As one NFL season ends, the next is set to begin with the NFL Draft on the horizon. In our latest installment of scouting reports to help guide your fantasy football teams, we look at North Carolina Tar Heels RB Ty Chandler. What are Chandler’s strengths and weaknesses, which teams could be potential landing spots for him in the NFL Draft, and what is his fantasy outlook?
Ty Chandler NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Running Back
- School: North Carolina
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 5″ 10 7/8″
- Weight: 203 pounds
- Wingspan: 75 3/4″
- Arm: 32 1/8″
- Hand: 8 7/8″
Ty Chandler fantasy football scouting report
When the list for the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, or the Shrine Bowl comes out, you zero your focus in on those players. They’re standouts, or the people putting them on felt they were deserving enough to be participants and put their talents on display. Then, you go in and watch the film.
With the NFL going on, and that being what I primarily cover in season, it’s hard to dedicate the time to see every college player and to watch all the film. That started in December for me and cranks up once the offseason hits and fantasy somewhat dies off. You end up being surprised by guys. And let me just say, Ty Chandler surprised and impressed the hell out of me when it became his turn to go under the microscope.
A former four-star recruit coming out of Nashville, Chandler stayed in-state, committing to the University of Tennessee. He was a 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee and candidate for the 2016 All-USA Offensive Player of the Year award. Yet, once he got on campus, nothing really happened.
In fairness, Tennessee’s offense was and is awful. In three of his four seasons, they had five or fewer wins. During those four seasons, Chandler amassed 421 attempts for 2,046 yards with 13 touchdowns, adding 58 receptions for 465 yards and 3 more scores.
With players allowed a free year of eligibility due to the impact of COVID in 2020, Chander knew it was time for a change. He transferred to North Carolina and filled in the gaping void left by the absence of Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. Safe to say, this was a wise decision.
Chandler was a feature back at UNC and showcased his dual abilities
Playing in all 13 games, Chandler set career-highs across the board, rushing 182 times for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns, matching his previous four years … combined.
Chandler was a true dual-threat for head coach Mac Brown and QB Sam Howell. And they needed it as they had to replace four 1,000-yard players from the previous year. Working out of the backfield, Chandler hauled in 15 receptions for 216 yards (14.4 ypr) with 1 touchdown.
Thanks to this and a 213-yard, 4-TD performance against Wake Forest, Chandler earned a trip to the Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
He was one of the biggest risers of the Shrine Bowl
Of the running backs in Las Vegas, Chander was arguably the best on the field that week. Every time he touched the ball in practice, it seemed like only good things happened. He was excellent in 1-on-1 receiving drills between running backs and linebackers. That’s key because that’s a matchup he must win at the NFL level. Chandler also capped off a goal-line period with 2 consecutive touchdown runs during Day 2 practices.
In the game, Chandler was once again pacing the competition. He led both teams in rushing with 69 rushing yards on 11 carries. If you get this kind of opportunity, you need to maximize it. That’s precisely what Chandler did.
Chandler is a polished rusher on tape
First things first, Chandler’s eyes are superb. Whether it was at Tennessee or North Carolina, his vision is some of the best in the entire class. I’d have it just a tier below the heavy-hitters of Isaiah Spiller and Breece Hall, yet on par with the likes of Kenneth Walker III and even Kyren Williams.
From there, the feet follow the eyes. For Chandler, they work in unison as he is able to decipher the hole or find the cutback lane. As for the footwork, it’s almost effortless when he jump cuts to set up defenders.
It takes no time at all for Chandler to go from 0-60. Burst and explosiveness is his calling card. Once he sees a sliver of daylight, it’s off to the races and good night. As a player with former kickoff return experience, Chandler’s ability to bob and weave while navigating traffic to manipulate angles is top-notch. When he goes to make those cuts, his weight transition is efficient, sitting down through his hips before exploding.
As we noted in his stats, Chandler is a confident receiver. At Tennessee, they were willing to move him out to the boundary and slot. While he only has 72 receptions in his career, the alignment and trust shown mean just as much. I don’t have any concerns for him in the passing game — a key area for fantasy upside.
Will speed be enough to win in the NFL?
When you break down his game and what Chandler does well, you have to also notice what areas can hurt him as he transitions to the NFL. For me, and granted, all film evaluations are subjective to the person watching, Chandler lacks on the physicality front.
His contact balance is NFL average to just slightly above. But that mostly came to manipulating angles via speed or guys simply underestimating his quickness. When it comes to tackle-breaking ability or raw physicality, Chandler lacks in this department. When defenders like Darius Leonard, Demario Davis, or Lavonte David get around him, the play is dead right then and there.
This is not to say Chandler is not willing to take on contact. You can find multiple examples of him channeling his inner Javonte Williams and being the enforcer. There’s just a difference between doing it to an 18-year-old on scholarship and an NFL LB who has 40 pounds on you.
I think Chandler has three-down capabilities. The only questions might be pass pro — which can be taught since it isn’t in college — and short-area goal-to-go carries. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was subbed for someone else up close. There’s a willingness to his game that you can’t help but love. I’m sure several teams feel the exact same way.
Chandler could be a later-round steal
He’s not a name that is widely known yet, but between now and the NFL Draft in April, Chandler is going to be the favorite under-the-radar RB of many of your favorite analysts. Especially after he opens their eyes at the NFL Combine, given how I expect him to test.
Even though you don’t need to do it yet, based on mock drafts and current ADP, I see Chandler as a second-round pick in 1QB rookie drafts. He’s a top-10 RB in this class who I could see going as high as RB6 or RB7 depending on testing, landing spot, and draft capital.
Potential landing spots for Chandler
With the NFL Draft closing in, which teams make the most sense for Chandler as projected landing spots? Based on his scouting report, fantasy managers should keep their eye on these NFL franchises come draft day.
Buffalo Bills
We’ve listed the Bills as a landing spot for an RB for multiple years. And I mean a good running back, not Zack Moss. Last season, the Bills showed an unwillingness to use anyone not named Devin Singletary. Do you know what happened? Exactly what we always thought could happen — their offense produced fantasy gold. From Week 14 on, Singletary was the No. 3 RB in fantasy, averaging 17.8 opportunities, 84.8 yards, and 1 TD per game.
The Bills need to plan for the future. Matt Breida, who was a one-year rental, is a free agent; Singletary will be after this season, with Moss becoming an FA after 2023. With at least two seasons with either Singletary or Moss in the fold, Chandler could fill either’s role and either be the complement or take the lead.
This would be a somewhat frustrating landing spot for fantasy in 2022 with Singletary still aboard, but it would be smooth sailing beyond that point. Chandler would have weekly flex appeal here.
Miami Dolphins
If this isn’t the ideal landing spot, it’s right up there. The change in coaching from Brian Flores to Mike McDaniel is pivotal. Since 2017 (when McDaniel joined San Francisco), the 49ers were 11th in yards per rush, seventh in TDs, fourth against stacked boxes, sixth in explosive runs, and had the fifth-highest percentage of runs that gained 10+ yards.
I’ve already stated I am bullish on McDaniel’s impact on this offense for fantasy, but they need an RB who can fit this system. Myles Gaskin is not that kind of back.
In this wide-zone scheme, you need a back with excellent vision, supreme burst to take advantage of the hole once he reads it, and have the ability to create chunk plays when the seas part. Starting to sound familiar?
While the Dolphins will need to fix the OL and create one that is capable of moving, the RB is just as critical. What did Raheem Mostert and Elijah Mitchell have in common? Vision, between-the-tackles and open-field agility, and raw, unadulterated speed. I’m not sure he had 4.33 40-yard wheels, but Chandler is lightning quick. It’s not a match you hear talked about a lot, but I might just start trying to speak this into existence.
Seattle Seahawks
This backfield is a mess. Last season alone, four different RBs started a game. Combined, they missed 30 games, the majority (14 games) coming from Chris Carson, who needed cervical-fusion surgery.
Seattle gave Carson a two-year deal last free agency, but there’s an opt-out should the Seahawks choose to exercise it. In 2020, it seemed they were limiting his touches down the stretch after missing Weeks 8-11. And after multiple seasons of heavy use, the wear and tear is catching up.
The star of last season was, without a doubt, Rashaad Penny, who was healthy for the first time since virtually 2018. From Week 14 on, Penny was the No. 1 RB in fantasy, averaging 22 PPR points per game, with four of his five games crossing 135 rushing yards. The downside? He is a 2022 free agent and likely to make solid money to be a starter somewhere.
If Seattle doesn’t bring him back, Chandler could be a great fit. He can either take some work from Carson to nurse him through the remaining time on his contract or take the job outright. Given the current instability surrounding Russell Wilson’s future, now is the time to add in some rushing stability for whoever is under center in 2022 and beyond.