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 team, we look at Georgia RB Zamir White. What are White’s strengths and weaknesses, which teams could be potential landing spots for him in the NFL Draft, and what is his fantasy outlook?
Zamir White NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Running Back
- School: Georgia
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 215 pounds
- Wingspan: N/A
- Arm: N/A
- Hand: N/A
Zamir White’s fantasy football scouting report
What if? That’s the best way to sum up White’s college career. He was the No. 1 RB in the country and the No. 9 player in the nation as a recruit. White scored more than 100 touchdowns and finished his high school career with more than 7,000 yards. during his senior season, he averaged over 14 yards per carry. White looked like he would be joining the growing list of preposterously talented backs to come from Georgia. However, injuries stopped that in its tracks.
In 2017, as a senior at Scotland County High School, White tore the ACL in his left knee. After going through the arduous rehab process, White was ready for the 2018 season as a freshman at Georgia. However, a couple of weeks before the first game, White tore the ACL in his right knee during a scrimmage. White was a medical redshirt and began the rehab process again.
White’s road back from injury
For a guy who was known for his speed, this was brutal. White was a track star in high school, competing in the 100, 200, 400, and 4×100 meter relays. These injuries have likely zapped White of some of his speed. However, there’s more than enough in the tank, and fantasy managers should be giving White far more attention than he’s currently receiving.
White’s numbers don’t necessarily wow you. In 2020 and 2021, he rushed 304 times for 1,635 yards (5.3 ypc). He scored 11 touchdowns in each season, though, ending his career with 25. What we need to remember is how Georgia uses their running backs.
They do not believe in a singular back carrying the load. Todd Gurley didn’t see it. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel didn’t see it. And neither did D’Andre Swift. White is no different as he shared the backfield with Swift (2019) and James Cook (2021).
White’s tape is far better than his numbers show
The analytics community will dismiss White for his raw numbers. They’re nothing to write home about — I won’t argue that. White topped out at 1.19 yards per team play in 2020. You don’t need me to tell you that isn’t good. But this is where the tape comes in. And for me, I tend to put more weight on what the film tells me than spreadsheets. Although, I believe both need to be used to generate the best and most consistent results possible in fantasy.
For starters, White has power for days in his rushing style. I wouldn’t classify it as raw power, but strength and the fact his legs just keep driving as he finishes plays. This is where his contact balance and tackle-breaking ability come into play. If you’re a defender, you better come correct at White. Arm tackles will fail 100% of the time. I mean, his nickname is “Zeus,” for crying out loud.
White is more than just a power back
White does a solid job of not pressing the hole too soon and getting up the backs of his linemen. He often uses patience and moves with the line as the hole opens, then bursts through it for positive yards. That is also a sign of vision — being able to read the leverage and see the hole. White isn’t a shifty back, but there are examples of him making guys miss both between the tackles and in the open field despite not being a calling card of his game.
There are examples — one of which came against No. 7 Auburn in 2020 — that really stand out. It’s second-and-5 on their own 45-yard line. The backside tight end pulls to kick out the end, the OL down blocks left and gives White just enough room. He doesn’t push it too soon, reads it, then bursts through the hole after a subtle jump cut.
Then, White runs through two different arm tackles before two defenders take him down but not until after a 16-yard gain in the blink of an eye. Vision, patience, interior agility, burst, acceleration, contact balance, and physicality are all displayed in one play.
No one is mistaking White for Tarik Cohen or Alvin Kamara in the passing game. In terms of receiving creativity, there is none. However, you will find examples of him catching the ball, even on an angle/Texas route. At times, White can be a tall runner when going into the line, but that can be coached. He also isn’t a back you would consider to have fluid hips, though as noted earlier, elusiveness is not a part of his game.
Injury concerns will dictate his draft capital and fantasy value
What does the NFL think about White’s knee injuries? That’s the big question. If they feel they are a concern, though they haven’t been reoccurring, this will knock his draft capital. It’s something every fantasy manager needs to be cognizant of as well. How much risk are you willing to take in your drafts?
Based on nothing but the film, I would take White over his UGA counterpart Cook despite a vocal majority who love him. If White received Day 2 draft capital, I believe he has a chance to be a No. 2 or a lead back in an NFL committee. I could see him being a second-round pick in rookie drafts.
Potential landing spots for White
With the NFL Draft closing in, which teams make the most sense for White as projected landing spots? Based on his scouting report, fantasy managers should keep their eye on these franchises come draft day.
Buffalo Bills
We have wanted a running back who could go to Buffalo and take over the backfield for multiple years. Despite people trying to make Zack Moss a thing, it’s never going to happen. Stop trying to make fetch happen, Gretchen.
Towards the end of last season, we saw what could happen when the Bills commit to a singular RB as Devin Singletary went ballistic. 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, and Moss is scheduled to be a free agent in 2024.
The Bills are competing for a title, and in Buffalo, you need a rushing game when things get cold, snowy, or windy — sometimes all three. Adding a power-back with straight-line speed like White could be an incredible landing spot for NFL and fantasy production.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ leading rusher from 2021, WR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, is set to hit free agency. After a breakout season, he played himself out of Atlanta’s price range but is also going to turn 31 over the offseason. Toward the latter part of the season, it seemed the wear and tear was catching up. If Patterson were to hit the open market, the Falcons would be left with Mike Davis as the only RB on their roster.
Atlanta hasn’t drafted a running back since Qadree Ollison in 2019. So who better than to select White and keep him in the Peach State? He fits what Arthur Smith wants to do: run the ball with power just as the Titans did when he was with them before becoming the head coach in Atlanta.
From a schematics side, this is a phenomenal fit. Whether it’s zone, gap, or power schemes, White could excel in Atlanta.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Following Tom Brady’s retirement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now a massive question mark. They built their team on one or two-year contracts for veterans in the hopes of chasing a title, and it worked. Now, those contracts are expiring.
The depth chart at RB is a prime example of this. Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones, Giovani Bernard, and Le’Veon Bell are all slated to hit free agency. This leaves 2020 draft pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn and 31-year-old Kenjon Barner as the only RBs on the depth chart.
While he doesn’t have the receiving chops of Fournette, White runs with similar power. Should White slide a bit in the NFL Draft due to injury concerns, he could land right in Tampa Bay’s arms. They still have a solid offensive line, and regardless of who is under center, will benefit from a consistent rushing attack like White can provide.