Zamir White NFL Rookie Profile - Fantasy Football Running Back Outlook

May 16, 2022

Phil Clark's fantasy football rookie analysis for running back Zamir White. Is this NFL rookie running back a 2022 fantasy football draft sleeper?

The impending arrival of each rookie class reignites an annual surge of interest in these first-year players that galvanizes the fantasy community. This also serves as a catalyst for fantasy managers and analysts to immerse themselves in a detailed evaluation of each new class. This includes determining their strengths and weaknesses, studying their statistical achievements at the collegiate level, and delving into analytics that can contribute to the assessments of each player.

White had already experienced monumental success and multiple ACL tears before registering his first snap at Georgia. He eventually started 22 games for the Bulldogs despite operating in a backfield that contained formidable competition for touches. He now arrives in Las Vegas with a pathway to relevance that is more navigable than it may initially appear.

Zamir White NFL Rookie Profile

• Team: Las Vegas Raiders
• College: Georgia 
• Height/Weight/Age:  6’-0”, 215, 22 (9.18.99)
• 2022 NFL Draft: Round 4, Pick 122

Zamir White Emerges As Nation’s Highest-Ranked RB  

@zeus1_34 against Dillon, SC in preseason scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/A8m0qjr5tT

— Scots Football (@Scots_Football) August 11, 2017

White had already received the nickname “Zeus” even before he emerged as a football and track star at Scotland High School in Laurinburg, North Carolina (2014-2017). White excelled as a runner while competing in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4x100 meter relay. He also finished sixth in the 100 meters during the 2016 State Championships, which was only one of his accomplishments.

Zamir White (@zeus1_34), the top RB in the country for the '18 class wins the #SEC4A 100 meter dash pic.twitter.com/EnZko1IpdE

— Jonathan Bym (@Jonathan_Bym) April 26, 2017

He also stockpiled 7,169 rushing yards (152.5 per game) on 738 attempts (15.7 per game) during his four years with the Fighting Scots, while generating 119 touchdowns on the ground during that span.

TD! Zamir White. 43 yard. Gallop seems to fit the moment. No. 34 has a lot of practice handing the ball to a referee. Scotland 14, Seventy-First 7. 9:10 1Q. pic.twitter.com/mTvcFuHFX2

— Jeff Sentell (@jeffsentell) November 18, 2017

That includes his 2,159 yards (179.9 per game) and 41 touchdowns as a sophomore, along with his 2,086 yards (189.6 per game) and 34 touchdowns during his senior year.

Zamir White finds the outside for TD #1 tonight. Scotland 7, 71st 0. 8:49 1Q. @NCGridiron pic.twitter.com/VU03nqbKxV

— Brian Barnes (@NCGridironNews) October 13, 2017

He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a playoff game in 2017. However, he remained a  24/7Sports five-star prospect who was rated as the ninth overall performer and the highest-ranked running back among all players in his 2018 class. He was selected as the high school player of the year and was included on MaxPreps’ All-Decade team, which recognized the premier high school performers from 2010-2019.

#1 RB in the Nation Zamir White up the middle for a 42 yard TD for @Scots_Football. @zeus1_34 finished the 1st half with 103yds & 2tds pic.twitter.com/cc2n18TgUw

— Ray Johnson (@carolinaeliteba) September 23, 2017

Zamir White Seizes Starting Role At Georgia

Nick Chubb and Sony Michel had departed for the NFL following the 2017 season, but White joined a backfield that still contained an abundance of talent (D'Andre Swift/Elijah Holyfield/James Cook/Brian Herrien) when he enrolled at Georgia in 2018. Unfortunately, he suffered yet another torn ACL in his left knee, during an August scrimmage that same year. The timing of his second injury necessitated a redshirt season for White in 2018.

However, he resurfaced in 2019 and finished third behind Swift and Herrien in carries (78/6.5 per game) and rushing yardage (408/34 per game). He only accumulated 10+ carries in two contests, but that included the season-high 18 that he accrued when Georgia faced Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. His expanded usage also propelled him to a season-best 92 rushing yards. White’s involvement as a receiver was minimal, as he only manufactured 20 yards on two receptions during his first season.

Career long TD run for 4.9/5.0 PAI Zamir White. He ran a sub 10.60 100m dash in 10th grade and competed in state championships.

Track & Field meets are "exposure events" for high school football prospects.pic.twitter.com/KpUec6qBSO

— Brian Spilbeler (@CoachSpil) November 7, 2020

White elevated into a starting role in all 10 of the Bulldogs’ matchups during 2020 and led the backfield in carries (144/14.4 per game). White also paced the team in rushing yardage (779/77.9 per game) while generating 70+ in six of those contests and eclipsing 100 three times within a five-game span. He also led Georgia in touchdowns (11) while recording at least one in nine of those matchups. He was relegated to nominal usage as a pass-catcher once again while collecting 37 yards with his six receptions.

White started 12 games during 2021 while pacing the Bulldogs in attempts (160/10.7 per game) and being entrusted with 12+ carries in eight different contests. He accumulated a team-high 856 yards (57.1 per game) during the year, and also generated a team-best 11 touchdowns.

Zamir White completes an 80 yard Georgia drive with a touchdown 💥#CFB pic.twitter.com/uuy68Xpq7N

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) October 16, 2021

White also paced Georgia in attempts (13) and rushing yards (84) while generating a touchdown against Alabama in the College Football Championship Game.

WE FINALLY HAVE A TOUCHDOWN 🙌‼️

Zamir White (+900) scores the 1st TD of the National Championship game with 1:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter 🏈🏆pic.twitter.com/1QMsNv55gK

— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) January 11, 2022

His role as a pass-catcher remained modest for a third consecutive season, as he produced just 75 yards on nine receptions. However, White’s blend of power and burst had been instrumental in his effectiveness as a rusher for the Bulldogs, and his performances fueled his presence along with 35 other backs at the NFL Combine.

Zamir White Raises His Stock At The NFL Combine

RD 4 | PK 122 - Raiders: Zamir White RB, Georgia

White earned the 3rd-highest athleticism score (94) among this year's RB class after running a 4.40-forty & 10'8" broad jump at 214 pounds. pic.twitter.com/fMQ9tkgs7b

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 30, 2022

White capitalized on his opportunity to participate at the combine and raised his stock considerably during the events. He completed the 40-yard dash in 4.40, which placed him among the top-seven at his position. That was a critical achievement, although it did not represent his only impressive performance. No other back exceeded the 10’, 8” that he registered in the broad jump, as White emerged as one of the biggest winners at the combine.

Zamir White's Challenge As A Fourth-Round Selection 

The combination of White’s attributes, his track record of perseverance, and the Raiders’ dearth of contractual obligations to other backs have created a passageway for him to avoid the disappointment that has often been experienced by previous fourth-round draft selections. However, this profile would be remiss if the recent history of backs with similar capital was not mentioned. 

White was the eighth running back to be selected during the NFL Draft and was also the second of five rushers to be chosen in Round 4. He now joins 24 other backs who were drafted in the fourth round since 2017, and their recent level of success might prevent you from developing massive expectations for White.

Mack is the only rusher who has secured a 1,000-yard season on his resume, and his current standing on Houston’s depth chart leaves him far removed from that 2019 achievement. Carter and Jamaal Williams were the only backs contained on this extensive list who led their teams in rushing attempts last season, while Carter is also the only rusher who generated a team-high yardage total during 2021.

Cohen is the only back who led his backfield in targets at any point between 2017 and 2020, while Edmonds joined Carter as the only backs to accumulate the most targets among members of their backfield in 2021. Carter has easily accrued the most impressive numbers among these former fourth-round selections, although what was once a promising outlook has now been quashed by the arrival of Breece Hall.

Stevenson has the potential to sustain an ongoing role with New England, and Pollard perpetually lurks as a threat to confiscate a larger percentage of Ezekiel Elliott’s workload. Edmonds could conceivably earn a pass-catching role in Miami’s overcrowded backfield, but it is difficult to elicit optimism that any other runners that were chosen in Round 4 will become viable resources for their teams this season.

Zamir White Joins A Backfield In Transition

Say nomore, let’s go the WORK! 🖤🙏🏾 https://t.co/SKAeFwKlT6

— Zamir White (@zeus1_34) April 30, 2022

Despite that uninspiring history of fourth-round selections, there are encouraging factors that could help White to elude the substandard results that have frequently plagued other backs who entered the league with similar capital.

The Las Vegas Raiders have hired Josh McDaniels as Head Coach » https://t.co/KvZ3qwSZ2C pic.twitter.com/IiQ28N57TJ

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 31, 2022

Any review of the Raiders’ rushing attack during 2021 must include the caveat that the organization has jettisoned all decision-makers that were associated with last year’s offense. Josh McDaniels will be spearheading the restructured attack after being extracted from New England. He has been working in coordination with newly-anointed general manager Dave Ziegler, who had operated as the Patriots’ director of player personnel from 2016-to 2021. Ziegler and McDaniels have embarked upon a mission to revamp the Raider roster while maintaining a steadfast goal to win now. This has clearly impacted their personnel decisions at the running back position.

McDaniels and Ziegler inherited a rushing attack that ranked 28th in yardage during 2021 (95.1 per game) while finishing 27th with an average of 3.9 yards per attempt. The Raiders were also 26th in both run play percentage (38.3%) and attempts per game (24.4), and were 25th in rushing first downs (95). Only three teams finished with a higher percentage of targets that were distributed to their backfield (24%.), but McDaniels will alter the allocation of touches and that appears destined to include a weekly workload for White.

Zamir White's Competition For Touches

Remember, Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake are set to be free agents next offseason. Made sense for the #Raiders to get an RB today.

— Maurice Moton (@MoeMoton) April 30, 2022

Ziegler and McDaniels have no previous history with Josh Jacobs or Kenyan Drake and have already eschewed their opportunity to exercise the fifth-year option for Jacobs. Both incumbent backs now enter the final year of their existing contracts while encountering significant competition for carries from White. The Raiders' burgeoning depth chart expanded even further during the offseason with the additions of Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah during free agency. Those moves were supplemented by the selection of seventh-round pick Brittain Brown and the signing of UDFA Sincere McCormick.

Jacobs has led the Raiders in attempts, rushing yardage, and rushing touchdowns during each of his three seasons with the team, while averaging 244 attempts (17.0 per game) 1,029 rushing yards (71.8 per game), and 9.3 touchdowns during that span. He also finished 11th among all backs in attempts last season (217/14.5 per game), and was 15th in rushing yardage 872/58.1 per game). However, both numbers represented career lows after he had averaged 258 attempts (18.4 per game) and 1,108 yards (79.1 per game) during 2019-2020. Jacobs also finished 12th overall in yards after contact (442) and was ninth in rushing touchdowns (9).

Josh makes touchdowns look so casual.@IAM_JoshJacobs | #PHIvsLV | FOX pic.twitter.com/nG9FNaZCz2

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 24, 2021

Jacobs’ usage as a receiver has not been comparable to the league leaders at his position, but his target totals have risen each season (64/4.3 per game), (45/3.0 per game), (27/2.1 per game). He has also led the backfield in targets for two consecutive years, while his involvement as a pass-catcher in 2021 also exceeded Drake’s (40/3.3 per game).

The inclusion of Drake in this section is somewhat of a misnomer, as the seventh-year back will almost assuredly experience a decreased role in the Raiders’ reshaped attack. His career descent has already been enormous since he soared to RB4 from Weeks 9-17 during the 2019 regular season. Drake averaged 15.4 attempts per game while exploding for 643 rushing yards (80.4 per game) and eight touchdowns during that span, but has been unable to sustain that level of usage or output since that sequence.

Drake had migrated from Arizona to Las Vegas in March of 2021, after signing a two-year, $11 million contract. Drake suffered a broken ankle in Week 13, which shortened his season. That also contributed to the lowest number of carries (63) and rushing yardage (254) since his 2016 rookie season. His per-game averages of 5.3 attempts, and 21.2 yards also underscored the restrictions in his role during his first year with the Raiders. The offseason addition of White is hardly a favorable development for Drake, and White should bypass him on the depth chart.

Would think the #Raiders carry four running backs:

- Josh Jacobs
- Kenyan Drake
- Brandon Bolden
- Zamir White

Looks like the New England running back by committee approach is coming to Las Vegas.

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) April 30, 2022

The 32-year-old Bolden spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with New England. He attained career-highs in targets (49/2.9 per game), receptions (41/2.4 per game), and receiving yards (405/23.8 per game) during 2021, and should retain a roster spot due to his history with McDaniels and his prowess on special teams. The path toward touches for Abdullah, Brittain, and McCormick will be obstructed by the aforementioned backs who reside above them on the depth chart. 

Zamir White’s Outlook

Locked in @raiders 🖤🙏🏾 #TheDarkSide pic.twitter.com/NloY3PkWzz

— Zamir White (@zeus1_34) May 1, 2022

White’s status as a fourth-round round selection can justifiably cause concern. However, Zeigler and McDaniels opted to infuse White into the Raiders’ backfield equation, and he should capture a weekly allotment of carries - even if that destines him to operate in a rotation with Jacobs.

His involvement as a receiver was infinitesimal at Georgia, and he is not a candidate to garner consistent usage as a pass-catcher at the NFL level. However, White remains a physical runner who can be effective between the tackles. He also possesses explosiveness that will blend with his power toward earning opportunities on early downs and collecting carries in the red zone. Those attributes could also help White leapfrog Jacobs on the depth chart as the year advances. 

His projected workload should be sufficient to provide fantasy managers with an RB3/flex option before the conclusion of his first season. It should also exceed the expectations of his current ADP in redraft leagues (208/RB57). Jacobs and Drake could both be extracted from the Las Vegas depth chart in 2023. This also makes White a viable option near the conclusion of Round 2 in rookie drafts if you are building rosters in the dynasty format.

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