Kenneth Gainwell

Gainwell showed occasional flashes of productivity as a rookie fifth-round pick last season but never established a consistent role in the Philadelphia backfield. He topped 80 scrimmage yards on three occasions, Weeks 4, 13 and 18, which accounted for nearly half his yardage for the season. Gainwell mostly saw playing time on passing downs, but he was arguably more effective as a runner, with 4.3 YPC and five TDs on only 68 carries, while he managed only 5.1 YPT and dropped five passes. His role for Year 2 is uncertain, as Philadelphia doesn't seem to view Miles Sanders as a true No. 1 running back, which could open the door. Gainwell’s skill set is similar to that of his former Memphis teammate Tony Pollard, including the sub-4.5 speed, only Gainwell doesn't have someone with the pedigree or massive contract of Ezekiel Elliott ahead of him on the depth chart.

The latest product of the Memphis running back factory, Gainwell follows Antonio Gibson, Tony Pollard and Darrell Henderson to the NFL, and while he may not be quite as fast as those guys, a 4.44 40-yard time at his pro day suggests Gainwell can also scoot. He showed impressive elusiveness, balance and vision in college, and despite being a bit undersized for a running back, he was more than willing to lower his pads and try to grind out yards between the tackles when asked to. That approach won't necessarily work against stronger defenders in the NFL, but with only one season of significant touches at Memphis on his resume after he opted out of the 2020 campaign, accumulated wear and tear is not a concern. Gainwell also has the receiving and pass-protection skills to carve out a role on third downs, giving him a path to less physically demanding touches, while also providing some early down production. Unfortunately, after being taken in the fifth round by the Eagles, he lands in a crowded backfield that has Miles Sanders in the top spot and an experienced backup in Boston Scott - not to mention QB Jalen Hurts - competing for carries and touches. The path to playing time is precarious, and the Eagles offense won't necessarily be a hotbed of RB production.