch. Allen’s vision is his weakness. He runs where the play is designed, and if the hole isn’t’ there, then he’s just going to run into his offensive line without attempting to hit any of his cutback lanes.

Player Value

Javorius Buck Allen’s value is going to be dependent to what team he gets drafted by. He’s going to be a major player if he’s drafted to a run heavy team with a strong offensive line, like Dallas or San Diego. Allen is going to need a rock solid offensive line in front of him, because he lacks the vision to hit his cut back lanes, and he’s going to need his rushing lanes carved out for him. In rookie drafts, Allen could be drafted anywhere from the 4th round to the early 2nd round. He is that dependent on situation when it comes to his value. I think Allen has the ability to be fantasy relevant, but I’m not paying a premium to find out unless he’s drafted to a situation that oozes with upside. Buck Allen is a player that you have to keep on your watch lists when you are watching the draft in a couple of weeks.

Need Help with your dynasty team? Contact me on Twitter @bmatz08 and I will give you the guidance you need to make the best decisions on trades, drafts, and the waiver wire.

Next: Dynasty League Rookie Prospect WR Tre McBride

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