The late rounds in fantasy drafts are the best time to look for under-the-radar players with a lot of upside and that seems to be precisely how ESPN’s Matt Bowen views Washington Commanders rookie running back Kaytron Allen. Allen was named one of five late-round fantasy targets by Bowen, who said:
“I'd take a shot on Allen late in drafts. If the rookie out of Penn State can get some early-down carries -- and win the role as the primary goal-line back in Washington -- he'll have value in all scoring formats. Allen runs behind his pads, and his physical style shows up in tight quarters. That works when you need to get the ball into the end zone. He's a name to monitor through the rest of the preseason.”
The sixth-round selection by the Commanders spent four years as the running back for Penn State, accruing a total of 4,180 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns in that time span. His best season was last year with the Nittany Lions. Despite their starting quarterback going down and head-coaching turmoil, Allen still managed a career-high in rushing yards (1,303) and rushing touchdowns (15).
Despite his strong numbers coming out of college, he was not drafted until the sixth round because of his perceived lack of speed and burst. However, someone with his power can be a good goal-line back, and that is where Bowen believes Allen’s fantasy value lies.
Washington has a fierce running back competition going, and UDFA Robert Henry Jr. is giving Allen a run for his money after putting up 75 rushing yards with 6.2 yards per carry and a touchdown. However, just before halftime in their preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, it was Allen who got the carry on third and goal from the one-yard line, signaling that Allen may have an edge in the competition to be the goalline back for the Commanders.
Ultimately, his fantasy value will depend on whether Allen wins this battle and becomes Washington's primary option in goalline situations like the one they faced against Miami. If he wins that battle, he is definitely a late-round pick that could make a real difference on your fantasy roster this season.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: ESPN's Matt Bowen lists Commanders rookie as late-round fantasy target