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After spending the past four seasons at Kansas, running back Khalil Herbert used his grad transfer year in 2020 to play at Virginia Tech. The 5-foot-9 running back had his best season collegiately and will now be playing on Sundays in the NFL. The Chicago Bears selected Herbert with the No. 217 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In his lone season at Virginia Tech, Herbert turned in a career-high 1,183 rushing yards on 155 carries and eight touchdowns. In 11 games played, the Coral Springs, Fl. native had six games where he recorded 100 rushing yards or more. Herbert also showcased his ability to catch the ball out the backfield with 10 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown. Herbert was named third-team All-ACC as a running back and second-team as an all-purpose player.
Scouting Report
Herbert will likely be drafted either late on Day 2 or the beginning of Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The former Hokies running back possess the skills that you like to see from a running back in today’s game. The 5-foot-9 running back has solid vision and can find the cutback lane with ease and patience. He also does not go down on first contact, can run in between the tackles, and plays under control.
Furthermore, Herbert is a better north/south runner and keeps his legs his churning after the first hit. He also has the ability to be a competent pass catcher at the next level and has the ability to play special teams.
Fantasy football impact
Rookie
Herbert is a playmaker both in the running and passing games, which is very appealing to Matt Nagy’s offense. But he’s joining a Bears team that already has a crowded backfield with David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Damien Williams, and Ryan Nall. That being said, one way Herbert can make the roster is with his special teams abilities. We shouldn’t expect much fantasy wise from him as a rookie.
Long-term
The 5-foot-9 running back offers a lot as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield. If Herbert can stick either on the 53-man roster or practice squad, then we could see him a long-term FLEX option in fantasy football. He’s a patience running back with good vision, who can find the cutback lane and rip off long runs.