DJ Giddens took some time to catch on in the Kansas State backfield, but once he was given the keys to the running back room, he started to bring his draft stock up. Now, just a little bit of time away from the upcoming NFL Draft, Giddens is hoping that he was able to do enough to hear his name get called.
Height: 6 ft – 1 in
Weight: 212 lb
Age: 21
Position: Running Back
College: Kansas State
College Career Summary:
DJ Giddens hopped onto Kansas State as a backup, not getting a single start as a freshman. That didn’t matter though, with him still rushing for over 500 yards and racking up 100 receiving yards as well. He took some of that momentum in his second season in college, getting listed as a starter in all 13 games played. He more than doubled his numbers from the previous season, rushing for 1,200 yards and 300 receiving yards. And most recently, in 2024, he upped all of his numbers outside of his touchdowns. He appeared in fewer games, taking fewer carries, yet still had more rushing yards with 1,350 under his belt. This season, we also got to see Giddens get named to the Second-Team All-Big 12 roster. He wasn’t a routine touchdown scorer across his three seasons in college, but his yards per touch continued to remain strong in each of his three seasons.
2024 Season
Games Played: 12
Yards: 1,343 rushing, 258 receiving
Touchdowns: 23 rushing, four receiving
Career Stats:
- 39 games played
- 3,087 rushing yards
- 27 total touchdowns
- 517 rush attempts
- 58 receptions
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 0 yards per carry throughout his career
- 7 yards per reception throughout his career
- 679 career receiving yards
Strengths:
- Versatile skill set, can catch out of the backfield
- Pass blocking skills have improved over time
- Handled a heavy workload, very durable player
- Strong contact balance and ability to break tackles
- Excellent patience, gives time for blocks to develop
- Production against proven top-competition
Weaknesses:
- Lacks elite top end speed
- May need adjustment to NFL pass protection schemes
- Limited experience as a workhorse back, only doing so for one season
- Run blocking skills could use some work
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Giddens hasn’t always had the most opportunity at Kansas State, especially when it comes to high-pressure situations. In 2023, with Kansas State competing with NCSU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Giddens took 28 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown, adding on a 37-yard reception that also went for a score. This massive performance from him helped the team win this matchup 28-19. That same year, we also got to see him run for over 100 yards against the 25th-ranked Kansas squad. Moving forward into 2024, Giddens ripped off 15 carries for 187 yards and a touchdown against the 20th-ranked Oklahoma State squad. We have past performances that show Giddens is capable of putting together great performances against teams with great rosters. Not to mention that he’s performed admirably in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NCSU. Unfortunately, the downside is that some of his prior important matchups don’t show his true impact on the game given that he was still a part of a running back committee around that time. It appears that he’s a capable running back able to rise to the occasion, but only time will tell if this will continue in the NFL.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
DJ Giddens is currently being projected as a Day three draft pick, meaning that he’s likely to land somewhere in the fifth, sixth, or seventh round of the NFL Draft. Of course, there’s absolutely a chance that he can be drafted sooner than this, but the expectation is that he should be taken in one of the later rounds. As for fantasy relevance, he doesn’t appear to have a skillset that will make him a number one running back, but he does have the chance to get involved in a committee. How early on will this happen in his NFL career? That’s yet to be seen and is entirely dependent upon the team in which he gets drafted too. Personally, I believe that he won’t see much fantasy relevance early on in his career. He has receiving skills, though not enough to make him an instant dynasty league pickup. He has a solid floor given the skills that he’s showcased in college, though the seemingly limited ceiling is what should make fantasy managers pause. This is another player that you could snag and stash depending on the type of team he lands on.
Some scouts believe that Giddens can become a workhorse running back at the NFL level. However, I do have concerns over his ability to lead a backfield. I feel as though he’s going to be involved in some type of running back committee at the NFL level thanks to his ability to break tackles and contribute to the passing game. If he wants to see the field early on though, he’s going to have to adapt to the pass-protection schemes of the next level, while also developing his route tree to impact the game in multiple areas. As for his running style, it shows that he has the potential to be an impact player, the problem is that he does lack a little bit of that speed you would be hoping for from a player in this position. Giddens is going to be an intriguing project player who will surely find his way onto the field at some point, with some comparisons putting him alongside a running back like Chuba Hubbard. Overall, there’s a lot to like about Giddens, even if he might not get drafted until the later rounds. It might make the journey harder, but entering as a backup is something that he’s used to doing at Kansas State and swiftly proving why he deserved more playing time than he was getting. Who’s to say that he won’t be able to accomplish the same thing at the NFL level?