Chicago Bears: 4 Running backs to target in 2019 NFL Draft

Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma (6-1, 220 pounds)

Rodney Anderson is a freak athlete who can get you big yards on the ground and make big catches, even going downfield. Pairing him with Tarik Cohen gives the Chicago Bears a heck of a backfield.

The problem is that Anderson suffered an ACL injury in September and missed the rest of the 2018 season. How he performs at the NFL Combine (if he performs) and how his medical testing goes will go a long way to decide where he’ll go in the draft. He has first-round talent but at the moment most see him going in the third or fourth round. A first-round talent who tumbles down to the Chicago Bears’ lap? Where have we seen that happen?

As a sophomore in 2017, Anderson ran for just 82 yards through five games. In the next eight games, however, he ran for 1,079 yards. He also had 281 receiving yards and a 16.5 yards per reception. He had 13 touchdowns on the ground and added five more touchdown catches.

Anderson has great balance and he is slippery. He can find the smallest crack and hit the hole. That, combined with his great hands, helps him get big yards in the passing game. Additionally, he has the ability to still run like a running back even catching passes downfield. Some backs turn themselves into wide receivers and run the ball differently when they catch it.

Opposing defenses would now have another receiver to deal with. That frees up other receivers and gives Trubisky an added option, and added options always help.