Jerome Ford Key Stats:
Running Back, Cincinnati
Cincinnati
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210
Cincinnati: Actually a pretty fun team to watch last year
RAS: 6.95
Games Watched:
Alabama, Indiana, Tulane, Houston, UCF, Navy
Positives Scouts Saw:
- The only player on Cincy that looked good in the bowl game
- Ideal size/speed combo
- Contact balance
Negatives Scouts Saw:
- Receiving leaves much to be desired
- Poor blocking technique
- Bad hands
Positives I Saw:
- Pretty in space and with volume
- Nose for the end zone
- Can play in any run scheme (zone or gap) and be productive
Negatives I Saw:
- Bad pass blocker
- Drops at the Senior Bowl
- Only one year of production
As A Prospect:
Jerome Ford is not someone I was intending to scout, but he jumped off the screen when I was watching Desmont Ridder and Alec Pierce. He scored 20 times this last season on 236 touches, a huge leap from the year before where he scored 8 touchdowns on 81 touches. In short, Jerome Ford scores touchdowns. At 5’10” 210, he’s not a bruiser, but a guy that can rip off big plays if coaches scheme him into space. He has a deadly second gear and can hit the home run.
Fantasy Football Potential:
Ford is an intriguing prospect for dynasty managers in upcoming rookie drafts. He doesn’t have the hype of a Rachaad White or a James Cook but may end up outproducing both. He has the type of skill set that coaches love, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up a premium handcuff to a great running back in a zone scheme after preseason is over. Ford’s fantasy profile is going to be directly tied to scheme fit/draft capital in the NFL Draft, but I think there’s a chance we can find some utility there in dynasty. I’d gladly take him in the middle of the second round.
Overall:
I comped Ford to Raheem Mostert for a lot of reasons, and no he doesn’t get injured all the time. Both players have a smooth, electric running style that allows them to turn north on one cut and explode towards the end zone. Ford might be a diamond in the rough for a team in the middle of the draft, and should be valued as a high upside committee back both as a player and for our purposes (gambling).
I know that “having a nose for the end zone” isn’t necessarily real, and really more a reflection of opportunity that a player gets, I’m not naive. However, the frequency with which Ford scores really sticks out to me. As a receiver or runner, he is a threat to find the goal line, and he is a dangerous weapon in the red zone. He could fit in a number of places, and has the chance to get some serious looks as a rotational piece no matter where his number is called come April.
Jerome Ford Reminds Me Of:
Raheem Mostert
Grade: 81/100
Do you want more 2022 NFL discussion? Then check out these links!
Discord!
Podcast!
Patreon!
Twitch!
