Jadarian Price Analytical Draft Profile

Film Profile | Analytical Profile

Prospect Information

College: Notre Dame
Height/Weight: 5’ 11’’/203
Hands: 9 5/8″
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2026 season opener)

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Important NFL Combine/Pro Day/Testing Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.49
Vertical Jump: 35″
Broad Jump: 10’ 4’’
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Model Overview — Why the Model Likes This Profile

My Running Back Rookie Model evaluates running back prospects through the traits that historically translate best to fantasy production. The model weighs rushing efficiency, explosive play creation, tackle-breaking ability, receiving utility, athletic profile and expected draft capital, then compares each prospect against historical outcomes and stylistic comps.

Price stands out as one of the cleaner all-around profiles in the 2026 class. He may not be the flashiest back in the group, but the model likes how balanced his profile is across production, athletic translation and fantasy-friendly role indicators.

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That matters because Price does not need one outlier trait to carry the profile. He wins through a mix of efficiency, enough athletic juice and the kind of all-around skill set that gives him multiple paths to fantasy relevance at the next level.

Model Derived Athletic Scores

BMI: 28.3
Speed Score: 99.9
Burst Score: 45.3
Agility Score: 0.13
Composite Athleticism Score: 0.03
Historical Athleticism Percentile: 58th

Understanding the Athleticism Score

The Composite Athleticism Score blends size-adjusted speed, burst, agility and functional rushing traits. When testing is missing, the model can still derive portions of the athletic profile through production-based indicators, but in Price’s case we do have verified size and explosion data from the combine.

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Historically, a percentile around this range lands in the average-to-above-average bucket. Price does not project as a rare outlier athlete, but he clears the bar for NFL translation and does so without carrying any major athletic red flags.

Rushing Efficiency Metrics

Price’s appeal starts with the way his profile balances efficiency and translatability. He is not just a volume accumulator. The model likes backs who can create on their own, hold up physically and offer enough juice to turn efficient rushing into fantasy value, and Price checks enough of those boxes to stand out in this class.

He profiles as a back who can generate yards in structure while still offering enough burst and functional movement ability to create chunk plays when blocking opens lanes. That blend gives him one of the steadier projections in the class.

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Receiving Usage

Price’s receiving profile also helps his fantasy translation. He is not solely dependent on becoming a 20-carry grinder to matter, which is a key distinction in dynasty projection. Backs with enough pass-game viability tend to give themselves more ways to earn snaps early in their careers.

That does not automatically make him an elite receiving specialist, but it does support the idea that he can stay on the field in multiple situations and avoid being boxed into a one-dimensional role.

Production Snapshot

Price’s overall profile is built more on balance than on one overwhelming strength. That can sometimes make a player less flashy in the pre-draft process, but it also tends to produce some of the more stable model outcomes.

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For fantasy purposes, that is often a good sign. The model generally prefers backs who bring enough rushing efficiency, enough functional athleticism and enough receiving utility to create several viable paths to production rather than needing everything to break perfectly.

Positive Indicators

Balanced all-around profile

Price does not need one extreme trait to carry his projection, because the model sees strength across multiple areas.

Verified athletic baseline

At 203 pounds with a 4.49 forty and solid explosion numbers, Price checks the athletic threshold needed for NFL translation.

Strong fantasy floor

His profile suggests a back who can earn work in different situations, which supports a safer fantasy projection than many peers in this class.

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Areas of Concern

No truly elite athletic outlier

Price tested well, but not in a way that forces the model to project a rare ceiling outcome strictly from athleticism alone.

May depend on role quality for ceiling

Because he is more well-rounded than truly extreme in any one area, his long-term ceiling could be influenced more heavily by landing spot and usage.

Not purely traits-driven

Some backs can survive on overwhelming physical tools. Price’s profile is stronger because of balance, which can be a positive but also means the margin for error is slightly tighter if the role is capped.

Historical Model Comps

Miles Sanders
Zach Charbonnet
James Cook
Jonathon Brooks
J.K. Dobbins

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Historical Fantasy Tier Outcomes

Elite RB1 (Top-12): 22.1%
RB2 (13–24): 43.5%
RB3 (25–36): 12.8%
Outside Top-36: 21.6%

Early Career Fantasy Outlook

Year 1: Flex/RB3 range with RB2 upside
Year 2–3: RB2 with paths to RB1 seasons

Year 1 Fantasy Points: 48.4
Best-Year Fantasy Points: 67.3
3-Year Fantasy Points: 161.6

Dynasty Translation

Price profiles as one of the safer dynasty running back targets in the 2026 class. He brings enough verified athletic ability, enough overall balance and enough fantasy-friendly role flexibility to give himself a legitimate chance to become a useful early-career producer.

Dynasty Rookie Tier: RB2 with RB1 upside

This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Jadarian Price Dynasty Rookie Profile and Fantasy Outlook