James Robinson

[Sweetleaf22]

The Jaguars listed James Robinson Is the starting running back on their Week 1 depth chart.
Devine Ozigbo is the RB2, and pass-catching specialist Thompson rounds out the depth chart as the RB3. Jaguars have really liked what they've seen from the undrafted rookie Robinson this summer. He averaged 21.9 carries and 123.3 rushing yards per game in his final two seasons at Illinois State, he can handle a large workload if called upon. All three backs are expected to see snaps and touches in the Week 1 opener against the Colts. Robinson would appear to be the best bet for fantasy production.

[Sweetleaf22]

Confidence grows as rookie tailback James Robinson takes an early lead.


However unlikely it seemed just weeks ago, it appears certain now - James Robinson, an undrafted rookie tailback out of Illinois State -, will be the Jaguars’ starting tailback for their week one matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, and the team - including offensive coordinator Jay Gruden -, is excited.



After the Jaguars waived Leonard Fournette, the question of who the team would turn to became paramount, but Robinson has been impressing coaches ever since he stepped foot on the gridiron at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Field in Jacksonville.

Now many have heard of him, he was an FCS player; not many people have heard from him either, and perhaps, that’s exactly what he wants. Described as a no-nonsense player by Gruden, Robinson does his job, and isn’t loud about it. Perhaps, he doesn’t have to be.

“You all probably won’t honestly hear much from him,” starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II told the media today. “He’s kind of a quiet guy, but man, he’s a great guy. He’s coming in [and] he’s gained all the respect of all the older guys because he came him, knew his stuff, took the responsibility that he had and proved that he’s deserved it.”

Robinson has had to prove himself at all levels. While he was a standout in high school at Illinois, Robinson didn’t earn many offers, opting to go to Illinois State potentially with a standing offer from Iowa at the time, it appears to have worked out.

During his college career, the rookie running back rushed for 4,444 yards and 44 touchdowns, while contributing with 5,218 yards all-purpose, and 46 total touchdowns in his career. An electric career, showcasing that only an opportunity was needed for him to succeed, and the Jaguars appear to be the next team ready and willing to give it to him.

“We keep giving him more and I think everybody on the team is very excited for him and the opportunity he has.”


This year’s Jaguars offense is new. It wasn’t built around players such as Fournette, nor was it built around Robinson nor tailbacks Devine Ozigbo and Chris Thompson, but the concepts involved do favor some players more than others. Robinson, however, appears to be the player Gruden appears to favor his “no-nonsense” running back.

“I try to get under his skin a little bit,” Gruden told reporters this morning. “I ask him if he’s nervous every day. He’s a very poised individual, no nonsense. He’s ready to go. We’ll see when Sunday hits, the first time we give him the ball, the first time there’s a third-and-1 or we have to get a yard. We’ll see how he does, but we have every indication that we’ve seen in training camp that he can handle it.”

Even though the team hasn’t had an opportunity to see its players play many live repetitions during training camp, due to preseason being canceled, Gruden is confident in Robinson, lauding his toughness, strength, vision and explosiveness in and out of holes, the total package it would appear. There are also things the team hadn’t seen from him previously, that perhaps surprised the Jaguars’ first-year coach.

“My biggest surprise with him is his ability to catch the ball and block. He’s a great blocker; he has great hands,” Gruden said. “He’s picked up everything extremely well. [Running Backs Coach] Coach Robiskie’s done an outstanding job with him, but James has really taken it to a level for a rookie free agent, not getting the reps early in camp, to really dominate in the reps that he did get and really turning our heads and that’s the key to a rookie free agent making the team.

“Evolving into a starter is almost impossible without any preseason games, but he made us all feel very comfortable about it with his ability to do the right thing and then when he does have the ball, he makes something happen.”

In the end, Robinson will be the likely first-team running back out on the gridiron with the Jaguars’ defense on Sunday. Perhaps even more with second-year back, Ozigbo, missing practice today due to a hamstring injury. Gruden feels good, and knows he will be ready.


“I’m excited to watch him play and I know he’s excited. He won’t show it though. I haven’t seen him smile but twice the whole time he’s been here. He’s a very focused guy and I think he’ll be ready. I know he’ll be ready I should say. I’m sorry, I know he’ll be ready.”

[Sweetleaf22]

James Robinson (RB – JAC)
Through two weeks, the Jaguars have gone toe-to-toe with two really good teams in the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. After splitting those games in dramatic fashion, the Jags don’t look like the dumpster fire many expected this season — and that’s due in large part to undrafted rookie running back James Robinson. In Week 2, Robinson had 16 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, plus three receptions for 18 yards against Tennessee. His size and speed are going to be a problem in 2020, and as the indisputable RB1 in a surprisingly efficient and exciting offense, Robinson is heating up.

Robinson will cede some carries on some gadget plays to Laviska Shenault and some third-down action to Chris Thompson, but other than that, he’s in a prime position to resume control as the workhorse rusher in Jacksonville. Look for Robinson to dominate against the four worst rush defenses in the league when he faces the Dolphins, Bengals, Texans, and Lions from now until the team’s Week 7 bye............


James Robinson has the ninth-most rushing yards over expectation through two weeks.
He's also picked up eight first downs, the fifth-highest among backs. Robinson is averaging over 100 total yards and 18 touches in two starts. Even in a negative gamescript and 51% snap share last week, Robinson set career highs. Jacksonville should continue to feed Robinson carries for a Week 3 matchup with a Miami defense allowing 164 rushing yards per game.

[Sweetleaf22]

Through three career games, Robinson has the most yards from scrimmage from an undrafted rookie in NFL history (339) and he's the only undrafted player in league history to record at least 300 scrimmage yards and multiple touchdowns through three career games.

Robinson had another huge night for the Jaguars in Week 3 serving the lone bright spot in Jacksonville's 31-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He finished with 11 carries for 46 yards and two rushing touchdowns and led the Jaguars with six catches for 84 yards, finishing with 129 yards from scrimmage on the night.

Only two players over the last decade have recorded 300 scrimmage yards and three rushing touchdowns through their first three games -- Robinson and Kareem Hunt. That's the impact Robinson is making in the NFL.

[Roma]

nice find leafer