Dynasty Rookie Profile: Braelon Allen, RB

In this rookie profile, we’ll take a look at one of the younger prospects in the draft pool for 2024, running back Braelon Allen. We’ll be breaking down his strengths and weaknesses in his running game. Additionally, breaking down Allen’s potential outlook and fit in the NFL. More importantly, we’ll be breaking down his outlook for your dynasty fantasy football rosters.

Allen recently turned 20 in January after three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, showing solid production each year and standing out as the team’s best offensive asset. We have to consider his youth in this discussion and realize he still hasn’t reached his peak ability, and it’ll be intriguing to see the narrative around him both at the NFL Combine and the 2024 NFL Draft.

Braelon Allen (RB)  Ohio State – Dynasty Rookie Profile

Height: 6’2

Weight: 238 lbs

Allen spent three years producing for the Badgers, gaining at least 984 yards every year and scoring no less than 11 touchdowns. This past season, he even began showing receiving prowess as he came down with 28 catches.

He did all these things in a physical Big Ten conference before reaching the age of 20. Meaning, that his body may not be in its final or peak form yet. Overall, Allen has been one of the highest-valued running backs in this class for three years, so let’s take a look at what he does well and what he has to still work on.

Strengths

Physical Strength

Winning in the trenches against Big Ten talent isn’t easy for any runner, let alone one who is facing elder classmen with experience each season. Allen showed plenty of rushing power in his three college seasons, forcefully pushing through the line and punishing defensive backs as he reached the second and third levels of the defense. If he’s able to stay at his weight and continue to add speed to his game, he may have one of the best chances in this draft to be a multi-down back in the NFL.

Youth

Allen’s most known and definable trait is his young age, never playing a collegiate game older than the age of 19. For an NFL team taking him in the middle rounds, he may be an ideal long-term investment that they can refine the game of and add to. Even this last year he was able to start putting up receiving numbers for the Badgers, showing the ability for him to learn and add new skills into his game. Ultimately, how his body matures and if he shows an ability to pass block, Allen could be a force in the NFL for quite some time.

Weaknesses

Vision

For Allen and his size-weight combination, his production will all come down to his vision and ability to find holes in the NFL. He was able to beat out college defenders with his strength, but he got caught up behind his linemen more than a few times, leading to tackles for loss and limited gains. If he can work on his horizontal agility and then speed up his ability to move north and south, he should be able to find a role sooner than later. However, that may take a year or two for Allen to figure out, leaving him firmly as a mid-round project for a team to work with.

NFL Fit and Draft Outlook

Allen currently projects as a Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. He has plenty of youth on his side and multiple teams will be adding at the running back position in the middle rounds.

Teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and New York Giants need depth at the position, and a player like Allen could eventually find himself garnering a goal-line role for those teams. Of course, many of these teams will add some semblance of depth during the free agency period. However, a player with Allen’s youth and pedigree is an investment for the future. If a team takes him on Day 3, he’s still a strong asset and a hold until he finds his role.

Dynasty Outlook

For dynasty fantasy football managers, the hope or projection on Allen is with 2025 and beyond in mind. He may find an ideal spot in 2024 and start to show more production as the year goes on. However, dynasty managers who take him will need to monitor his usage and where it comes from.

Furthermore, Allen is built to be a goal-line running back who can put touchdowns up in short-yardage areas. A situation such as Jamaal Williams and David Montgomery would be his ideal outcome. Hope for an aggressive rusher who gets fed 15+ times a game and beats down a defense, giving us dynasty managers a floor and upside. His ceiling may end up as an RB3 or low-end RB2. However, if he can find a first and second-down role with some goal-line touches, Allen should produce for managers.