The Rams finally got Steven Jackson a competent backup.
The fantasy community is pretty high on Pead due to his straight-line speed and ability to contribute on third down, but he is going to play behind a workhorse which limits his redraft fantasy value barring injury.
Pead is an astute pickup for the Rams, but he might have been drafted a round too early, but you cannot really fault the Rams as they collected extra draft picks.
Fantasy Analysis:
Isaiah Pead: Pead projects as a third-down back in the NFL. The fantasy community as mentioned earlier is really high on Pead but we are not buyers. Pead runs uphill, has fumbling issues and is really more of a complementary back than a lead back. His 4.47 40-time will make him an explosive change-of-pace back and he will be able to start at at least an RB3 level if S-Jax goes down, but does not project as a long-term starter in the NFL. Dynasty leaguers are advised to perhaps trade down, pick up an asset and draft either Robert Turbin or Bernard Pierce. Treat Pead as a bye-week filler with flex2 upside in redraft leagues. In dynasty formats he should be the 4th running back off the board behind Richardson, Martin and Turbin.
Steven Jackson: There are definitely some Steven Jackson owners out there who are panicking which presents a great buy-low opportunity for dynasty league owners. S-Jax is the far superior back here and Pead is no threat to his starting job. Pead will help keep Jackson fresh and gives the Rams someone good to fill-in if and when Jackson goes down. Jackson remains a high upside RB2.
Sam Bradford: Bradford has to be happy with the Rams selection of Pead as it gives him yet another weapon to work with and ensures that the ground game will remain a viable threat if Jackson misses time with an injury this season, something that has always proved detrimental to the Rams the past few years. Bradford is entrenched as a QB2 with low-end QB1 upside.
Brian Quick/Chris Givens/Steve Smith – Pead brings some stability to the Rams running game and gives them a homerun threat even when S-Jax is not on the field. This can only serve to help the passing attack as defenses will undoubtedly being keying in on stopping Jackson, Pead and the Rams rushing attack. Quick and Givens are flex options with WR3 upside while Steve Smith initially looks like an injury replacement/bye week filler.
Now for some highlights!:
