Fantasy Football Rankings 2021: Top rookie running backs
By Drew DeLuca
2021 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back No. 7: Trey Sermon
Initially, we had Sermon ranked a spot or two higher until we recognized the recency bias that grew out of the monster game he had against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal).
He’ll have a chance to make us rethink our recent decision during his Pro Day on March 30, when he’ll have a chance to wow NFL Draft scouts and fantasy football analysts alike.
Sermon averaged only 9.2 carries per game as an Oklahoma Sooner before transferring to Ohio State, where he led all running backs in attempts (116), yards (870), yards per carry, and receptions (12).
A productive runner at the college level, some scouts believe he lacks top-end speed and agility, and question whether or not he can be an electric performer at the NFL level; he leaves no doubts about his athleticism, however:
Man If Trey Sermon is even 75 percent of the monster that finished off 2020 he’s going to be really good
— Joe O’Leary (@TheHQNerd) March 19, 2021
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While he logged less than half (46 percent) of the Buckeyes’ total carries, he came up huge in big games, going over 100 yards and a touchdown in three very important games down the stretch over Michigan State, Northwestern (Big Ten Championship), and Clemson (CFP Semifinal).
We believe Sermon would’ve likewise played a huge role in the Ohio State game plan had he not been taken to the hospital after sustaining an injury during the game’s opening series.