The 2025 NFL Draft class is being lauded as one of the best RB classes of all time. Nobody is arguing against Ashton Jeanty as the top back in the class, and most consider Omarion Hampton next, but after that, it gets murky. There are a handful of RBs that could emerge from this class as consistent fantasy football contributors, and Dylan Sampson is in the mix as one of those backs who would have ranked higher in most other draft classes. So, is he just another product of Tennessee’s “gimmicky” offense, or is he the real deal? Let’s dive into the numbers and film to explore his range of outcomes.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2025 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2025.
College Production Profile
Sampson grew up outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he shattered former fantasy stud Eddie Lacy’s all-time high school rushing yards record. He was also a star on the track, running 10.48 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.16 seconds in the 200-meter. For reference, NFL Combine 40-yard dash record holder Xavier Worthy ran those races in high school in 10.65 and 21.41 seconds, respectively. After receiving 28 Division 1 offers, he committed to the Vols in June 2021.
| Season | Games | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Att | Rush TDs | Rec | Rec Yards | Yards/Rec | Rec TDs |
| 2022 | 10 | 58 | 387 | 6.8 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 106 | 604 | 5.7 | 7 | 17 | 175 | 10.3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 13 | 258 | 1491 | 5.8 | 22 | 20 | 143 | 7.2 | 0 |
Sampson didn’t see much action over his first two seasons as a backup behind Jaylen Wright, who was drafted in the fourth round of last year’s NFL Draft. Still, he nearly doubled his production from his freshman to sophomore season. The stage was set for him to take the reins of Tennessee’s backfield in 2024, and that’s exactly what he did.
Sampson exploded as a junior, rushing for nearly 1,500 yards and 22 TDs, and he led the SEC with 1,638 all-purpose yards. It was enough to earn him the title of SEC Offensive Player of the year. Unfortunately, his season came to an unceremonious end when he could not contribute in Tennessee’s college playoff loss to Ohio State while dealing with a late-season hamstring injury. After the 2024 season, he declared for the NFL Draft.
Measurables
| Height | Weight | Vertical | Broad | 40 Time |
| 5’8” | 200 | 35″ | 10’4″ | 4.42-4.46* |
Sampson is one of the smallest backs in the class, measuring the shortest, just shorter than Ashton Jeanty. At 200 pounds, however, he weighed in 11 pounds lighter than Jeanty. He isn’t the lightest RB in the class, but only four RBs weighed in under 200 pounds.
Speed was supposed to be Sampson’s most impressive physical trait, but he decided not to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Instead, he ran at Tennessee’s pro day, where his time was reported in the 4.4s, though reports varied. Probably more importantly, GPS tracking clocked him at over 22 miles per hour on the field in college. Given the game film and his literal track record from high school, Sampson’s speed should not be in question.
Sampson’s age is also worth mentioning. At just 20.6 years old, he is the youngest RB in the class. He isn’t quite as young as Braelon Allen was a year ago, but he still won’t turn 21 until after the 2025 NFL season kicks off.
What’s on Tape
Games Viewed: NC State (2024), Oklahoma (2024), Florida (2024), Alabama (2024), Kentucky (2024), Mississippi State (2024), Georgia (2024)
1. He’s comfortable between the tackles
Sampson certainly has the speed to outrun defenders down the sideline, but he looks extremely comfortable running between the tackles. He is a patient runner who lets the play develop and follows his blockers before trying to bounce it outside. He doesn’t hesitate to burst upfield once he finds the crease or hole. I frequently jotted down the phrase “north-south run” while watching his film.
2. Short yardage and goal-line success
Despite his relatively small size, Sampson has no problem gaining the tough yards.
Ridiculous stat incoming…
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson had 36 carries with 2 or fewer yards to go. He had 33 first downs!!! 92%. That is unbelievable.
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 17, 2025
He does not need to come off the field in short-yardage and goal-line situations. In fact, it’s an area where he thrives. You can see this in the clip below, where he fights through a pile to convert a third and one early in the game against Georgia.
3. Yards after contact
Sampson doesn’t go down easy. His 929 yards after contact last season are the fifth most among RBs in the 2025 draft class. He has excellent contact balance and consistently breaks tackles and carries defenders for extra yardage. Once again, he plays bigger than his measurables.
What’s NOT on Tape
1. Anything other than shotgun formation
Tennessee’s offense gets a bad rap for spreading the field and running what some call a “Mickey Mouse offense.”
per PFF, Jaylen Wright had just 4 carries when facing 8+ defenders in the box
and just 5 total outside runs
mickey mouse offense
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 16, 2024
This holds true to some extent, as I couldn’t find any film of plays that weren’t run out of shotgun formation. However, the Volunteers did not exclusively run four WR sets. TEs and HBs were often in the formation, particularly in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Jaylen Wright didn’t have a strong rookie season, but that doesn’t preclude Sampson from succeeding right out of the gate. That said, Sampson has very little experience running out of anything other than the shotgun formation.
2. Pro-style pass routes
Sampson catches the ball fine, logging just two drops on 40 targets over his three years of collegiate football. Most of those passes, however, came on swings, check downs, and shovel passes. He was not asked to run WR-type routes, and he lined up in the backfield on 96% of his snaps in 2024. He did align out wide and run routes at his Pro Day, which is a sign that he wants to show NFL teams that, despite not showing up on game film, he can be used in the passing game.
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but draft capital and landing spot will play a critical role in Sampson’s fantasy value as a rookie. He won’t be a day-one pick in the NFL Draft, but he is typically ranked and mocked inside the top 100 picks, which means he would be selected on day two. He is unlikely to be immediately handed the starting job for the team that drafts him, but if he goes someplace without a locked-in bell cow back, he’ll have a chance to compete for touches. The Browns, Broncos, Chiefs, and Steelers come to mind as landing spots where he could work his way into a fantasy-relevant role if they select him on day two of the draft.
Sampson has solid collegiate production and the physical tools needed to play RB in the NFL. He has more than enough speed and plays bigger than his 200-pound frame suggests. He was a TD machine at Tennessee, with the ability to score from anywhere on the field, whether on the goal line or with a breakaway run. In most RB classes, he would likely be worth a first-round rookie pick in dynasty leagues, but with so much talent at the position, he could easily be available later. He’ll be a name to monitor this summer once we know his landing spot, where we can follow his training camp buzz. There is a wide range of outcomes for Sampson, but that range includes the possibility of becoming a fantasy contributor during his rookie season.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/AMtKXge
No comments: